RedOrZed Posted December 3, 2015 Report Share Posted December 3, 2015 Hi all, I've done some sawing but nothing fancy, using plain ended blades and a couple of different saws. The other week I saw a Youtube video of someone sawing with spiral blades and it looked dead easy, so eBayed a pack of 12 & tried them today. Really not sure how I feel about them, having cut two Christmas tree shapes (about 3"/75mm tall). The kerf seems wider and it's much easier to go "off-line" and cut into the work - a moments inattention cut the star off the top of one tree, which I havn't done in the previous 6 of the same pattern! On The Other Hand, you can get a motoring speed up, cutting through the wood What's the opinion round here on them? Good for speed butchery or handy tools after a lot of practice? cheers, Zed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustLarry Posted December 4, 2015 Report Share Posted December 4, 2015 Yes to both parts of your question. Good for speed butchery (yes) or handy tools after a lot of practice (yes). The do take a good deal of practice and as in flat blades the more you use them the better they get if you get a good quality of blades. They are not good for all work and if I want to leave a good crisp edge I stay with the flats. I use Flying Dutchman New Spiral. Guess I would say you have to aquire a taste for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrampaJim Posted December 4, 2015 Report Share Posted December 4, 2015 Larry is right. They have their place. If you need a smooth straight line go with flat blades. If you are working on something like a picture/portrait/scene with some softer lines spirals are great. Another way to look at it, if you are doing a Charles Dearing piece, you probably need spirals. If you are doing a Steve Good pattern, use flat. Don't try to cut something like black letters or word art with spirals - you will not be happy. my two cents worth. Jim LarryEA 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted December 4, 2015 Report Share Posted December 4, 2015 (edited) I use spiral blades 95% of my scrolling because most my scrolling is detailed pictures in up to 1/2" wood. They are great for this and I would argue the best way to cut detailed portraits. However, there are many types of scrolling and I do not think they would be the blade of choice for something like thick wood. Three dementional scrolling. Just my opinion. Edited December 4, 2015 by Scrappile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayneMahler Posted December 4, 2015 Report Share Posted December 4, 2015 I think all blades have a time and place. I have used spirals with mixed results. You need to practice with them. I normally use flats, but when it comes to big cuttings, sometimes you have to use spirals to get the job done. Something I did not like about spirals, they leave the back very fuzzy with a lot of clean up work if you cutting a single board. Just my opinion though. NC Scroller 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombatie Posted December 4, 2015 Report Share Posted December 4, 2015 I hate spiral blades with a passion but I have had to use them on a couple of occasions, but boy am I glad to get back to my straight blades. Its a case of what you feel comfortable with and how much practice you put in with the spirals. Marg KurtP and Ken O 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kywoodmaster Posted December 4, 2015 Report Share Posted December 4, 2015 Your question has been well answered but I am going to throw in my 2 cents. I always tell my wife that 70% of any job is having the right tool. Your blade is a tool. As others have said spirals are great for picture type cuttings. They do require being kept very tight and lots of practice. I am not sure what brand blade that you got but stick wit the good brand Olsen, Flying Dutchman. ECT on all blades. I have always had the worst problem in a cut that I had to back out of. My advice is slow your saw down and practice for a while. Depending on what type work you do you may just find that the spiral may become your best friend. NC Scroller and amazingkevin 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Scroller Posted December 4, 2015 Report Share Posted December 4, 2015 I HATE SPIRALS! ........... LarryEA 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryEA Posted December 4, 2015 Report Share Posted December 4, 2015 I have one....it's rusty Phantom Scroller 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KurtP Posted December 4, 2015 Report Share Posted December 4, 2015 Tried them, hated them, haven't used them since. Phantom Scroller 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodduck Posted December 4, 2015 Report Share Posted December 4, 2015 I hate them mainly because I can't use them. Phantom Scroller 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amazingkevin Posted December 4, 2015 Report Share Posted December 4, 2015 I think us scrollers should have learned to scroll in the beginning with spirals.When my mom cooked i ate what i didn't like first and then enjoyed the rest of the meal. bobscroll 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ike Posted December 4, 2015 Report Share Posted December 4, 2015 I do not like spirals, tried them once and sent my blades to Amazing Kevin, You have to take time to learn them, at 76 i don't have that much time left. Phantom Scroller 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrampaJim Posted December 4, 2015 Report Share Posted December 4, 2015 I HATE SPIRALS! ........... Phantom, get of the fence - what do you really think? :) Phantom Scroller 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olddust1 Posted December 4, 2015 Report Share Posted December 4, 2015 I am currently using spirals on a very difficult request. It is 21" X 17" so I must use spirals. It is all wording. " I LOVE YOU A BUSHEL AND A PECK AND A HUG AROUND THE NECK" All inside a love symbol. To add to the problem she want three of them so I am stack cutting. Fortunately she wants it rustic looking so going off line is good. John Old Dust Phantom Scroller 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedOrZed Posted December 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2015 