Dream about using spiral blades

[crupiea]

I am not a fan of spiral blades. They seem to chew up the wood and generally make a mess. Maybe i just dont know how to use them.

Last night I had a dream that I made a piece using them just to try them out.   Sure enough, just frayed pieces and chewed up stuff everywhere.  They odd part was that people loved it!!  I guess like the ripped jeans thing is popular,. i dont know but people could not get enough of the work i did with the spirals and I could hardly keep up with demand.  

One strange dream for sure, lol. 
 

[Scrappile]

Maybe you need a little time off!!!

[Eugene Downes]

I've found spiral blades useful in tight areas but not for long straight or curving cuts. With thin blades I can make some very sharp turns. I only tried using them years ago and found I would have to change blades to often for most cutting.

Edited June 25, 2019 by Eugene Downes

[Foxfold]

What did you have for supper ?

[kmmcrafts]

I prefer flat blades but I cut with either.. I wanted to see if I could cut an entire clock using spiral blades... This is the clock I made entirely with spiral blades.. it was tough but I did it.. I found that spiral blades are better suited for plywood.. Solid wood they like to follow the soft areas and if you're not careful they will through you off coarse quickly.. LOL.. Clock turned out okay really but I could have done better with flat blades.. 

[Jim McDonald]

Spirals are sent straight from Satan's workshop and the only time I touch one is doing portrait style cuttings and curse myself the entire time.

[flarud]

34 minutes ago, Jim McDonald said:

Spirals are sent straight from Satan's workshop and the only time I touch one is doing portrait style cuttings and curse myself the entire time.

Amen!

[Eugene Downes]

6 hours ago, kmmcrafts said:

I prefer flat blades but I cut with either.. I wanted to see if I could cut an entire clock using spiral blades... This is the clock I made entirely with spiral blades.. it was tough but I did it.. I found that spiral blades are better suited for plywood.. Solid wood they like to follow the soft areas and if you're not careful they will through you off coarse quickly.. LOL.. Clock turned out okay really but I could have done better with flat blades.. 

I agree with you, I had the same trouble with the spiral blades cutting soft woods. The only really good thing I found using the spiral was in cutting  boards that was to long to turn completely around on my scroll saw and needed to be held steady pointed the same direction (side ways) while making the cuts.

[stoney]

I don't quite understand why some members have such a dislike for spiral blades.   Some really nice portraits can be created with them.  Now granted, they are a different animal and take some getting used to but once that is accomplished they work really well.   I'm going to try and download some portraits I have done exclusively with spiral blades both in BB plywood and solid wood.

Here goes.................................

Sorry about hijacking your thread Tony but I just couldn't help myself !!   You really need to give spirals a chance I Know you will like them once you get used to them.

Edited June 25, 2019 by stoney

[Foxfold]

@stoney  My problem is I don't seem to be able to get them in my clamp, they always seem to face broadside towards me instead of sliding into the clamp like my flat blades do. and they seem to snap for fun.  Now I know I'm a 'newbie' at this scrolling lark, but after half a dozen blades I got quite disheartened.  Oh and I was using really thin plywood.  Your pieces are amazing, but alas, beyond my skill level.  

Edited June 25, 2019 by Foxfold

[stoney]

13 minutes ago, Foxfold said:

@stoney  My problem is I don't seem to be able to get them in my clamp, they always seem to face broadside towards me instead of sliding into the clamp like my flat blades do. and they seem to snap for fun.  Now I know I'm a 'newbie' at this scrolling lark, but after half a dozen blades I got quite disheartened.  Oh and I was using really thin plywood.  Your pieces are amazing, but alas, beyond my skill level.  

First I would suggest either buying flat end spirals or use pliers to untwist the ends and then make the flat ends parallel to each other.   Yeah the twisted ends do not work well in most blade clamps.   Don't sell yourself short just be patient and you can do it. 

[kmmcrafts]

2 hours ago, stoney said:

I don't quite understand why some members have such a dislike for spiral blades.   Some really nice portraits can be created with them.  Now granted, they are a different animal and take some getting used to but once that is accomplished they work really well.   I'm going to try and download some portraits I have done exclusively with spiral blades both in BB plywood and solid wood.

Here goes.......................

Sorry about hijacking your thread Tony but I just couldn't help myself !!   You really need to give spirals a chance I Know you will like them once you get used to them.

Stoney, I believe this is the first time I've ever seen any of your great work... Thank you for posting a few of your projects.. Great job on all of them. Really like the natural edge / live edge whatever you want to call it stuff.. LOL... I've done a few pieces in the natural slab edged wood and it really just takes the uniqueness to a whole new level.. 

[Scrappile]

Personally I don't care whether people like spirals or not.  I use to try to convince people they are a good tool, but we have been down this road so many times that I just don't see the point anymore.   Everyone I know here turns out good stuff no matter what tool they use.  I also think that as many times as this has been discussed, the same people that like them, like them and the same ones that don't,,,, don't. 

Edited June 26, 2019 by Scrappile

[Bill WIlson]

Spiral blades are the best tool for specific applications and Stoney illustrated that perfectly with the pictures in his post.  Nice work, Stoney.

They aren't suited for all materials or all scrolling, just an option if you want to do certain types of projects.  Like any other blade, learn what they work best for and use them for that.  They take some getting used to, especially if you are already accustomed to flat blades.  Just don't expect them to cut like flat blades.

[Brianr24]

I use both flat and spiral. I am equally as bad at following a line with both. But when I’m using spiral blades I usually don’t try to cut right on the line like on do with flat. I stay a tiny bit away on waste side then come back and sneak up on the line shaving at it. I know that wouldn’t work for you speed guys it is time consuming. But when I want to be accurate. That works great for me. I’m always trying to get better with both types.

