Blades for thick wood...Help... - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

mowerman1193 · 09-13-2009, 11:35 PM

A co-worker of my wife's is getting married and my wife wants me to make a gift for a wedding present. So I knew what that would be ( Sylvias wedding cross & rings )..Wife wanted it to be different than the others I have made and wanted to go with me to pick out the wood..Ends up picking out 1" Zebra wood..

Now I know I have not done any cutting since last March/April..and I have never cut Zebra wood either..let alone 1" think, LOL I cut out the base the other day and it felt like it took me the whole day too, LOL really was only probably an hour or less but dang it was slow..

So my ? is what would be a good blade for this project? I mostly use FD blades but sometimes I slip off to the Olsen side from time to time..So far I had tried these blades..

Olsen PGT Skip Rev. #7
FD Ultra Reverse #5 & #7
FD Reverse #5

The worst blade by far was the Olsen
The best blade so far was the Ultra Rev. #7...which is probably what I will keep working with unless you all have a secret blade that would be much better, LOL

Thanks for any advice,
Kevin

ubgoofy2003 · 09-14-2009, 12:09 AM

Kevin, I haven't used the ultra yet, but, you do need to remove as much wood as you can with that thick of a piece. (I would think). I have cut one inch oak with a #5 polar & worked OK. I have heard good things about the ultra reverse, so, that may be your best bet. Good Luck Perk

wood-n-things · 09-14-2009, 12:57 AM

I made that exact piece out of chestnut and it is 5/4 stock.

I cut it with the #7 UR From FD. Worked great. Mine is in my album.
http://www.scrollsawer.com/gallery/s...23/ppuser/3584

Jim McDonald · 09-14-2009, 12:58 AM

Kevin:
Never used the UR 7, but I love cutting with the #5UR and for inch thick Zebra, I think I'd stick with the #7.

Lots of luck and don't forget the pics. Sylvia's cross out of Zebra should be beautiful.

Here's mine in 3/4" oak. Cut largely with the #5UR: http://www.scrollsawer.com/gallery/s...0/ppuser/10506

3_M · 09-14-2009, 01:25 AM

Kevin,The UR # 7 would be mine choice. Let us know when it is done.Mike

mowerman1193 · 09-14-2009, 01:59 AM

Thanks for the replies everyone,

I was thinking that I am getting low on some of my blades and thought about ordering some FD UR #9..I do not cut much of the thicker wood often..(mostly 1/8" - 3/8) I bought the #7 blades last year for the same cutting for my wife's anniversary gift. I cut it out of 7/8" Purple Heart.. Here it is in my gallery

Cross & Wedding Rings - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Photo Gallery

Note: I gave it to her in time if you happen to see the date on the picture, lol.. It just took me that long to get a picture, LOL

Mike, your cutting looks great! thanks for showing it..

Kevin

wood-n-things · 09-14-2009, 02:01 AM

Thanks Kevin...After seeing yours I wish I had made mine out of the purple heart..LOL You did very nice job. I too got mine done in the nick of time last year...LOL

tonybell96 · 09-14-2009, 02:22 AM

WoW! looks great, where did you buy the pattern?

wood-n-things · 09-14-2009, 02:50 AM

Tony the pattern is one our good friend Sylvia made a few years ago. Unfortunately she has been involved with life and not showing up as often as we would like.

Sorry i can't share the pattern with you...

tonybell96 · 09-14-2009, 03:09 AM

That is unfortunate, thanks for the quick reply. If she ever decides to make another please pass my name off to her....