Hmm a mixed bag of responses there The little Aeropiccola isn't variable speed :( Just on & off. Yesterday I was cutting singles in some thin OSB - stack cutting OSB with a flat blade was very hard & messy work, so went back to single thickness. It will be worth trying a stack cut with the spiral blade to see how that works. This set of trees will be mostly hidden, so they're not pretty and the back is quite fuzzy. Probably a quick brush over with some emery boards will sort them enough for this job. It's £1 (75c?) for a large blister pack of emery boards - as used for tidying finger nails etc. - but they are dead handy for sanding tight corners Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsN Posted December 4, 2015 Report Share Posted December 4, 2015 Many of my students love spiral blades. The love the fact that they don't have to turn the workpiece. I only use them when I have a big, detailed picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryEA Posted December 4, 2015 Report Share Posted December 4, 2015 Hmm a mixed bag of responses there The little Aeropiccola isn't variable speed :( Just on & off. Yesterday I was cutting singles in some thin OSB - stack cutting OSB with a flat blade was very hard & messy work, so went back to single thickness. It will be worth trying a stack cut with the spiral blade to see how that works. This set of trees will be mostly hidden, so they're not pretty and the back is quite fuzzy. Probably a quick brush over with some emery boards will sort them enough for this job. It's £1 (75c?) for a large blister pack of emery boards - as used for tidying finger nails etc. - but they are dead handy for sanding tight corners Fuzzy's ... try using a dentures tooth brush...get most off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWSUDEKUM Posted December 4, 2015 Report Share Posted December 4, 2015 I have spirals and use them for specialized occasions. IMHO 95% of the cutting can be done by flat blade. Like most things however using spirals does take practice. With time and practice you will decide either for them or against them. DW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrampaJim Posted December 4, 2015 Report Share Posted December 4, 2015 Fuzzy's ... try using a dentures tooth brush...get most off another trick I learned from someone else - use a propane torch. But be careful, so that you don't start your project on fire - or your shop! Once you get the knack, its actually quite easy. Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedOrZed Posted December 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2015 Many of my students love spiral blades. The love the fact that they don't have to turn the workpiece. I only use them when I have a big, detailed picture. It was handy for the 1st cut which was at the end of a long piece of wood - meant less wasteage! Fuzzy's ... try using a dentures tooth brush...get most off Not sure what they are, will have to google. another trick I learned from someone else - use a propane torch. But be careful, so that you don't start your project on fire - or your shop! Once you get the knack, its actually quite easy. Jim I was going to say I might give that a go in the garage, but not if I've been sawing MDF! Also my other half would have Things To Say if I start with waving a flame about in my office LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedOrZed Posted December 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2015 (edited) Just to come back to this...hmmmm I think is where it's still at. Done a few more small piece with this spiral blade, a couple of Xmas trees, Santa, a snowman and Olaf from Frozen. Olaf can do one with his siily spindly arms and spindly hair - he is currently undergoing recontstructive surgery with Dr Gorrilla Glue for an amputated arm Not even sawn off, just snapped The blades though - they do leave a lot of clean up, not just the fuzzies but even a tiny hesitation by the operator leaves mark to be sanded off. But they are still much quicker and allow me to use the ends of long pieces of material. Hmmmm..... Edited December 10, 2015 by RedOrZed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamminjack Posted December 11, 2015 Report Share Posted December 11, 2015 My two cents worth,,, spirals are for people who don't know how to use flat blades...... If you want a wide cut, lots of fuzzys, nothing that is truly detailed, than spirals are for you.... Hope I didn't offend anyone, but sometimes the truth hurts..... Phantom Scroller 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted December 11, 2015 Report Share Posted December 11, 2015 My two cents worth,,, spirals are for people who don't know how to use flat blades...... If you want a wide cut, lots of fuzzys, nothing that is truly detailed, than spirals are for you.... Hope I didn't offend anyone, but sometimes the truth hurts..... Hummm, so you are saying the portraits Mike Wix, Scrolling Steve, Charles Dearing, myself, etc. cut are not detailed? Could have fooled me. Gordster, tomsteve and GrampaJim 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustLarry Posted December 11, 2015 Report Share Posted December 11, 2015 My two cents worth,,, spirals are for people who don't know how to use flat blades...... If you want a wide cut, lots of fuzzys, nothing that is truly detailed, than spirals are for you.... Hope I didn't offend anyone, but sometimes the truth hurts..... Some of us know how to use both spiral and flat blades. Maybe not multi-taskers but multi-cutters. Wide cuts - only the width of the proper blade for the work being done. Some cuts with flat blade require 2 passes to get the width of one pass with a spiral. Lots of fuzzys - not if you use a backer board when cutting. Detail work - Scrappile already said it. Offended - Life is too good to be offended. truth hurts.... Not really unless you are in the wrong. As I stated earlier, both have their place and both take getting used to using them. When the spirals got tough on me I did not give up just became more determined to out smart them and had fun doing just that. Larry Scrappile and tomsteve 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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