Puzzle me this, Batman!

[Plainlinda]

Hi, scroll saw community! I have launched myself into a business and a world of power tools by accident. I make giant Hudson River Puzzles out of hardboard. They are 20' long put together; each piece is about a foot wide and 18" long; I have scanned Hudson River charts I trace onto each piece and until 3 days ago had been cutting the 1/8" hardboard w/ a jigsaw. I am a singer/guitarist with tendinitis in both elbows - this just keeps getting better, doesn't it? - so in trying to lessen the strain on my stupid LIMBS, I bought a skil scroll saw. WHEW. Here's the problem: blade breakage. I know there'll be a learning curve and all, but, jeez, I am breaking a blade on each piece I cut! Ahh! Any advice out there? Thank you!

[guitarman]

Welcome plainlinda, sorry you're having so much difficulty. One thing might be that the tension of the blade isn't right. It may need to be a little stronger and another thing is you may be pushing the wood a little too hard, especially on turns. There are other things that will cause so much brakage. The wrong blade could do it. On 1/8 thickness wood I suggest using a 2/0 reverse tooth blade and let the blade do the work. Get a good blade speed and take it easy. You will have more control of the cutting if you stack cut 1/8 thick wood. Maybe I've said something here that might help. I'm sure you'll be fine with a little more time using your saw. Good luck and again "welcome". David

[Sandy Oaks]

Hi Plainlinda,

Welcome to the fourm. Looks like David said it all. Welcome.

Denny

[Plainlinda]

Wow! Thanks for the speedy feedback! I will venture forth later today and check out different blades. Yeah, I was definitely pushing the board - but nothing was happening until I did! ~PL

[utbva]

Hi Plainlinda,

First of all, welcome to the forum. As large as your pieces are I would think that you are not making real small and sharp turns in the wood. I would think you might be better off using a little larger size blade such as a #3 or even #5 reverse tooth blades in that the 2/0 blades are quite small and easy to break. I use alot of 2/0 blades for making jigsaw puzzles but they have many small pieces with very tight turns. Perhaps if you could post some photos of your work that way we can tell a little better what you may need.

[minowevie]

Hi Linda, and welcome to the forum. breaking blades can be a bother for sure. but there is many reasons why. tension the way to tighten the blades , and the speed you are trying to cut at. and just bad blades. for sure. I would ask, where are the blades braking? are they breaking on the clamp. or the middle or where. the tention, how much bend in the blade is there. hopefully you are tightening it to just give maybe a 1/8 sideways bend, or front to back. and also. how fast are you going. speed is great if you can handle it. and it does seam to burn the blade if you are going really fast, and pushing. remmber, the blade only goes up and down. you move the wood. one way to see if you are pushing to much is to . do a cut, and as you go along, stop. and watch the blade, does it seam to want to catch up. if this is true. it is ok. but if you try to turn fast, and the blade is behind where you wont to turn. like a corner, or v shape. it might bend . but mostly, in my case, it is in the clamping. some times we crank it down so tight, that it bends the blade at the clamping point. or if it is breaking at the point where it is in the wood. maybe it is getting hot. I find if I go so fast, the blade heats up. and burns. making it weak. there will be a color on that part that will let you know this. kinda a blue color. then when you make a tight turn, it will break. maybe your tention might be to tight. that will burn, and break a blade too. or just putting the blade on. after puttin it through the hole, if you bend it at all. this is a reason for a blade to break. I am brutil with my blades, but just be cairfull not to kink them. I have used big blades in thin wood, and small blades in thick wood. it don't matter. but heat does, and tention. and clamping. just my 2 cents. your new friend Evie

[turningnut]

Linda,

Well, what Evie, guitarman and bill said on the blades breaking I'm new also and it takes practice to get the hang of feeding the wood, I tend to push a bit too hard and I really have to watch not to push sideways also....Welcome to the forum, if you have time to read and search this place, there is probably not much you can't learn and have fun doing it.

[greatdane2]

I try to check myself as cutting, just lighten up on holding the wood and see if the blade pushes the wood towards me. if so I am pushing to hard. if the wood moves sideways then I am pushing to the side too much.

Alan.