Spiral Advice

[BigPete]

Hi, Can anyone give some advice on using spiral blades? as the spiral goes all the way to the end of the blades " no flat ends " i can feel the blade getting crushed when i tighten the clamp and this makes it more difficult to thread  in future cuts as it out of shape. Also i seem to break a lot more spirals than flat ended blades is there a reason for this ? any advice would be welcome...Pete

[GrayBeard]

I fully know whereof you speak!

A couple of suggestions...

1. When you feel the blade start to tighten, stop. Try setting your tension and see if the blade 'slips'. Most often the tendency is to 'overtighten' the blade clamp. This was my biggest mistake when starting out with spirals.

2. You can take your blades and lightly use a hammer and set the ends of the blades on a vise or piece of hard metal and gently tap with the hammer to 'flatten the ends. Another method is to take two pair of pliers and gently 'untwist' the ends.

There also Spirals with 'flat ends' available.

The more you use them you will get the 'feel' of just how tight to turn the clamping screw. Also check to be certain that the 'moveable tip' on the clamp is rotating freely!

~~~GB~~~

[Russ C]

I used to use a hammer to straighten the ends of spiral blades. Now I buy the Flying Dutchman Spirals with flat ends From Mikes Workshop. If you feel the blade end getting crushed when you tighten the clamp you are way over tightening. 

[BigPete]

Thanks for the replys , i was thinking about flattening the ends  but thought this might weeken them so i will give it a try !
Russ when i said i was crushing the blade it was when the spiral was not at 90% to the clamp so light pressure on the clamp would not hold the blade and more pressure would start to squeeze "crush" the blade , hope this explains it.
I will try and flatten the spiral ends see if this helps and i will see mike about the spirals with flat ends....Pete 

[Waddawood]

Hammering it can further weaken it.  I use two needle nosed pliers and just untwist by hand.  It's a pain in the butt, but it works.  I've ordered the flat ended spirals...but they're never flat ended.

[BigPete]

thanks Charlie ,I Thought that it might weaken them  so will try to unravel the ends  and see what happens 
and Charlie its one of your patterns that i am doing and its really to large to turn  so need to master the spirals (slowly getting better with more practice   ...Pete

[GrayBeard]

Just "GUIDE" the wood, Pete and you will do fine!

~~~GB~~~

[ChuckD]

Spirals take practice and then more practice.  The tension should be as high as you can get it with out pulling the blades out of the clamps.  You have to feed the blade slow into the wood.  Remember the spiral is not cutting the wood, it is grinding a round hole along a line and with a wide kelf.  If you let it take control you have lost the battle.  But they are so good at what they do.

[Russ C]

@ Pete. Before they made flat end spirals I would flatten the ends with a hammer (light taps, don't beat it to death) for years and never had a problem. I also know other people who do it with no problems. Would still be doing it but I just found it easier to buy flat end spirals. Why don't you try a few and see for yourself.!?    Another idea is to put them in a vice and squeeze them to help flatten the ends.

[BigPete]

I will try all of your suggestions  and see what works for me 
At least i now know i should do something with the blade and not use it as it was 
and yes more practice is what is needed , the cutting that i am doing has a lot of bushes , tree's , water etc , places where it is good to practice with spirals as it wont be noticed if you run slightly of line , but i did find out it is better to stop the saw if turning or moving the cutting for a better sight line as it DOES cut in any direction  ...Pete

[GrayBeard]

Pete!

Trying to "cut on the line" will get you in trouble with those portrait patterns due to the close proximity of some of the cutout areas....Just cut so that the 'outer edge of the saw kerf removes the 'line'!

Stay INSIDE the lines and you will be much better off! Just like when you were using your 'coloring book' in kindergarten!

~~~GB~~~

[Rapid Roger]

Pete!

Stay INSIDE the lines and you will be much better off! Just like when you were using your 'coloring book' in kindergarten!

~~~GB~~~

OOHHHHHHH!!! So that's what my problem has been all along!?!? 


Moma never told me that. 


Rog 

[Judy Hunter]

Spirals are a GOOD thing.  I may be a crazy old lady but they are all I use.

[BigPete]

GB so far so good  but i must admit kindergarten is just a distant memory
JUDY you are certainly not crazy and yes i am getting to like them, trying to get nice sweeping and straight lines when called for is the most difficult i find, but i am getting there...Pete