4.9
ADJUSTING THE DROP FOOT
4.9.1 loosen the drop foot lock knob. see figure 4.
4.9.2 Position the drop foot so the saw blade is in its centre.
4.9.3 tighten the drop foot lock knob.
4.10 ADJUSTING BLADE TENSION. See Figure 9.
WARNING!
to avoid accidental starting which could result in serious injury, turn the saw
off, and unplug the saw from the power source.
4.10.1 turning the blade tension knob counterclockwise decreases (or loosens) blade tension.
4.10.2 turning the blade tension knob clockwise increases (or tightens) blade tension.
Note: You can adjust blade tension at any time. Check tension by the sound the blade
makes when plucked like a guitar string.
4.10.3 Pluck the back straight edge of the blade while turning the tension adjusting knob.
the sound should be a musical note. the sound becomes less flat as tension increases.
the sound level decreases with too much tension.
Note: Be careful not to adjust the blade too tight. Too much tension may cause the blade to
break as soon as you start cutting. Too little tension may cause the blade to bend or
break before the teeth wear out.
Fig. 9
A. to releAse
c. to tIGHten
B. BlAde tensIon KnoB
4.11 FITTING BLADES
scroll saw blades wear out quickly and must be replaced frequently for optimum cutting
results. expect to break some blades while you learn to use and adjust your saw. Blades
usually become dull after 1/2 hour to 2 hours of cutting, depending on the type of material and speed of operation. removing the saw
Blade:
4.11.1 turn off the saw and unplug it from the power source.
4.11.2 turn the blade tension knob counterclockwise to decrease (or loosen) blade tension. see figure 4.
4.11.3 Pushing up from under the saw table, remove the throat plate.
4.11.4 loosen both the upper and lower blade clamp screws with the t-handle hex key or by hand.
4.11.5 Pull up on the blade and push down on the saw arm to disengage the upper pins from the V-notch of the upper blade holder. Pull the
blade downward to disengage the lower pins from the V-notch of the lower blade holder.
4.11.6 Place the new blade through the opening in the saw table with the teeth to the front of the saw and pointing down towards the saw
table. the pins on the blade fit into the V-notch of the lower blade holder.
4.11.7 Pull up on the blade and press the upper arm down to position the pins of the blade in the V-notch in the upper blade holder.
4.11.8 securely tighten the upper and lower blade clamps with the t-handle hex key or by hand. turn the blade tension knob clockwise until
the blade has the desired amount of tension.
4.11.9 replace the throat plate.
Note: If the blade touches the drop foot on either side, then the drop foot must be adjusted. See section on Adjusting the Drop Foot.
5. OPERATION
5.1 OPERATION
Note: Before starting a cut, turn the saw on and listen to the sound it makes. If you notice excessive vibration or an unusual noise, stop the
saw immediately and unplug it. Do not restart the saw until you have located and corrected the problem.
Note: After the saw is turned on, a hesitation before blade movement is normal.
5.1.1 there is a learning curve for each person who uses this saw. during that period of time it is expected that some blades will
break until you learn how to use and adjust the saw correctly. Plan the way you will hold the workpiece from start to finish.
5.1.2 Keep your hands away from the blade. do not-hand hold pieces so small that your fingers would have to go under the drop foot.
5.1.3 Hold the workpiece firmly against the saw table.
5.1.4 the blade teeth cut the workpiece only on the down stroke. use gentle pressure and both hands when feeding the workpiece into the
blade. do not force the cut.
5.1.5 Guide the workpiece into the blade slowly because the blade teeth are very small and can only remove material on the down stroke.
Avoid awkward operations and hand positions where a sudden slip could cause serious injury from contact with the blade. never place
your hands in the blade path.
5.1.6 for accurate wood cuts, compensate for the blades tendency to follow the wood grain as you are cutting. use extra supports (table,
blocks, etc.) when cutting large, small or awkward workpieces.
5.1.7 never use another person as a substitute for a table extension or as an additional support for a workpiece that is longer or wider than
the basic saw table.
5.1.8 When cutting irregularly shaped workpieces, plan your cut so the workpiece will not pinch the blade. Workpieces must not twist, rock
or slip while being cut.
5.2
JAMMING OF SAW BLADE AND WORKPIECE
When backing out the workpiece, the blade may bind in the kerf (cut). this is usually caused by sawdust clogging the kerf or by the
blade coming out of the blade holders. If this happens:
5.2.1 Place the switch in the off position.
5.2.2 Wait until the saw has come to a full and complete stop. unplug the saw from the power source.
5.2.3 remove the blade and the workpiece, see section on removing the saw Blade.
5.2.4 Wedge the kerf open with a flat screwdriver or wooden wedge then remove the blade from the workpiece .
WARNING!
Before removing offcuts from the table, turn the saw off and wait for all moving parts to come to a full stop to avoid serious
personal injury.
Original Language Version
sM1302 Issue: 2 - 12/01/10
