Quick change for saw blades

[Pop]

I'm blaming all you folks for all my new tools. Since I've been watching some of the great stuff you folks do, I've upped the difficulty level of my own projects. Still can't justify or afford a new saw but can 'upgrade' the one I have. Since it's an 'entry level' saw to begin with, there's not much upgrade stuff available. I've been wandering around the tool depts. in the hardware stores looking to find a quick change blade clamp I could adapt to my old saw. Saw a nice one at Lowe's on a newer model Delta that really seemd to operate nice and looked like it would adapt to my old saw. Went on line to find if I could buy it as a repair/replacement part. Every place i looked and found it, the price was anywhere from $34 to $50. With S&H it would cost almost half of what the whole saw cost me. Then the light came on that's been getting dimmer and dimmer in my head and I remembered the latest Wildwood catalog. I know that's a 4 letter word to some of you but I haven't had a problem...yet.

Turns out it's the same blade holder. For considerably less. T250 at Wildwood is the same as a 40-250/251 from Delta. Ordered it on Saturday ($26.95 & $8.95 S&H) Saved S&H from the other guys. I'll let you know how I make out and do a little pictoral on installing it. Anyone already have a Delta with the quick change on it?

[Mick Walker]

Pop, I have a Delta P-20 with the Quickset II blade holders, once you learn how to use them you will love them. Hope you can get it to work on your saw.

[Pop]

and I installed it today. I know some of you might think putting this holder on a saw as low end as mine is like putting lipstick on a pig... but even a pig likes to get out of the mud sometimes. I've attached a series of pics showing what I got, how it installed and the only problem I ran into so far... besides the fact that it doesn't like spiral blades. I'm happy with it. I did twice as much to the Jesus fretwork in 3 hours as I did in 4-5 over the past two days. It IS NICE. Hopefully this darn slow dial-up will allow me to send all the pics in one setting.1 The patient.jpg

2 what you get for.jpg

3 Open package.jpg

4 remove blade from old holder.jpg

5 remove roll pin from old holder.jpg

[Pop]

are in this post. I was amazed I could even download the first 5. here's how it all ended. The very last pic shows a shot of the upper arm I had to grind back about 1/16" to allow for the larger body of the new holder. On first fire up it hit against this part of the arm.

[William Young (SE BC)]

You are going to love that blade holder. As far as I am concerned they are the best blade holder on the market. You wiill find much less operator fatigue with it compared to a thumbscrew type holder that some saws use . If you have arthritis in your hands like many of us do you will find it much easier to just push the lever forward instead of turning a thumbscrew.
W.Y.

[Pop]

Originally Posted by William Young (SE BC)

You are going to love that blade holder. As far as I am concerned they are the best blade holder on the market. You wiill find much less operator fatigue with it compared to a thumbscrew type holder that some saws use . If you have arthritis in your hands like many of us do you will find it much easier to just push the lever forward instead of turning a thumbscrew.
W.Y.

Arthritis is the main reason I went for the QC II. The more I do fretwork and the more involved it gets with blade changes and feeding through pilot holes, the more hand cramps and swelling I'd get in the hands. Been putting up with this since my early 20's so it's no real big thing... but if I can make things easier...I do. My saw has the long allen wrench with the offset handle to tighten down the blade holder. That was really a pain maker after a while. Now if the triple lens head band magnifier I just orders works like I hope... there will be less swapping of glasses too.

How do you deal with the spiral blades in the QC II? Just after playing a little today, I found it's not very friendly to spiral blades because of their twisted ends. I was re-adjusting the tension screw after the blade was in the holder for it to work.

[William Young (SE BC)]

No blade holders are real friendly to spiral blades but fortunately I don't use spiral blades very often. Only when the piece I'm cutting is to big to spin within the 20.5" throat of my saw. .
But when I do "have" to use them , I just straighten out the ends by twisting them straight with a couple pair of pliers or gently tapping them flat on the anvil piece at the back of my bench vice..
There are several companies that are marketing them with flat ends now but they cost more than regular spirals and I don't feel they are worth the difference. Also they are not in the brand names of blades that I prefer most so I just take the few seconds it takes to straighten the ends whenever I need to use spirals.
W.Y.

[Kevin12]

That blade holder was the best and easiest improvement to my old saw. I'd suggest it to anyone who's saw can use it.

[Genetoolman]

Pop,

I don't own a Delta, but enjoyed looking at your pictures of the install. Nice work, and I hope it will increase your scrolling pleasure.

Gene

[CanadianScroller]

Long Live Delta
I have a big softspot for that model of saw and the clamp...and no it is not my head
You can do some wonderful work with that saw and the blade clamp makes it more of a joy.

Thanks for posting the pics.