How to put a blade on a scroll saw is more easily answered with a question about the proper procedure rather than with a question about how to use one. A scroll saw is basically a stationary reciprocating power saw which is ideal for fine work with thin materials. These saws have been used extensively for decades and their popularity means that they’re still being updated and modernized. They’re not only still used in woodworking shops, but also in professional woodworking machinery as well.
Many scroll saw projects involve building various models which repeat the same basic pattern. The most popular of these is probably the “ribbed-cut” pattern which is made by joining long, thin pieces of wood together in the same manner as ribs in a chicken. Another popular variation of the ribbed cut involves interlinking thinner pieces of wood together at different angles. This results in a cross-section, which resembles a bird’s nest.
The good news is that it’s possible to build your own scroll saw with standard Miter saw blades. It’s also possible to build scroll saws from other woodworking machinery like a table saw, planer or router plate. As long as you make sure that your blade is clean and sharp and that you use the appropriate blade adjustment tools, you should be able to accomplish basic scroll saw patterns. When learning how to put a blade in a scroll saw, you should start with several pieces of wood that are similar in size and thickness and which don’t have any visible veins on them. A small amount of wood shavings can serve to complete the pattern.
To set up your scroll saw, you will need some thin, straight boards and clamps of different sizes. A cross-cut saw can be used to perform this task. Set the saw’s tensioning controls to the recommended tension. Some saws feature blade tensioning control buttons located at the rear of the blade. The clamps must be placed directly over the blades for this to work properly.
After the clamps are in place, check the height of the scroll saw’s front teeth carefully. The tooth should be an inch or less from the surface of the boards that you will be cutting on. This is important because the distance between the teeth and the board’s interior surface will affect the speed and consistency of the finished cutting. Remember that you’ll need to lower the tension if the inside cut is not tight.
The next thing to do is to line up the plain-end blades with the plain-end slots on the boards. It is crucial to make sure that the end of the blade does not touch the sides of the slots. If it does, the plastic lip on the inside of the slots will catch the blade and pull it out of the slot. To get more leverage, you can bend the steel rod that runs along the inside fence to the right or the left to lock the teeth inside the slots.
Once the blade has been installed and the alignment is correct, adjust the scroll saw’s tension to about 50 percent. Adjust the blade speed to the recommended settings. Turn on the adjustment screw and allow the blade to spin freely for a few seconds.
When you have successfully learned how to put a blade in a scroll saw, you’re ready for more detailed instruction. This type of hobby involves much practice so don’t expect to cut your first project out of a wood scroll any time soon. It takes a lot of time and patience but the end result will be worth it. In addition to learning how to put a blade in a scroll saw, you’ll also learn how to make these handy tools come in handy for other types of woodworking hobbies and projects.