Stack cutting and blade size. - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

Capt Weasel · 12-07-2006, 10:55 AM

I've noticed people on here say they stack cut four pieces of 1/8" BB and cut it with a 2/0 spiral. I can't seem to get that to work. I have to cut that with a #1 spiral and the blades last about 30-45 minutes. Whats up with that? Why can they but not me? I'd prefer to use a 2/0 due to the size especially when cutting close lines. I have a 788, cut on 5 1/2 speed and blades are FD-NS. My feed rate varies on blade newness/sharpness. Is my speed to high? If I used a 2/0 my cutting time would slow way down and blades wouldn't last long at all it seems and I'd end up using twice the amount of blades I use now.
Just wondering how can ya'll and not me can cut with a 2/0 spiral on 1/2" BB.

Rolf · 12-07-2006, 12:34 PM

Your blade life sounds about right. I cut 1/2 material all the time with the 2/0 spiral. I stack cut 1/16 ply for my ornaments. If they have a lot of large veining I use the 2/0. Most of the time I use a straight 2/0 or 2.
Your feed rate has to be adjusted accordingly. I have a RBI Hawk and very rarely vary my cutting speed when changing blades but tension is critical.

PuzzledMoose · 12-07-2006, 02:58 PM

I don't know if spiral blades last for any longer or shorter time than reverse tooth blades but cutting 1/2 inch oak I change a No: 3 blade about every thirty minutes ... I would imagine cutting 1/2 total of ply would be harder on the blade due to the glue in the ply? Someone correct me if this is wrong ...

lucky788scroller · 12-08-2006, 02:06 AM

I use a 2/0 spiral on 5/8th inch thick solid red oak, and can easily get 1/2 hour cutting time from the blade. same blade too. Dale

Capt Weasel · 12-08-2006, 02:33 AM

Seems like it would take forever to cut that oak with a 2/0. I can't seem to make any satisfactory progress with a 2/0 on the 1/2"BB. It'll cut but takes forever and a day to get any significant progress made in production. I might try it tomorrow on a slower speed and time it and compare to the #1. The #1 cuts good and is sturdy enough to "shave" the edges in spots where you can't with safety but a 2/0 would be better for tight spots. Then again I could use my head a little for a change and use them both as tools for the job. Like a flat and phillips screwdriver, proper tool for the job. Tight spot, use a 2/0. Long cuts with shaving needs, use the #1.

lucky788scroller · 12-08-2006, 02:52 AM

Capt. ...for spirals I found that using a 2/0 is better in anything. It makes a smaller kerf, so less force is needed to cut with it as compared to #1 .No matter which size you use, you still have to remove as much wood as the diameter of the blade to make a cut, so removing less is more . I think my saws on 6 or so when I am spiralizing. Dale

Capt Weasel · 12-10-2006, 10:37 AM

Tried a 2/0 on latest work and to my surprise it did well. I think I had a bad time once and that was why I wrote them off as inadaquete. They did fine and I think they almost lasted as long if not longer than the #1. Although I couldn't "shave" down to a line or smooth out a spot with them as good as I can with a #1 but that's due to the size and rigidity of the thicker blade. I seemed to have a little more control with the #1 but that might just because I'm used to the feel of the #1 instead of the light 2/0. Good to know that if I get in a pinch I can use the 2/0 or use them for the neurosurgery pieces.

bandit · 07-08-2007, 04:12 PM

When I was starting out scroll-sawing I had read that a blade can last from 5 second to 5 minutes of being sharp. I have had a lot of 5 second blades so don't feel lonely it happens to me too.

sonic · 03-23-2008, 07:27 PM

hi there could you show some of your work with spiral blades?

