new2woodwrk Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 (edited) I'm looking at various saws trying to decide which I'll spend my money on and one of the things that concerns me is feeding and tensioning the blade. I've read several reviews talking about top feeders and bottom feeds (not catfish LOL), and not sure exactly what is meant. For instance: On my Wen, I attach the blade to the bottom adapter and feed it up through the table and then through work piece - does that mean I am bottom feeding? Would top feeding then mean you attach the blade to the top head then feed it down through the work piece and table and attach it at the bottom? Most of the videos I've seen seem to be the way I am doing it - if I am a bottom feeder - that is such a weird tern to use on myself LOL Thanks in advance for clarification Edited March 14, 2018 by new2woodwrk OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 (edited) You are "bottom" feeding. And you are correct about top feeding. I am a bottom feeder, also known as a Carp!! Catfish would fit also. And don't let anyone tell you you are a bad person if you bottom feed, I am a good person who happens to bottom feed..... Either way gets the wood cut. Some saws you can only bottom feed on, like the Hegner, the older Hawks, some you can do either, like the Excalibur, Seyco, King and DeWalt. Edited March 14, 2018 by Scrappile OCtoolguy, new2woodwrk and SCROLLSAW703 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgman Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 Yes you are a bottom feeder! All sixteen inch saws (except the EX saws) are bottom feeders. The DeWalt saw, EX type saws and current Delta saw as well as Buston Hawks have a lifting top arm to facilitate top feeding. However, you can still bottom feed if you want on these saws. I started on a Dremel 16" saw. On average, it would take two minitues to chance from one hole to the next. Now, as a top feeder, I can change from hole to hole in about 10 to 20 seconds! The benefit of top feeding is you don't have to lift the board up off the table to feed the blade. Instead, you release the lower clamp, raise the top arm then lower the top arm while lining up the blade to the hole then lower the top arm then reattach the blade to the lower clamp then tension. It's far more easier then it sounds. It does take some time to get to used to it but once you get the hang of it, you will never go back to bottom feeding! new2woodwrk and OCtoolguy 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrolling Steve Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 Hi, my name is Steve and I am a bottom feeder,and like Paul i think i am a good person ! new2woodwrk, Iguanadon, jbrowning and 3 others 3 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 When I started scrolling I was a bottom feeder. As my eyesight started getting worse I found top feeding was much more efficient for me. I guess a lot depends on the saw but if you hope that a saw will last you a lifetime then consider having options as life brings unexpected changes. OCtoolguy, new2woodwrk, SCROLLSAW703 and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmmcrafts Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 I'm also a bottom feeder.. and think I'm a good person / and hope others feel the same about me.. LOL Something else to consider on a saw.. is the fact that.. the top arm rises.. and something real nice is a saw where the top arm rises on it's own when the blade is un-clamped.. Might not be an issue for some.. but for me it is.. When I first got my DeWalt 11 years ago.. I hated trying to hold the arm up while trying to feed the blade.. ( many use a block of wood etc. ) at any rate.. I bought a "jim dandy easy lift" and haven't looked back since.. My Hawks both have the spring loaded upper arm.. break a blade.. the arm pops up and doesn't keep running trying to stab you hand until you get it shut down, LOL... My Excalibur you have to lift and lower the arm manually.. it does stay up on it's own.. but is annoying to me to have to manually do this with each cutout.... I love the Excalibur.. but also do have two complaint about it as well.. One being the manual arm movement. the other is the blade is out near the end ( front ) of the table way closer than my other saws.. doing larger work makes your work piece hang way out off the table.. Not a issue doing smaller items.. like most my clocks that are typically at most 10".. for me.. I'd never buy a large Excalibur due to price.. and I don't care for the blade being so close to the front.. so doing large work and having a large saw throat for me personally.. the EX wouldn't be my choice.. That's why I plan to hang onto my 26" Hawk.. But in doing your research. everyone has a different style of cutting.. and likes and dislikes about a saw.. I'd be nice to have a line up of all the brands at the stores that could be test run.. so keep that in mind when reading reviews.. I have had many entry level saws that while worked good.. but they lacked features and production cutting qualities.. I try not to knock down any brand of saw.. I have 2 Hawks, a DeWalt and a EX-21.. I think if I had to choose one saw.. It'd be a tough call between the Ex and the Hawk.. If the EX had the blade set back a little farther.. it'd probably be my choice.. I can live with the manual lifting arm.. since it stays up on it's own.. unlike the DeWalt (without the easy lift attachment ) .. I suppose my Hawk would be my choice.. for just one