Unusual blade question

[Foxfold]

I was talking today with an old friend (85yrs young) who used to be a teacher in woodworking for many years. Scrolling, turning, furniture making the whole kit and caboodle. We were talking about scrolling as he loves some of my pieces (especially the half naked lady)  and I was telling him about my failed attempts with spiral blades. He smiled and said ''try twisting one of your flat blades a full turn before you fasten it in the clamp''  he reckons it will cut very nicely.  Now, I promised him I would try and would let him know how I got on.  This is something I have never heard of before, so I'm asking everyone before I even attempt this....    Have you ever tried this ? 

[kmmcrafts]

Never done that on purpose, LOL.. I have twisted a blade before though..  They do cut more aggressive when they get bend or twisted.. But I've never heard of twisting it one time.. 

[Scrappile]

HUH?   Never heard that one.

[dgman]

I suspect spiral blades are twisted before they are hardened. If you twist a flat blade, it will probably weaken it and fail prematurely. I don’t know this for a fact. Try it at your own risk.

[NC Scroller]

Now I have flatten the ends before to make them easier to mount in the saw.  I know Flying Dutchman does sell a flat end spiral.  I can't image you can untwist a full blade one turn.

[kmmcrafts]

Pegas blades are very easily broken.. If you bend it,,, it'll usually snap at that bend very soon,, FD UR blades can handle those bends and twist much better from my experience anyway...

[Fab4]

Hi Brenda:
Why would ever doubt the wisdom of old timer who loves half naked ladies
I do not use spirals - but give it a shot and let us know how it works
Heck, I may even try it, and I never heard of trying this either
Fab4 
 

[Wilson142]

Blades are cheap so why not? My stepfather use to put a flat blade in with the teeth pointed up to cut plastic. Never saw him do it, just noticed he blade was clamped that way and told him about it. He said he did it purposely. Maybe he just wanted to sound like it wasn't a mistake. lol 

[Rolf]

As was said blades are cheap. Just do it and let us know. 

[Bill WIlson]

Never heard of that, but agree, that if you are curious, there is no harm in trying it.  My gut tells me that if you aren't having luck with spirals, you won't have luck with this method either, but who knows?  Worth a shot.  If nothing else, I'd be interested in hearing the results.

[redwine]

I have heard of some of the older scrollers that would take the blade and with 2 pliers, one near where the spiral teeth begin and with the other one twist the top and bottom to achieve a flat surface. For me this was easier said than done! I just flatten both ends with a small tack hammer on a bench vise with an anvil.  This works for me as far as making it  easier to clamp the blades into the holders.

Erv

[Foxfold]

Well, I tried it and it does work. I went very slowly, in fact I stood at arms length from the saw to turn it on just in case.  Don't know if I expected it to blow up or something, but I sure looked very silly   I think perhaps he scrolled before they made spirals or maybe in post war Britain there were none to be had.    But one thing is sure, although the technique works it's an awful pain in the fingers trying to hold a blade and twist it 360 and then clamp it. I for one will be practicing with my spirals in future.

[Scrappile]

could you turn it with pliers instead of hurting your fingers?

[Foxfold]

11 hours ago, Scrappile said:

could you turn it with pliers instead of hurting your fingers?

I did use pliers, but I have practically no strength in my thumbs so I still found it hard to grip the pliers and hold tight while I twisted the blade and passed it to my other hand to turn it.  If that makes any sense.     I'm just an old feeble woman what can I say

[Jim Finn]

On 7/19/2019 at 4:24 AM, Foxfold said:

I did use pliers, but I have practically no strength in my thumbs so I still found it hard to grip the pliers and hold tight while I twisted the blade and passed it to my other hand to turn it.  If that makes any sense.     I'm just an old feeble woman what can I say

You could do this easier, using two small  vice-grips.  I have twisted  flat blades this way but just ninety degrees and cut from the side of the saw.  Did this to make cuts on wood longer than my saw could reach otherwise.

[Rob]

On 7/19/2019 at 8:51 AM, Foxfold said:

Well, I tried it and it does work. I went very slowly, in fact I stood at arms length from the saw to turn it on just in case.  Don't know if I expected it to blow up or something, but I sure looked very silly   I think perhaps he scrolled before they made spirals or maybe in post war Britain there were none to be had.    But one thing is sure, although the technique works it's an awful pain in the fingers trying to hold a blade and twist it 360 and then clamp it. I for one will be practicing with my spirals in future.

From memory Brenda you have a Hegner clone.  Why not fit the blade to the blade clamps and twist it before fitting the clamps in the saw?   Does that make sense?

Rob

[Foxfold]

1 hour ago, Rob said:

From memory Brenda you have a Hegner clone.  Why not fit the blade to the blade clamps and twist it before fitting the clamps in the saw?   Does that make sense?

Rob

It makes perfect sense Rob. However, although I tried it, it really was a question asked out of curiosity as I'd never heard of 'twisting' your own blades before.  As I've said, I think perhaps my old friend used this method in post war times when spirals were not available.  Nowadays spirals are easily bought so that's what I'd do.