3_M · 03-23-2008, 08:50 PM

Remember when cutting any wood what has glue, like BB, blades will not last as long as in other woods. Glue heats the blades.
Mike

12-07-2006, 12:34 PM	#2
Rolf Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bellport, LI New York Posts: 3,095	Your blade life sounds about right. I cut 1/2 material all the time with the 2/0 spiral. I stack cut 1/16 ply for my ornaments. If they have a lot of large veining I use the 2/0. Most of the time I use a straight 2/0 or 2. Your feed rate has to be adjusted accordingly. I have a RBI Hawk and very rarely vary my cutting speed when changing blades but tension is critical. __________________ Rolf RBI G4 Hawk, Delta SS350 Philosophy "I don't know that I can't, therefore I can" Proud Member of the Long Island Scrollsaw Association

12-07-2006, 02:58 PM	#3
PuzzledMoose Newly Customized Moose Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Truro, Nova Scotia Posts: 2,603	I don't know if spiral blades last for any longer or shorter time than reverse tooth blades but cutting 1/2 inch oak I change a No: 3 blade about every thirty minutes ... I would imagine cutting 1/2 total of ply would be harder on the blade due to the glue in the ply? Someone correct me if this is wrong ... __________________ Ian Scrolling with a Dewalt 788

03-23-2008, 08:50 PM	#10
3_M Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Brandon, SD Posts: 674	Remember when cutting any wood what has glue, like BB, blades will not last as long as in other woods. Glue heats the blades. Mike __________________ Home of the FD Blades

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12-07-2006, 10:55 AM	#1
Capt Weasel Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 249	Stack cutting and blade size. I've noticed people on here say they stack cut four pieces of 1/8" BB and cut it with a 2/0 spiral. I can't seem to get that to work. I have to cut that with a #1 spiral and the blades last about 30-45 minutes. Whats up with that? Why can they but not me? I'd prefer to use a 2/0 due to the size especially when cutting close lines. I have a 788, cut on 5 1/2 speed and blades are FD-NS. My feed rate varies on blade newness/sharpness. Is my speed to high? If I used a 2/0 my cutting time would slow way down and blades wouldn't last long at all it seems and I'd end up using twice the amount of blades I use now. Just wondering how can ya'll and not me can cut with a 2/0 spiral on 1/2" BB.

12-08-2006, 02:06 AM	#4
lucky788scroller Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: wisconsin Posts: 6,354	I use a 2/0 spiral on 5/8th inch thick solid red oak, and can easily get 1/2 hour cutting time from the blade. same blade too. Dale

12-08-2006, 02:33 AM	#5
Capt Weasel Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 249	Seems like it would take forever to cut that oak with a 2/0. I can't seem to make any satisfactory progress with a 2/0 on the 1/2"BB. It'll cut but takes forever and a day to get any significant progress made in production. I might try it tomorrow on a slower speed and time it and compare to the #1. The #1 cuts good and is sturdy enough to "shave" the edges in spots where you can't with safety but a 2/0 would be better for tight spots. Then again I could use my head a little for a change and use them both as tools for the job. Like a flat and phillips screwdriver, proper tool for the job. Tight spot, use a 2/0. Long cuts with shaving needs, use the #1.

12-08-2006, 02:52 AM	#6
lucky788scroller Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: wisconsin Posts: 6,354	Capt. ...for spirals I found that using a 2/0 is better in anything. It makes a smaller kerf, so less force is needed to cut with it as compared to #1 .No matter which size you use, you still have to remove as much wood as the diameter of the blade to make a cut, so removing less is more . I think my saws on 6 or so when I am spiralizing. Dale

12-10-2006, 10:37 AM	#7
Capt Weasel Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 249	Tried a 2/0 on latest work and to my surprise it did well. I think I had a bad time once and that was why I wrote them off as inadaquete. They did fine and I think they almost lasted as long if not longer than the #1. Although I couldn't "shave" down to a line or smooth out a spot with them as good as I can with a #1 but that's due to the size and rigidity of the thicker blade. I seemed to have a little more control with the #1 but that might just because I'm used to the feel of the #1 instead of the light 2/0. Good to know that if I get in a pinch I can use the 2/0 or use them for the neurosurgery pieces.

07-08-2007, 04:12 PM	#8
bandit Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Alton, IL Posts: 36	When I was starting out scroll-sawing I had read that a blade can last from 5 second to 5 minutes of being sharp. I have had a lot of 5 second blades so don't feel lonely it happens to me too.

03-23-2008, 07:27 PM	#9
sonic Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 4	hi there could you show some of your work with spiral blades?