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General Category => General Scroll Saw Talk => Topic started by: GrayBeard on February 13, 2012, 10:28:15 am
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I'm in for the 'deadman' style connected to saw and shop vac.
~~~GB~~~
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+1 for the dead-man style.
The only way to fly (or scroll).
Much safer and easier to use.
Rog
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Ditto on the Dead man type Foot Switch.
Mike
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same here deadman... Sheila
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Having had both in the past....Deadman for sure!
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How come you get foot switches so cheap?? they seem to be about 1/4 of the price we would have to pay in the UK, I wonder if your switches would work on our machines over here?? or would our 240v be too much for the switch?
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I prefer the momentary type; I have them on the scrollsaw, which also turns the shop vac on and off and two different spindle sanders.
Twenty years ago, when I started using them, I didn't know there was another type. LOL
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Deadman for me........Mike
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Dead man switches here. Have one on my scroll saw/vacuum, and one for my spindle sander/vacuum. Love 'em!
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On/Off knee operated switch, Made my own.
***Merlin***
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Another Dead-man here!
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OK, I must be a dummy. What is the dead man switch? I've always used a switch that I turn on/off with my left hand. It keeps that hand out of the saw and I'm quick to hit the switch when the blade breaks. Has always worked for me. I don't think I'd like the foot switch because I'd probably hit it when my hands are in the way. I get in a hurry now and then.
Dave
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Dave, a dead man switch is one that is only allowing current to flow while you are holding it down. When you let release the switch, the connection is cut. This works great as a foot switch in that you can get your wood ready on the table with your hands, then step down on the switch to get the saw going. Pick up your foot and the saw stops.
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I Don't use a foot switch at all!
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I like the dead man style.
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Well for my first THREE years of scrolling I also did not know what a dead mans switch was and like (Dan) (also wud like to here his theory on why he doesn't use a foot switch) just used my fingers to flip the swiches. I FINALLY got one and there is never going to be a time that I will ever stop using one. MY 2cents is THEY THE BEST.... Danny :+}
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It all depends on what you get used to....I didn't use one for a long time and now can't think of not having one...also bought an extras to use on my little router table
~~~GB~~~
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Don't use one, I sit in a high stool and my feet are on a rest and they don't touch the ground till I get off
Jimbo
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Don't use one, I sit in a high stool and my feet are on a rest and they don't touch the ground till I get off
Jimbo
Same thing for me. As I'm cutting, I move my feet and legs around from the cross bar on the saw stand to the ground to the foot rest on the stool. In the eighteen years that I have been scrolling, I have never lost control of my workpiece, so I have no reason to retrain myself to use one.
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When I got my new saw it only had a small switch so it was hard to find in a hurry.
I bought the dead man foot switch and it works great for me.
Foot switch all the way for me.
Jim
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I had a dead mans switch along with my craftman saw. It was with the saw. WQhen I got my 40=690 I just took it off the craftman an put it on the Delta. I would not saw with out it, just for safety reasons.
gene
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I had my switch on the left hand side with my old saw for about 25 yrs. So when I got my new saw I tried to put it at the same location as before. I just can't see changing something that has worked for so long. If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it. I too sit on a high stool and move my feet around alot.
I know there's a lot of you guys (and gals) that can't work without the deadman switch and that's fine. Iffen that's what you like, stick with it. It ain't broke for you either.
Dave
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Hand switch. I can see that a foot switch would be a fine thing - but to the safety thing: It's easy to take the hands off. And the blade will probably break as soon as the wood starts acting wild.
Did Someone already discover problems of this kind? I saw my finger once as I touched the blade from the front (wanted to wipe off dust...). But nothing that is even worth mentioning.
Keefie,
That is probably because of the 110V they have over there and higher security issues here also. We have those power-loose switches here in Europe, which prevent the machine to run when the power has been off. That is probably one of the reasons for the higher price.
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My first 2 scrollsaws I just used the saw switch. My Dewalt I splurged and paid the $10 for the dead-man switch and dont know how I made it without it. It is awesome since I can stop the saw in a split second and not take my hands of the workpiece. In my opinion the dead-man foot switch is much safer.
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I spent too many years holding down a peddle while TIG welding. Leg gets tired holding that peddle down all day so I have used the on /off type . I can move back away from the saw a bit when cutting long pieces without a problem. When doing inlays (I do not do fretwork) near the end of my cut I depress the foot switch and hold it until I reach the end and then release just as you do with a dead man type.
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I like the dead man.