[stoney]

20 hours ago, Scrappile said:

Personally I don't care whether people like spirals or not.  I use to try to convince people they are a good tool, but we have been down this road so many times that I just don't see the point anymore.   Everyone I know here turns out good stuff no matter what tool they use.  I also think that as many times as this has been discussed, the same people that like them, like them and the same ones that don't,,,, don't. 

Paul your point is well taken but the point of my post was new members join this forum regularly and my post was really directed at them.   Also it didn't sound like Tony had really given spirals an honest try and I wanted to show him what can be created with a little patience and practice.

Edited June 26, 2019 by stoney

[New to Scrollin]

Huge fan of the spirals but I have only been cutting 1.5 years and one month into my journey I was using them because I wanted to cut 4' long live edge pieces and I had to use them.  By that point I had not developed my flat blade muscle memory too much and it did not effect me as much as someone who had been using flats for 10 years.  So for me it was just a matter of necessity.   I knew what I wanted to cut and that was the only way to do it.  But now when I want to do a flat blade, I have problems.   Funny how that works out.  

To the OP there might be some things you are doing to get fuzzy work.  You can cut too fast with spirals.   Have your RPM's as high as they go and try slowing the advancement, it might help.  I also know the blade makes a big difference.  I love how fast the Pegas blades go through but they definitely leave a gnurled edge.  The FD flat end blades are my #1 choice.   They are not as aggressive and you have to cut slower but the edge is smoother and they don't snap as easily.   Hope that helps.

[Wilson142]

On 6/25/2019 at 2:45 PM, stoney said:

I don't quite understand why some members have such a dislike for spiral blades.   Some really nice portraits can be created with them.  Now granted, they are a different animal and take some getting used to but once that is accomplished they work really well.   I'm going to try and download some portraits I have done exclusively with spiral blades both in BB plywood and solid wood.

Here goes.................................

Sorry about hijacking your thread Tony but I just couldn't help myself !!   You really need to give spirals a chance I Know you will like them once you get used to them.

 

Welcome to the dark side. I use spirals almost exclusively. Thin, thick, ply, solid, fretwork, puzzles. Anything.

[Brianr24]

On 6/25/2019 at 5:59 PM, Foxfold said:

@stoney  My problem is I don't seem to be able to get them in my clamp, they always seem to face broadside towards me instead of sliding into the clamp like my flat blades do. and they seem to snap for fun.  Now I know I'm a 'newbie' at this scrolling lark, but after half a dozen blades I got quite disheartened.  Oh and I was using really thin plywood.  Your pieces are amazing, but alas, beyond my skill level.  

I sometimes have same issue. What I do tho and seems to work is use a pair of needle nose pliers and a regular pair and straighten the end and align the straight ends at same time. Maybe that will help you.

The biggest problem I have (only with the really small blades)  After I put the blades in my clamps for the first cut the end of the blade is all kinked and If I’m using Really small entry holes. I can’t feed it in the next cut. I hope my new saw doesn’t do that. We’ll see when it comes.

[Wilson142]

Yeah, the dreaded hockey stick. Once it kinks, you're on borrowed time. I tighten my bottom clamp, letting the blade rotate as it wants. I slowly tighten the top clamp and can feel when it wants to kink. If it doesn't feel right, I reposition it until it is right.

[Brianr24]

2 hours ago, Wilson142 said:

Yeah, the dreaded hockey stick. Once it kinks, you're on borrowed time. I tighten my bottom clamp, letting the blade rotate as it wants. I slowly tighten the top clamp and can feel when it wants to kink. If it doesn't feel right, I reposition it until it is right.

Hahah. yeah exactly.! A hockey stick.

[Sycamore67]

The Spiral Blade in a dream.  For me and my experience they are a nightmare.  Some people do very well with them but not me.

[New to Scrollin]

14 hours ago, Brianr24 said:

I sometimes have same issue. What I do tho and seems to work is use a pair of needle nose pliers and a regular pair and straighten the end and align the straight ends at same time. Maybe that will help you.

The biggest problem I have (only with the really small blades)  After I put the blades in my clamps for the first cut the end of the blade is all kinked and If I’m using Really small entry holes. I can’t feed it in the next cut. I hope my new saw doesn’t do that. We’ll see when it comes.

If your blade kinks like a hockey stick that can mean a couple things.  Normally the set screw where you are always clamping into ( top or bottom depending on how you feed) is off line.   If it kinks, grab a pair of pliers and try to straighten or just what I do and just snap it off at the kink.   then you can feed through pilot holes.   If you snap off right where it kinks, that is generally where the blade sits beyond the set and thumb screws anyway and should not effect your ability to still use the blade.  It will still seat right in there and clamp down

[Gonzo]

On June 25, 2019 at 4:45 PM, stoney said:

I don't quite understand why some members have such a dislike for spiral blades.   Some really nice portraits can be created with them.  Now granted, they are a different animal and take some getting used to but once that is accomplished they work really well.   I'm going to try and download some portraits I have done exclusively with spiral blades both in BB plywood and solid wood.

Here goes.................................

Sorry about hijacking your thread Tony but I just couldn't help myself !!   You really need to give spirals a chance I Know you will like them once you get used to them.

Wow Stoney! That is some very nice scrolling. 

[stoney]

16 hours ago, Gonzo said:

Wow Stoney! That is some very nice scrolling. 

Thank you Matt and everyone who commented on my post.   The keys to using spirals are good patterns, lots of practice, and patience.