Young_Scroller Posted September 12, 2015 Report Share Posted September 12, 2015 I have a 16 inch craftsman scroll saw and I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to tension/loosen the blade faster as the tension knob is in the back of the saw. this tends to get really annoying when I'm working on a long project. Thanks! -Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryEA Posted September 12, 2015 Report Share Posted September 12, 2015 I'm replying so this will roll to the top of the heap.... It looks to me like you have to scroll with what you have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falcon Posted September 12, 2015 Report Share Posted September 12, 2015 I have an 18" and every time I change from one hole to another have to check tension. I just pick the blade with fingernail you can hear the tone change as you tighten the knob. I know this is not a lot of help but it the best answer I have. Happy scrolling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amazingkevin Posted September 12, 2015 Report Share Posted September 12, 2015 (edited) I have a 16 inch craftsman scroll saw and I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to tension/loosen the blade faster as the tension knob is in the back of the saw. this tends to get really annoying when I'm working on a long project. Thanks! -Joe LOL,I don't miss that feature owning a dw788 now,Just slows things down ,takes away from scrolling pleasure and a real pain to do changing blades fast.Larry's right "It is what it is".If you want better don't spend less than $500.00 for a new saw .I have 4 used one time dw788's i got for free trading my practice intarsia pieces for for one,another one for $180.00,another one for $250.00 ,another one for$225.00 all from craigs list. Edited September 12, 2015 by amazingkevin GrampaJim 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgman Posted September 12, 2015 Report Share Posted September 12, 2015 Unfortunately, there is no easy way out. I had a 16" saw for years and wished for a better way till I got my first DeWalt saw. The difference was like night and day. You have what you have till you upgrade! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry A. Blakely Posted September 12, 2015 Report Share Posted September 12, 2015 (edited) I have a 16 inch craftsman scroll saw and I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to tension/loosen the blade faster as the tension knob is in the back of the saw. this tends to get really annoying when I'm working on a long project. Thanks! -Joe Joe, I have the same saw. I don't have a problem reaching back to loosen/tighten the tension. I did not like using the tee handle to undo/redo the upper blade fastener so I replaced the set screw with a knob. Here is a post about changing it. http://www.scrollsawvillage.com/topic/13524-blade-wobble-craftsman/ I can change to a new hole in a project including reducing tension, undoing top blade clamp, putting blade through the next hole, redoing the blade clamp, and tightening the tension all in a matter of seconds. Since I'm only a hobbyist I don't see the need to spend $$$ to get a quick release tension clamp. I'll leave thst to the pros. BTW you'll have to scroll down through the post to see the fix. Edited September 12, 2015 by Lorenzo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ike Posted September 12, 2015 Report Share Posted September 12, 2015 With the craftsman saw when doing fretwork say a project with 250 holes you spend 1/2 or better seating the tension , I owned a craftsman for a long time then I bought a DW 788it was like I was in heaven a well spent $500 + tax. i now have 2 788's. I bought the second one for $150 My advice is buy a DW 788 new or used and find someone to buy the craftsman, there is no comparison between the 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky2 Posted September 13, 2015 Report Share Posted September 13, 2015 (edited) Hey Guys, maybe, just maybe he's using the best he can afford already. I remember being there, and when I asked a question about the saw I owned, there was no answer that could be any less helpful then to be told to go out and buy better by people who obviously had more money then I did. Especially, seeing as how I already bought as good as I could afford at that time. Joe, you don't have a top of the line saw, but, I imagine that you already know that. If it is to much of a PITA to reach to the back tensioner, then all you can do is hold the top arm down as hard as possible while tightening the clamp. If you put enough downward pressure on top arm, and maintain the downward pressure while tightening up the blade clamp, the blade will be as far up into the clamp as possible. By doing it this way, the blade shouldn't need any more tension. There's all kinds of time to save up and buy a better saw in the future, for now you will have to learn to do with what you own. Len Edited September 13, 2015 by Lucky2 Larry A. Blakely, Travis and oneleggimp 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry1939 Posted September 14, 2015 Report Share Posted September 14, 2015 Hi, I have a 10+ year old Performax saw, that I bought from Menards (a home improvement store in only 3 or 4 States in the Midwest USA.) (They are not made anymore.) The blade tension is in back like yours. I NEVER tension the blade. Just hold the top arm down when clamping the blade. I hold the bottom of a new blade with a thin vice-grip to know how far down to clamp the bottom. You quickly learn where to position the top of the blade before clamping it. To see some my work go to: Bragging Rights - Page 9 - "Some of my stuff" By the way, my old saw died peacefully in it sleep recently. Have a new saw here and am building a stand for it now. Pictures to follow later. jerry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kywoodmaster Posted September 14, 2015 Report Share Posted September 14, 2015 (edited) Don't they make a quick change clamp system like the old Deltas had on them for that saw? Seems like I saw a Craftsman with that on it. Might be worth checking out. Edited September 14, 2015 by kywoodmaster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southern Scroller Posted September 14, 2015 Report Share Posted September 14, 2015 Don't they make a quick change clamp system like the old Deltas had on them for that saw? Seems like I saw a Craftsman with that on it. Might be worth checking out. You're correct kywoodmaster. It says temporarily unavailable on their site, but young_scroller, you may wish to check into this closer. It may become available or maybe elsewhere under a different name. http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-scroll-saw-blade-conversion-kit-22259/p-00922259000P Here's the picture: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry A. Blakely Posted September 14, 2015 Report Share Posted September 14, 2015 You're correct kywoodmaster. It says temporarily unavailable on their site, but young_scroller, you may wish to check into this closer. It may become available or maybe elsewhere under a different name. http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-scroll-saw-blade-conversion-kit-22259/p-00922259000P Here's the picture: This kit allows older Craftsmans to use the newer pinless blades bur the new model already allows that! i don't think the adaptor addressed the tension. I still think I have more control of the tension by using the knob on the rear. I even adjust it while cutting sometimes. oneleggimp 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southern Scroller Posted September 14, 2015 Report Share Posted September 14, 2015 This kit allows older Craftsmans to use the newer pinless blades bur the new model already allows that! i don't think the adaptor addressed the tension. I still think I have more control of the tension by using the knob on the rear. I even adjust it while cutting sometimes. Correct again. Time for that second cup of coffee. I was responding to kywoodmasters post which, I suppose, amounts to a thread hijack. My apologies guys. Although the tension adjustment is a pain, perhaps with more use a way is found to deal with the inconvenience as you have done and suggested to Young_Scroller. Patience is much less expensive but sometimes difficult to acquire. Larry A. Blakely 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoth28 Posted September 14, 2015 Report Share Posted September 14, 2015 How about... getting a longer arm! ;) Larry A. Blakely 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young_Scroller Posted September 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2015 thank you for all the replies, I guess I will just have to deal with it as its what i have and wont be getting a better saw anytime soon. thanks for the suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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