Olson spirial blades breaking - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

PKC · 05-28-2008, 02:09 AM

I just received my order of Olson #2 Spirial blades and befor I could even get started cutting three of them broke. Another broke within six cuts. I was using FD's but couldn't get any at the time - Does anyone else use the Olson spirials? Could someone give me some pointers on the Olson's
Thanks

PKC · 05-28-2008, 02:39 AM

I just recieved my order of Olson flatend spirial's and I couldn't wait to get back out into the shop. I put one of the spirial's in and before I could start to cut "SNAP" - Well I thought I put it in wrong - tried another - "SNAP" samething - Tried another - yep you r right - "SNAP" even before I moved the wood to cut. I finally got the next one to cut but it broke within six cuts. I have been using the Flying Dutcman blades and they did not do that. Is there a trick to using the Olson spirial's? I hope someone can give me some pointers
Thanks

Huntter2022 · 05-28-2008, 02:54 AM

I used them and the same thing happen to me wasted more blades then I used

I won't buy olsens

David

PKC · 05-28-2008, 03:01 AM

Thanks David, I know I want buy anymore -

lucky788scroller · 05-28-2008, 03:59 AM

Ive used olsen spirals.I even still have about 10 dozen of the #2 spirals. In my opinion, a #2 spiral is way to huge for anything I will ever cut. I find with a spiral that big, you need to go extra slow, your removing quite a bit of wood, and on anything hard of thick, youve got to keep that in mind, and adjust your feed rate accordingly. Where your blade actually is breaking will tell you alot about why it breaks too, so make note of it. Is it breaking at a blade clamp, somewhere near the top, but not by the clamp? Perhaps somewhere near the table height, or varies for each broken blade?I do think the Olsen spirals are a good blade as far as spirals go. Theres always that rare chance of a bad product, but I am guessing its either a mechanical or operational problem. Try a few more, and make note of what your cutting, when, and where the blade is breaking. Good luck.

Jediscroller · 05-28-2008, 11:01 AM

Sorry I can't offer any help with those PKC. I pretty much only use flat blades.

Pajaro · 05-28-2008, 12:32 PM

Stick with FD blades. I had the same problem and thought it was me......

PKC · 05-28-2008, 10:16 PM

Thanks for the info everyone - Lucky788 - I had my saw set at a slow speed and they would break even befor I would start cutting - the break would be below the table - I am pretty sure I didn't have to much tenision on them - I put some Olson Crown tooth blades in and they have not broke yet

Rolf · 05-29-2008, 01:21 PM

PKC,
Did you contact Olson? They should be made aware of the problem.
I use mostly Olson blades (they are what I started with and I got used to them)
But for spirals I only use the FD "new Spiral" series. Not because of breakage but because I have better control with them.
As my scrolling skills improve I periodically try other manufacturers blades just to make sure I didn't "dismiss" a blade just because of my lack of skill.

PKC · 06-02-2008, 01:54 AM

Rolf, I haven't contacted them as of yet - I will thoe - maybe they can give me some pointers on how to use them - I will buy the FD's from now on - they do cut good and I am use to them - I have several of the Olson's and I hate to just throw the aside and waste the money

05-28-2008, 02:09 AM	#1
PKC Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 24	Scroll saw blades I just received my order of Olson #2 Spirial blades and befor I could even get started cutting three of them broke. Another broke within six cuts. I was using FD's but couldn't get any at the time - Does anyone else use the Olson spirials? Could someone give me some pointers on the Olson's Thanks

05-28-2008, 03:59 AM	#5
lucky788scroller Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: wisconsin Posts: 6,260	Ive used olsen spirals.I even still have about 10 dozen of the #2 spirals. In my opinion, a #2 spiral is way to huge for anything I will ever cut. I find with a spiral that big, you need to go extra slow, your removing quite a bit of wood, and on anything hard of thick, youve got to keep that in mind, and adjust your feed rate accordingly. Where your blade actually is breaking will tell you alot about why it breaks too, so make note of it. Is it breaking at a blade clamp, somewhere near the top, but not by the clamp? Perhaps somewhere near the table height, or varies for each broken blade?I do think the Olsen spirals are a good blade as far as spirals go. Theres always that rare chance of a bad product, but I am guessing its either a mechanical or operational problem. Try a few more, and make note of what your cutting, when, and where the blade is breaking. Good luck. __________________ Dale w/ yella saws

05-28-2008, 11:01 AM	#6
Jediscroller American Crafstman Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Galaxy far, far away Posts: 3,174 Blog Entries: 5	Sorry I can't offer any help with those PKC. I pretty much only use flat blades. __________________ Kevin Scrollsaw Patterns Online Making holes in wood with an EX-30, Craftsman 16" VS, Dremel 1680 and 1671

05-28-2008, 12:32 PM	#7
Pajaro Forever is a long time Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: If it ain't Texas, it Just ain't livin. Posts: 2,047 Blog Entries: 1	Stick with FD blades. I had the same problem and thought it was me...... __________________ Pájaro Pete Hombre del pájaro www.pajarostudiowns.com Member " Scrollsaw Association of the world " Excalibur EX-21 fanatic One of the Chosen few "Never try to teach a pig to sing It is a waste of time and it annoys the pig. "

05-29-2008, 01:21 PM	#9
Rolf Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bellport, LI New York Posts: 2,808	PKC, Did you contact Olson? They should be made aware of the problem. I use mostly Olson blades (they are what I started with and I got used to them) But for spirals I only use the FD "new Spiral" series. Not because of breakage but because I have better control with them. As my scrolling skills improve I periodically try other manufacturers blades just to make sure I didn't "dismiss" a blade just because of my lack of skill. __________________ Rolf RBI G4 Hawk, Delta SS350 Philosophy "I don't know that I can't, therefore I can"

05-28-2008, 02:39 AM	#2
PKC Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 24	Olson spirial blades breaking I just recieved my order of Olson flatend spirial's and I couldn't wait to get back out into the shop. I put one of the spirial's in and before I could start to cut "SNAP" - Well I thought I put it in wrong - tried another - "SNAP" samething - Tried another - yep you r right - "SNAP" even before I moved the wood to cut. I finally got the next one to cut but it broke within six cuts. I have been using the Flying Dutcman blades and they did not do that. Is there a trick to using the Olson spirial's? I hope someone can give me some pointers Thanks

05-28-2008, 02:54 AM	#3
Huntter2022 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brockport,Ny Posts: 444	I used them and the same thing happen to me wasted more blades then I used I won't buy olsens David

05-28-2008, 03:01 AM	#4
PKC Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 24	Thanks David, I know I want buy anymore -

05-28-2008, 10:16 PM	#8
PKC Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 24	Thanks for the info everyone - Lucky788 - I had my saw set at a slow speed and they would break even befor I would start cutting - the break would be below the table - I am pretty sure I didn't have to much tenision on them - I put some Olson Crown tooth blades in and they have not broke yet

06-02-2008, 01:54 AM	#10
PKC Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 24	Rolf, I haven't contacted them as of yet - I will thoe - maybe they can give me some pointers on how to use them - I will buy the FD's from now on - they do cut good and I am use to them - I have several of the Olson's and I hate to just throw the aside and waste the money __________________ My Saw Is Making Dust

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