A really good foot pedal

[SCROLLERNATION]

Comfort at the saw is important right? A few years ago i worked with a company called ssc to help me modify a tig welding foot pedal to be a momentary contact switch with a short throw.  I got one and love it.  It sits a lot taller than those little ones and fits your whole foot.  Want a herl rest?  No problem you can get one of those on it too.  When I purchased it I may have paid around $65 for it and to me it was worth it.  I would love to see what everyone else has done to their foot pedals to be more comfortable or sit higher or whatever creative thing they have done.

[kmmcrafts]

The best foot peddle set up I've had was a cheap Harbor Freight one that was the click-on click-off.. rather than having to keep my foot on it the whole time pressing it. This was the only peddle I could use when I tore my gastrocnemius ( calf muscle ) almost completely in half. Had to drive the car left footed,  and that was really weird, LOL 

At the time I had my DeWalt with the factory stand, the stand has like a bottom brace that the foot switch fit nicely on. When I sold the DW the foot switch went with it.. Now I just use the standard whatever hawk saws come with.. very small low profile which actually works very well because I still have some weakness in that leg and it's actually harder for the to hold my foot up now.. so the small low profile works well.. do kinda wish it was a click-on click off style on some very long cutouts, LOL. 

I do get up from the saw and walk to do "other" task about every 15 - 20 minutes.. not too good for the body to sit for hours anyway.. so on large fretwork pieces.. instead of drilling all the holes at once.. I drill 10 - 20 at a time.. this makes me have to get up to continue working.. I purposely have my drill press several feet away so I can move around throughout the work day, LOL 

[OCtoolguy]

I recently bought the Wen foot switch. It's the very low profile one that is like what can be bought from Hegner but at a fraction of the price. Anyway, I have been using the same foot switch that Kevin has but mine are the momentary type that requires you to keep your foot on them. The big thing I did to them was to re-route the wire so that both the in and out are at the front instead of having one wire come out the side. It was always in the way to me so now both wires are out the front of the switch. And it's a very easy fix.

 

[crupiea]

I have a cheapo harbor freight one I have had for years.  Works fine.  It it usually al wrapped up in a bunch of twisty cords so i just make room for my foot on it. 

Injured my foot not too long ago and had to use it with the other foot, that was harder than I thought to control. 

I wish i could find one that had a variable speed thing, like a sewing machine pedal, push lighter and it goes slower. hards, goes faster.  i dont think this is a thing though. 

[SCROLLERNATION]

5 hours ago, crupiea said:

I have a cheapo harbor freight one I have had for years.  Works fine.  It it usually al wrapped up in a bunch of twisty cords so i just make room for my foot on it. 

Injured my foot not too long ago and had to use it with the other foot, that was harder than I thought to control. 

I wish i could find one that had a variable speed thing, like a sewing machine pedal, push lighter and it goes slower. hards, goes faster.  i dont think this is a thing though. 

Actually, it is a thing. 4-5 years ago Hegner came out with what they call in english the electronic foot pedal.  The dial is not available and all the speed control is done by the pedal and you can set it and forget it if you wish.  The speed will remain until you push the pedal back to an open contact.  Pegas a few years ago came out with it as well.  Its only in europe.  

[Scrappile]

41 minutes ago, SCROLLERNATION said:

Actually, it is a thing. 4-5 years ago Hegner came out with what they call in english the electronic foot pedal.  The dial is not available and all the speed control is done by the pedal and you can set it and forget it if you wish.  The speed will remain until you push the pedal back to an open contact.  Pegas a few years ago came out with it as well.  Its only in europe.  

What??   I have a pedal from Hegner... does not do this... do you have a site where I can read about it...  I am not in Europe.. maybe that is why I don't know about it..

[kmmcrafts]

I've heard of it from somewhere but never actually seen any or any reviews..