09-13-2009, 11:35 PM	#1
mowerman1193 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bellevue Michigan Posts: 239	Blades for thick wood...Help... A co-worker of my wife's is getting married and my wife wants me to make a gift for a wedding present. So I knew what that would be ( Sylvias wedding cross & rings )..Wife wanted it to be different than the others I have made and wanted to go with me to pick out the wood..Ends up picking out 1" Zebra wood.. Now I know I have not done any cutting since last March/April..and I have never cut Zebra wood either..let alone 1" think, LOL I cut out the base the other day and it felt like it took me the whole day too, LOL really was only probably an hour or less but dang it was slow.. So my ? is what would be a good blade for this project? I mostly use FD blades but sometimes I slip off to the Olsen side from time to time..So far I had tried these blades.. Olsen PGT Skip Rev. #7 FD Ultra Reverse #5 & #7 FD Reverse #5 The worst blade by far was the Olsen The best blade so far was the Ultra Rev. #7...which is probably what I will keep working with unless you all have a secret blade that would be much better, LOL Thanks for any advice, Kevin __________________ mowerman1193

09-14-2009, 12:57 AM	#3
wood-n-things Behave Yourself..I can't. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Right here ---silly Posts: 4,478 Blog Entries: 1	I made that exact piece out of chestnut and it is 5/4 stock. I cut it with the #7 UR From FD. Worked great. Mine is in my album. http://www.scrollsawer.com/gallery/s...23/ppuser/3584 __________________ The Mike One of them anyway. Don't be so open-minded. Your brains will fall out!

09-14-2009, 12:58 AM	#4
Jim McDonald Workin' for the Weekend Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: On the Other Side of the Monitor Posts: 946 Blog Entries: 6	Kevin: Never used the UR 7, but I love cutting with the #5UR and for inch thick Zebra, I think I'd stick with the #7. Lots of luck and don't forget the pics. Sylvia's cross out of Zebra should be beautiful. Here's mine in 3/4" oak. Cut largely with the #5UR: http://www.scrollsawer.com/gallery/s...0/ppuser/10506 __________________ 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." Last edited by Jim McDonald; 09-14-2009 at 03:26 AM. Reason: adding photo link

09-14-2009, 01:59 AM	#6
mowerman1193 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bellevue Michigan Posts: 239	Thanks for the replies everyone, I was thinking that I am getting low on some of my blades and thought about ordering some FD UR #9..I do not cut much of the thicker wood often..(mostly 1/8" - 3/8) I bought the #7 blades last year for the same cutting for my wife's anniversary gift. I cut it out of 7/8" Purple Heart.. Here it is in my gallery Cross & Wedding Rings - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Photo Gallery Note: I gave it to her in time if you happen to see the date on the picture, lol.. It just took me that long to get a picture, LOL Mike, your cutting looks great! thanks for showing it.. Kevin __________________ mowerman1193

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

09-14-2009, 12:09 AM	#2
ubgoofy2003 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 490	Kevin, I haven't used the ultra yet, but, you do need to remove as much wood as you can with that thick of a piece. (I would think). I have cut one inch oak with a #5 polar & worked OK. I have heard good things about the ultra reverse, so, that may be your best bet. Good Luck Perk

09-14-2009, 01:25 AM	#5
3_M Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Brandon, SD Posts: 629	Kevin,The UR # 7 would be mine choice. Let us know when it is done.Mike __________________ Home of the FD Blades

09-14-2009, 02:01 AM	#7
wood-n-things Behave Yourself..I can't. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Right here ---silly Posts: 4,478 Blog Entries: 1	Thanks Kevin...After seeing yours I wish I had made mine out of the purple heart..LOL You did very nice job. I too got mine done in the nick of time last year...LOL __________________ The Mike One of them anyway. Don't be so open-minded. Your brains will fall out!

09-14-2009, 02:22 AM	#8
tonybell96 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 20	WoW! looks great, where did you buy the pattern?

09-14-2009, 02:50 AM	#9
wood-n-things Behave Yourself..I can't. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Right here ---silly Posts: 4,478 Blog Entries: 1	Tony the pattern is one our good friend Sylvia made a few years ago. Unfortunately she has been involved with life and not showing up as often as we would like. Sorry i can't share the pattern with you... __________________ The Mike One of them anyway. Don't be so open-minded. Your brains will fall out!

09-14-2009, 03:09 AM	#10
tonybell96 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 20	That is unfortunate, thanks for the quick reply. If she ever decides to make another please pass my name off to her....