saw.. I find myself starting out in the shop on one of the other saws.. but I end up on the Hawk before the end of the day.. new2woodwrk, SCROLLSAW703 and OCtoolguy 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ike Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 I am a bottom feeder . For me ist is the easiest way.but I do help myself i use a awl pushed into the hole to make it a lot smoother and easier to see and hit with the blade, I got my awl with a screwdriver set from Sears ther cost are $5/$10 and in my openion they are well worth it. IKE new2woodwrk, SCROLLSAW703 and OCtoolguy 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotshot Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 (edited) Top feeder . . . most of the time. It is nice in fretwork to just lift the arm and lower it and the blade right into the next hole. Leaning over to look under the workpiece and fish the blade up is great for some folks, but I'm too fat/old I guess. Also, for me at least, it's easy to see the hole against the backdrop of the white pattern. If I'm looking up from under the project, the holes aren't as obvious, and when I do find it, I often end up coming up through the wrong hole. But the advantage of bottom feeding, if you have a blade that fits the hole tightly, the blade doesn't catch going that direction. The second advantage of bottom feeding, is that you only have to thread one hole. When you top feed, you also have to be lined up with the hole in the table. Regardless of what you chose, going to any of these better saws will give you blade change improvements that will seem like a miracle compared to you current Wen. Edited March 14, 2018 by hotshot Joe W., SCROLLSAW703, OCtoolguy and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new2woodwrk Posted March 14, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 (edited) 9 hours ago, ike said: i use a awl pushed into the hole to make it a lot smoother and easier to see and hit with the blade, I do this as well - it really helps to make getting the blade in the hole much easier. Edited March 14, 2018 by new2woodwrk OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCROLLSAW703 Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 I've been a been a bottom feeder from the start. I'd like to think I'm a good person, too. I've had a number of different saws, 2 of them being Hawks. My CW - 40 can be used as a top or bottom feeder. It was the first 16" saw I bought new that had that capability. Some will disagree will that, but it can be done. I've had other saws that were just bottom feeders. My present BM -26 Hawk is a top or bottom feeder. It's a matter of changin' blade clamps. I never succeeded at top feeding, so am a bottom feeder for life. I guess. Choosing a new saw can be confusing. Look at all the angles, & what suits you. Otherwise it'll just be a boat anchor. jmo. OCtoolguy and new2woodwrk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsN Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 I am also a bottom feeder. I think we did a poll once to see how many of us were each type. SCROLLSAW703, OCtoolguy and new2woodwrk 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meflick Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 Well, I am left handed. When you are left handed in a right handed world, you learn quickly to adapt and be ambidextrous. As a result, I have found that since my saws allow me to do either, I sometimes feed from the top, and sometimes from the bottom. The bonus is, I can hang out with either group and fit in. SCROLLSAW703, Scrappile, new2woodwrk and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill WIlson Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 I'm a devout and unapologetic bottom feeder. I'll leave it up to others to declare if I'm a good person or not. My first saw was a Craftsman, bottom feed only, so I learned that way. When I got my DeWalt and even when I upgraded to my EX, I stayed with bottom feeding, even though they are top feed capable. I tried it and didn't like it. I know I didn't give it enough of a chance, but I'm completely comfortable bottom feeding. It's like the metric system. I know it's easier, but I have no interest in converting and you would have to pry my Imperial tape measures and rulers out of my cold dead hands. MrsN, OCtoolguy, SCROLLSAW703 and 1 other 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredfret Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 Fretwork I topfeed. Open work I bottom feed. What ever works best for you or what your saw allows is fine. Fredfret new2woodwrk, SCROLLSAW703 and OCtoolguy 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 18 hours ago, Scrappile said: You are "bottom" feeding. And you are correct about top feeding. I am a bottom feeder, also known as a Carp!! Catfish would fit also. And don't let anyone tell you you are a bad person if you bottom feed, I am a good person who happens to bottom feed..... Either way gets the wood cut. Some saws you can only bottom feed on, like the Hegner, the older Hawks, some you can do either, like the Excalibur, Seyco, King and DeWalt. In my estimation, the only negative referral to "bottom feeder", is when referring to attorneys or lawyers. They are true "bottom feeders". Ray new2woodwrk, GrampaJim and SCROLLSAW703 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 7 hours ago, ike said: I am a bottom feeder . For me ist is the easiest way.but I do help myself i use a awl pushed into the