Spiral problem

[minowevie]

Originally Posted by Capt Weasel

Working on a pattern that has veins and requires me to use a spiral to eliminate the drill hole. My problem is that is takes me forever to get the spiral locked in at the blade clamp. I cannot seem to get them to flatten out on the ends so they'll hold. Blade keeps coming out and they end up breaking before I get some good use out of them. I went through a dozen when it should've taken a 1/3 of that. Granted they are 2/0 blades but they still will not flatten out and hold. Am I missing something or is there a trick I haven't thought of? I'll get 1 out of 5 to flatten early and hold and thats it. I'll tighten the clamp tension down and they still slip out the back or front. This is causing me aggravation and taking up way to much time. Help please!

Hi Capt sounds like you have had the same probleam i have had too. the first thing i would say is. you can cut your vains (first) with a flat blade. then follow up with a spirale blade. If your willing to do those, blade changes. then i would say . a spirale is twisted. an when i take my blade out of the top clamp, it is hard to get back into the clamp becouse it is twisted or bent. I try to staighten it out with pliers an hold it to get it into the top clamp. what a bummer. lots of work huh. so what i have been doing is. I take the blade out of the top clamp,then remove the work and the bottom clamp.take the blade out of the work, then tread my blade through the bottom of my work as usal,on the next whole. (but dont put the bottom clamp in yet ), then put the blade into the top clamp first. tighten it . then put it into my bottom clamp holder. you can even give it a twist to keep it the way it was before you took it out of the top clamp.for the twist does come undone. my scrollsaw has a top arm so i can hold it down to do this. then hold the top arm down like always an put the bottom clamp in. then if the tention is off i can tieten it up some. doing it, this way you can put the blade back into the top clamp the same way it came out. this has saved me lots of time an frustration. hope you understood this. your friend Evie

[lucky788scroller]

One more idea to try. This depends on what saw you have , but on my yella saws, I leave the blade in the bottom holder, and feed through the bottom of the wood. if the twist on the spiral puts it so the clamp is compressing the blade, instead of actually clamping on it properly, I slide my tensioning lever over a tick or two, raising the arm enough to get the blade clamp screw in a position that will effectively hold the blade, without crimping or smashing the blade, or having it wiggle its way out as the screw is tightened. Once the blade is snugged up with the thumbscrew, i then add the proper amount of tension and shes ready for cutting. As for proper amount of tension its mainly by feel,experience, or lack there-of some say. I never really pay attention to what number on the tensioning lever I actually am going to, because rarely does it go to the same spot each time you tension, or change blades. Go by feel for that. I hope youve got it working now, let us know. Dale