Tension knob conversion

[Tramsey4]

Has anyone ever converted the twisting tension knob to a lever style that's on some other scroll saws? The inner cut process takes forever with loosening the blade with a hex tool, loosening the tension knob, etc. I have seen people replace their blade holder knob to a lever type so I was curious if there was the option for the tension knob as well.

[jerry1939]

Not sure if I understand your question completely.  Go to a WalMart and look at the clamping lever used to adjust the height of a children's bicycle.  IF you like what you see, go to someplace like Goodwill and buy a bike.  They sell bikes very reasonably.

Take what you need, replace it with a bolt and donate it back to Goodwill.  Hope this helps Friend.

[jerry1939]

[Lucky2]

Travis, what brand of saw do you own, it might help us help solve your issue if we knew that? If you change out the knob with something you can tighten up the tension with, be careful you don't change it out with something, that you can tighten it up to tight with. If you do, you can damage your saw. Does your saw have a tension lever, or does it just have a knob for setting the tension? A picture of the tension set-up would help, seeing that might give one of us an idea on how to fix it.

Len 

[Tramsey4]

9 hours ago, Lucky2 said:

Travis, what brand of saw do you own, it might help us help solve your issue if we knew that? If you change out the knob with something you can tighten up the tension with, be careful you don't change it out with something, that you can tighten it up to tight with. If you do, you can damage your saw. Does your saw have a tension lever, or does it just have a knob for setting the tension? A picture of the tension set-up would help, seeing that might give one of us an idea on how to fix it.

Len 

I own a Ryobi 16 inch SC165VS saw. It has a knob for tension, I would like a lever since it's faster to clamp/unclamp. Here are some stock pics of what I'm talking about.

[Roberta Moreton]

I am not positive but, I think what you are describing is the top blade clamp/ tension holder on the new jet saw. It is an all in one thing. In the The Excalibur I adttatch the blade with a screw knob then flip the tension lever. If I’m right, what you are wanting is a new saw.

 

[Tramsey4]

I believe this is kinda what others have on their scroll saws instead of a tension knob.

[Rolf]

I buy most of my hardware items from Mcmaster Carr 

https://www.mcmaster.com/#cam-levers/=1aalzdd

They should have what you are looking for.  I agree with you about the tensioning process on the entry level saws. I started with an inherited Crafsman. 

[Tramsey4]

7 minutes ago, Rolf said:

I buy most of my hardware items from Mcmaster Carr 

https://www.mcmaster.com/#cam-levers/=1aalzdd

They should have what you are looking for.  I agree with you about the tensioning process on the entry level saws. I started with an inherited Crafsman. 

Forgive my ignorance. I'm techy and not so much mechanical savvy. Do these replace the knob or do they replace the assembly which includes the threaded bolt?

[Karl S]

Mc Master Carr has a few both  S.A.E. & Metric threads

 Search Mcmaster carr.com and look for Lever knobs

 

McMaster-Carr.html

Edited November 17, 2017 by Karl S

[wedo scroll]

On 11/17/2017 at 8:08 AM, Tramsey4 said:

Forgive my ignorance. I'm techy and not so much mechanical savvy. Do these replace the knob or do they replace the assembly which includes the threaded bolt?

From your pictures that lever would be in place of the knob in back. You just need to match thread size. Sometimes there are quick change clamps made that would replace your front clamp, these are much more convenient. Google to see if any are available for your saw.  

[jerry1939]

I am a top feeding Delta owner.  The screw you are currently using I believe to be standard on the Dewalt & Delta.  Mine was making my fingers sore when blade changing, so on the bottom, I put on  Steve Good Knob.

http://www.stevedgood.com/catalog/    Search "Knob".   I tried to post a picture, but this #*)%@ thing won't let me.   Everyone is entitled to their own thoughts, but a heck of a lot of people on this site are currently using the same blade clamping system as you now are.  Personally, I would stay with what you have.

Now you will see postings coming that tell you how horrible the Steve Good knob is, because it causes you to over tighten and strip the threads in the blade clamp.  I used mine for 3 years now with no problem.  IF you go that route, use your brain and only apply the same tension on the wood knob.  It is designed to make it easier on the fingers, not to see how much additional torque you are able to apply.  People are allowed to be as intelligent or as stupid as they want to be.

[Rolf]

On 11/18/2017 at 10:34 AM, wedo scroll said:

From your pictures that lever would be in place of the knob in back. You just need to match thread size. Sometimes there are quick change clamps made that would replace your front clamp, these are much more convenient. Google to see if any are available for your saw.  

You would be replacing it

[amazingkevin]

On 11/15/2017 at 4:27 PM, Tramsey4 said:

Has anyone ever converted the twisting tension knob to a lever style that's on some other scroll saws? The inner cut process takes forever with loosening the blade with a hex tool, loosening the tension knob, etc. I have seen people replace their blade holder knob to a lever type so I was curious if there was the option for the tension knob as well.

your engineer quality,good thinking .Dream it make it happen!

[blights69]

You may be able to adjust the Steve good excalibur pattern to ft yours and make it a little easier by turning it into a large round clamp rather than the thin one on your saw at the moment I would just fashion one with a cut out to fit over your original one out of wood either round like Steve goods or long like a lever as you have mentioned anyways I added the Steve good one just in case you wanna try that you may find having it round rather than slim n thin like you have is sufficient.Worth a quick go see if you like it  

ex21knob.pdf

[OCtoolguy]

If I might chime in here, I don't think you can do what you want to do with that saw. Or at least not in a fashion that would be cost efficient. Whatever you do though, be careful because anything that you do will incorporate the possibility of more vibration when the saw is in operation. I know for sure because on my Dewalt 788 I made up some wooden knobs that mimicked the shape of the stock knobs but larger. I cut holes in them to fit over the stock knobs and then epoxied them in place. I accomplished what I wanted with the added ability to twist the knobs much easier but because the two knobs were now out of balance, I ended up with a vibration at higher speeds. And the knobs are both almost identical in size and shape. It doesn't take much to throw the saw out of balance.

Ray

 

[Jim Finn]

I have solved this same issue on two of my saws.  I replaced the whole assembly , with a lever and threaded rod I got from Hegner.