Scruffydog Posted September 3, 2019 Report Share Posted September 3, 2019 So I was cutting circles with my Delta and the blade sprung out of the bottom holder. Good time to change blades so I actually know what I'm using. I was cutting pine, and the pre sprung blade was wandering all over the place. Very difficult to follow the line. I put a PS SuperSharp 7 blade in and WOW, what a difference. Not only was the blade not wandering, but the quality of the cut was incredible. So I guess what the posts say about using the good blade is true. I am a believer now... OCtoolguy, crupiea, stoney and 3 others 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmmcrafts Posted September 3, 2019 Report Share Posted September 3, 2019 43 minutes ago, Scruffydog said: So I was cutting circles with my Delta and the blade sprung out of the bottom holder. Good time to change blades so I actually know what I'm using. I was cutting pine, and the pre sprung blade was wandering all over the place. Very difficult to follow the line. I put a PS SuperSharp 7 blade in and WOW, what a difference. Not only was the blade not wandering, but the quality of the cut was incredible. So I guess what the posts say about using the good blade is true. I am a believer now... Not only a good name brand blade... But also a new sharp blade.. Typically a blade starts getting dull after only about 15-20 minutes of cutting.. as you gain more experience with cutting and blade types and cutting material types.. You'll learn when it's a good time to change the blade.. When I first started scroll sawing.. I thought a blade should last several days... or at least several hours.. I was amazed at how fast a blade dulled over time... so don't expect a new blade to last for long.. It does depend on what you're cutting.. Plywood eats up the blades pretty quick due to the glues etc in the ply.. but even cutting soft and hardwood.. blades don't last long at all.. Be_O_Be, OCtoolguy, SCROLLSAW703 and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrampaJim Posted September 3, 2019 Report Share Posted September 3, 2019 The hardest thing for me to learn was to change blades often. I am a cheap skate and throwing away a "good" blade seemed just wrong. Do it anyway. OCtoolguy, barb.j.enders, OzarkSawdust and 2 others 3 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmmcrafts Posted September 3, 2019 Report Share Posted September 3, 2019 13 minutes ago, GrampaJim said: The hardest thing for me to learn was to change blades often. I am a cheap skate and throwing away a "good" blade seemed just wrong. Do it anyway. Me too... Something I also did at first being a cheap skate I used to turn blades upside down to wear out both ends of the blade.. but what really happen is.. a rough looking project once I pulled the pattern off etc.. So i learn that in reality... blades are very cheap compared to hours spent behind a saw and a ruined project.. the blades are just pocket change for each one.. and it's not worth ruining several hours labor... not to mention the cost of the now scrap wood, LOL OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim McDonald Posted September 3, 2019 Report Share Posted September 3, 2019 10 minutes ago, kmmcrafts said: Me too... Something I also did at first being a cheap skate I used to turn blades upside down to wear out both ends of the blade.. but what really happen is.. a rough looking project once I pulled the pattern off etc.. So i learn that in reality... blades are very cheap compared to hours spent behind a saw and a ruined project.. the blades are just pocket change for each one.. and it's not worth ruining several hours labor... not to mention the cost of the now scrap wood, LOL The cost of a blade compared to time sanding fuzzies, there is no question. Like Gillette used to say in their ads, "A new blade make a man feel fine". Dave Monk, JimErn and OCtoolguy 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sycamore67 Posted September 3, 2019 Report Share Posted September 3, 2019 The PS Super Sharps are in my opinion the best cutting blade I have tried and the most expensive. I posted a comparison some time ago but cannot find it. kmmcrafts 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCROLLSAW703 Posted September 6, 2019 Report Share Posted September 6, 2019 my apologies, but I ain't able to say as I've ever run across a "pre-sprung blade." In my experience, especially cuttin' pine, I always start with a new blade, regardless of the situation. When I install a blade, the first thing I have learned to do is adjust a minimal amount of tension on the new blade & run it for 30 seconds or so, then adjust the tension to my preference, & make sawdust. I've found by doin' this, it "stretches" the blade, & helps to hold tension longer, and the blade lasts a little longer, as well. OCtoolguy, JimErn and jerrye 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimErn Posted September 6, 2019 Report Share Posted September 6, 2019 3 hours ago, SCROLLSAW703 said: When I install a blade, the first thing I have learned to do is adjust a minimal amount of tension on the new blade & run it for 30 seconds or so, then adjust the tension to my preference, & make sawdust. I've found by doin' this, it "stretches" the blade, & helps to hold tension longer, and the blade lasts a little longer, as well. I do that too, surprises me how much stretch I encounter, though it is not consistent, some stretch more then others from the same bunch. I just use normal tension though. SCROLLSAW703 and OCtoolguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockytime Posted September 6, 2019 Report Share Posted September 6, 2019 I wanted to ask about stretching blades but thought that was stupid. I assumed the blades were slipping in their clamps. I keep my tension very tight yet I was constantly adjusting my tension. Thanks Brad for the tip! OCtoolguy and SCROLLSAW703 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerrye Posted September 7, 2019 Report Share Posted September 7, 2019 On 9/6/2019 at 4:22 AM, SCROLLSAW703 said: When I install a blade, the first thing I have learned to do is adjust a minimal amount of tension on the new blade & run it for 30 seconds or so, then adjust the tension to my preference, & make sawdust. I've found by doin' this, it "stretches" the blade, & helps to hold tension longer, and the blade lasts a little longer, as well. This was a trick I used to do with nichrome wire for L-sealers in shrink wrap systems. It stretches the wire and straightens it, making it last longer and easier to install. Impulse sealers heat the wire fast and very hot, causing the wire to quickly droop if you don't pre-stretch it. Heat always causes thin metals to stretch. Will have to do this, as with others I wondered why blades would slacken with initial use. SCROLLSAW703 and OCtoolguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heppnerguy Posted September 7, 2019 Report Share Posted September 7, 2019 interesting statement. I have never seen this brought up by anyone before. but seems to make sense to me Dick heppnerguy OCtoolguy and SCROLLSAW703 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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