I can see it being a problem when a good song come on the radio though 

[Bill WIlson]

I vaguely recall past comments about VS foot pedals not being compatible with motors wired for US voltages.  I can't remember the technical specifics, but I do recall that folks were warned not to put a sewing machine type foot pedal on a scroll saw as it will damage the motor.

Perhaps someone with a better understanding of the electronics involved, or maybe a better memory, will chime in and clarify.

[BadBob]

1 hour ago, Bill WIlson said:

I vaguely recall past comments about VS foot pedals not being compatible with motors wired for US voltages.  I can't remember the technical specifics, but I do recall that folks were warned not to put a sewing machine type foot pedal on a scroll saw as it will damage the motor.

Perhaps someone with a better understanding of the electronics involved, or maybe a better memory, will chime in and clarify.

Variable speed has more to do with the type of motor than voltage. Universal motors like those in routers can be used with speed controllers. Induction motors cannot be controlled this way. Digital motors are easy to control speed but require a specialized controller, aka computer.

[SCROLLERNATION]

13 hours ago, Scrappile said:

What??   I have a pedal from Hegner... does not do this... do you have a site where I can read about it...  I am not in Europe.. maybe that is why I don't know about it..

Its on Hegners website.  But here is a video   WWW.HEGNER.COM

 It is not in USA.  

[Bill WIlson]

2 hours ago, BadBob said:

Variable speed has more to do with the type of motor than voltage. Universal motors like those in routers can be used with speed controllers. Induction motors cannot be controlled this way. Digital motors are easy to control speed but require a specialized controller, aka computer.

OK, that sounds familiar.  Thanks for the clarification.  All I could remember with any degree of certainty was that VS foot pedals and scroll saw motors don't necessarily play well together.

[OCtoolguy]

It might be interesting to know why the scroll saw mfgrs can't use a sewing machine motor. Are they that much more expensive or is there another reason? They obviously have enough power.

[Scrappile]

I don't know if I would like it, but I sure would like to try that type of pedal to see... Just seems to me to make sense...  

[Rockytime]

I have a number of foot switches. Three were rehostat for speed controllers on my three watchmaker lathes. The motors had brushes and could be reversed. Those foot controllers drove me nuts. When consentrating on what I was doing my foot would get lazy and allow the rpms to drop. Very frustrating although the controllers were an industry standard for nearly ever. Perhaps it's just me bit I did not like it. I switched to HF router controllers and on/off foot switches. 

[Scrappile]

1 hour ago, Rockytime said:

I have a number of foot switches. Three were rehostat for speed controllers on my three watchmaker lathes. The motors had brushes and could be reversed. Those foot controllers drove me nuts. When consentrating on what I was doing my foot would get lazy and allow the rpms to drop. Very frustrating although the controllers were an industry standard for nearly ever. Perhaps it's just me bit I did not like it. I switched to HF router controllers and on/off foot switches. 

Interesting... I know the lazy foot thing... I sometimes let my saw stop because of it...  I always thought it was because I was concentrating so hard on my work that I forgot to push down......   but I would still like to try the speed control with the foot switch thing... Just because... well works on a sewing machine..

[FrankEV]

My Pegas sits on the Steel Pegas stand at the top of the adjusments in the back and one hole lower in the front.  I sit on a stool that I had to modify the legs to get the right sitting position for me to work comfortably.   When I sit on the stool my short legs do not reach the floor.  So, I rest my left foot on the front horizontal cross brace of the stand. I use the HF foot switch, but needed to raise it upon some wood blocks so my right foot can reach it comfortably.  The switch is mounted on a piece of 4 X4 (total 3 1/2" high) that sits on a 8" diameter disk of double thickness of 3/4" ply so the total height is 5" to the bottom of the switch.  I added a piece of the rubber non-slip shelf liner on the bottom, but it is still easily moved around some such that I have to reposition it occasdionally during a cutting session. 

