Please help with twisted blade / crooked saw?

[jessebannor]

Hello, I'm new to this forum and semi-new to scroll saws. I've been using them for a couple of years but I'm self taught so I'm sure I still have a lot to learn. Let me get right to my problem:

 

I have a 2011 Delta Scroll Saw, bought it new. It works great, I really like the saw for the price. About two months into using it, it seems that it is no longer "centered". When I tighten a new blade, it seems to turn to the right and to cut I have to take a step to the right so pushing forward is no longer pushing forward. I hope I'm making sense here. Basically, I have to stand to the right of center to go straight into the blade. It makes it very hard to come out of a curve at the right spot or stay in a long curve correctly.

 

Here is what I have tried to fix the issue: I took out the clamp screws that hold the blade and I checked for burs and lightly used a little sandpaper to see if they were uneven. That didn't work. I bought a 2013 brand new Delta scroll saw and had the same issue right out of the box so I'm now guessing that it is not the saw itself?? I use Olsen #5 skip tooth blades for the most part, and I generally cut a lot of 3/4" thick hardwood (maple, cherry, walnut) and some pine. I know some of you experienced guys may have had this issue before, is there a remedy or a good fix for this so I can get back to cutting on the line?? Thanks in advance for any help!

[Travis]

Hi Jesse. Welcome to the Village. We're glad you found us.

 

If I'm reading it right, the "blade not cutting straight" is normal. Scroll saw blades are stamped out of metal, so there will be a burr on one side of the blade. This will cause the blade to not cut straight (or what you'd expect to be straight). So you'll have to compensate by going at it at a slight angle. You'll get the feel for it with the more scrolling you do. Some people (myself included) will set their chair slightly to the side of the saw. On a side note, bandsaws work in the same way. You have to compensate for the blade drift when using it.

[jessebannor]

Thanks for your reply. You may be right and that may very well be the case. I feel like I'm having to move quite a bit to the side though, it is not just a slight movement to the right, I'm something like 30+ degrees off center, is that normal?

[captlucky]

you might try using a different brand of blade i have 2 deltas a16 in & 20in . i only use flying Dutchman blades .one more thing you can check is the tension if it's too louse it may wander good luck Ron

[sullyscroller]

30 degrees is a lot . I don't have a clue what could be causeing it but but i'm curious to know for future reference. Good luck

 

sully

[amazingkevin]

Try the xl blades from mikes work shop,they go straight .Im sure your not useing the blades upside down per chance.teeth cut on the downward cut,just a quick thought.Hardwoods are tough to cut and control.Keep the blades over tight too.,guitar string tight!On the deltas i've had the blade loosens up right after you start it up so check often the tension.Just little tips to think about allthough they may not be your particular problem.

[jessebannor]

Thanks everyone, I am going to try a different brand of blade if for no other reason than to rule out the blade as the problem. I do think though that these Olsen blades maybe "stretch" kind of easily because after cutting for a short time there seems to be more slack on the blade even though it does not appear to have moved or loosened up at all. I think that would possibly allow the hardwoods that I cut to turn the blade as I cut. Maybe the blades are the problem if they allow too much movement. On my Delta I can tighten from 1-5.5 and I normally have it at 4.5-5 so it does start out pretty tight.