Mounting Sprial Blades

[BadBob]

I used my first-ever spiral blade yesterday. It must have taken me 20 minutes or more to get it in the clamps.

Is there some method for mounting spiral blades that I missed?

[Scrappile]

If there is I do not know it.  Some take two pliers and flatten the ends, I do not, I put them in like flat blades.

[OCtoolguy]

I take a regular blade, mount the bottom. Then, using pliers, I twist the blade twice and mount the top. Is there another way?

[Denny Knappen]

I don’t use spirals much, but when I do, like Paul, just like flat blades.  I only use #0 Spirals.

[Roberta Moreton]

I don’t do anything fancy to mount spiral blades. Just put ‘‘em in.  Does your saw use a special kind of clamp?  I have used them in a DW788, Excalibur, and Pegas clamp heads. 

[Bill WIlson]

FD makes flat end spirals.  They aren't necessarily flat in the same plane, but are easier to install than ones that are twisted all the way to the end.  For those, I do like others, use 2 pair of pliers and untwist the ends until they are flat and approximately in the same vertical plane.

[Norm Fengstad]

You will develop your own technique the more you use them. I am a top down feeder so I install the top first, opening the clamp holder wider than one does for straight blades. Then ensuring it is placed properly between the clamps I  tighten very tight. Threading it through the holes and opening the bottom clamp wider than straight blades I do the same thing. If the blade is not sitting in the clamp correctly it will slip. For me there was lots of trial and errorr to develop the muscle memory to find the right spot especially on the bottom clamp. It is o.K to have a look under the table to see how every thing are lining up.  

[tomsteve]

On 12/25/2022 at 3:46 PM, Scrappile said:

If there is I do not know it.  Some take two pliers and flatten the ends, I do not, I put them in like flat blades.

i cant say how many years and how many blades i straightened the ends out on before trying to just clamp em up twisted. amazing how much time i wasted straightening the ends

[Scrappile]

4 minutes ago, tomsteve said:

i cant say how many years and how many blades i straightened the ends out on before trying to just clamp em up twisted. amazing how much time i wasted straightening the ends

Not a waste if it works for you.  I also have a Hegner and the ends go into a steel clamps which I can clamp together pretty hard.. like plier  I am sure it helps straighten them out.

[Eplfan2011]

Haven't been using spirals that long but Ive found is a darn site easier in the Pegas Clamps.

 

[Bill WIlson]

19 hours ago, tomsteve said:

i cant say how many years and how many blades i straightened the ends out on before trying to just clamp em up twisted. amazing how much time i wasted straightening the ends

I can't say how many blades broke prematurely or repeatedly popped out of the clamps when I didn't straighten the ends.  It almost turned me on spiral blades, forever.  

[kmmcrafts]

I use two pair of needle nose pliers and use one pair close to the teeth and then use the other pair on the tip of the blade to "untwist" the ends