My foot does not get tired but as others mentioned, occasionally the leg/ankle will unintentioally relax, releasing the switch and the saw will stop cutting.  Generally I do not need to "PUSH" down hard, I mostly just let the weight of my foot keep the pedal pressed down allowing a quick stop by just a slight lift of my foot. 

If a variable saw speed contol was used, the saw would have to be set at full high speed to accomodate the full range of the control.  I'm affraid there would be tendancy to cut at much higher speed than is prudent.  Holding a constant speed somewhere in the middle of the speed range would most likely prove difficult. 

[Scrappile]

Well I think the amount of foot lazyiness on my saw,,,, I find is directly related to the amount of Irish Whiskey consumption,,,  Fust skidding.. hick...!!

[kmmcrafts]

I agree 100% with Frank...  You could however adjust the "top" speed the foot switch would go fully pressed by adjusting the saws top speed on the dial.. then is tight corners etc. let up on the foot control when needed slower speeds? 

If you feel you need to slow up often.. you may be in the wrong hobby.. get yourself a sewing machine as that might be the better hobby for you, 

[SCROLLERNATION]

12 hours ago, FrankEV said:

My Pegas sits on the Steel Pegas stand at the top of the adjusments in the back and one hole lower in the front.  I sit on a stool that I had to modify the legs to get the right sitting position for me to work comfortably.   When I sit on the stool my short legs do not reach the floor.  So, I rest my left foot on the front horizontal cross brace of the stand. I use the HF foot switch, but needed to raise it upon some wood blocks so my right foot can reach it comfortably.  The switch is mounted on a piece of 4 X4 (total 3 1/2" high) that sits on a 8" diameter disk of double thickness of 3/4" ply so the total height is 5" to the bottom of the switch.  I added a piece of the rubber non-slip shelf liner on the bottom, but it is still easily moved around some such that I have to reposition it occasdionally during a cutting session. 

My foot does not get tired but as others mentioned, occasionally the leg/ankle will unintentioally relax, releasing the switch and the saw will stop cutting.  Generally I do not need to "PUSH" down hard, I mostly just let the weight of my foot keep the pedal pressed down allowing a quick stop by just a slight lift of my foot. 

If a variable saw speed contol was used, the saw would have to be set at full high speed to accomodate the full range of the control.  I'm affraid there would be tendancy to cut at much higher speed than is prudent.  Holding a constant speed somewhere in the middle of the speed range would most likely prove difficult. 

The video states that you can set the speed variably anywhere from slow to fast and once the speed is achieved you can remove your foot and the saw will maintain the speed you choose with the pedal

[SCROLLERNATION]

11 minutes ago, kmmcrafts said:

I agree 100% with Frank...  You could however adjust the "top" speed the foot switch would go fully pressed by adjusting the saws top speed on the dial.. then is tight corners etc. let up on the foot control when needed slower speeds? 

If you feel you need to slow up often.. you may be in the wrong hobby.. get yourself a sewing machine as that might be the better hobby for you, 

When the electronic foot pedal is added there is no dial on the saw.  You push the pedal where you want the speed and can remove your foot for comfort and the saw will remain at the same speed until you push the pedal back to the off position.  Neat for those big big runs like a giant dinosaur spine.  

[FrankEV]

9 minutes ago, SCROLLERNATION said:

When the electronic foot pedal is added there is no dial on the saw.  You push the pedal where you want the speed and can remove your foot for comfort and the saw will remain at the same speed until you push the pedal back to the off position.  Neat for those big big runs like a giant dinosaur spine.  

Irreguaredless of how the speed is set, a "Push to ON and push to OFF switch" vs the more common "Push and hold to stay ON and Release to OFF switch" is something only an individual scroller could decide as to which is better.   IMHO, I find it very important to be able to stop the saw instantaneously by the slight lift of my foot.  I feel my foot would get severely tired holding it on/above the switch in anticipation of having to jab it to stop the saw.  So, for me, the "hold to run" switch works very well.. 

