Cutting Portraits

[royb]

Hi.  1st of all thanks for your suggestions to my question on glueing patterns.  It been such a long time since I last used my scroll saw I can't remember anything!!!!!  I want to cut a portrait pattern I made of my grandaughter and don't know what blade to use.  I live in the UK so use Olsen blades and when I looked this morning there are plain end and flat end spiral blades.  Is there is difference and can I use them in my Delta Scroll Saw??? So many questions and so little time.....I thought when I retired I would have lots of spare time but it passes so quickly.  ;-)
Roy

[dgman]

Hey Roy, The biggest problem I have with spirals is the ends are twisted along with the rest of the blade. For me it is difficult to get the ends into the clamps and tighten them properly. The flat end spiral blades help with that. The only problem with them is they only come in larger sizes. so you might order both and see how they work for you.

[Duon]

Greetings, I am new to the forum, but I have been scrolling for a couple of years. I primarily use Flying Dutchman (New Spiral) blades. they are a bit tricky to load until you get used to them. I always Loosely load into the top first, then as I start on the bottom I will undo the top, the reason for this is that it needs to be able to turn. after I get the bottom tight it is easy to do the top.. I don't know how else to explain, so if this makes no sense please ignore. I will also comment that while I do like some of Olson blades, there spirals are very difficult to control and do not cut nearly as clean compared to the ones I mention above. that's just been my experience.   

[Danny]

Greetings from Alabama Roy....
     I have TRIED using spirals with very bad success!  Flat blades mostly the Flying Dutchman UR OR SR #1--#3 -- #5 will cut most all Portraits very, very well.  This is my 2cents worth.  Good Luck....  Danny  :+}

[GrayBeard]

OK...my turn...

Spiral blades are the only way to go on portraits!
That said then here comes the tough part. They are difficult to get into the blade clamps because of the 'twist' but if you are careful it becomes a habit.

Rules for using spiral blades according to GrayBeard.

1. First wipe the ends with an alcohol saturated cloth to make sure the 'oil' left by manufacturing is gone

2. Install them in the clamps only if you are sure the clamps are also free from residue, dust and oil.

3. Do Not 'overtighten' the blade clamp, just make sure it is tight enough to hold under tension.

4. Tension the blade as tight as you can. Remember they have been tampered with by being twisted and that resulted in some change to the metal so you have to stretch them out or they WILL wander all over the shop! I normally clamp a new blade, tension it and then run the saw without any wood for about 30 seconds and RE-tension.

5. When you are ready to start your cut run your saw as FAST as you can without vibrating the whole building.

6. LET that BLADE do the WORK!!! Feed your piece as slowly as you possibly can and you will have success. Try to force the workpiece and you will wander all over the board and wind up with some nice firewood!

These are the steps I take and I seem to have had a bit of success.
Neither I nor any member of this forum can say this is the only way but it works for me.

~~~GrayBeard~~~

p.s. To save yourself a lot of misery...SAND both sides of your board to finish quality BEFORE you apply the pattern and by all means use a second piece under your portrait to minimize the 'fuzzies' because with spirals you WILL get fuzzies!

[royb]

Thanks everyone for the advice.  GB, I will print off your instructions and put them up in my workshop.... One more question.  Throughtout my life I've been told "size matters", so what blade size should I use or should I get a full range of blades and from where, as there are no Flying Duchman suppliers in the UK?
Many thanks
Roy

[dunk]

Roy, ah but you do have a Flying Dutchmen supplier in the UK sort of.  Mike at http://mikesworkshop.com/ does ship to you.

[geneVG]

When  I am useing a spiral blade I seem to be cutting way out of the lines on the pattern.  Is this because I am forcing the blade or useing the wrong one.  Last question, how do you clean the top clap to get rid of the oil and the smootness of it. 

Gene

[Gabby]

Roy when all else fails talk to Mike.
Steve has a link to him on his blog spot, Mike is also part of the forum. Flying Dutchman has spiral blades with flat ends as well, you can't go wrong talking to the man who uses and sells them.
I'm working on a portrait it's a small one about 8 by 10 inches and I'm using his FD- 1 SR (scroll reverse) blades they are small enough to get into the tight places easily. I've only played with the spirals a little bit and am not comfortable with their tendency to go where they want to. straight blades are easier for me to control and make s thinner cut than the spiral.
Jump in here Mike and help this poor guy out!
Gabby