Flying Dutchman Blades

[Vector01]

Hi All:

 

Not happy with the Olson blades, I picked up a assortment pack of Flying Dutchman blades from mikes workshop. It came with a dozen of the following, FD-SR #3 and #5, FD-TC #5, PSR #5 and Polar #5. I would like to try these out on the scroll saw portrait I'm working on. http://www.scrollsawvillage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=759

 

My question to those of you who use these blades is "What would be the best blade to use for the fine detail cuts in this piece"? The eyes, nose, mouth and ears will present a challenge considering the tight radius cuts. I will be cutting it out of 1/4" birch plywood. From the selection sent, I'm leaning towards the PSR #5 blade. I attempted to match them against the Olson blade chart but their tooth configurations on the FD's are definitely unique.

 

Thanks

[FD Mike]

Send me your address and I will send you a sample of the FD-NS # 2/0. Quite a few like to use them to cut portraits.

Mike

[rja]

In the latest issue of Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts is a tree puzzle. I cut this entire puzzle out of poplar with one FD polar #5 blade. It was noticeably a little harder to push at the end but the quality of cut was still there. I consider Flying Dutchman blades to be superior to any other makes I have tried.

[Christina]

I have to agree with Rja............that's all I use too. I love the spirals best and I only order from Mike. You just can't get better service or prices anywhere.

Christina

[Barry5180]

Definately get the Spiral blades from Mike. They are by far the easiest to control spirals I have ever used. I'm also partial to the Ultra Reverse. Mike had sent me a sample just before I packed my shop up but I did get to use them and they are terrific.

 

I tried Olson blades, but they last for about 5 minutes and it seems like I've worn the teeth clean off. Flying Dutchman are the way to go for me.

 

Barry

[Travis]

The spirals are really cool. I like using them on portrait style cuttings too. But if you prefer straight blades, I'd use the FD-SR #3 for your portrait. I've cut a lot of portraits using this. Gives you a smooth cut, and a tight turning radius and still be able to control the blade easily. I use #5's mostly for 3/4" or hard wood. You don't get as much of a tight turning radius, but it will chew through the wood pretty well. #5's are also nice when making long sweeping arcs and straight lines since the blade doesn't wander as much.

[Vector01]

Great info! I'm finishing up a commissioned woodburning. Soon as that's done I'll be working on the scroll portrait.

[Christina]

Way cool............can't wait to see it Vector...........both the woodburning and the portrait.....hint hint lol.

Christina

[macfil20]

I use 99% of the time FD # 1UR from Mike. I find that I get more control with the #1 ultra reverse. The spirals don't like me but now with my new EX21, I may try them again.

JP

[Clayton717]

I use both FD and Olsen blades depending on what I am cutting. The FD blades are definatley more aggresive and stay sharp longer. I use them the most especially when cutting the hardwoods for my intarsia. As for spirals its a NO for me, I used to use them alot, but now I just can't get them to work for me. I feel I have more control with the straight blades and can get much sharper corners.

[juvy]

I use both FD and Pegasus and find the FD easier for fine work, but they seem to break much faster , I like Pegasus , specially the modified geometry ones for 3/4" puzzles... they seem to be very forgiving , last a long time.

Juvy

[Vector01]

Hi All:

 

I used the Flying Dutchman blades to create my recent scroll portrait (1/4" birch ply). I started out with the FD SR-3 blades on the larger inside cuts and found that they cut fast and clean but had a tendency to wander a bit on the tight turns. I switched over to the FD PSR-5 blades and hit the mother load. These were excellent for the small detailed cuts. I ran the saw speed to about 70 percent with no loss of control during cutting. There were a few really tight areas to manuver through and these blades out performed any I have used so far. I used only two (PSR-5) blades to complete the piece and found they stayed sharp and did not heat up during cutting. I will definitely continue using the FD blades on any future projects.

[greasemonkeyredneck]

I'm a recent convert to FDs. I love them. However, on my last cutting, which was The Last Supper. I ran into a problem. I think it was just the wood I was using though. The FD spiral reverse #3 I was using just left so much fuzz, on the backside and inside the cuts. I switched to some olsens I still had, and the problem dissappeared. Another problem I have is that every now and then, I grab a FD (same spirals, I love spirals) and it seems that it doesn't cut well 360 degrees around like I'm used to. There will be one single direction that just doesn't cut worth crap. It will be slow and rough as a cob. I'm not giving up on FDs though. So far, I've been pleasantly surprised by them. I think I am going to try the new spirals that aren't supposed to be as aggresive. Also, upon ordering, I wasn't sure what size. I'd always used olsen #2s in the past. I went with FD #3s. They are close, but do cut just a hair larger kerf. I think I'll try #1s next time.

 

As for the pros and cons of spirals, I can see both sides of the argument. I started scrolling with flats, then later decided to try spirals, mainly because I wanted to do a portrait that was larger than my saw could handle. That portrait was a 11x14 by Jeff Zaffino. I could cut most of it, but by the time I made it to the corners, I couldn't turn it enough to get all the details. Anyway, by the time I finished that portrait, spirals had become my blade of choice. And I think that's all it is, a matter of choice. My ONLY complaint with spirals is the "fuzz". I never got that amount of fuzz with flats. IMHO though, small price to pay for the size work I can do now on my 16" saw.

[Vector01]

As for the pros and cons of spirals, I can see both sides of the argument. I started scrolling with flats, then later decided to try spirals, mainly because I wanted to do a portrait that was larger than my saw could handle. That portrait was a 11x14 by Jeff Zaffino. "

 

Mike had sent me a sample of FD-NS 2/0 spirals to try out. I didn't try them on this piece for fear of messing up. I had tried spirals before and didn't do well. I had a deadline for this piece and didn't have the time to do it over in case I messed up. I have another pattern that I will try them on. I think it's mostly a matter of getting the feel for the spirals and how they cut.

[Barry5180]

I haven't tried the new spirals, but I love the regular spirals that Mike sells. I use mostly the 2/0 for everything. Only time I ever use a straight blade anymore is for things like ornaments which require very sharp corners. I haven't tried the larger spirals yet but don't get all that much fuzz with the 2/0. What I did start doing was to use a piece of heavy gauge card stock on the bottom of my stack. It reduces blade life slightly, but I get much less fuzz since my wood is not the bottom layer.

 

Barry

[Lakelad]

I like FD blades as well. The spirals are great, just takes some practice.

 

GAry

[Marshall Dillon]

Send me your address and I will send you a sample of the FD-NS # 2/0. Quite a few like to use them to cut portraits.

Mike

 

 

 

And this another reason besides having the best blades that I've used , I've used these free blades that Mike sent me and I was sold on the FD blades . I can stack cut 5 or 6 at a time using 1/4 "material in making Christmas Oranments using Walnut , I tryed this - this past year and it sure cut down on my time in the shop.....I've being using his blades for about four years now.......Marshall