I'm breaking alot of blades, HELP

[Ranslow]

When I try and do some tight corners I am having a couple issues. First I get a large amount of drift or rounding when I try sharp corners, If it does not drift the blade breaks. I try to set the tension to "C" and I go pretty slow. I set the blade clamps so they are just above finger tight so they are not pinching the blades. I am not having the issues on long straight cuts or even sweeping curves, only on very sharp turns.

I have tried 18tpi and 25tpi blades with the same results, I am working with 1/2 to 3/4" pine.

Any recommendations would be appreciated

[Bill P]

It sounds like a rate-of-feed issue.  Grab a scrap of wood and draw some sharp turns in it with a pencil.  Practice feeding slower, and perhaps with a slower speed on your blade, and see if that helps.

Let us know.

Bill

[GrayBeard]

Where are they breaking? Top, bottom, close to the cut?

My first guess would be blade speed on that thickness.

Need a bit of speed and a good tense blade.
Remember that pine has what I describe a 'stringy grain' that kind of wanders all over the map.

my quarter's worth....

~~~GB~~~

[Ranslow]

they are breaking at the top just below the clamp, I do notice a lot of blade twist when I am turning the piece. Maybe I am turning to fast.

[GrayBeard]

That sounds like a combination of blade speed and rate of feed...

Right Bill?

~~~GB~~~

[boxmaker]

You may want to check out Rick Hutcheson site.

http://www.scrollsaws.com/

He has some great video tips, on making corners and a lot of other ones as well.

                                                        Mark

                                                      

[Russ C]

Blade speed and rate of feed. For 1/2 to 3/4" pine I run the speed at full/fast. If you are seeing blade twist you are trying to feed it to fast. 

[GrayBeard]

Boy!
I love it when an ol' timer like Russ agrees with my assessment of a problem!

Makes me feel like I have learned something from this FORUM!!!

~~~GB~~~

[Bill P]

Excuse me, but he was agreeing with my assessment.

Bill

[tux_linux]

Check the top clamp too, it might have a sharp edge harming the blades. You can pull a sand paper trough the clamp to smoothen it.

regards
Torsten

[Ranslow]

I will check on it, I just ordered some Ultra reverse Flying Dutchman Blades to, I am trying pinless, I may have been kinking them slightly pushing them into my holes.

Thanks for all of the input.