David Hall Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 Just bought a new craftsman saw, works well so far for this rookie. It came with a couple pin in and and couple pinless blades. The pin in blades work well. The pinless blade I can't seem to get the tension right. Is there some sort of right way to do it or is it just a matter of getting some experience? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 My view is the best teacher for that is experience. Every saw is different. I listen to the "ping" of the blade when I thump it. It should be high pitched. But practice and do not give up. I recently bought a new saw and it is a whole new learning experience from my other saw. I was about ready to give up. Even got in contact with the seller for help. But I kept practicing over the week end and finally started having success. Now I need to work down through my blades and practice with each one I want to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amazingkevin Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 I loved every scroll saw i had ,We were best friends for years.I never knew a quality scroll saw till i acquired a dw788 .I'm sold for life.find joy in what you have till better comes along! Lucky2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lvmedic3214 Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 Blades will stretch. I will usually put in a new blade tension it, run the saw for a little while then re-tension the blade. Also check to see if your blade clamps are holding sufficiently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry A. Blakely Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 Blades will stretch. I will usually put in a new blade tension it, run the saw for a little while then re-tension the blade. Also check to see if your blade clamps are holding sufficiently. I agree. I've had them stretch during a cut and increased the tension on the fly on my Craftsman. I also replaced the set screw on the upper blade holder with a threaded knob which makes changing and aligning blades much faster and easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ducky Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 if u find u cant get right tension cut a small bit of the end of blade i found that no pins was just a touch longer than pin blades..hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lawson56 Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 Alot of good advice up there.Pinless blades do yake some getting use to.you will find almost each time you change the blade you will have to adjust the tension.If it wanders to much its to loose.I always move it with my fingers.if I can wiggle it more than a little,than it to loose.But that is just me.I have been scrolling for 10 years. I hope we have been some help to ya. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ike Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 i HAVE A dw788 AND WHEN i CHANGE BLADES i SET THE TENSION AT CLOSE TO FULL . NO PROBLEM WITH MY OLDER SAWS I PINGED IT AND GOT A HIGH PITCH TONE AND THAT WAS IT. A LOT OF THE TIME THE BLADE WILL SLIP AND YOU HAVE TO WIPE OFF THE END OF THE BLADE. TGHEN IT MAY BE IN THE TIGHTENING SCREW YOU CAN'T GET IT TIGHT ENOUGH IN THIS CASE GET SOME THREAD EASE AND PUT IT ON THE SCREW AND THIS WILL HELP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Multifasited Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 (edited) Anti-seize (specific stuff ) <not any type of lube >anti-seize keeps softer threads from gauling and eating out the softer threads as max pressure is applied when you tighten clamps ,and lube will cause all kinds of issues !availible .any auto parts sin small size (you don't need much ,just on the threads ! Edited April 19, 2015 by Multifasited Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Hall Posted April 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 Thanks for the advise. I've cut my first piece to the extent that I can with pin in blades. Guess I'll have to tackle these pinless blades now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky2 Posted April 20, 2015 Report Share Posted April 20, 2015 I sure hope you get this problem figured out, you will have many more cutting possibilities with plain end blades. Len Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayneMahler Posted April 21, 2015 Report Share Posted April 21, 2015 Tensioning blades can be difficult to learn. For pinless blades ( all I use ) i backed off the tension adjustment, installed a new blade and then set the tension. I bottomed out the ends of the blade in the bottom and top holders before setting the tension. When I change blades I just bottom the ends and then pull the tension lever. Blades are set. If the blades stretch a bit, on the fly works well. But I normally found that when a blade starts to stretch it is time to replace it. This may not be the right way but I know it works for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Multifasited Posted April 21, 2015 Report Share Posted April 21, 2015 Easiest way to learn , is to do a fret pc. with multi holes you will learn very quickly what works and what don't ! I have to agree ,unless you leave a new blade tightened over nite ,by the time they stretch enough to change anything ,it's time to replace the blade ,scrubbing till the last with a dull blade to me is false saving ,when the blade starts to bow alot you need to find the problem ,wrong blade for the job ,dull blade ,wrong tension etc. JMHO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ike Posted April 22, 2015 Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 I had the same problem and I solved it by using some thread seize , I bought a tube for about $4 and it solved the problem, yesterday It happened again so I will now take both screws out and put a little on each and reinstall them. if I can find the tube of screw seize . The last time I used it was 1 1/2 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Multifasited Posted April 22, 2015 Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 I hope you mean (ANTI-SEIZE). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ike Posted April 22, 2015 Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 Thats right i forgot my thinking cap and at my age I forget a lot of things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heppnerguy Posted April 23, 2015 Report Share Posted April 23, 2015 When I am putting a new blade in my saw, I always sand both ends of my blade before I put it in my saw. This removes the oil and makes it a little rougher so that it grips and stays gripped even better. This helps prevent the slippage problem that many experience with losing tension in the middle of a cut. If you need a little more help then this, you can also sand the points on the points that contact the blade and hold it while you saw. Dick heppnerguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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