Using Hold Down Arms - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

I-saw · 12-19-2007, 09:15 PM

I've never used a hold down arm on my saw (a Hegner), as it didn't come with one.

I know that many (most?) people remove them because they get in the way, but are they worth trying out for any reason or are they simply optional safety devices?

Gill · 12-19-2007, 09:46 PM

Hold down's are like trains. When you use one, you understand why aeroplanes are so popular.

Gill

Tor · 12-19-2007, 09:49 PM

I would consider them useful only for rough jobs in thicker wood, such as possibly production work where one is cutting a general shape, and does not want to hold the wood down at all. As far as safety goes, most of the designs I have seen I would consider dangerous, because they are not close enough to the blade to hold down the work properly, and if you try to use your hand, you will get caught up in the "guard". In short, my feeling is that the ones sold in the US (my Diamond actually will hold it well, but it is not worth the loss of visibility. A pity there, because in some cases it might actually be helpful, but this seems to be a rare exception, and not a US saw at all) may be a design written into law by someone who has never used a scroll saw. Walk into Home Depot, and ignore entirely any guard that looks anything like what you see on the saws there.

Tor

unixpro · 12-21-2007, 02:48 PM

I thought that thing was just to hold the top of the table down during shipping. You mean it has some other use?

Pajaro · 12-21-2007, 03:35 PM

Hold downs. They are like the blade guard on the table saw, in the way, slowing you down, Can't rip wood with it on..... Until you take tips of your fingers off.

AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!! (fear)

^####%%^##^&!!!!!!! , (anger)

sniff, sniff, owie. ) . (sadness)

But I must admit that I don't use the hold down or the blade guard (even after taking the tips of two of my fingers off. I'm just a H - - - of lot careful

I not saying don't use them, but with a scroll saw you have to try real hard to do any serious damage to your fingers. But like Norm Abrams say, never use power tools until you read the safety Manuel, and all ways use eye protection.

CanadianScroller · 12-21-2007, 04:52 PM

Many people think of the hold down as a blade guard.
The scroll saw is extremely safe.
It runs relatively slowly.
I had a spring loaded hold down once that would catch on the inside frets. That ruined more than one piece.
I took the hold down off my saw. I use fine blades that do not seem to grab and chatter. I feed slowly.
I find they do get in the way, which can be more dangerous.

I am not sure why companies feel they are necessary.

By the way I have seen several scroll saws with blade guards....I think I would take thpse of too LOL

As for table saws...they scare me.

3_M · 12-21-2007, 06:25 PM

QUOTE]I am not sure why companies feel they are necessary [/quote]
It was the Government who made the companies put it on. (OSHA)
A new buyer has to pay at least $ 50 to $ 100.00 more for a saw, for a piece what is never used.
Mike

Tor · 12-21-2007, 09:37 PM

Which is why you don't get them if you buy a top quality saw. (read: A saw that is valuable enough to come from out of country. I don't know about the Eclipse, but if anything is an afterthought on it, I would lay money on that being the part.) Diamond makes a better version than the US uglies (not perfect, that is impossible), but that is an optional accessory. For some rough work in large thick stock, I might use it in order to not hold down the board (read, closer to bandsaw work than SS work), but aside from that limited situation, I have no use for anything on top of my work.

Tor

NMScroller · 12-21-2007, 11:39 PM

I hate the hold down... it cramps the wood on turnes and it tends to get caught in fretwork. I only use it when I'm cutting 3/4" wood that doesn't involve fretwork in the pattern.

Brian

minowevie · 12-22-2007, 01:05 AM

WELLLLL Hear I am the odd ball again, I have a Hegner, and I too thought it was a bother, UNtill I had some warped wood. which I always have. holding that bouncie stuff down can be so tireing. also. when you get far from the blade. my saw only is 18" deep throwt. and when the wood is warped at all. it is so hard to keep the blade going on the right path. so thats when I use my gard. still don't like it. hard to spen the wood. and sometimes the wood wanders. not holding it with my hand. but it sure helps , the wood from jumping around. also, when the wood is 17" from,the blade, cutting, and my belly is in the way, and my arm is only 20 " that gard is very usefull. Not to mention my eyes have to see that far. so the gard helps me in that situasion. just what I have exspereanced. your friend Evie

12-19-2007, 09:15 PM	#1
I-saw Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 143	Using Hold Down Arms I've never used a hold down arm on my saw (a Hegner), as it didn't come with one. I know that many (most?) people remove them because they get in the way, but are they worth trying out for any reason or are they simply optional safety devices?

