spiral blades???

[hayu]

Can someone tell me what you use a spiral blade for?? It doesn't seem to go streight.

[greasemonkeyredneck]

I use almost exclusively spirals. I like spirals because I can cut in any direction. I often cut portraits that are too large to cut on my scrollsaw. As long as I use spirals though, I can do it as long as the portrait is small enough that the blade will reach halfway into the board. Spirals are great on portraits because you don't have to turn your wood for spirals. Just move the wood in the opposite direction of what you want to cut. As for cutting straight, they do cut straight, with practice. I often hear problems from different scrollers on cutting straight. I think a lot of it comes down to what you are used to. I cut a lot of straight cuts, therefore I have gotten quite good at it, with flat blades and spirals.

In short though, a spiral can be used for anything that a flat blade can be used for. The next question most people ask is why anyone would want to use a spiral. That answer comes down to personal preference. In my shop, I used probably twenty spirals for every flat blade. Actually, I don't use any "flat" blades. I have an old Craftsman that used nothing but pinned end blades. I used what I guess could be used flat blades in it, and if they made pinned end spirals, I wouldn't use flats then. I just prefer spirals. You will also find some scrollers that don't even have a spiral in their shop. They don't use them, period. It's because of personal preference though.

The next problem most people have with spirals is that they don't last long. I went through that too. I had some spirals that wouldn't cut a half inch into quarter inch wood before they broke. Then I found the answer to that one. I ordered blades from Mike's Workshop. I used mostly Flying Dutchman #2 spirals. They last just as long as a flat blade of a similar size. You can get spirals though in smaller or larger sizes. I just like #2s. I recently tried some #10 spirals. I am just as thrilled with those as what I normally use, only for when I want a thicker and faster cut though. I have tried #2/0 spirals. They are tiny. I guess I could use them if I had something to cut that was that fine, but I haven't found a use for them yet.

I'm sorry. I tend to run on sometimes.

The simple answer to your questions though are:

1: for anything you would normally use a flat blade for if you'd like

2: They do cut straight with some practice.

[amazingkevin]

They are the best to me for cutting foiliage or anything else where your changeing directions as offen, as your taking your next breath.They really came in handy when i did a 59 cadillac grill that our travis designed.I needed precise control as a little to the left or right and i'd blow through to the next hole.

[carlton4143]

I use them for portraits. I like the rough cut because it gives a extra shadow.

[hayu]

Thanks all! I just need to keep practicing with it.

[Huntter2022]

Sprial blades also make nice files

[dj21817]

i use spirals for everything now.i could never master the turning with a flat blade and i was breaking to many trying.so once i got use to spirals and not having to worry bout turning,now im good at turns and quicker at cutting

[greasemonkeyredneck]

I made a mistake in my reply. I use FD #3s. I was thinking #2s because other brand's #2s are about the same size as these #3s.

 

Ok, I hope I didn't just make noone more confused.

[yyyyyguy]

what i have found with spirals is I have to cut slooow so i can be accurate and keep moving, if i stop i have a tendency to make a little "nub" cuz it doesn't take much to move them off the line

[amazingkevin]

All blades need to go very slow in the corners except spirals.Thats where the heat builds up ,stress and strain is at it's greatest,and if you want to break a blades just turn quick.Some times i'll widen the turnaroud corner with a few extra cuts to help lessen the heat and strain on thick or hard woods.If the tension is not tight the blade wants to break fast too.hope that helps."mike @mikes workshop.com" has spirals with flat ends .They are the easyest to attach to your saw.I highly recomend them to anybody ,especially beginers if you want to try spirals.Hope this helps.

[greasemonkeyredneck]

what i have found with spirals is I have to cut slooow so i can be accurate and keep moving, if i stop i have a tendency to make a little "nub" cuz it doesn't take much to move them off the line

 

With practice, if you decide you like them, you'll be able to cut fast as you can with any other blade. I do. Now for moving them off the line as you put it, I overcome that problem long time ago. The trick, for me anyway, is I run my blades a tad tighter than most people would deem necessary. The only drawback I have had with this method is my poor old Delta quickclamps catch hell. I have rebuilt them with non-factory parts such as machine screws more time than I can count. I already know that some of you may think this is going to cause the blades to break more, but not from my experience. Those little buggers are tougher than they look. The trick, and this takes trial and error, is to find that happy medium between tight enough not to wander but not so tight that they break as soon as you apply tension.

All that being said, remember, I love spirals and use them almost exclusively. Unless you really like spirals, you will not want to go through the learning curve to use them the way I do. As has been said before, they are not for everyone. If you like them though, you can get good with them. Anyone who knows me here knows the quality of my work. I use spirals on all fretwork. As a matter of fact the only thing I don't use spirals on is my large projects like the rocking toys. I cut them on my old Craftsman direct drive that takes only pinned blades, and if they made pinned spirals, I'd use them for that too. I cut fast and I cut straight.

[hayu]

Thanks all!!!

[susieq4131]

I can't cut straight with a spiral blade, either. LOL What a great idea to use them as a file. I now have a use for them. LOL

 

SQ

[john shankel]

well i am going to give them some time to become what i want to do that i cant do with a stright blade i like this thanks all

[Phantom Scroller]

I use them when I have no other choice, hate um.

[LarryEA]

Hey Roly, you and I aggree on spiral blades and I wanted to point out the

major difference between spiral and straight blades.

Kevin can fall asleep while he scrolls with a straight blade. :lol:

love it.....can't do that with a spiral.....

 

Larry

[Clayton717]

I use them when I have no other choice, hate um.

I completely agree with Roly. I don't like them

[Kepy]

I'm with you Roly.  I despise them.  Have some that I needed for a large project and cussed all the way through.  Those left have probably rusted away.  With my reverse blades, you don't have the messy back to clean up and also get smoother cuts.  I would rather spend my time cutting rather than cleaning up the mess.

[amazingkevin]

I have cut perfect straight lines with spirals 3 foot long.I used my finger as a fence and slide the wood along it .The JOHN 3:16 i did in my galley is the one im talking about.this project was in pine white wood

[Phantom Scroller]

I have cut perfect straight lines with spirals 3 foot long.I used my finger as a fence and slide the wood along it .The JOHN 3:16 i did in my galley is the one im talking about.this project was in pine white wood

Kevin is that before or after a beverage there is always an exception to the rule.     

[amazingkevin]

Sorry sir  mi no drinkie no smokey But at that time of my life i could have been known to have had an energy drink or two per day.

[amazingkevin]

I found out there's spirals for metal too. That could be challenging!

[dansnow]

I use spirals for the veining in projects such as the lichterbogens I make for Christmas season. It gives a slightly wider cut than a flat blade, and I can easily follow all the squiggles.

[Sparkey]

I'm just the opposite. I can cut straight with spiral and flat. I can't cut anything curved with a flat blade.

[amazingkevin]

Thats a most interesting phenomenon !