Regular VS Spiral Blades

[Tbow388]

I see a lot of people using spiral blades on their projects. I have used them on 1 project in the shop because it was oversized and was not suited for a regular blade.

I myself still do not like them. I don't have the control and like to get the sharp points and corners. I don't mind all of the turning on the wood as for me that is what scrolling is.

My go to blades are Flying Dutchman 1's and 3's for scrolling and 5's for bowls. I am going to also be switching to the Pegas MGT blades as I have heard nothing but good about them.

What do you use and why?

[Dave Monk]

I've seen videos of people using spiral blade that they've had amazing control of their cutting. I've tried them several times on stacked 1/8" baltic birch. Didn't take me long to scrap the idea and go back to a flat blade. I hate how ragged it leaves the cut. Maybe I used the wrong blade. My go to blades are the #3 & #5 MGT.

[OCtoolguy]

1 hour ago, Dave Monk said:

I've seen videos of people using spiral blade that they've had amazing control of their cutting. I've tried them several times on stacked 1/8" baltic birch. Didn't take me long to scrap the idea and go back to a flat blade. I hate how ragged it leaves the cut. Maybe I used the wrong blade. My go to blades are the #3 & #5 MGT.

Completely agree.

[Dak0ta52]

I use both the spiral and the straight... depending on what I'm cutting. Some of my pieces won't turn within the throat of my saw however that is not an excuse to use spiral blades. I honestly enjoy using spirals, but then I also enjoy the straights. I use Pegas, usually #2/0 up to #1. The straights are either the MGT or skip tooth. I agree the spirals leave a more ragged cut but to help eliminate that I will switch to a new blade when I detect an excessive amount of ragged edges around my cuts. I have pretty good control with the spirals but that may be attributed to how much I use them. I've noticed you have to be careful not to push sideways when using them as well as letting the blade "catch up" when making turns.

[Scrappile]

My message for Those that struggle with and do not like spiral blades is forget about them. I get the feeling they are trying to justify to someone (?) why they do not like them and I do not understand why they feel the need to.  Use what works best for you and do not worry what others like and use.  It is like trying to explain why you like one tool over the other.  What works you you is all that is important.  I use and feel there are purposes for both.  If you do not like what another scroller uses than to think it is different from what I use and it may be worth a try  The end results is whats important,  I, frankly use what ever blade is working for me,  I never think about what someone else may think.  Like I bottom feed, I do not care if you and others top feed and why should I?  It is about what works for me and what works for you.

Edited March 13, 2023 by Scrappile

[BadBob]

I think you would need to use spiral blades a lot to get used to them.

[kmmcrafts]

I agree with Paul,  That said, a lot of folks just have a curiosity of how others do something too because they're looking for tips, suggestions and a general consensus of what blade or size blade etc. one uses. There are so many blade options and for a beginner it's a lot of money to buy every blade out there when they likely will end up not using a good number of them when they find that one or two blade styles & sizes they will find that works for them. 

There are so many different materials and project styles, and even saw set-ups that create a different result in what a individual is trying to accomplish. For instance I have be working on a project and switch from my Hawk saw to my Excalibur or the other Hawk or Hegner and each saw has a different aggressiveness of cutting with the exact same blade cutting on the exact same board / project.. 

Now to answer the question at hand.. "I" use both spiral and straight blades depending on the projects at hand.. I "think" where a lot of folks go wrong with using them is they are used to "pushing too hard" or feeding to fast through the cut.. a spiral blade will follow the path of least resistance and solid wood has a wide variety of denseness throughout the same piece of wood.. you will find the hard and soft spots very quickly using spiral blades. When you push a blade too hard you can also create a bow in the blade and easily find those softer spots and send you off course..

The spiral does leave a rougher cut edge.. especially if you're pushing to hard and also especially if your saw is set up to cut more aggressively. I find using a smaller blade size than I would with a straight blade helps a lot with both smoothening the edges and also control of the blade or rather the piece since we don't control the blade ( other than speed ). 

I rarely use spirals on solid wood, usually use them on BBply.. but I do use them for veining fine details on thick solid wood. and the biggest spiral blade I use is a #1 and that is not often to use that large of one. Go to size is a 2/0..  