12-19-2007, 09:46 PM	#2
Gill Fallen Angel Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,605	Hold down's are like trains. When you use one, you understand why aeroplanes are so popular. Gill __________________ There is no opinion, however absurd, which men will not readily embrace as soon as they can be brought to the conviction that it is readily adopted. (Schopenhauer, Die Kunst Recht zu Behalten)

12-19-2007, 09:49 PM	#3
Tor Mad Marqueteur Join Date: May 2007 Location: The "Green Side" in Hawaii Posts: 1,416	I would consider them useful only for rough jobs in thicker wood, such as possibly production work where one is cutting a general shape, and does not want to hold the wood down at all. As far as safety goes, most of the designs I have seen I would consider dangerous, because they are not close enough to the blade to hold down the work properly, and if you try to use your hand, you will get caught up in the "guard". In short, my feeling is that the ones sold in the US (my Diamond actually will hold it well, but it is not worth the loss of visibility. A pity there, because in some cases it might actually be helpful, but this seems to be a rare exception, and not a US saw at all) may be a design written into law by someone who has never used a scroll saw. Walk into Home Depot, and ignore entirely any guard that looks anything like what you see on the saws there. Tor __________________ I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it. - Thomas Jefferson Garden Island Marqueteur http://www.fineartmarquetry.com

12-21-2007, 03:35 PM	#5
Pajaro Going back to who I am. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: How can you have fun in a place where dogs aren't allowed. Posts: 2,129 Blog Entries: 1	Hold downs. They are like the blade guard on the table saw, in the way, slowing you down, Can't rip wood with it on..... Until you take tips of your fingers off. AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!! (fear) ^####%%^##^&!!!!!!! , (anger) sniff, sniff, owie. ) . (sadness) But I must admit that I don't use the hold down or the blade guard (even after taking the tips of two of my fingers off. I'm just a H - - - of lot careful I not saying don't use them, but with a scroll saw you have to try real hard to do any serious damage to your fingers. But like Norm Abrams say, never use power tools until you read the safety Manuel, and all ways use eye protection. __________________ Pájaro Pete Hombre del pájaro www.pajarostudiowns.com Member " Scrollsaw Association of the world " Excalibur EX-21 fanatic One of the Chosen few "If you play with things that can eat you, you're going to get eaten" (Tarzan) . " Last edited by Pajaro; 12-21-2007 at 06:37 PM.

12-21-2007, 04:52 PM	#6
CanadianScroller Moderator CUT IT OUT Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chilliwack British Columbia, Canada Posts: 3,904 Blog Entries: 12	Many people think of the hold down as a blade guard. The scroll saw is extremely safe. It runs relatively slowly. I had a spring loaded hold down once that would catch on the inside frets. That ruined more than one piece. I took the hold down off my saw. I use fine blades that do not seem to grab and chatter. I feed slowly. I find they do get in the way, which can be more dangerous. I am not sure why companies feel they are necessary. By the way I have seen several scroll saws with blade guards....I think I would take thpse of too LOL As for table saws...they scare me. __________________ CAЯL HIRD-RUTTEЯ "proud member of the best scroll sawing forum on the net." Ryobi SC180VS scroll saw EX21

12-21-2007, 02:48 PM	#4
unixpro I need more weekend Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Greater Seattle Area Posts: 696	I thought that thing was just to hold the top of the table down during shipping. You mean it has some other use?

12-21-2007, 06:25 PM	#7
3_M Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Brandon, SD Posts: 674	QUOTE]I am not sure why companies feel they are necessary [/quote] It was the Government who made the companies put it on. (OSHA) A new buyer has to pay at least $ 50 to $ 100.00 more for a saw, for a piece what is never used. Mike __________________ Home of the FD Blades

12-21-2007, 09:37 PM	#8
Tor Mad Marqueteur Join Date: May 2007 Location: The "Green Side" in Hawaii Posts: 1,416	Which is why you don't get them if you buy a top quality saw. (read: A saw that is valuable enough to come from out of country. I don't know about the Eclipse, but if anything is an afterthought on it, I would lay money on that being the part.) Diamond makes a better version than the US uglies (not perfect, that is impossible), but that is an optional accessory. For some rough work in large thick stock, I might use it in order to not hold down the board (read, closer to bandsaw work than SS work), but aside from that limited situation, I have no use for anything on top of my work. Tor __________________ I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it. - Thomas Jefferson Garden Island Marqueteur http://www.fineartmarquetry.com

12-21-2007, 11:39 PM	#9
NMScroller Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 321	I hate the hold down... it cramps the wood on turnes and it tends to get caught in fretwork. I only use it when I'm cutting 3/4" wood that doesn't involve fretwork in the pattern. Brian __________________ ---Support bacteria - they're the only culture some people have.

12-22-2007, 01:05 AM	#10
minowevie Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: california Posts: 6,297	WELLLLL Hear I am the odd ball again, I have a Hegner, and I too thought it was a bother, UNtill I had some warped wood. which I always have. holding that bouncie stuff down can be so tireing. also. when you get far from the blade. my saw only is 18" deep throwt. and when the wood is warped at all. it is so hard to keep the blade going on the right path. so thats when I use my gard. still don't like it. hard to spen the wood. and sometimes the wood wanders. not holding it with my hand. but it sure helps , the wood from jumping around. also, when the wood is 17" from,the blade, cutting, and my belly is in the way, and my arm is only 20 " that gard is very usefull. Not to mention my eyes have to see that far. so the gard helps me in that situasion. just what I have exspereanced. your friend Evie

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