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*lol* bampsar, hat came out a bit strange... ;D
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I don't use one. I picke up an off/on footswitch and pretty much hated it. I kept turning the saw off instead of using the footswitch. I tend to not have my feet actually on the ground so that is probably part of my problem.
I never use one with my Hitachi scroll saw, the switch is really big and right in front. While sawing I can turn it off with my head or sholder while cutting if my hands had to be on the workpiece. I have used the foot switch on my hegnar, because the switch is hidden a lot more and it is harder for my hands to find quickly.
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While sawing I can turn it off with my head
How do I get this image out of my head (http://www.torsten-harms.de/fun/a075.gif)
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I have been using the dead man type foot pedal for so long I don't know how to saw without it. 8)
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Another advantage of the foot switch for you guys with Dewalts is that it greatly reduces wear on the regular switch which I understand is somewhat prone to problems anyway.
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I do not use a foot switch as I'm like the others that use a tall stool and rest my feet on the stool or the cross piece of the saw. My knees don't like me to have my feet on the ground for extended periods of time.
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For you people that sit on a high stool, you can use a knee switch.
I like to stand (even if the feet so no) and have made a home made switch, (can't seem to find one in NZ) and use the front of the knee to switch on/off.
When I do sit (when I take the saw out doors) the switch is at the side of the stand and I use side pressure with the knee to turn on/off.
***Merlin***
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Dead man, my only problem is I occasionally will be concentrating on cutting and all of a sudden the saw will turn off, after a few senior seconds I realize my foot has lifted off the pedal ::)
Pete
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all of a sudden the saw will turn off, after a few senior seconds I realize my foot has lifted off the pedal ::)
If I had a dollar for every time.......
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Question, Has anybody accidentally stepped on the foot switch while changing or mounting a blade?
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Another advantage of the foot switch for you guys with Dewalts is that it greatly reduces wear on the regular switch which I understand is somewhat prone to problems anyway.
Hey Bill, The problem with the DeWalt switch has to do with dust getting onto the contacts inside the switch, not a wear issue. Just so there is no confusion ;)
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Question, Has anybody accidentally stepped on the foot switch while changing or mounting a blade?
Not yet Dan, but then again I haven't been doing this all that long. 8)
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YES Dan...you bet your fanny!
I was changing blade holes and was concentrating on the change and leaned forward and pressed the switch!
RESULT....a trip to the ORTHO and a cortisone shot in the arthritic wrist.
BUT I would rather use the foot switch than not for the same reason.
When necessary all I have to do is lift my toe and the saw STOPS!
I use one and I will ALWAYS use one.
~~~GB~~~
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i've hit mine a few times. it scares me more than anything. haven't been cut yet.
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None of you seem to have the same problem as I have my saw is fitted with a 'zero voltage' switch, as are most UK devices. When the power is turned off the 'on' button has to be depressed before the machine will turn on again. If the foot switch just cuts off the power when released just pushing it down again will not turn the power to the machine back on. Am I missing something?
Malc
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I have to admit to hitting the pedal during a blade change, but even more often is when I am doing something not at all concerned with the scrollsaw and step on the pedal.
Dan, understand on the switch! Thanks.
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Malc if that "zero voltage switch" is what came on my saw "from the uk) then I had it bypassed.
When the saw arrived in the country it had this bloody big switch sitting on top of the saw with a big red button on it.
Hell I thought is this the emergency switch but it was poorly mounted and moved about 2 inches backwards when pressed, so it's gone.
***Merlin***
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Thanks Merlin, it's the normal on/off switch nearly any bench mounted rotating tool in UK have these fitted as a legal requirement.
Malc
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None of you seem to have the same problem as I have my saw is fitted with a 'zero voltage' switch, as are most UK devices. When the power is turned off the 'on' button has to be depressed before the machine will turn on again. If the foot switch just cuts off the power when released just pushing it down again will not turn the power to the machine back on. Am I missing something?
Malc
My Table saw has what is called a magnetic switch. If the power is disrupted when the saw is running, the switch turns off. That way when the power comes back on, the saw wont.
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Thanks Merlin, it's the normal on/off switch nearly any bench mounted rotating tool in UK have these fitted as a legal requirement.
Malc
Malc How about changing the the switch, if you can't get one to fit where the original came from mount one of your own in a convenient (sp) place.
***Merlin***
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that is the same. Those magnetic switches / zero voltage switches are a must here in Europe.
Malc, you could bypass that switch easily.
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After the last couple of projects, I think it is now time for me to go a foot switch, and I believe it will be a deadman style.