Spiral Blades - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

dude60 · 02-12-2009, 09:50 PM

I am cutting a Jeff Zaffino pattern using 2/0 spiral blades.The cutting is going well the only problem I have is the blades are hard to clamp in lower clamp.Because of the spiral they bend or break off some times, if they bend they are hard to feed though the tiny holes. Is there a trick or method to take the twist out of the bottom of blades.I am stack cutting 3 pieces of 1/8 baltic birch plywood,my saw is a Dewalt. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Wayne

NRscroller · 02-13-2009, 12:49 AM

Call Mike at Mikes workshop, the Flying Dutchman are the only ones with straight ends. I have never used spiral blades but I know that he has them

JMay · 02-13-2009, 12:54 AM

You can put the ends in a vice or try and flatten them with a hammer hitting against something hard. Im using the flying dutchman new spirals and they don't some with flatted ends and the ones Mike has on his site with flattened ends don't come in a number 2

mowerman1193 · 02-13-2009, 01:30 AM

I use two pairs of needle nose pliers and grip close to where the teeth are and the other one on the very end and untwist them like this on each end..I sure wish they would make them all with flat ends...I would pay a little more for them if I had to just for the ease of putting them in the saw...

Kevin

Bill Wilson · 02-13-2009, 06:56 PM

Olson carries a #2 flat end spiral. I just got some a couple weeks ago. Haven't used them yet, but wanted to have them on hand for the next time I need spirals.

I agree that untwisting and clamping regular spirals is a major pain. I found that hammering them flat weakened them to the point that one too many taps with the tack hammer and they would break. Taking two pair of pliers and untwisting them seemed to work the best, but still tedious and time consuming. I went through several dozen on a project a couple years ago, breaking more than I dulled through use. It was a tremendously frustrating ordeal and I vowed never to use regular spirals again. I haven't had a need for them yet, but am kind of anxious to try the new flat ends.

dude60 · 02-14-2009, 01:06 PM

Thank you for your suggestions I will give them all a try and see which one works the best for me.
Thanks Wayne

KtownScroller · 02-14-2009, 08:18 PM

I would be afraid to hammer or twist spiral blades or any blade for that matter. The blades are hardened and somewhat fragile.

Haggard3230 · 02-15-2009, 01:42 AM

I do the same as Kevin, I use needle nose and jewelers pliers to straighten. Don't have any breakage either.
Merle

02-12-2009, 09:50 PM	#1
dude60 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 20	Spiral Blades I am cutting a Jeff Zaffino pattern using 2/0 spiral blades.The cutting is going well the only problem I have is the blades are hard to clamp in lower clamp.Because of the spiral they bend or break off some times, if they bend they are hard to feed though the tiny holes. Is there a trick or method to take the twist out of the bottom of blades.I am stack cutting 3 pieces of 1/8 baltic birch plywood,my saw is a Dewalt. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Wayne

02-13-2009, 12:54 AM	#3
JMay Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Port-Perry, Ontario Posts: 159	You can put the ends in a vice or try and flatten them with a hammer hitting against something hard. Im using the flying dutchman new spirals and they don't some with flatted ends and the ones Mike has on his site with flattened ends don't come in a number 2 __________________ Josh DEWALT 788

02-13-2009, 01:30 AM	#4
mowerman1193 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bellevue Michigan Posts: 239	I use two pairs of needle nose pliers and grip close to where the teeth are and the other one on the very end and untwist them like this on each end..I sure wish they would make them all with flat ends...I would pay a little more for them if I had to just for the ease of putting them in the saw... Kevin __________________ mowerman1193

02-13-2009, 06:56 PM	#5
Bill Wilson Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Butler, PA Posts: 590	Olson carries a #2 flat end spiral. I just got some a couple weeks ago. Haven't used them yet, but wanted to have them on hand for the next time I need spirals. I agree that untwisting and clamping regular spirals is a major pain. I found that hammering them flat weakened them to the point that one too many taps with the tack hammer and they would break. Taking two pair of pliers and untwisting them seemed to work the best, but still tedious and time consuming. I went through several dozen on a project a couple years ago, breaking more than I dulled through use. It was a tremendously frustrating ordeal and I vowed never to use regular spirals again. I haven't had a need for them yet, but am kind of anxious to try the new flat ends. __________________ "I'm a white male, aged 18 to 49. Everyone listens to me! No matter how dumb my suggestions are."

02-14-2009, 08:18 PM	#7
KtownScroller So much better :) Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: PA Posts: 2,662	I would be afraid to hammer or twist spiral blades or any blade for that matter. The blades are hardened and somewhat fragile. __________________ - Rick

02-13-2009, 12:49 AM	#2
NRscroller Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 71	Call Mike at Mikes workshop, the Flying Dutchman are the only ones with straight ends. I have never used spiral blades but I know that he has them __________________ DEWALT 788 and Hegner 18vs..... AND STILL CUTTIN IT UP!!!!

02-14-2009, 01:06 PM	#6
dude60 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 20	Thank you for your suggestions I will give them all a try and see which one works the best for me. Thanks Wayne

02-15-2009, 01:42 AM	#8
Haggard3230 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Riverton, KS on Route 66 Posts: 2,714	I do the same as Kevin, I use needle nose and jewelers pliers to straighten. Don't have any breakage either. Merle

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