Size blade

[Dragon]

I have been trying to cut through 1-1/2" thick pine. I am fed up already. I've used many different sizes and it takes me an hour to cut about an inch long. Obviously I am doing something wrong.
Please help before I throw it out the window.

[BobD]

I'd use the biggest blade you have and the highest speed you have. A skip-tooth blade will also speed it up....but whatever you use is going to take some time!

What are you cutting that is that thick? Would a bandsaw perhaps be a better tool to use? You can get 3/32"-wide bandsaw blades now... With a little practice, I can cut out a Judy Peterson-style puzzle on one!

Bob

[Dragon]

I am trying to cut a puzzle style piece. It has some turns so I can't use a large blade. I have an older bandsaw but it has a 1/4" blade which is useless for this. I've tryied and broke the blade. I can only get 1/8" blades for my bandsaw which I've ordered but they have not come yet.
The piece I'm cutting is 3 inches long and 1-1/2" square. I'm making two cuts on each side, 3D type. It is called a grandpa puzzle. I have one finished and it took me all day yesterday. The blade that I used then is finished and I don't have another one the same size. It was a sample.
I have a lot of skip reverse number 7. Other sizes are assorted ones.
The number 7 does not move at all.

[Greenfield_Bob]

Dragon is this what you are trying to cut?
I reduced the size of the pattern to 1 1/2", for me it was a lot easier to cut. I used a #5 Polar blade.

Bob

[Dragon]

That's what I'm trying to cut out of pine. But it's not working out too well. I'll go back to the saw for a while. Cutting since the morning and I have about one inch long done. I'm fed up.
I don't know what a polar blade is, I'll have to look it up on the chart. I have number 3, 5 and 7 skip tooth and that's not working.
Thanks.
Diane

[Jediscroller]

I cut compound ornament out of 1 1/2" thick douglas fir, mahogany and cedar using a #5 skip tooth blade. I've had good luck in 2" Padauk and Mahogany with #7 and #9 skip tooth blades so 1 1/2" pine shouldn't be too bad to cut with a #5 or #7 blade. It is slow going.

[Minnesota scroller]

Diane, something is definitely amiss. Are you sure the blade isn't in backwards? This can happen, Just for shits and giggles, I just ran a piece of pine 1 1/2" X 1 1/2" thru my dremel and it cut through in 45 seconds. I had my Dremel 1680 set at not quite half speed. Something is wrong somewhere if it's taking you an hour to cut thru an inch. Maybe your wood is petrified.

[Greenfield_Bob]

Dragon, another thing I do is wrap all 4 sides with clear packing tape.

Bob

[workin for wood]

Most of the wood I cut is at least 1 inch thick and several times harder than pine. I use #9 skips for everything and I can cut an eyeball 1/8 in diameter from 1" thick ebony in no time at all...I'm running that hawk about 1/2 speed.

[BobD]

Mike may have hit the nail on the head...if your blade is in upside down (something I do on a regular basis <GRIN>) it's going to cut so slow you'll swear that you were cutting hardened steel!

Bob