Scrolling 6 years--Apparently still a Rookie

[Fran L]

Started a project today that I'm using Spiral blades. Hadn't used them for about 3 years but figured I'd give them a go. Pattern has a lot of veining and small holes so I started out with and FD #1 Spiral Blade. Cutting was going OK but was a little troublesome because the blade wasn't really cutting the lines of the pattern but basically shredding it as I moved the board. I didn't remember them doing that before but this was the first time using a #1 Spiral,maybe just not a big enough cutting area. Finished the small holes and veining,, about 35 cuts, and decided to change to a #3 Spiral for the bigger areas. As I'm pulling my blade out of the stock tube it hit me---I had the darn thing upside down. The #3 was cutting through like butter without a problem. It's amazing how much easier this hobby can be when you do things right. ARRRRGGGGHH! 

[Scrappile]

Happens, and it will happen again.  Try cutting with the back of a flat blade,.. I did about 3 times last month,

[Whisper]

36 minutes ago, Fran L said:

Started a project today that I'm using Spiral blades. Hadn't used them for about 3 years but figured I'd give them a go. Pattern has a lot of veining and small holes so I started out with and FD #1 Spiral Blade. Cutting was going OK but was a little troublesome because the blade wasn't really cutting the lines of the pattern but basically shredding it as I moved the board. I didn't remember them doing that before but this was the first time using a #1 Spiral,maybe just not a big enough cutting area. Finished the small holes and veining,, about 35 cuts, and decided to change to a #3 Spiral for the bigger areas. As I'm pulling my blade out of the stock tube it hit me---I had the darn thing upside down. The #3 was cutting through like butter without a problem. It's amazing how much easier this hobby can be when you do things right. ARRRRGGGGHH! 

Thanks for the reminder to check the blades when inserting. I still feel like I have 10 thumbs when scrolling.

[Fran L]

12 minutes ago, Scrappile said:

Happens, and it will happen again.  Try cutting with the back of a flat blade,.. I did about 3 times last month,

Thanks Paul, I feel better, especially since I’m doing another Door Topper and you’re the one who suggested the Spirals. By the way, you were right, it is going much easier, even upside down.

Edited January 18, 2020 by Fran L

[new2woodwrk]

59 minutes ago, Fran L said:

Started a project today that I'm using Spiral blades. Hadn't used them for about 3 years but figured I'd give them a go. Pattern has a lot of veining and small holes so I started out with and FD #1 Spiral Blade. Cutting was going OK but was a little troublesome because the blade wasn't really cutting the lines of the pattern but basically shredding it as I moved the board. I didn't remember them doing that before but this was the first time using a #1 Spiral,maybe just not a big enough cutting area. Finished the small holes and veining,, about 35 cuts, and decided to change to a #3 Spiral for the bigger areas. As I'm pulling my blade out of the stock tube it hit me---I had the darn thing upside down. The #3 was cutting through like butter without a problem. It's amazing how much easier this hobby can be when you do things right. ARRRRGGGGHH! 

OMG I just did that this morning with  a Pegas #3 MG - couldn't figure out why I was getting so much chatter! Doh - blade is upside down!

[Hawk]

We've all been there, like scrappile did, I too have tried in vein to cut with the back side of the blade. All part of the fun....

Chris

[scrollingforsanity]

It just takes a little longer using the back side of the blade Paul. Lol.  Sometimes I put my blade in backwards, take it out and turn it around and put it in and its still backwards. I think I have big fat fingers.

[OCtoolguy]

I use my shirt pocket magnet for those tiny blades. I look at them under the magnifier, get them the right way and stick them to the magnet. A lot easier for me.

 

[jerry1939]

Always good to hear from fellow senile members on this site.    

jerry

[LarryEA]

Good Humor post. I feel better about my mistakes now.

[kmmcrafts]

For spirals and real small blades I run my finger along the teeth and "feel" which side is up / down.. The teeth will grab you sort of if you're sliding the finger up the blade.. and they won't be grabby sliding down the blade.. Someone mentioned think of it as a fireman sliding down the pole at the firehouse... you can slide down but not up the pole.. LOL Not sure who said that.. but it stuck with me.. 

So if the finger slides "down" without grabbing the teeth or being scratchy then that's the top of the blade... Be sure to do thin towards the middle of the blade for those blades that have reverse teeth... that can mess with you a bit if you're not careful... do ask how i know that one... 

