Doggone the inevitable happened.

[arkiewood]

About 4 hrs. into my second stack of those hummingbird patterns a big chunk of the inside cut of the flower broke out. The craftsman saw I have sure seems to vibrate a lot. Does anyone else have a problem with craftsman saws?

 I think that contributed to the breakage. I might be able to go ahead and salvage them but they won't look as good as it is supposed to.

Oh well, I have a lot to learn about scrolling but I love it!

[jrpeteo]

I have a Craftsman and don't have many problems. I have it bolted down to a very sturdy workbench, so vibration is minimal. I have had to replace a few parts here and there, but I can't justify spending the big dollar for a better saw....yet. Remember to let the saw do it's job, don't force it, ease the wood into the blade and just follow the lines....
Pete

ps. We all break stuff, just toss it and start over, or fix it.
The cutting should be the fun part.

[Danny]

I learned the hard way way back then.  Important thing is ....Determine.... the most FRUGAL AREAS of a pattern and cut THEM FIRST.  Reason being is the most of the wood is mostly there to keep that area strong for cutting.  My 2 cents....  Danny  :+}

[spirithorse]

Good point, Danny!

I actually bought one Craftsman scroll saw and it vibrated so badly I took it back and
replaced it with another. Same model, size, etc but, the second one was not as bad
out of the box.
This one does vibrate more than a more expensive saw but, I used a piece of old carpet
under it and clamped it to my work table and it is definitely capable of decent cuttings.
A lot of people also suggest adding weight to the bottom of the table like a bag of sand
but, I have never tried that.

Good luck, enjoy the hobby, and God Bless! Spirithorse

[dirtrider73068]

I have a table I built the top is 3/4 plywood its heavy, bolted down on top of a thick woven rug, its helped alot. Use something like rubber thick carpet or a thick rug to dampen the vibration, also something that will help those small delicate parts, get a piece of thin, like a 1/16th or 1/8th ply, cut to shape of table and either glue it down or like mine I taped it under between the wood and table, with a hole just big enough for the blade to go through, doing this does two things supports the small parts and also keeps the blade from grabbing the wood and shaking it, thus vibrating it and breaking it, to me it also helps in getting clean cuts.

[arkiewood]

I have a table I built the top is 3/4 plywood its heavy, bolted down on top of a thick woven rug, its helped alot. Use something like rubber thick carpet or a thick rug to dampen the vibration, also something that will help those small delicate parts, get a piece of thin, like a 1/16th or 1/8th ply, cut to shape of table and either glue it down or like mine I taped it under between the wood and table, with a hole just big enough for the blade to go through, doing this does two things supports the small parts and also keeps the blade from grabbing the wood and shaking it, thus vibrating it and breaking it, to me it also helps in getting clean cuts.

Thank you I was wondering what to do to fill that large hole in the plastic table insert. I think that is some of my problem there is no support right at the blade for those delicate cuts. I will try that

[dirtrider73068]

Yea you have a older craftsman, the newer model does not have plastic insert, its small rectangle hole, I had a skil with that junk plastic, I took some plywood and amzingly not cutting my fingers off made a wood solid insert then sanded till it was flush with the top, and with a hole big enough for the blade to go though, but still had a slot in the wood insert to remove it if needed with blade removal. In fact I have a wood over my table now anyway as my table loves to rust to easy, plus it makes it slicker to me, it also helps once get that one there get some johnsons paste wax, cab be found at lowes around the wood filler and paints, and stains its in a yellow can, put some of that on the wood it will make it like ice, helps with moving the wood around it just glides.