Foot switch - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

Fremmed · 06-06-2009, 09:25 PM

Haven't been using my saw much lately. The speed was running crazy, from full speed to nearly stopped. I finally took a look at it. First thought was the bushings, but they were great. Then I noticed a burning electric smell from the power switch. Bingo. The leads were almost too hot to touch and the plastic sleeve was starting to melt. Bypassed the switch, plugged it in, ran like a charm.

Now here's my question to the group. Once I replace the power switch I'm going to pick up a foot switch from Harbor Freight. What's your opinion, touch on/off or dead man switch?

Jim McDonald · 06-06-2009, 10:26 PM

Dead Man.
You don't want to have to tap the switch to make the saw stop. Just slide your foot off and presto--no motion.

Mick Walker · 06-06-2009, 10:47 PM

Kevin, would depend if you stand or sit while cutting. Standing you don't want to have to hold one foot down on the switch. I stand and have an on/off switch attached to the saw stand at knee height. Just bump it with my knee to turn the saw on or off. Sitting I would use the deadman switch.

Chase · 06-07-2009, 12:33 AM

Mick, thats a good,no make that great, idea. I don't use a foot switch (except for my drill) for that very reason. I'm going to try your method. I do all my scrolling standing up and you make sense. What kind of switch do you use?

Chase

Wood Dog · 06-07-2009, 02:47 AM

Dead Man......I sit

Mick Walker · 06-07-2009, 03:04 AM

Chase, my switch is an on/off foot switch that you press and release to turn on, press and release to turn off or in my case bump it with a knee. You plug the switch into an outlet and plug your saw into the switch. The dead man switch mentioned you have to hold it down with your foot to turn it on, release your foot to turn it off. Seems like it would be very tiresome to hold it down all the while you are sawing, maybe not as it would be just like stepping on a gas pedal in a car. I purchased mine from woodworking tools, cabinet hardware, router bits, power tools, Woodworkers Supply, cabinet hinges, drawer slides, woodworking supplies, drawer pulls, hinges - woodworker.com Item # 108-815. They are now $23.19

KtownScroller · 06-07-2009, 05:44 AM

What Mick said. Very good advice!

JimSawyer · 06-07-2009, 10:29 PM

Mick, When you're sitting, the weight of your foot is enough. It's easier than a gas pedal.
BTW, I use a deadman, (or, "momentary on"), switch and I scroll sitting down.
...huh, I just realized that my footswitch is 18 years old. Wow, best $20 I ever spent.

Okie_Arkie_Wood_Cutter · 06-08-2009, 01:27 AM

Dead man here, my wife will tell you it is me, and not the switch. LOL

I sit and I refuse to cut anything with out my switch. In fact my old one broke down last year and I did not cut a single thing until I had a new switch in place.

scrollpup · 06-08-2009, 05:14 AM

Just for being a cheapskate type person I am, I bought a touch on/off switch from my local "Big Lots" today for five bucks (supposed to be for Christmas lights) that works great on my De Walt 788. I just hope it lasts longer than one season

Jerry

06-06-2009, 09:25 PM	#1
Fremmed Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA Posts: 840	Foot switch Haven't been using my saw much lately. The speed was running crazy, from full speed to nearly stopped. I finally took a look at it. First thought was the bushings, but they were great. Then I noticed a burning electric smell from the power switch. Bingo. The leads were almost too hot to touch and the plastic sleeve was starting to melt. Bypassed the switch, plugged it in, ran like a charm. Now here's my question to the group. Once I replace the power switch I'm going to pick up a foot switch from Harbor Freight. What's your opinion, touch on/off or dead man switch? __________________ The Journey is the Reward Kevin

06-06-2009, 10:26 PM	#2
Jim McDonald Workin' for the Weekend Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: On the Other Side of the Monitor Posts: 940 Blog Entries: 6	Dead Man. You don't want to have to tap the switch to make the saw stop. Just slide your foot off and presto--no motion. __________________ Jim Exuberance can be corrected; dullness is incurable. --E. Deters "Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."

06-06-2009, 10:47 PM	#3
Mick Walker Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Janesville, WI Posts: 1,335	Kevin, would depend if you stand or sit while cutting. Standing you don't want to have to hold one foot down on the switch. I stand and have an on/off switch attached to the saw stand at knee height. Just bump it with my knee to turn the saw on or off. Sitting I would use the deadman switch. __________________ Mick, - Delta P-20 The future ain't what it used to be.

06-07-2009, 12:33 AM	#4
Chase Seasoned WV Veteran Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia, Born/Raised WV Posts: 730	Mick, thats a good,no make that great, idea. I don't use a foot switch (except for my drill) for that very reason. I'm going to try your method. I do all my scrolling standing up and you make sense. What kind of switch do you use? Chase __________________ Chase---Cleverly Disguised As A Responsible Adult. Visit my album @ http://home.comcast.net/~chasesmeeks...-by-Chase.html and click on the album link.

06-07-2009, 02:47 AM	#5
Wood Dog Senior member--Absolutely Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: MA USA Posts: 3,445	Dead Man......I sit __________________ WD

06-07-2009, 03:04 AM	#6
Mick Walker Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Janesville, WI Posts: 1,335	Chase, my switch is an on/off foot switch that you press and release to turn on, press and release to turn off or in my case bump it with a knee. You plug the switch into an outlet and plug your saw into the switch. The dead man switch mentioned you have to hold it down with your foot to turn it on, release your foot to turn it off. Seems like it would be very tiresome to hold it down all the while you are sawing, maybe not as it would be just like stepping on a gas pedal in a car. I purchased mine from woodworking tools, cabinet hardware, router bits, power tools, Woodworkers Supply, cabinet hinges, drawer slides, woodworking supplies, drawer pulls, hinges - woodworker.com Item # 108-815. They are now $23.19 __________________ Mick, - Delta P-20 The future ain't what it used to be.

06-07-2009, 05:44 AM	#7
KtownScroller So much better :) Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: PA Posts: 2,662	What Mick said. Very good advice! __________________ - Rick

06-07-2009, 10:29 PM	#8
JimSawyer Laying into Inlay Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lincoln, RI Posts: 1,075	Mick, When you're sitting, the weight of your foot is enough. It's easier than a gas pedal. BTW, I use a deadman, (or, "momentary on"), switch and I scroll sitting down. ...huh, I just realized that my footswitch is 18 years old. Wow, best $20 I ever spent. __________________ Jim The limits of the imagination are imaginary. No task is too tedious for Art. Rock and Scroll My Website Featherwood Woodcrafts

06-08-2009, 01:27 AM	#9
Okie_Arkie_Wood_Cutter Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: SouthWest Arkansas Posts: 402	Dead man here, my wife will tell you it is me, and not the switch. LOL I sit and I refuse to cut anything with out my switch. In fact my old one broke down last year and I did not cut a single thing until I had a new switch in place. __________________ You can take the boy out of the hill country, but you can not take the hill country out of the boy. Okie's Cuttings and Patterns http://s210.photobucket.com/albums/bb24/okiearkie/ darrell, the okiearkie

06-08-2009, 05:14 AM	#10
scrollpup Avatar by Casey Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Hot Springs,Arkansas Posts: 1,732	Just for being a cheapskate type person I am, I bought a touch on/off switch from my local "Big Lots" today for five bucks (supposed to be for Christmas lights) that works great on my De Walt 788. I just hope it lasts longer than one season Jerry __________________ Two wrongs don't make a right....they just even the score...

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