Which foot switch

[OCtoolguy]

I almost wish I hadn't asked the question. LOL>

 

[preprius]

asking questions is great. That is exactly why we have the village.

The reader Me. must use thought  before answering. 

[Jim Finn]

The idea of controlling the speed with a foot pedal is one I am familiar with.  When I worked for a living, I did some TIG Welding and that uses a foot variable foot control of the current.  It is very tiring to hold your foot at a certain point for extended use.  This is why I use only step on-step off foot switches.

[dgman]

I suppose a variable speed foot pedal could be engineered, but it would have to be specific to the saw. In other words the saw manufacturer would have to engineer it with an outlet for its specific foot pedal. 

[Bill WIlson]

I don't claim to understand all of the technical aspects of the "why it wont work" answer.  But I know this question has come up several times over the years.  Every time it's been answered with a reply pretty much like what JustLarry gave.  I've just come to accept it.  

[teachnlearn]

I use this. https://enablingdevices.com/product/36-easy-flex-sip-puff-switch/

Naw.

But couldn't resist. When I was in engineering school there was a Bioscience Engineering Department. They had projects to design adaptions for the disabled. 'i occasionally use a manual wheel chair now'. The Bioscience didn't have people that had the electronics background so we volunteered to help. At the time they had a dial in access for the disabled to search for disabled adaptions. A switch like this could work, don't know if it would work on house voltage. RJF

[teachnlearn]

Run the scrollsaw this way. Just don't get dust in you eyes. RJF

https://enablingdevices.com/product/eye-blink-switch/

 

[James E. Welch]

It's tiring holding your foot in one position for extended periods of time (for me) so I use the on/off switch style. 

[JessL]

I hmmmd and hawwwwd then decided on the on/off switch.  I love it.  My feet have freedom to move if they want, and they do.  

[Scrappile]

I switched to an on/off switch a couple months ago.. I prefer it.

[James E. Welch]

2 hours ago, JessL said:

I hmmmd and hawwwwd then decided on the on/off switch.  I love it.  My feet have freedom to move if they want, and they do.  

[kmmcrafts]

The on/off style is what I used to use but I sold it with one of my saws I sold.. now I wish I had it back, it's like setting the cuisse control on the car while on the expressway, LOL

[OCtoolguy]

I must be weird. I have a deadman style and have no problem with just setting my foot on the switch and lifting it up when I'm done.

 

[Gene Howe]

4 minutes ago, OCtoolguy said:

I must be weird. I have a deadman style and have no problem with just setting my foot on the switch and lifting it up when I'm done.

 

Same here. My router in the router table is controlled with an on/off foot switch, though. 

[OCtoolguy]

1 minute ago, Gene Howe said:

Same here. My router in the router table is controlled with an on/off foot switch, though. 

Different animal completely. Since you mentioned router, I wonder how many folks have given up on their 3.5 inch router and are using one of the 2.5 inch ones. I found a nice router lift today but it's for the 2.5 in model. I have one but not in my router table.

[Gene Howe]

I use a PC 7518 monster in the table. And use a Jessem lift. The set up is about 20 years old and still functions great.

[Bill WIlson]

13 hours ago, OCtoolguy said:

I must be weird. I have a deadman style and have no problem with just setting my foot on the switch and lifting it up when I'm done.

 

I use a deadman switch as well.  I can see it, if one stands while scrolling, that the on/off type might be better, but I scroll while seated.  I've never experienced any fatigue or discomfort with the deadman switch.

[FrankEV]

On 10/17/2020 at 6:22 AM, FrankEV said:

I got my "Power Maintained Foot Switch" at Harbor Freight. Less than $15.  Works good with out any problems so far (about 6 months).

JFYI, still working after almost 3 years!

[BadBob]

I have my EX-21 setup with a deadman's switch. I have the switch mounted so that my foot naturally rests on the switch when I am seated at the saw. No pressure is required to keep the saw running.

For an EX21 or probably any saw with similar electronic speed control and a DC motor. It would be simple to make a variable speed control foot pedal. All you would need is to move the potentiometer to the foot pedal and spring load it so it would return to the slow speed or turn off when you took your foot off. I could probably rig up something in my garage that would work. I have zero interest in doing this.