Snark tooth / Olson blades

[kardar2]

Hello,

I have always been a fan of the Flying Dutchman blade. But I saw the shark tooth blades offered on the Windfield Collection site.  Years ago I started out with Olson blades  cause all that’s I could find locally. Before I discovered the online  sites.  Have any of you used them ? Thanks 

[scrollingforsanity]

I did try them in the # 3 and # 5. They were ok but I prefer the Flying Dutchman and the Pegus MD much better. Flying Dutchman being my favorite. You might give the Shark tooth a try you might like them. It's been a while so I can't exactly remember why I didn't care for them but I know they didn't cut as well for me.

grizz

Oregon 

[kmmcrafts]

I did some research on these last year.. and found that.. Sharktooth blades are no more than just re-branded either Olsen or Flying Dutchman blades depending on the style you choose... so if you've used Olsen or Flying Dutchman blades you likely will know what you're getting from this name brand.. 

I agree with grizz.. Pegas blades are the best I've used for the most part.. I use a mixture of brands actually depending on what I'm cutting and which saw I'm using..  but Pegas is the most used blade I use.. Only use their Modified Geometry blades so can't really comment on the others..  

[OCtoolguy]

The project I'm working on now requires 8 panels of compound cutting in red cedar. The short side is 3/4" and the tall side is 1 1/2". I have been experimenting with all the different blades I have. That included Olson, FD, PS Woods, and Pegus. I've tried everything from 3 to 9  in regular and reverse. After much cussing and a lot of mess, I have decided that the Pegus is by far the best. I'm using #5 MGT and they seem to stay sharp the longest and clear the sawdust out of the kerf the best. I'm going to place an order for all sizes of Pegus from 2/0 to 7, a gross of each. I'm tired of trying to figure out which blade to use. Just trying to keep them all sorted out and remembering what I have is too much for me.

 

[Old Joe]

I like Pegas and Flying Dutchman. I found Olson to be less consistent and less responsive. The difference in price is negligible.

[Rockytime]

Pegas MG is my go to blade these days. However I also use the FD polar blades a lot. the other day I was cutting some 1" pine and cut the outside of the pattern with Olson skip tooth blades. I do like them. Tuesday I went to Woodcraft to look around and purchased Olsen skip tooth blades and several Pegas blades. Their selection was very small and I seldom buy things there unless there is no other local source. The blades are $4.99 per dozen. 42 cents each. A bit expensive but unless I mail order blades along with something else the shipping eats up the savings. I generally wait to order a gross but I don't scroll enough to buy that many blades. My widow will have enough things to dispose of without adding a bunch of blades she knows nothing about. I do love Pegas MG!

[OCtoolguy]

12 minutes ago, Rockytime said:

Pegas MG is my go to blade these days. However I also use the FD polar blades a lot. the other day I was cutting some 1" pine and cut the outside of the pattern with Olson skip tooth blades. I do like them. Tuesday I went to Woodcraft to look around and purchased Olsen skip tooth blades and several Pegas blades. Their selection was very small and I seldom buy things there unless there is no other local source. The blades are $4.99 per dozen. 42 cents each. A bit expensive but unless I mail order blades along with something else the shipping eats up the savings. I generally wait to order a gross but I don't scroll enough to buy that many blades. My widow will have enough things to dispose of without adding a bunch of blades she knows nothing about. I do love Pegas MG!

Think positive Les, you will go through a gross of blades long before your demise. Buy 2 gross.

 

[kmmcrafts]

17 minutes ago, Rockytime said:

. My widow will have enough things to dispose of without adding a bunch of blades she knows nothing about. I do love Pegas MG!

Just tell her to send them to me..  I go through about 4 - 5 gross of just the #5 Pegas MG a year.. and almost that many of the FD UR #5 not to mention the other sizes and styles I use.. even the least used blade I run through about 1 gross a year.. which is actually the #1 FD New Spiral.. Good thing I only saw about 3-5 hours a day

[OCtoolguy]

I have been following ALL the threads that talk about blades and I am seeing that the #5 seems to be the size of choice in most cases. I know when I took the marquetry class we were using 2/0 for the very thin veneer. But I see most everybody using either 1/8 BB or other thicknesses of hardwoods and it looks like most everybody is using #5. I have blades of all the major brands and in sizes ranging from 2/0 to 12. I have been experimenting with all sizes and configurations on this compound cutting project. So far, the best cutting comes from the Pegas #5 MGT. So, with that said, I guess I'll just order a gross of those and not have to go through all the confusion of which blade to use. Anybody who has input here would be greatly appreciated. Just wanting to hear all sides of the story. Which blade for which wood etc.

