Page 8
OPERATION
CHOICE OF BLADE AND SPEED
The scroll saw accepts a wide variety of blade widths and thicknesses for cutting wood and other fibrous materials. Your saw
uses 5 in. long blades of either the pin end or the plain end style. The blade width and thickness and the number of teeth per
inch to use are determined by the type of material and the size of the radius being cut.
Note:
As a general rule, always select narrow blades for intricate curve cutting and wide blades for straight and large curve
cutting.
BLADE INFORMATION
■
Scroll saw baldes wear out and must be replaced frequently
for best cutting results. Scroll saw blades generally stay
sharp for 1/2 hour to 2 hours of cutting, depending on type
of material and speed of operation.
■
In cutting wood, best results are achieved when cutting
wood less than one inch thick.
■
When cutting wood thicker than one inch, the user must
guide the workpiece very slowly into the blade and take
extra care not to bend or twist the blade while cutting.
■
When choosing a blade, carefully consider the following:
• Very fine, narrow blades should be used to scroll cut in
thin material 1/4 in. (6mm) thick or less.
• Most blade packages state the size or thickness and type
of material which that blade is intended to cut. The
package should also state the radius or size of curve that
can be cut with that blade size.
• Wider blades cannot cut curves as tight or as small as
thinner blades.
■
Blades wear faster when:
• Cutting plywood, hardwood, and other laminates.
• Cutting material thicker than 3/4 in. (19mm).
• Side pressure is applied to the blade.
Fig. 11
Teeth/Inch
Width
Thickness
Speed or Strokes
Per Minute
Material Cut
10
15
18
.110 in.
(2.8 mm)
.110 in.
(2.8 mm)
.095 in.
(2.4mm)
.020 in.
(0.5 mm)
.020 in.
(0.5 mm)
.010 in.
(0.3 mm)
1200-1450
850-1200
600-850
25mm (1”) and 52mm (2”) hard / soft wood,
plywood, etc.
25-38mm (1-11/2”) hard / soft wood, bone,
paper, felt, plastic, etc.
2-19mm (3/32-3/4) hard / soft wood, bone,
horn, plastic, etc.
USING VARIABLE SPEED
See Figure 11.
■
By turning the variable speed knob, the saw’s speed may
be adjusted from a high speed of approximately 1600 SPM
(Strokes Per Minute) to a low speed of approximately 600
SPM.
■
To increase the strokes per minute, turn the variable speed
knob clockwise or to the right.
■
To decrease the strokes per minute, turn the variable speed
knob counterclockwise or to the left.
