JimErn Posted February 21, 2016 Report Share Posted February 21, 2016 Some of the patterns I am interested in seem designed for spiral blades in the fretwork area, so once again I thought I would try them, the first time was a disaster. I made hockey sticks out of the first two FD spiral blades I tried to mount in the saw. Any tricks to getting them clamped without ruining them? I see Olson makes a spiral with flat ends, I may have to try some of them when I run out of FD spirals if there is no secret technique I can learn. On another note I can not believe that with today's metallurgy scroll saws are still using screws for clamping the blade. Does anyone know of a finger clamp that can be retrofitted? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC Scroller Posted February 21, 2016 Report Share Posted February 21, 2016 It might be the saw more then the blades. What kinda saw do you have? Some saws handle spiral blades better then others. Some folks have had luck "flattening" the end with a small hammer (8oz -12oz). Don't attempt to flatten them on wood. Flatten them on metal like the top of a vise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ike Posted February 21, 2016 Report Share Posted February 21, 2016 Go to a hardware store and buy a tube of anti siege. apply this to the clamping screw. this makes it easier to tighten down the blade screw and it makes them hold better. you can loosen the screw easier. kit also saves the blade holder from wear. I have used it for about 30 years and I bought my second tube lasdt year at a cost of $5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayneMahler Posted February 21, 2016 Report Share Posted February 21, 2016 FD makes flat end spirals too. I have some of them. When ordering look for the "FE" on the part number. These are the flat end spiral blades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrolling Steve Posted February 21, 2016 Report Share Posted February 21, 2016 I am probably just lucky or the EX21 holds them better, but I use a lot of FDNS 3/0 blades and do not have a problem . tomsteve 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denny Knappen Posted February 21, 2016 Report Share Posted February 21, 2016 I use the FD New Spiral on my EX21 with no trouble holding the blades. tomsteve 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kywoodmaster Posted February 21, 2016 Report Share Posted February 21, 2016 I have an old Delta with the quick clamp and it holds the Olsen spirals no problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted February 21, 2016 Report Share Posted February 21, 2016 I just used an FD New Spiral this morning in my Delta P-20 and it held just fine. I'm not a fan of spirals but sometimes you gotta use them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWSUDEKUM Posted February 21, 2016 Report Share Posted February 21, 2016 I went to Harbor Freight and bought a small pair of needle nose plyers and a small pair of duckbill pliers and I straighten the twist for about 3/4 of an inch on each end that way they sit in the holder correctly. DW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amazingkevin Posted February 21, 2016 Report Share Posted February 21, 2016 (edited) Some of the patterns I am interested in seem designed for spiral blades in the fretwork area, so once again I thought I would try them, the first time was a disaster. I made hockey sticks out of the first two FD spiral blades I tried to mount in the saw. Any tricks to getting them clamped without ruining them? I see Olson makes a spiral with flat ends, I may have to try some of them when I run out of FD spirals if there is no secret technique I can learn. On another note I can not believe that with today's metallurgy scroll saws are still using screws for clamping the blade. Does anyone know of a finger clamp that can be retrofitted? I'm with you on blade clamps,Don't like screw ones .Delta saws have clamps to hold the blades and are the best thing for spirals in my book! Edited February 21, 2016 by amazingkevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill WIlson Posted February 21, 2016 Report Share Posted February 21, 2016 Couple things could be going on. If your blade clamps use set screws/thumb screws, first check the set screw to make sure it's threaded in past the inside wall of the clamp. If the set screw has backed into the clamp body, then the thumb screw will push the blade into the screw hole and kink the blade. The other thing that causes that is if the blade isn't resting flat between the set & thumbscrew, it will kink when the thumbscrew is tightened. In other words, if the set & thumbscrews meet on a section of blade that is not flat between them, the thumbscrew will try to flatten it, often causing the hockey stock affect, if the blade stays in the clamp at all. This can be especially problematic in the bottom clamp, where you can't see it as easily. To solve this problem, I suggest taking two pairs of small needle nose pliers and untwist the ends of the blades until you have flat ends that are parallel to each other. In my experience, this works much better with Flying Dutchman blades than with Olson. When I tried it with the Olson blades, they broke, more often than not. the FD blades untwist pretty readily. Flat end blades are great and easier to work with, not they aren't available in all the sizes. I needed some #2/0 and #3/0 spirals and only FD had them that small, but they didn't have flat ends. They did untwist nicely though. Good luck and have fun making sawdust! tomsteve 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimErn Posted February 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2016 Thanks all. And especially thanks for noting that FD has a flat end spiral, for some reason I scrolled right past it in Mike's listing and ordered the continuous twist - teach me to slow down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted February 22, 2016 Report Share Posted February 22, 2016 Note, the flat end spirals I got were not really flat. There is still a spiral at the end. I personally didn't notice that much difference. Just so you know. tomsteve 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparkey Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 I also use the FD new 3/0 spiral but on a DW 788 with no problems. I ordered some flat end spirals to try once and they weren't as flat as I thought they would be. I clamp the blade in the bottom clamp first. When I clamp the top I try to spin the blade as much as I can by hand as I'm tightening the clamp. GrampaJim 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubgoofy2003 Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 I have found that using the smaller 2/0 or 3/0 FD blades, I have to be very careful with clamping the blade. As stated here, the blade will bend or break if not lined up flat against the holder screw. Be sure the end of the screw tightener is lubricated enough to turn when you tighten against the blade. I have not had any problems with the flat end blades in my DeWalt 788. Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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