Cutting small holes

[lilcee]

I'm not new to scroll sawing but I haven't done very much fretwork. I'm trying a piece that has a lot of small holes (stars etc) I have the pilot holes drilled and tried to start cutting the holes. I was going to use spiral blades for the stars. The problem I'm coming across is the blades bend whenever I try to put them in the holes. Is it better to thread it from the top or bottom? I've always done through the bottom but they were always bigger holes. Also, the blades seem to be real flimsy and bend easy. What's the best kind of blades to use for small holes and which is better - threading through the top or through the bottom?
I've never done a big fretwork before.
Thanks for any suggestions you can give me.


(the wood is 1/2 inch plywood)

[Toneman]

Lilcee, I always feed from the top and one reason is so I do not bend the blade. If your blade is inserted perpendicular 90 deg in the top blade holder, all you have to do is release tension,remove blade at btm holder, raise the arm, and guide blade through hole and into btm clamp and tighten. If your pilot holes are 90 deg. then you rarely have to fool with blade. It should drop in the right position, and you just have to push it into btm blade clamp. Hope this helps.

Tony,aka,Toneman

[dgman]

Hey Celia, Using a spirals blade will not allow you to make sharp inside corners like a star needs, unless these stars have rounded corners. If the pilot holes are the same size as the blade, it is best to feed it from the bottom because the teeth want to hang up in the pilot hole. For what you are doing, I would use a flat blade in a size of about 1, 2, or 3. For this I use Flying Dutchman Ultra Reverse blades or Olsen reverse tooth blades. If you still want to use the spirals, try feeding them from the bottom.
You should have no problem feeding flat blades from the top.

[lilcee]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I cut the holes a little bigger so maybe that will help. I'll try different blades. Thanks again

[troy_curtis]

I love using the spiral blades on my saw. The problem of them bending is one I just deal with. My saw is limited so I can not top feed or bottom feed. I have extensions which clamp the blades comes out of the saw. Then I remove my blade and rethread it for the next hole.

[Tim2beupinAz]

I agree with Dgman.

[MOONIE]

I also use flat blades (mostly 2/0R)  for detail/fret cutting.  I get sharp, crisp corners,  and it's easy to cut perfect circles.     I top feed and find it best for me.