SDB777 Posted October 31, 2015 Report Share Posted October 31, 2015 The "one-that-must-be-obeyed" requested some spiral blades to try-out. No problem! I ordered them and she received them. Problem is, the yelling..... She puts the blades in and tightens the blade into place, starts the cut, and BING....blades are popping out almost immediately on touching wood. She wants to smash them so the set screw will hold better.... I need to know if taking a hammer and beating the 'spiral' on the end flat is going to make the blades 'weak' or anything? Scott (I hate the rain....no milling for me) B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnR48 Posted October 31, 2015 Report Share Posted October 31, 2015 Try taking the twists out with a pair of pliers. If you can insert one end into the blade holder you can twist the other end with pliers and lock it in place. You can also get flat end spirals that do away with that problem. That's all I can think of trying. SDB777 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SDB777 Posted October 31, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2015 I'll know next time to get flat ends, or at least look to be sure the ends are flat. I just whacked a spiral with a hammer on some steel I have. Well, not so good...before the thing became 'flat ended'....it snapped. Scott (errrrr.......order some more) B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ike Posted October 31, 2015 Report Share Posted October 31, 2015 I despise spiral blades browders 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWSUDEKUM Posted October 31, 2015 Report Share Posted October 31, 2015 Scott I have two small plyers that I use to untwist the last inch or there about on both ends before putting them in. Might wish to try that. I got them real cheaply at my local Harbor Freight they were like $3 or so. DW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerJay Posted October 31, 2015 Report Share Posted October 31, 2015 (edited) Quite a while back I had the same problem - and expressed the same level of frustration ..... upon advice from this forum I scrapped the spiral blades I had and purchased Flying Dutchman blades - "Spirals with Flat Ends" and also the smaller "New Spirals" - that problem is now in the distant past and Flying Dutchman spirals have become my "go to" blades for all intricate fretwork. Jay Edited October 31, 2015 by RangerJay Scrappile 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrolling Steve Posted October 31, 2015 Report Share Posted October 31, 2015 I use the FD New Spiral blades and all i do is make sure i wipe each end with a clean towel to get the oil off that ship them with to prevent rust........Works for me ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amazingkevin Posted November 1, 2015 Report Share Posted November 1, 2015 The "one-that-must-be-obeyed" requested some spiral blades to try-out. No problem! I ordered them and she received them. Problem is, the yelling..... She puts the blades in and tightens the blade into place, starts the cut, and BING....blades are popping out almost immediately on touching wood. She wants to smash them so the set screw will hold better.... I need to know if taking a hammer and beating the 'spiral' on the end flat is going to make the blades 'weak' or anything? Scott (I hate the rain....no milling for me) B Don't forget to sand the blade ends and the blade holders to get rid of blade preservative and finger oil you put on the blade ends handling them Thin spirals don't thumb screw to tight as it will pierce the blade flat to nothing and break when you start up te machine.It's a fine line on tightening for tension and gripping the blades. LOW COST machines are terrible for breaking blades as they are not tweeked for performance,They snatch the blades rather than gently .Just like a high lift cam shaft in a car ,The up and down motion is erratically,strenuous on blades Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparkey Posted November 1, 2015 Report Share Posted November 1, 2015 What size spiral blades did you get? The smaller spirals are easier. I have used the flat end spirals and they aren't as flat as you would think. I use the FD new 3/0 spiral for all of my fretwork. I just put them in and go. Nothing extra needs to be done. Scrappile and btree50 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SDB777 Posted November 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2015 All great advise! It was one of the 'starter packs' containing 12ea in three different sizes. Not sure what size she handed me to 'flatten' but I know now....a way not to do it. She reloaded with a #5 UR FD and went to town. I'll order more tomorrow(personal thing about ordering on a weekend).... And try again. Scott (she was having too much fun) B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smudger Posted November 1, 2015 Report Share Posted November 1, 2015 I've never had a problem with them popping out, as I tighten the clamp it flatterns them out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayneMahler Posted November 1, 2015 Report Share Posted November 1, 2015 I use flat ends from Mike's when I use them. Not a big fan of spirals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted November 1, 2015 Report Share Posted November 1, 2015 (edited) What size spiral blades did you get? The smaller spirals are easier. I have used the flat end spirals and they aren't as flat as you would think. I use the FD new 3/0 spiral for all of my fretwork. I just put them in and go. Nothing extra needs to be done. This is how I do it. I did get a batch that I had a porblem with, the end kept bending when I tightened the bottom clamp. I thought it was me and guess it could have been, but I had not had that porblem before nor after that one batch of blades. Edited November 1, 2015 by Scrappile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgloyn Posted November 2, 2015 Report Share Posted November 2, 2015 I found with the olson 2/0 I have to use pliers to straighten the twist or they break or damage the set screws, leading to having to sand them flat agin. You also have to make sure that when you straighten the blades that the straight edge on the top and bottom are in line or you will still have problems clamping. With the FDNS 1 the twist is not as tight and I can just put them on and go no issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browders Posted November 2, 2015 Report Share Posted November 2, 2015 My solution: Put them in the saw and wait for them to break. Throw the remainder in the garbage and find the whisky. Spiral blades, truly spawn of Satan. Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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