spiral blade troubles - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

Shawn Rogers · 07-31-2007, 06:51 PM

Hey all! New scroller here, and I'm making my first attempt at fretwork. The project calls for a #0 spiral blade. I'm telling you....that is a small blade! Trying to get it through the hole in the wood without bending the blade is a real challenge! I was working on it for a couple of hours, and spent most of my time attempting to thread the blade, and/or replacing bent blades. Is this usually a problem with spiral blades, or is it because they are sooo thin? Or am I just missing something?

Bill Wilson · 07-31-2007, 07:14 PM

Hi Shawn, welcome!

Are you feeding the blade from the bottom or the top? I presume the bottom as with most saws that is the only way you can feed. If so, there are a couple things you can do to make it a little easier. First take an awl and open up the holes a bit on the bottom of your wood. You can also take the same size bit or even a brad nail and thread it through the wood to clean up any rough edges that can catch the blade.

Then you can file or sand the top of the blade to a point so that it doesn't get hung up as much in the hole. Don't take too much off though as it could make it harder to clamp.

How thick is your wood? The thicker the wood or stack of wood, the harder to thread the blade though. If you are stack cutting, try reducing the stack by one or two thicknesses, if that is an option.

Oh and one other option, drill a larger hole. I realize that may not be desireable, but you can get creative and in some cases hide the hole in the pattern or open the vein up a bit to make the entry hole less conspicuous.

HTH Have fun making sawdust!

Meiglan · 07-31-2007, 11:57 PM

Hi Shawn....Bill nailed it really well....the only thing that I could add to that (especially if you are bottom feeding) is to take a colored felt pen, I use red, and put a dab right on top of the hole on whichever side of the wood you are feeding the blade from.....it makes it much easier to see when u are doing the bottom feeder bend and squint...lol

Jayne

lucky788scroller · 08-01-2007, 02:48 AM

Once you get the hang of feeding it through the hole without bending it, try going to a 2/0 blade. Yes, its a bit smaller then the #0, but it cuts a little quicker because its trying to remove less wood. Feeding the blade up through from the bottom is easier than feeding it down through your hole, the teeth are less apt to catch on the hole. Also, careful drilling with those fine wiresize drillbits, run them fast, and dont force them through, or your hole gets a lil bit crooked, and thats enough to cause you grief as well. Dale

Shawn Rogers · 08-01-2007, 02:32 PM

Thanks for the tips guys. I wasn't sure if it was the spiral blades...maybe they were more likely to bend, or if it took a bit more skill to use them. I wonder if a small regular style blade would work better? I will definately try the ideas mentioned above. Thanks again!

Minnesota scroller · 08-01-2007, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucky788scroller

Feeding the blade up through from the bottom is easier than feeding it down through your hole, the teeth are less apt to catch on the hole.

In my experience, I have found it much easier feeding the blade from the top, if possible. It's a lot easier to find the center of the hole because you're looking at it a little more directly, than trying to crane your neck to see it from the bottom.

keithmc · 08-01-2007, 07:54 PM

I, like Mike, find it easier feeding the blade from the top. It's easier for me to find the hole and after some practice it just becomes automatic. Doesn't take long at all. I also am a fan of the #2/0 spiral FD. I buy them from Mike and he is exceptional to deal with.
Keith

07-31-2007, 06:51 PM	#1
Shawn Rogers Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 20	spiral blade troubles Hey all! New scroller here, and I'm making my first attempt at fretwork. The project calls for a #0 spiral blade. I'm telling you....that is a small blade! Trying to get it through the hole in the wood without bending the blade is a real challenge! I was working on it for a couple of hours, and spent most of my time attempting to thread the blade, and/or replacing bent blades. Is this usually a problem with spiral blades, or is it because they are sooo thin? Or am I just missing something?

07-31-2007, 11:57 PM	#3
Meiglan Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Posts: 198	Hi Shawn....Bill nailed it really well....the only thing that I could add to that (especially if you are bottom feeding) is to take a colored felt pen, I use red, and put a dab right on top of the hole on whichever side of the wood you are feeding the blade from.....it makes it much easier to see when u are doing the bottom feeder bend and squint...lol Jayne __________________ Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not; a sense of humor to console him for what he is. ~Francis Bacon

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Spiral Blade usage	Dennis Taylor	General Scroll Saw	6	03-17-2007 05:37 AM
First attempt with a spiral blade	Pop	Bragging Section	16	01-05-2007 05:35 AM
? for spiral blade users	Mick Walker	General Scroll Saw	9	09-16-2006 06:41 PM
Spiral blade Havoc	Troy	General Scroll Saw	28	08-17-2005 12:57 PM
Log In Troubles	admin	Message Board FAQ, Suggestions and Feedback	0	12-19-2004 05:39 PM

07-31-2007, 07:14 PM	#2
Bill Wilson Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Butler, PA Posts: 590	Hi Shawn, welcome! Are you feeding the blade from the bottom or the top? I presume the bottom as with most saws that is the only way you can feed. If so, there are a couple things you can do to make it a little easier. First take an awl and open up the holes a bit on the bottom of your wood. You can also take the same size bit or even a brad nail and thread it through the wood to clean up any rough edges that can catch the blade. Then you can file or sand the top of the blade to a point so that it doesn't get hung up as much in the hole. Don't take too much off though as it could make it harder to clamp. How thick is your wood? The thicker the wood or stack of wood, the harder to thread the blade though. If you are stack cutting, try reducing the stack by one or two thicknesses, if that is an option. Oh and one other option, drill a larger hole. I realize that may not be desireable, but you can get creative and in some cases hide the hole in the pattern or open the vein up a bit to make the entry hole less conspicuous. HTH Have fun making sawdust! __________________ "I'm a white male, aged 18 to 49. Everyone listens to me! No matter how dumb my suggestions are." Last edited by Bill Wilson; 07-31-2007 at 07:16 PM.

08-01-2007, 02:48 AM	#4
lucky788scroller Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: wisconsin Posts: 6,260	Once you get the hang of feeding it through the hole without bending it, try going to a 2/0 blade. Yes, its a bit smaller then the #0, but it cuts a little quicker because its trying to remove less wood. Feeding the blade up through from the bottom is easier than feeding it down through your hole, the teeth are less apt to catch on the hole. Also, careful drilling with those fine wiresize drillbits, run them fast, and dont force them through, or your hole gets a lil bit crooked, and thats enough to cause you grief as well. Dale

08-01-2007, 02:32 PM	#5
Shawn Rogers Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 20	Thanks for the tips guys. I wasn't sure if it was the spiral blades...maybe they were more likely to bend, or if it took a bit more skill to use them. I wonder if a small regular style blade would work better? I will definately try the ideas mentioned above. Thanks again!

08-01-2007, 07:54 PM	#7
keithmc Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 35	I, like Mike, find it easier feeding the blade from the top. It's easier for me to find the hole and after some practice it just becomes automatic. Doesn't take long at all. I also am a fan of the #2/0 spiral FD. I buy them from Mike and he is exceptional to deal with. Keith