[flarud]

4 hours ago, kmmcrafts said:

For spirals and real small blades I run my finger along the teeth and "feel" which side is up / down.. The teeth will grab you sort of if you're sliding the finger up the blade.. and they won't be grabby sliding down the blade.. Someone mentioned think of it as a fireman sliding down the pole at the firehouse... you can slide down but not up the pole.. LOL Not sure who said that.. but it stuck with me.. 

So if the finger slides "down" without grabbing the teeth or being scratchy then that's the top of the blade... Be sure to do thin towards the middle of the blade for those blades that have reverse teeth... that can mess with you a bit if you're not careful... do ask how i know that one... 

That's how I test which side is up....and that's the reason I always have cuts on my thumb!  LOL

[Fran L]

5 hours ago, kmmcrafts said:

For spirals and real small blades I run my finger along the teeth and "feel" which side is up / down.. The teeth will grab you sort of if you're sliding the finger up the blade.. and they won't be grabby sliding down the blade.. Someone mentioned think of it as a fireman sliding down the pole at the firehouse... you can slide down but not up the pole.. LOL Not sure who said that.. but it stuck with me.. 

So if the finger slides "down" without grabbing the teeth or being scratchy then that's the top of the blade... Be sure to do thin towards the middle of the blade for those blades that have reverse teeth... that can mess with you a bit if you're not careful... do ask how i know that one... 

That’s what I usually do. Had a senior moment and forgot to test, just loaded the blade.

[Phantom Scroller]

I hate Spiral Blades.

[LarryEA]

On 1/19/2020 at 6:02 AM, Phantom Scroller said:

I hate Spiral Blades.

I might as well close my eyes and cut with spirals

 

[JimErn]

My problem with spirals is practice, I just do not do it.  I think about it, and I think about using them, but it is really easier for me to just use a regular blade. So far I have only had one thing that was larger than my ex-21 could handle, and I managed with the regular blade.  Have to admit though there were times on that project that I looked like I was playing twister.

And the concept of cutting a vein with a regular blade, then going back and using a spiral to make the veining more pronounced, just seems to me to extra work.  I just cut on each side of the red line, and voila, distinct veining.

[Bill WIlson]

Sometimes it isn't the dimension of the throat on the saw that is the constraining factor.  For me, the distance between me and the blade can be an issue.  If I get too far away, it makes it hard to see what I'm doing.  

[Rolf]

On 1/18/2020 at 3:36 PM, Fran L said:

Thanks Paul, I feel better, especially since I’m doing another Door Topper and you’re the one who suggested the Spirals. By the way, you were right, it is going much easier, even upside down.

You are using spirals to cut intarsia pieces? Or is the door topper a different type of project?

[Fran L]

8 hours ago, Rolf said:

You are using spirals to cut intarsia pieces? Or is the door topper a different type of project?

It's a fretwork type I use 1/4" BB. I posted a Nativity one I did for Christmas. They're designs by Clark Weeks that I got at The Wooden Teddy Bear.

[RabidAlien]

On 1/18/2020 at 2:25 PM, Scrappile said:

Happens, and it will happen again.  Try cutting with the back of a flat blade,.. I did about 3 times last month,

LOL  I was gonna say the same thing....

[Rolf]

Fran I will have to look that up. Do you have a picture of what you cut? I not sure I have seen any fretwork door toppers.

[Fran L]

9 hours ago, Rolf said:

Fran I will have to look that up. Do you have a picture of what you cut? I not sure I have seen any fretwork door toppers.

Posted it in Bragging Rights but many pages back at this point . Don’t know if fits the definition of fretwork but here it is.

Edited January 24, 2020 by Fran L

[Scrappile]

Call it what anyone likes, I call it beautiful.  I'd also call it fretwork or maybe silhouette mural.... How long is it?  Could not have been an easy cut to control.

[Fran L]

26 minutes ago, Scrappile said:

Call it what anyone likes, I call it beautiful.  I'd also call it fretwork or maybe silhouette mural.... How long is it?  Could not have been an easy cut to control.

It's about 31 inches. It was a little tricky manipulating it to make the right cuts but probably one of the most fun projects I've done. Working on the offseason replacement now that I should be able to finish up in a few days. Darn work keeps getting in the way.