 

[Old Joe]

When doing most of the fret work that I have been torturing myself with lately I rarely use anything larger than a #3.

[Paladin]

I'm with Joe on this one.  My most used size is a #3, and my go-to blade is the FD Penguin Silver Reverse.  My last couple blade orders have just been 3 gross of those at a time.  They cut smooth, are very controllable, and stay cool and don't burn the wood even on really tight turns.  I normally stack cut 3/4" of whatever I am cutting, so they may dull a little quicker, but I love the way they cut.  I use some of the others at times, like the Pegas MGT or the FD UR, but when I need good control for fretwork, I always go with the Penguins.

Steve

[kmmcrafts]

15 hours ago, octoolguy said:

I have been following ALL the threads that talk about blades and I am seeing that the #5 seems to be the size of choice in most cases. I know when I took the marquetry class we were using 2/0 for the very thin veneer. But I see most everybody using either 1/8 BB or other thicknesses of hardwoods and it looks like most everybody is using #5. I have blades of all the major brands and in sizes ranging from 2/0 to 12. I have been experimenting with all sizes and configurations on this compound cutting project. So far, the best cutting comes from the Pegas #5 MGT. So, with that said, I guess I'll just order a gross of those and not have to go through all the confusion of which blade to use. Anybody who has input here would be greatly appreciated. Just wanting to hear all sides of the story. Which blade for which wood etc.

 

Ray, If I'm not stack cutting I go down a size or two.. Well maybe I should word it better.. If I'm cutting thin stock 3/8" or less I go down to a #3 and sometimes a #1.. but can use a #3 or 5 on the thin material too but then I'm slowing the saw way down.. I don't fool with the saw speed much and usually just change the blade I'm using.. Also remember.. that the smaller blade will give a smoother cut edge.. so even some projects I use a #3 as well.. even on the thick 3/4" stock.. animal puzzles come to mind here.. like Scott ( iggy ) makes.. the pieces fit together better with a number 3..  But yeah. my most common used blade is a toss up between a #3 and #5.. I use a lot of both.. probably the same amount of either one..

Now to throw a curve ball..  LOL.. I use the #5 the most on my Hawk.. as it's a less aggressive cutting saw... BUT.. The Ex-21 and 788.. I do find I use the #3 more... so this is a big reason I try to answer those what blade to use questions with.. buy sample packs... not everyone's saw cuts the same as mine.. even a difference in cutting between the two Hawks.. My 220 is more aggressive than my 226..also not everyone does the same types of cutting. and lastly.. not everyone likes to cut fast / slow.. 

Some places you buy blades from will give gross pricing on mix and match sizes so you might be better off to order 6 dozen of each blade and then get plenty of each size or break it down more and buy 3 dozen of a few sizes.. Just hate to see you plunk down a lot of money on one size blade then realize you wish you had a smaller or larger blade too.. . I'm not sure that DnD does the mix match for gross pricing.. but there are other places that will on the Pegas..     

[OCtoolguy]

4 hours ago, kmmcrafts said:

Ray, If I'm not stack cutting I go down a size or two.. Well maybe I should word it better.. If I'm cutting thin stock 3/8" or less I go down to a #3 and sometimes a #1.. but can use a #3 or 5 on the thin material too but then I'm slowing the saw way down.. I don't fool with the saw speed much and usually just change the blade I'm using.. Also remember.. that the smaller blade will give a smoother cut edge.. so even some projects I use a #3 as well.. even on the thick 3/4" stock.. animal puzzles come to mind here.. like Scott ( iggy ) makes.. the pieces fit together better with a number 3..  But yeah. my most common used blade is a toss up between a #3 and #5.. I use a lot of both.. probably the same amount of either one..

Now to throw a curve ball..  LOL.. I use the #5 the most on my Hawk.. as it's a less aggressive cutting saw... BUT.. The Ex-21 and 788.. I do find I use the #3 more... so this is a big reason I try to answer those what blade to use questions with.. buy sample packs... not everyone's saw cuts the same as mine.. even a difference in cutting between the two Hawks.. My 220 is more aggressive than my 226..also not everyone does the same types of cutting. and lastly.. not everyone likes to cut fast / slow.. 

Some places you buy blades from will give gross pricing on mix and match sizes so you might be better off to order 6 dozen of each blade and then get plenty of each size or break it down more and buy 3 dozen of a few sizes.. Just hate to see you plunk down a lot of money on one size blade then realize you wish you had a smaller or larger blade too.. . I'm not sure that DnD does the mix match for gross pricing.. but there are other places that will on the Pegas..     