hole to make it a lot smoother and easier to see and hit with the blade, I got my awl with a screwdriver set from Sears ther cost are $5/$10 and in my openion they are well worth it. IKE When I took the marquetry class, the instructor gave each of us a small counter sink drill. Hand held and operated. It opens up the mouth of the tiny holes just enough to make it easy to stick a 2/0 blade up through the #68 hole. So far, I have done this on all the stuff that I have cut. But, with that said, I'm now going to give top feeding a try. It may end up being my blade feeding choice. Ray SCROLLSAW703 and new2woodwrk 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 5 hours ago, meflick said: Well, I am left handed. When you are left handed in a right handed world, you learn quickly to adapt and be ambidextrous. As a result, I have found that since my saws allow me to do either, I sometimes feed from the top, and sometimes from the bottom. The bonus is, I can hang out with either group and fit in. Excellent post. I too am a left handed person but am also semi ambidexterous. I can go either way. Ray new2woodwrk, meflick and SCROLLSAW703 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 5 hours ago, Bill WIlson said: I'm a devout and unapologetic bottom feeder. I'll leave it up to others to declare if I'm a good person or not. My first saw was a Craftsman, bottom feed only, so I learned that way. When I got my DeWalt and even when I upgraded to my EX, I stayed with bottom feeding, even though they are top feed capable. I tried it and didn't like it. I know I didn't give it enough of a chance, but I'm completely comfortable bottom feeding. It's like the metric system. I know it's easier, but I have no interest in converting and you would have to pry my Imperial tape measures and rulers out of my cold dead hands. Amen to the metric/imperial debate. It would have been nice to have learned metric at a young age but I didn't so I'm just like you. Ray new2woodwrk and SCROLLSAW703 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 We are getting a little off the original purpose of this thread, however, let me add this an then I will but out. I also counter sink my holes when necessary, I also have a grinder close to my saw and every blade I use, I grind a sharp point in the top end. Takes but a second and really makes it easier to start the blade up through that hole. OCtoolguy, new2woodwrk and SCROLLSAW703 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 7 minutes ago, Scrappile said: We are getting a little off the original purpose of this thread, however, let me add this an then I will but out. I also counter sink my holes when necessary, I also have a grinder close to my saw and every blade I use, I grind a sharp point in the top end. Takes but a second and really makes it easier to start the blade up through that hole. This is a great idea Paul. My problem is, I have a cheap H/F grinder that I hate to turn on. The reason I hate to turn it on is, it will still be spinning for an hour after I turn it off. I would love to have one that has an electric brake on it. Or some electronic device to slow/stop it quickly. It's a great grinder but that one thing keeps me from using it. Ray new2woodwrk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 (edited) Belt sander will work. Ooppss, I didn't write anything, I butted out,,, Edited March 14, 2018 by Scrappile OCtoolguy, SCROLLSAW703, meflick and 1 other 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoney Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 I also started out with a bottom feed only Craftsman. I then went to a Delta P20 which can be either top or bottom fed but continued to bottom feed most of the time. I now own a Hegner and have no choice but would like the option especially on large fretwork projects. I don't think I would buy another scroll saw that didn't have the top or bottom feed option. JMHO new2woodwrk, SCROLLSAW703 and OCtoolguy 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new2woodwrk Posted March 14, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 1 hour ago, octoolguy said: This is a great idea Paul. My problem is, I have a cheap H/F grinder that I hate to turn on. The reason I hate to turn it on is, it will still be spinning for an hour after I turn it off. I would love to have one that has an electric brake on it. Or some electronic device to slow/stop it quickly. It's a great grinder but that one thing keeps me from using it. Ray LMAO - I have that grinder, it's my first and only - I thought all grinders took hours to stop spinning LOL OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new2woodwrk Posted March 14, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 1 hour ago, Scrappile said: We are getting a little off the original purpose of this thread, however, let me add this an then I will but out. I also counter sink my holes when necessary, I also have a grinder close to my saw and every blade I use, I grind a sharp point in the top end. Takes but a second and really makes it easier to start the blade up through that hole. I like this idea - thanks! But back in OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonzo Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 Bottom feeder here also. Really like Scrappiles idea of grinding the top. new2woodwrk and OCtoolguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.thumb.jpg.95d348aa76923344a5cab534cc1b3bc1.jpg)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.