Blade control

[Raptor66]

I hope I'm not asking too many questions but I am learning. 

I am having trouble controlling some blades.  I don't have any problem with most of the Olson blades but I do have more trouble with the FD blades.  The FD tend to "fly" all over the place.  They are sharp and last pretty long but are harder to control.  I am not giving up on either blade manuf.

Am I doing something wrong??  Is it the tension? Or is it just the nature of the two different manuf?  Am I going too fast?  I know it may be hard to help me but I figured someone has had this come up.

Thanks for your help in advance.

Chris

[GrayBeard]

Chris...the best advice we can give you is to call or email Mike. He can and WILL help you more than you will ever know.

http://www.mikesworkshop.com/index.htm

My first inclination and assessment of your 'problem' is that you do not have enough tension on the blade.

~~~GB~~~

Addendum: Remember that the same numbered blade from Olson and FD may be entirely different and will act accordingly.

[BilltheDiver]

I agree with GB, call Mike.  There are many things that factor into your problem including tension.  It could also be a matter of matching the size and attributes of the blade to the wood and the task at hand.  Mike is very helpful.

[Silver Sliver]

I wonder if you may be pushing the wood too hard.  If you are used to pushing the wood into the less aggressive blade with a certain pressure, you may be using the same pressure on the more aggressive blade.  Let the blade do the cutting.  Just a light push is all that is needed.

[Jim Finn]

I wonder if you may be pushing the wood too hard.  If you are used to pushing the wood into the less aggressive blade with a certain pressure, you may be using the same pressure on the more aggressive blade.  Let the blade do the cutting.  Just a light push is all that is needed.

Yes that is what I did (Pushed to hard) when I switched to FD blades.  They are a bit more aggresive.  I have learned to use these more aggresive blades now.

[daliclimbs]

I went from el-cheapo blades to flying Dutchman and had the same problem. My way if solving it was just practicing with them. They are crazy sharp and take some getting used to. Just keep piddling with them.. you'll get it!

[BigPete]

Stack cutting also helps as this offers more resistance ..Pete

[tux_linux]

more tension. The FD-UR#2/0 is hard to control, but from #1 up it's just about a bit more tension to get the blade aligned.

[UHMNL]

Chris,
Not enough tension seems the problem. The blade should not move sideways more than 1/8" and that is almost too much. Have good speed, if not; you might have a tendency of pushing too hard into the blade. Let the blade do the cutting, they say.
You never can be in a hurry with very small blades.
FD Mike

[GrayBeard]

A good woodworker is never in a hurry with ANY kind of BLADE! Being in a hurry and using dull blades is how you get into Deep Doo Doo!

Good Advice!

~~~GB~~~

[Keefie]

I agree GB - and i've been too deep in that stuff in the past!!!!

[Gabby]

Finger tip feed pressure with a tight blade and LISTEN to your saw it will tell you if you are doing something wrong. I like mine half again tighter than FD Mike!
Gabby

[tenfingers]

I've had less problems with control since I polished and waxed my table top. I hardly have to "push" the wood at all.

If you have a cast iron/steel top it would be much easier to cover it with formica. You could cut a hole for a zero clearence insert.

I've read (on the net) of someone who had their top coated with Teflon with good results.

[tvman44]

My first guess would be not enough tension.

[malc]

Steve has a recording of the correct blade tension on his workshop site. It should 'ping' at middle C.
Malc