new too me

[minowevie]

Hi again, I have been pondering on my boobo. about the spirales being 2 blades twisted,. I just don't know about myself sometimes. I know for sure that, it, is only one blade that is twisted. but couldn't for the life of me . understand why I said that. soooo to my offence. sometimes I have 2 thoughts going on at the same time. I have been practicing with 2 blades wired together to make a wider kerf. and some how put the 2 thoughts together. I have been playing with a way to make veining essayer. with out the spiral. sooo Tony for give my bad advise, and I am so glad that Mike does correct me at times. or you may have gone on with the wrong information. we make mistakes, we are not mistakes. right. just feeling stupid.
IT is a B____ to get old. sometimes, I just forget , witch side of the envelop that the darn stamp goes on. your friend Evie

[Gill]

Evie, if that's the worst mistake you ever make on this forum, you're doing well .

Don't beat yourself up about it - it's not worth it and you don't deserve it.

Gill

[guitarman]

I used to hate the spiral blades but since I got the new one's from Mike I do a lot of cutting with them. I'd say about half of what I cut now is with spirals. David

[smw6442]

I did my first picture using the scroll saw and i tried the spiral blades for the first time.. i uses the new FD sprial blades i used the 2/0 and the 3 both worked great for me.. took a bit getting use to but over all they worked well.. cant wait to do another one and use them again.. Great for detail work steve

[Bill Wilson]

Don't give it another moments thought Evie. You have provided a wealth of information, advice and inspiration for this forum for as long as I've been here. You are more than entitled to a little goof now and then.

Now, as for your spelling.........

Just kidding, don't change a thing!

[treslakter]

I second Bill Wilson on this! And you're definitely not the only one here "mixing abilities". I think it has something to do with the year one is born - and the day in the month. The difference when it comes to months can probably explain why I'm a little lazy, what can't be said of you!

Keep lifting your friends hearts Evie!

[lucky788scroller]

So back to your question, and sorry Im late, you already recieved a lot of great advice and opinions, but I'll offer my opinion too. A number 3 spiral seems huge for cutting on 1/4th inch plywood, especially if you are planning to cut a single thickness. I strongly suggest you stack cut, you will find it much easier to control your cut, and will end up with multipe cuttings for not much more effort (you'll always find someone that will want one after seeing your cutting, so you are ahead of the game because of stack cutting).As for a #3 spiral size, the only thing I would use them for is possibly a thick veining line. I find using a 2/0 spiral works equally as good and sometimes even better in a couple layers of 1/8th inch ply as they do in 3/4th inch red oak than any of the larger sizes.It doesnt seem like that could be possible, but when you really think about it, there is some logic in that, because,wether its a 2/0 or a number 3,they both have to cut a wide path in every direction, so to follow a line using a 2/0 you are removing less wood, so you dont have to work it as hard as if trying to hog out the cut with a #3. It seems minute, but when your thinking about the amount of wood you are removing in 3/4th inch thick wood, theres quite a bit of difference.I think a 2/0 will cut straighter than a 3 in hardwoods simply because its thinner, and can cut through a smaller kerf, so it wont have as much of a tendancy to try cutting to the softer grains instead of following the line.
Expect a much rougher cut surface than with a flat blade, theres not much you can do about that.I would recommend running your saw as fast as you can handle, I find it easier to control the cut with spirals if running the saw fast.
Although I much prefer flat blades, the spirals do have their place. For cutting portrait type cuts, where theres a lot of jaggedy areas to be cut, they are great.On any pattern where you can look at the finished piece and not know that you went off the pattern line a little, they are good, but not good for things like the clock on the front of the newest sswc, where things need to be symmetrical and precise, or it will look like hell. Spirals are great for wide veining , bad for long straight cuts. And dont try cutting out a puzzle with a spiral, the kerf is way to fat for that! Spirals are great for pieces that are to wide to spin on your saw with a regular blade, but no good for compound cutting.
Many of those things were already addressed,and although a lot of folks despise them, they do have a place. They can be a really fun change of pace to use, so dont be afraid to give them a try, and get some 2/0 and try those, I think you would like them much more then you will like the #3.