[BadBob]

8 minutes ago, kmmcrafts said:

There are so many different materials and project styles, and even saw set-ups that create a different result in what a individual is trying to accomplish. For instance I have be working on a project and switch from my Hawk saw to my Excalibur or the other Hawk or Hegner and each saw has a different aggressiveness of cutting with the exact same blade cutting on the exact same board / project.. 

When I switch from my EX21 to my Hawk scroll saw, I need different blades to accomplish the same task. For the EX21, I use #3MGT  for almost everything. For the same type of project on the Hawk, I need a #5MGT because the #3MGT cuts so slowly. Any blade smaller than a #3 on my Hawk is almost unusable.

 

[kmmcrafts]

1 minute ago, BadBob said:

When I switch from my EX21 to my Hawk scroll saw, I need different blades to accomplish the same task. For the EX21, I use #3MGT  for almost everything. For the same type of project on the Hawk, I need a #5MGT because the #3MGT cuts so slowly. Any blade smaller than a #3 on my Hawk is almost unusable.

 

Yes, exactly! 

This is why I struggle to answer those common questions of "what blade to use" and also " what size blade do I need " ... Even with my Excalibur blade adjustment adjusted to the most straight up / down as possible it's still more aggressive than a Hawk.. I used to use the same blade size but switch to a FD-UR on one saw and a Pegas MGT on the other and the cutting speed / style was very close to the same, LOL. Pegas blade on the Hawk and a FD on the EX. 

Anyway, this is why I always answer those common questions with... "buy sample packs in various sizes, styles, and brands and find the blade that works for you..  I've seen people mention they use a number 1 blade on 3/4" stock.. for me and the saw set up I have that would be like watching paint dry..  

[BadBob]

I have spent more money on blades than I paid for the three saws I have owned.

[TAIrving]

I have a Pegas scroll saw and mostly use Pegas MGT blades but occasionally use spiral blades.

For hardwood panels in 1/4" - 1.2" I prefer the MGT3 blade and will switch to the MGT1 for finer details.  I will then use a spiral blade for veining as the flat blades make too narrow a cut.  I will go to a MGT2/0 blade for really fine details.  

For compound cuts, typically a 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" hardwood block, I prefer the MGT5 blade.  

[Bill WIlson]

I don't think spirals vs regular flat blades has to be an either/or proposition.  Blades are designed for specific applications.  Spiral blades work very well for certain types of projects, in certain materials, because that is what they are designed for.  If one doesn't make those kinds of projects, then there probably is no good reason to use spirals.  I use both, but only use spirals where they are the best option.  They are not my go to blade for general scroll saw work.  I don't think they are well suited for a lot of things, but are perfect for some.

As for the learning curve, I've known several very skilled and experienced scrollers who never got the hang of spirals and didn't use them.  It doesn't always come naturally to everyone, but there isn't anything wrong with that.  I maintain that, with some practice, any scroller can learn to use them, maybe not love them, but be capable of using them.  It's up to the individual as to whether or not it's worth the effort.

[crupiea]

Cant stand the spirals.  I keep telling myself its just a practice thing but every time I use them I regret it. 

 

[Kris Martinson]

19 hours ago, Scrappile said:

My message for Those that struggle with and do not like spiral blades is forget about them. I get the feeling they are trying to justify to someone (?) why they do not like them and I do not understand why they feel the need to.  Use what works best for you and do not worry what others like and use.  It is like trying to explain why you like one tool over the other.  What works you you is all that is important.  I use and feel there are purposes for both.  If you do not like what another scroller uses than to think it is different from what I use and it may be worth a try  The end results is whats important,  I, frankly use what ever blade is working for me,  I never think about what someone else may think.  Like I bottom feed, I do not care if you and others top feed and why should I?  It is about what works for me and what works for you.

Very well said. I completely agree. I love using spirals. In my hands they do exactly what I want with minimum effort. The type of art I'm doing lends itself to "ragged" cuts, so I don't view that as a negative. 

[Davevand]

Each blade type has their pluses and minuses and both have a learning curve to be proficient in using them. I have never had good luck using spiral blade with plywood or stack cutting. I also quite often use both blade types on the same project, all the internal fret work with the spiral and all the external cuts that I want nice and crisp with regular blades.