SCROLL SAW OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS
The scroll saw’s unique ability is cutting intricate curves which other saws cannot do. A scroll saw
can also be used for straight line cutting such as cross cuts, ripping and bevels,
The following is a list of points to remember when using a Scroll Saw.
1.
The saw does not cut wood by itself. You feed the workpiece into the blade, letting the blade
cut the wood as you move the piece ahead.
2.
You must guide the wood into the blade SLOWLY, because the teeth are very small, and cut
ONLY on the down stroke. If you push the wood into the blade too rapidly, you can easily
break the blade.
3.
Although the capacity of the saw accepts wood up to 40mm thick, better results are obtained
with wood no more than 20mm thick. For wood thicker than 20mm, you must guide the wood
into the blade
very slowly
, taking care not to bend or twist the blade.
4.
The teeth on the blade will wear out sooner or later. The blade must therefore be replaced
often to obtain the best cutting results. A blade will stay sharp for ½ hour to 2 hours of
continuous running, depending on the material being cut.
5.
Be aware that the blade has a tendency to follow the grain of the wood - the line of least
resistance. You can compensate for this by watching the grain carefully and
guiding
the
wood past the saw blade.
6.
If you are not familiar with scroll saws, there will naturally be a learning period - a period to
learn the saw itself, and a period to learn how the wood and saw work together. Expect
some blade breakages, Scroll Saw blades are fairly fragile - not the same types of blade you
find on a handsaw or circular saw.
STRAIGHT LINE CUTTING
A little practice will be necessary in order to create a straight line cut. This is due to the very
design and nature of the machine itself. The saw blade is quite fragile and due to several different
influences, will tend to wander off line. These influences include the following:
1.
Blade tension. A slack blade will naturally wander off line.
2.
Condition of the blade. A dull blade requires a greater effort to guide it through the work.
thereby tending to force it off line.
3.
Blade holders misaligned. The holders are secured with a single hex. socket head screw.
Slacken the screw and adjust the holder so as to align correctly. The blade should be in line
with the table, and not twisted.
CUTTING INTRICATE PATTERNS
One capability a scroll saw has that other saws do not, is cutting intricate patterns
inside
a
workpiece. To do this, you should adopt the following procedure.
1.
Drill a 1/4" hole in the middle of the workpiece, in a area which will not be a part of the
finished object.
2.
Switch off and unplug the machine from the supply.
3.
Remove the blade from the machine.
4.
Place the workpiece on the table, with the 1/4" hole over the access hole in the table.
5.
Replace the blade, through the hole in the workpiece, (teeth downwards), and Re-tension
the blade.
6.
Plug the saw back in. Check to ensure that the workpiece is not touching the blade before
switching ON.
When you are finished doing the work inside the workpiece, turn the saw off, unplug it, remove the
blade, remove the workpiece, reinstall the blade, and plug the saw back in.
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