First time scroll sawer
I just picked up a scroll saw from our local Homier tool show. The problem I
seem to be having is the blade seems to have a mind of its own and wanders off course. Straight cuts are no problem but when I try to cut curves the blade tends to turn at an angle to the cut I'm making and off course I go! I have the tension on the blade set to the specs of no more then 1/8" side movement. I "think" I'm feeding the stock slow enough, but the blade still bends and the cut starts to wander. Any suggestions? Thanks. |
I "think" I'm feeding the stock slow enough, but the blade still
bends and the cut starts to wander. Any suggestions? First question I have for you is what kind of blade are you using? As far as the "right" tension, it should sound like a high "C"....think of it as tuning the strings on a guitar. 1/8" side to side movement sounds like an awful lot to me although I never measure it. My first thought is that your blade isn't tensioned enough, not enough tension makes it virtually impossible to follow a line. It's something you get a feel for with experience. Just takes lots of practice, I've made a lot of nice scroll sawn firewood while learning. Hope this helps, Kevin Daly http://hometown.aol.com/page1.html |
I am with Kevin on the blade tension. 1/8 inch seems quite loose. Also =
one problem I had when starting out was unconsciously pushing from the = side of the stock into the blade instead of feeing the cuts from the = front. I don't know if this makes any since but I am to tired to = articulate it any better right now. Puff "Kevin Daly" wrote in message = ... I "think" I'm feeding the stock slow enough, but the blade still=20 bends and the cut starts to wander. Any suggestions?=20 =20 First question I have for you is what kind of blade are you using? As = far as the "right" tension, it should sound like a high "C"....think of it as = tuning the strings on a guitar. 1/8" side to side movement sounds like an = awful lot to me although I never measure it. My first thought is that your = blade isn't tensioned enough, not enough tension makes it virtually impossible to = follow a line. It's something you get a feel for with experience. Just takes = lots of practice, I've made a lot of nice scroll sawn firewood while learning. =20 Hope this helps, =20 Kevin Daly http://hometown.aol.com/page1.html |
I tighten up the tension on the blade and in keeping what Puff said about
feeding from the front and not pushing from the side made a world of difference. Far from a Pro but considerable improvement. THANKS |
MikeS wrote:
I just picked up a scroll saw from our local Homier tool show. The problem I seem to be having is the blade seems to have a mind of its own and wanders off course. Straight cuts are no problem but when I try to cut curves the blade tends to turn at an angle to the cut I'm making and off course I go! I have the tension on the blade set to the specs of no more then 1/8" side movement. I "think" I'm feeding the stock slow enough, but the blade still bends and the cut starts to wander. Any suggestions? Thanks. Increase tension. Blade quality is very important. I have had good luck with Blades from www.mikesworkshop.com He will even send free samples of the blades he sells. I am fairly new to scroll sawing. Some of my recent wooworking projects can be seen at http://rayr.150m.com/Woodwork2/woodwork2.html My scroll saw was used on most of them. |
Definitely you have some nice work there. Gives me incentive to keep trying!
|
MikeS wrote:
Definitely you have some nice work there. Gives me incentive to keep trying! Thanks, if you have any questions just ask. |
On Sun, 03 Oct 2004 12:18:48 -0700, Ray R
wrote: MikeS wrote: I just picked up a scroll saw from our local Homier tool show. The problem I seem to be having is the blade seems to have a mind of its own and wanders off course. Straight cuts are no problem but when I try to cut curves the blade tends to turn at an angle to the cut I'm making and off course I go! I have the tension on the blade set to the specs of no more then 1/8" side movement. I "think" I'm feeding the stock slow enough, but the blade still bends and the cut starts to wander. Any suggestions? Thanks. Increase tension. Blade quality is very important. I have had good luck with Blades from www.mikesworkshop.com He will even send free samples of the blades he sells. I am fairly new to scroll sawing. Some of my recent wooworking projects can be seen at http://rayr.150m.com/Woodwork2/woodwork2.html My scroll saw was used on most of them. Very good looking work Ray. If you're that new, you've come a long way quickly. For more specific help, there is a scrollsawyer forum at http://se.allthingswood.com/ which includes a mailing list. There is also the Scrollsaw Association of the World at http://www.saw-online.com. Membership is not required to see most of the website. Keep making sawdust, Bob McConnell N2SPP |
Ray R wrote in message ...
MikeS wrote: I just picked up a scroll saw from our local Homier tool show. The problem I seem to be having is the blade seems to have a mind of its own and wanders off course. Straight cuts are no problem but when I try to cut curves the blade tends to turn at an angle to the cut I'm making and off course I go! I have the tension on the blade set to the specs of no more then 1/8" side movement. I "think" I'm feeding the stock slow enough, but the blade still bends and the cut starts to wander. Any suggestions? Thanks. Increase tension. Blade quality is very important. I have had good luck with Blades from www.mikesworkshop.com He will even send free samples of the blades he sells. I am fairly new to scroll sawing. Some of my recent wooworking projects can be seen at http://rayr.150m.com/Woodwork2/woodwork2.html My scroll saw was used on most of them. Ray I don't believe you are new to scrollsawing I looked at your work and it's very impressive, too impressive for a beginner. |
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