Spiral Insanity Result

[ScollSaw Slasher]

This is a continuation of my thread on the general scroll saw forum. Finished up the pattern. Still haven't framed or applied a general finish. It was interesting using spirals. For the type of pattern, don't think I would ever use a straight blade no matter what the size. Throughout, the spirals would bend on me at the clamping area, thus weakening the blade and slowing down the process from going from drill hole to drill hole for cutting. Don't know if it's just my particular saw (Delta) or I'm just over tightening the thumbscrew too much. I don't fear spirals anymore and will attempt a pattern that requires following the lines rather than cut out the blackened area.

[Scrolling Steve]

You did good...Turned out great !

[daveww1]

awesome job

[Scrappile]

Nice work.  When you say bend at the clamp area do you mean the "hocky stick" bend?  I have a gross of FD 3/0 spirals that do that no matter which saw I use them on.  I have come to the conclusion there is something wrong with the blades.  I have used those blades for years and only occasionally would have one bend, this back over 90% have.  Maybe they go twisted wrong so something. 

[New Guy]

Nice job of cutting - now to get those fuzees.

[RabidAlien]

Nicely cut! 

 

I find that patterns with minimal straight lines or long, smooth curves are sooooo much easier with spirals, but my Wen loves to hockey-stick the blades as well.  The trick is finding the flat spot on the blade when tightening the set screw.  For me, since I feed blades from the bottom, when the bottom adapter is hooked in, the flat spot at the top of the blade is generally around 30 or so degrees around the twist.  Once I get the top adapter tightened, I've never had a problem twisting the blade around to attach the adapter (its a twisted blade already).  I haven't had much luck untwisting the top of the blade, although I've read others here who've done that with their spirals to get a good flat surface that lines up top and bottom.

[dgman]

Nice work Blake!

[ScollSaw Slasher]

I'll keep working at solving the hockey stick problem. The 2/0 that I used were Pegas. Actually the picture is of the backing board (1/4" baltic birch) rather than the pattern piece (1/8" baltic birch). A chunk fell out of the 1/8", but since this was a learning experience for me, I just kept cutting. And those sharp of eye can tell that I didn't do a good enough job of getting rid of the warm fuzzies. Was a little lazy in not breaking out the propane torch and just flipped my Bic. But here again, it's the first time I used any type of flame for the fuzzies and learned it was a great technique when the back of the project won't show. Now I've done some heirloom clocks that wouldn't look good with a scorched surface, but that's another tale.

[amazingkevin]

Your a cut above all using spirals!!!

[wombatie]

You did a terrific job, well done.  Give me flat blades any day. 

Marg

[OzarkSawdust]

Fantastic work Blake! Spirals scare the heck out of me!! Every time I put one in my saw becomes possessed I need an exorcism to be able to cut with it again !!!

I would really like to be able to do the cool patterns I see...but spirals have a mind of their own. I'll try again when we get back to MO next week...and after I get the saw unpacked and set up...lol.

I have a couple of Pegas 2/0 but they don't want to clamp right. Is there a blade that is flat on both ends where they clamp? Or is there a trick to getting them to stay put? I've only got 1 pack ever...a bad batch...try a larger spiral to learn on...???

[spirithorse]

Nice work! Congrats on conquering the challenge of spirals!
God Bless! Spirithorse

[Dragonkort]

love the piece!!  hum iv never had any problems with the spiral blades.... but then again I don't really have any idea of what im doing!!  lol I learned by just pretending the scroll saw was a big sewing machine!!  lol  the princable is the same except with one your putting things together and with the other your cutting them apart! lol I really don't know a thing about blade types or sizes or anything like that.... I just look at the wood, look at the pattern and then grab a blade that's not to big or fat for the lines on my board. I like the spiral blades because they make making puzzles easer and getting into tight spots a bit easer too.  maybe I should go out and get some beginner scroll saw books and learn how to do it right?? but im not sure id enjoy scrolling as much if I had to figure out all those detail things.