18 inch Masterforce scrollsaw - help needed

[Jack P.Titter]

My name is Jack and I tend to spend most of my time working on intarsia. I have been working with a scroll saw since I retired in 2002 and have recently purchased a new 18 inch Masterforce scrollsaw. This machine claims to have a quick change aparatus ,which is a thumb screw, up and down, to lock the blade in place. However, I have found that for the most part the screwing action tends to spin the blade out from under the screw and I have to spend almost as much time fooling with the blade as before on my old Delta without the quick change. Does anyone know of a "true" replacement quick change device that will work on my saw? and if so, where can I get a couple?

post copied here by jim_mex

[ncsealeveler]

Scroll Saw Retrofit Items Might find something here.Tony

[lucky788scroller]

The reason your having that trouble is because the little thumbscrews on that saw do not have an end on them similar to that of the dewalt thumbscrews. So when your tightening the screw against the blade, its trying to twist the blade as it gets tight. Heres one thing you can try. Im not sure if it will work, but I'm interested to know if it helps some.Slip a small piece of paper between the blade and the screw as you snug it down.That may allow you to tighten the screw up without it bending the blade or causing it to pop out. As for a better fix, I cant think of one right offhand.I believe the Masterforce saw is available at Menards, and if I think of it the next time I go there, I will bring along one of my thumbscrews from my Dewalt and try threading it in their Masterforce floor model to see if the threads are the same. If they are the same, and the thumbscrew seems to fit without hitting anything (the dewalt thumbscrew gripping part is a bit larger), that may be a good solution.Give the piece of paper a try and let me know if that helped at all.