Messages

76

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Just checking on the lies my computer tells me.

« on: October 06, 2020, 06:49:36 pm »

I used oak for all them (probably - I get most of my scrolling wood from the scrap bin at a local hardwood lumberyard).  Great thing is that since I usually only get a few pieces at a time they often don't bother to charge me for it.

I used the simple food safe finish for mine - the beeswax & mineral oil mix.  Rub it on with a paper towel, give it a few and wipe off the excess.  I used a toothpick to get the excess out of the holes.  Takes a day to a few days to get fully set up but it's a nice finish, IMHO.

77

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Cutting Angles

« on: October 06, 2020, 06:46:47 pm »

Most blades are stamped out so that the drift is to the right.  PG (Precision Ground) blades are ground instead of stamp so they shouldn't have an offset.

But yeah, you have to see what that blade is doing in that wood. 

You want some real fun?  Try some puzzle blades.  They are wildly temperamental.  The ones that work best for me (Superior Puzzle) have about a 45 degree offset.

When in doubt, do at least a short test cut.

78

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Just checking on the lies my computer tells me.

« on: October 04, 2020, 02:13:31 pm »

Sometimes we're jawing and sometimes we're sawing.
This week it's been sawing.

I made the hot pot stand from July 30th - https://scrollsawworkshop.blogspot.com/2020/07/hot-dishpot-holder-and-stir-paddle.html
Didn't bother with the companion stir paddle.

Came out so well I made 3 more sets for Christmas presents.  They're not hard to do, easy to ship, and useful.  But they are a bit tedious - there are 25 cuts / piece, two pieces / set so that was 150 cuts, each with a hole to drill and the blade to feed through.

79

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Next step up from WEN/Harbor Freight

« on: September 09, 2020, 10:55:33 am »

I know the feeling.  You thought you had a scrollsaw.
Now, you have a scrollsaw!

Dig through Steve's projects - tons of fun and almost no matter what level you're at there are projects you can do and on most of them there's at least one bit that will make you stretch your skills.

80

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Next step up from WEN/Harbor Freight

« on: August 25, 2020, 12:42:03 pm »

When I upgraded from my 'starter' saw I tried to go with a mid-grade but had trouble finding one.

So I bit the bullet and jumped right up to an 18" Jet.

If you're going to keep scrolling you might want to see about saving the money from that mid-grade and spending it on a high-quality saw.  You're going to get one eventually anyway and it is so much better!

81

Introduce Yourself. / Re: GREAT TO BE IN THE CLUB

« on: August 25, 2020, 12:39:29 pm »

Browse through the hundreds of patterns Steve has in the archive (and make sure to sign up for the email if you haven't already).

There are projects for every skill level, and most of them have just a bit that makes you stretch your skills.

82

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Releasing Tension on Saw when not in use

« on: July 23, 2020, 03:02:20 pm »

My Jet saw's instructions say to release the tension so I always do.

83

Ask Steve a question. / Re: Which scroll saw to buy

« on: July 20, 2020, 07:45:40 pm »

I'm very happy with my 18" Jet.  They use a lower blade holder and give you three so you can change blades in a snap if you want.
I generally use the same holder for a particular type of blade so my blade changes aren't that fast.  Then again, I'm not in a hurry.

You pop the lower holder into place, set the top of the blade into the clamp and then flip a lever to bring it up to tension.  It's always the same tension.  Setting the tension is slightly different on a Jet. The big knob at the back is just to get the arms parallel.  That affects tension but it's very crude.  Take the advice I got from someone else and mark your knob (I use some tape) in case it gets moved.

You set the tension by rotating the flip lever that tensions the blade.  Twist it right for tight. left for loose.

If you're doing a lot of fret work you'll like that there's a slot right to about 1/8" from the front of the saw table.  Pop the lower blade holder out and you can go up through a hole right up front.  Then you can slide back to the right spot, pop the holder into place and tension the blade.

84

Introduce Yourself. / Re: DeWalt Cordless drill & 1/16th drill bits

« on: July 17, 2020, 12:17:14 pm »

Your cheapest solution for now is to get a set of drill bits that have the 1/4 hex base.
Harbor Freight has a set.  There's a HF six blocks from my house so, yes, I have these.
https://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/drill-driver-bits/titanium-high-speed-steel-drill-bit-set-13-pc-61621.html

85

Introduce Yourself. / Re: Brand new scroller

« on: July 11, 2020, 03:37:47 pm »

Welcome!

Get Steve's catalog of patterns (I got it on the thumb drive) and look through it.  Doing his patterns will grow your skills.  They're a great mix of 'easy enough to do' and 'just a bit of stretching your skill'.  Plenty of fun and useful things too.

86

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Setting blade tension on a Jet scroll saw

« on: June 28, 2020, 06:16:47 pm »

I'll have to add the bit of tape on mine - good idea to keep an eye on it because it does manage to sneak in a self-adjustment every now and then.

87

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Setting blade tension on a Jet scroll saw

« on: June 23, 2020, 07:23:20 pm »

Use the knob at the back to get the arms parallel.

Turn the lever that locks the blade to adjust the tension.

If you try to use the knob at the back to set the tension you wind up with the arms out of parallel and other problems.  Plus it's a very crude way of setting the tension.  Just use the knob to get the arms parallel (reminder: you may have to push down on the top arm after loosening the knob).  Then put in a blade, flip the lever back and check the tension.  If it's too low, turn the lever one full turn to the right (I open the lever first).  Repeat as needed.

88

General Scroll Saw Talk / Setting blade tension on a Jet scroll saw

« on: June 16, 2020, 06:30:14 pm »

So, on Saturday I will have had my Jet scroll saw for 6 months.

Today I suddenly realized I've been trying to set the blade tension completely wrong the whole time. 

On pretty much every saw the big knob at the back sets your tension.

Jet saws are different.

The Jet uses a lower blade holder and a cool upper clamp that uses a flip arm.  When you flip the arm the upper clamp closes on the blade and pulls it up into place.

So the big knob at the back of the Jet saw?  That's really just for adjusting the spacing between the arms.  It does affect the tension, but only in a crude way and if you try to set it too tight you can't get a blade in.

The knob is to get the arms parallel and to make sure that the upper clamp comes down far enough to grab the top of the blade.  You rotate the flip arm of the clamp to set your tension.

Once I realized it I was able to get my blade to the exact tension I wanted rather than just kind of close.

I'd say the realization made me feel stupid, but it's just one more thing on a long list. 

The manual does tell you all of this, it's just so different from other saws that it didn't sink in until today.

89

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: using polymer clay

« on: May 21, 2020, 03:06:15 pm »

I just got the latest Woodcraft catalog and they have a bit about using casting resin.  It's copied over from an article in their magazine.  Considering that the resins are made to use with wood I think they'd be better.

Also, doesn't the clay have a bit of shrinkage when you bake it?  That could make things a bit more interesting.

90

Brag Forum / Re: Experimental bowl completed

« on: May 21, 2020, 03:00:47 pm »

Looks good!

I give 'em about 5-10 minutes and then check to make sure everything looks correct.  It's also a good time to try to clean up excess glue.