When I first started to do some serious scrolling, the thing I hated most was having to switch the saw off with my hand, using the saw on/off switch.   Once I installed the "hold to run" foot pedal it was soooooo much easier to control the work piece and there was much less tendancy to accidently damage the piece when stopping because I had to take my eyes of the work. 

For those long perimeter cuts, I find it easy to stop for a rest along the way at an apropriate point.  On such long cuts my brain/eyes gets foggy keeping the blade track on line way before my foot needs a rest.  Again, my leg/foot/ankle does not get tired when holding the pedal down because I have carefully arranged the pedal height such that I only have to use, nominally, slight toe down pressure along with the weight of my foot to hold it on. 

As the say, to each their own.   

[BadBob]

I have a foot pedal on my EX21 mounted on the mobile base. It is situated so that my relaxed left foot depresses the switch when I am sitting at the saw. I did not do this by design. I did not like it on the floor because it kept moving around every time the cord got bumped.

I added a power strip to the back of the stand to have a convenient place to plug in my lights and turn everything on at once. As I was tying up all the wiring, I decided to mount the pedal and tie down all the wiring, so it didn't move around. Totally by accident, I came up with a workable solution for me. I was about ready to give up on foot peddles.

I don't know what kind of switch it is. It came with the EX21 when I bought it.

My RBI Hawk does not have a peddle, and it does not bother me to use it without one, perhaps because I used scroll saws for years without a footswitch.

[SCROLLERNATION]

11 minutes ago, FrankEV said:

Irreguaredless of how the speed is set, a "Push to ON and push to OFF switch" vs the more common "Push and hold to stay ON and Release to OFF switch" is something only an individual scroller could decide as to which is better.   IMHO, I find it very important to be able to stop the saw instantaneously by the slight lift of my foot.  I feel my foot would get severely tired holding it on/above the switch in anticipation of having to jab it to stop the saw.  So, for me, the "hold to run" switch works very well.. 

When I first started to do some serious scrolling, the thing I hated most was having to switch the saw off with my hand, using the saw on/off switch.   Once I installed the "hold to run" foot pedal it was soooooo much easier to control the work piece and there was much less tendancy to accidently damage the piece when stopping because I had to take my eyes of the work. 

For those long perimeter cuts, I find it easy to stop for a rest along the way at an apropriate point.  On such long cuts my brain/eyes gets foggy keeping the blade track on line way before my foot needs a rest.  Again, my leg/foot/ankle does not get tired when holding the pedal down because I have carefully arranged the pedal height such that I only have to use, nominally, slight toe down pressure along with the weight of my foot to hold it on. 

As the say, to each their own.   

Let me rephrase.  Instead of using the term push perhaps i should have said rock which is a natural motion of your ankle and is the exact same operation as the standard pedals. This pedal is just like driving your car. Maintaining speed should not be a problem for most. So your saw does not need to be turned on and off by hand just by the foot switch. Same as all the other saws. Whether you take your foot off is up to you.

[Bill WIlson]

My footswitch rests on the floor.  It is mounted to a piece of 1/2" plywood to help keep it from sliding around.  I also mounted a piece of 2x4 to the plywood base, right in front of the switch.  This gives me a place to rest my heel and puts my foot at the same height as the footswitch.  It seemed to be a much more comfortable and natural position for my foot.  I don't experience any fatigue.

[kmmcrafts]

4 hours ago, SCROLLERNATION said:

When the electronic foot pedal is added there is no dial on the saw.  You push the pedal where you want the speed and can remove your foot for comfort and the saw will remain at the same speed until you push the pedal back to the off position.  Neat for those big big runs like a giant dinosaur spine.  

So it has cruise control for the expressways? .. I guess I need to take the time to watch the video.. but what you describe here sounds like a rocker type switch where you can set the speed and if needed you can take your foot off the switch.. or to change the speed you rock the switch more forward or slow down you press more with your heel sort of?