"Fritz" wrote in message
...
OK and many thanks to the responses. I use a scroll saw very little
and mainly to cut 1mm aluminum templates. Working with large sheets
(12"x12") is no problem until I get to the edges. Small pieces (2"x2")
are really tough. I took the foot off and worked really slowly
yesterday with some improvement but still get a good kick once in a
while when doing a tight turn. If I get ambitious I will refabricate a
better hold down.

Couldn't you put the aluminum in between some hardboard or something? Put
some double sided tape on the peices to stabilize it as a unit. Do the
cutting and then take apart the layers.

I have dome this when bandsawing sheet metal. One nice thing about
hardboard is that one side is smooth and the other is textured. So you can
make your sandwich with the smooth side on the bottom and the textured side
on top. That way the sandwich moves smoothly on the metal table. And you
have some texture on top that helps you hang on to it with fingers.