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General Category => General Scroll Saw Talk => Topic started by: Toneman on October 18, 2012, 09:43:32 am

Title: Cuts narrower on bottom.
Post by: Toneman on October 18, 2012, 09:43:32 am
Hope I can explain my problem. When I make a narrow cut (1/16"), for example the legs on a deer ornament i was cutting, when I turned it over, the legs were about 1/32"?! If I had to make anything narrower than that, the back would not be there! Am I making sense of my problem? I checked the blade to the table and it seems to be 90 deg. I also checked the set screws on the blade holders. So, can any of you experienced scrollers tell me what is happening?

Tony,aka,Toneman
Title: Re: Cuts narrower on bottom.
Post by: slowcutter on October 18, 2012, 09:58:16 am
Are you pushing side ways on your blade.
Pushing was a hard thing for me to get over.
Title: Re: Cuts narrower on bottom.
Post by: countryscroller on October 18, 2012, 10:00:58 am
If you force the blade in it can change the angle of the cut. Make sure you have a fresh blade and it should cut just fine. Hope that helps a little.
Title: Re: Cuts narrower on bottom.
Post by: dgman on October 18, 2012, 10:06:05 am
Hey Tony, What saw are you using? Check to see if the blade is square on the front and back of the blade in addition to the left and right side. Make sure you have high tension on the blade. If it is too low, it can bend while cutting and cause the uneven bevel cut.
Title: Re: Cuts narrower on bottom.
Post by: Billy in Va on October 18, 2012, 10:23:59 am
Tony I agree with Slowcutter, pushing sideways will do that .  Also make sure you blade is square to the table and you have good tension.
Title: Re: Cuts narrower on bottom.
Post by: UHMNL on October 18, 2012, 10:38:01 am
Have good tension, the blade should not move sideways more than 1/8" and that is almost too much. Have good speed. I like high speed it gives me better control over the blade. If not enough speed you might push to hard into the blade and the blade will start cutting with a bevel. Also the blade will grab the wood instead of cutting it. Push very slow into the blade. Let the blade do the cutting.
Most blades have a burr on the right side, this makes the blade cut to the right. You have to move the wood some degree to the right to stay on the line.
There is a very easy way of checking if the blade is square to the table. Take a pice of 3/4" wood and cut about 1/8" into it, take it and try to fit in the back of the blade. If it fits the blade is square to the table.
FD Mike
Title: Re: Cuts narrower on bottom.
Post by: ChuckD on October 18, 2012, 03:10:09 pm
Mike and the others gave good advice.  There is another way to check for square that is also good.  Cut into a scrap piece of wood and cut out a circle.  If it will come out either way it is square and this will also show if you are pushing to the side.  Good Luck  :):)
Title: Re: Cuts narrower on bottom.
Post by: Toneman on October 18, 2012, 05:44:24 pm
Thank all of yall for your advice and suggestions. I have checked the blade being square to the table with the suggestions given me and all seems ok. So, must be the tension and speed and the feed rate. I have a habit of pushing to hurry up my projects and also I have just noticed how I go back and push along my cuts to make them cleaner. so, this could also be part of my problem.

Tony,aka,Toneman
Title: Re: Cuts narrower on bottom.
Post by: Billy in Va on October 18, 2012, 07:40:40 pm
Thanks for that tip Chuck.  When I do a relief cut I use the circle test to see how much offset thereis but never thought to use it to test  square and pushing.  THANKS!!!!!
Title: Re: Cuts narrower on bottom.
Post by: julief on October 19, 2012, 06:39:05 am
Pushing is one of the hardest things to get over when you start scrolling.  Just because you have your speed up - doesn't mean you have to cut fast.  You can feed the wood slowly.
Title: Re: Cuts narrower on bottom.
Post by: WisScroller on October 19, 2012, 09:06:39 am
Some Good Info Here For This New Scroller Thanks