Thanks Kevin for your great explanation. I am going to be ordering some blades in the very near future. I forgot about Dnd. I was looking at Qtena and Bear. Qtena won't let you mix and match. Bear will but they are in Canada and it takes longer to get stuff from them. I will check out DnD and do a mix and match order. I made a couple of mistakes on blade orders in the past and I now have some blades that I may or may not use. But, live and learn. I'm pretty much going to stick with the Pegas blades but as mentioned above, I might give the FD Penguin blades a try. I'm not one to do a lot of cutting of the same thing all the time. I will be doing just about everything so I will have a chance to try most everything I have in my arsenal. Right now, puzzles don't call out to me as does intarsia. I like to make things that are functional so I will be more in the boxes, baskets and bowls area. I am not the most learned person when it comes to wood choice either. I will have to lean on others here for advice on what wood to use for different things. When it comes to finishing, that is another whole can of worms for me. So, onward and upward. Sorry to have taken this topic off course.

 

[kmmcrafts]

4 hours ago, octoolguy said:

Thanks Kevin for your great explanation. I am going to be ordering some blades in the very near future. I forgot about Dnd. I was looking at Qtena and Bear. Qtena won't let you mix and match. Bear will but they are in Canada and it takes longer to get stuff from them. I will check out DnD and do a mix and match order. I made a couple of mistakes on blade orders in the past and I now have some blades that I may or may not use. But, live and learn. I'm pretty much going to stick with the Pegas blades but as mentioned above, I might give the FD Penguin blades a try. I'm not one to do a lot of cutting of the same thing all the time. I will be doing just about everything so I will have a chance to try most everything I have in my arsenal. Right now, puzzles don't call out to me as does intarsia. I like to make things that are functional so I will be more in the boxes, baskets and bowls area. I am not the most learned person when it comes to wood choice either. I will have to lean on others here for advice on what wood to use for different things. When it comes to finishing, that is another whole can of worms for me. So, onward and upward. Sorry to have taken this topic off course.

 

Having lots of blades is part of the learning curve.. I have a few stacks of blades that I bought back in 05- 06 when i was first scrolling, that I most likely will never use too.. actually same goes for some pegas blades.. I just ordered a few months ago some spirals..  the sizes on pegas seem like they run smaller than the FD that I normally use in the spirals.. as i ordered same numbers rather than looking at tooth per inch and actual blade dimensions.. So now I have some blades I won't use.. so then I ordered some paying more attention and got the correct sizing.. only to find that i personally don't like their spirals.. also have a few sample packs of most of their other styles and sizes.. I seem to only like the Modified Geometry blades from Pegas..  at least on the Hawk saw.. Just got an idea while replying... maybe I need to try all these blades on the Excalibur.. since they work differently on each saw..     

[don watson]

May I say thanks to all you guys that have contributed to this thread. I have been following this (lurking) with a great deal of interest as I am in the process of starting a scroll saw group at my local 'Mens Shed' . We don't have a lot of (any ?) money and there are quite a few people interested in joining in. I have always used Olsen but recently have tried Pegas blades because the Olsen blade was in short supply here and I was happy with the Pegas. Now the same problem has arisen and I am trying the Niqua blades. My goto blade is #5 and my first try with the Niqua blade on a piece of 1" thick Ash had a lot of smoke and I was worried about the piece going on fire. It may have been a bad blade so I will try again in the morning.

Thanks again for this information it has been a great help (for me).

take care

Don W

PS As I have noted above, I am helping with the scroll saw group at the 'Shed' and am wondering if it would be better (cheaper) buying in bulk and selling on to the membership at cost price ?? I expect there will be a high breakage rate at the beginning and we can ill afford to hand out free blades to our learners.

[OCtoolguy]

4 hours ago, don watson said:

May I say thanks to all you guys that have contributed to this thread. I have been following this (lurking) with a great deal of interest as I am in the process of starting a scroll saw group at my local 'Mens Shed' . We don't have a lot of (any ?) money and there are quite a few people interested in joining in. I have always used Olsen but recently have tried Pegas blades because the Olsen blade was in short supply here and I was happy with the Pegas. Now the same problem has arisen and I am trying the Niqua blades. My goto blade is #5 and my first try with the Niqua blade on a piece of 1" thick Ash had a lot of smoke and I was worried about the piece going on fire. It may have been a bad blade so I will try again in the morning.

Thanks again for this information it has been a great help (for me).

take care

Don W

PS As I have noted above, I am helping with the scroll saw group at the 'Shed' and am wondering if it would be better (cheaper) buying in bulk and selling on to the membership at cost price ?? I expect there will be a high breakage rate at the beginning and we can ill afford to hand out free blades to our learners.

Absolutely. You get your best price when buying in gross quantities.