scroll or flat - no wars please - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

sgimbel · 05-21-2008, 10:30 PM

Hi gang. I'm failrly new at this with a handicap of no feeling in the right hand and not total feeling in the left hand. I used a spiral blade yesterday for the first time and found I could actually control it where with the flat blade I do wander around. Am I a bad scroller if I cheat and cut with spiral blades? I know some people are absolutely against it. How about the disadvantages of using a spiral all the time other than the backside tear out. Not real happy with that! Come 1 come all, opinions are what are being asked for. Thanks in advance.

ragiarn · 05-21-2008, 10:34 PM

Whatever gets the job done!! If it works for you that is all that counts. I have some spiral blades that I purchased when I first started but could not get a good feel for them so they are sitting in the corner somewhere on my bench. The most important part of scrolling is the end result and not how you got there.

Doc

Wood Dog · 05-21-2008, 10:41 PM

Hello sgimble....use anything that fits and cuts is my theory. There is another member here who uses only spiral blades too. The name escapes me right now. If you love to scroll then go for it. How about posting some of your projects....we love pictures, and I bet you do some nice work.
No rules on blade type usage, whatever gets the job done.

Plaquerd · 05-21-2008, 10:52 PM

sgimbel
Use whatever blade that works for you. Anyone who would say you are a "bad scroller" because you use a different method isn't worth listening to. As WD said, show us some of your work, we do like pictures.
I don't use spirals, but I think FD makes a reverse tooth spiral....... where are you Mike?....... that may help on the "backside tear out".

Greenfield_Bob · 05-21-2008, 11:45 PM

Use the blade that works best for you!
I don't control spiral blades very well so I don't use them.

Bob

azbison · 05-22-2008, 12:42 AM

Scott, what kind of saw do you have? I had an old Delta saw that was what I call a rattle-trap and the blade would jiggle around like crazy. I also could not get the correct tension on it. When I got into my Dewalt saw, those problems went away and my ability to guide a flat blade is much better.

Just some ideas to think about. I really like the ultra reverse blades I've been using because of the clean cut on the side and the back of the wood I'm working.

azbison · 05-22-2008, 12:43 AM

Looking back on your posts it looks like you have the same saw as I do. What part of the state are you in?

Forester21 · 05-22-2008, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgimbel

Am I a bad scroller if I cheat and cut with spiral blades? .

Who says it's cheating?

Go ahead and use whatever gets the job done for you. I use both types of blades depending on what I am cutting. And at times I use both on the same project.
Theresa

sgimbel · 05-22-2008, 02:17 AM

Jim I'm in beautiful downtown Surprise. Actually I'm at Bell and the 303. Want to get together?

lucky788scroller · 05-22-2008, 05:11 AM

Greenfield Bob said it perfectly, use whatever makes it the most enjoyable to you. Using a spiral isnt cheating in my eyes....using a laser to cut it is cheating! Dale

05-21-2008, 10:30 PM	#1
sgimbel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Round Rock, Texas Posts: 183	scroll or flat - no wars please Hi gang. I'm failrly new at this with a handicap of no feeling in the right hand and not total feeling in the left hand. I used a spiral blade yesterday for the first time and found I could actually control it where with the flat blade I do wander around. Am I a bad scroller if I cheat and cut with spiral blades? I know some people are absolutely against it. How about the disadvantages of using a spiral all the time other than the backside tear out. Not real happy with that! Come 1 come all, opinions are what are being asked for. Thanks in advance. __________________ Scott in Round Rock, Texas

05-21-2008, 10:41 PM	#3
Wood Dog Senior member--Absolutely Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: MA USA Posts: 3,451	Hello sgimble....use anything that fits and cuts is my theory. There is another member here who uses only spiral blades too. The name escapes me right now. If you love to scroll then go for it. How about posting some of your projects....we love pictures, and I bet you do some nice work. No rules on blade type usage, whatever gets the job done. __________________ WD

05-21-2008, 10:52 PM	#4
Plaquerd Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Northwest New Jersey Posts: 1,371	sgimbel Use whatever blade that works for you. Anyone who would say you are a "bad scroller" because you use a different method isn't worth listening to. As WD said, show us some of your work, we do like pictures. I don't use spirals, but I think FD makes a reverse tooth spiral....... where are you Mike?....... that may help on the "backside tear out". __________________ Dave "Tight's tight, too tight's broken" www.lakeviewscrollsawing.com

05-21-2008, 11:45 PM	#5
Greenfield_Bob Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Central Indiana Posts: 1,417	Use the blade that works best for you! I don't control spiral blades very well so I don't use them. Bob __________________ Delta P-20 & Q-3 Ever notice that anyone going slower than you is an idiot, but anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

05-22-2008, 12:42 AM	#6
azbison Jr. Sawdust Taster Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 494	Scott, what kind of saw do you have? I had an old Delta saw that was what I call a rattle-trap and the blade would jiggle around like crazy. I also could not get the correct tension on it. When I got into my Dewalt saw, those problems went away and my ability to guide a flat blade is much better. Just some ideas to think about. I really like the ultra reverse blades I've been using because of the clean cut on the side and the back of the wood I'm working. __________________ -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Jim DW788 My scrollin' blog The worst day scrollin' is better than the best day o' workin'

05-21-2008, 10:34 PM	#2
ragiarn Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 61	Whatever gets the job done!! If it works for you that is all that counts. I have some spiral blades that I purchased when I first started but could not get a good feel for them so they are sitting in the corner somewhere on my bench. The most important part of scrolling is the end result and not how you got there. Doc

05-22-2008, 12:43 AM	#7
azbison Jr. Sawdust Taster Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 494	Looking back on your posts it looks like you have the same saw as I do. What part of the state are you in? __________________ -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Jim DW788 My scrollin' blog The worst day scrollin' is better than the best day o' workin'

05-22-2008, 02:17 AM	#9
sgimbel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Round Rock, Texas Posts: 183	Jim I'm in beautiful downtown Surprise. Actually I'm at Bell and the 303. Want to get together? __________________ Scott in Round Rock, Texas

05-22-2008, 05:11 AM	#10
lucky788scroller Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: wisconsin Posts: 6,260	Greenfield Bob said it perfectly, use whatever makes it the most enjoyable to you. Using a spiral isnt cheating in my eyes....using a laser to cut it is cheating! Dale

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