jbrowning Posted October 19, 2022 Report Share Posted October 19, 2022 Hello everyone, hope everyone is doing well. I've noticed that when I'm cutting my puzzles that the saw/blade struggles cutting through the wood when I'm cutting in the direction of the grain. This is on 3/4" Poplar and Pine. It has no problem cutting across the grain. Has this always been the case or has something changed in the wood and or blades? Thanks Jim new2woodwrk and OCtoolguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Fengstad Posted October 19, 2022 Report Share Posted October 19, 2022 could be blade tension , or defective blades then again some wood gives us surprises. jbrowning and OCtoolguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sycamore67 Posted October 19, 2022 Report Share Posted October 19, 2022 Yes, I find the same thing and just he nature of the wood. It seems cutting across the fibers is easier than along them. jbrowning, jollyred, new2woodwrk and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolf Posted October 19, 2022 Report Share Posted October 19, 2022 I find it is always easier to cut across the grain. OCtoolguy and jbrowning 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbrowning Posted October 19, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2022 Thanks everyone, I was concerned I was having a senior moment. lol Jim OCtoolguy and John B 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new2woodwrk Posted October 19, 2022 Report Share Posted October 19, 2022 It's not you, it happens - specially noticeable with poplar! I've noticed this for a long time now but it hasn't always been so - IMO the blades have changed slightly. Not sure if it's the metal or the production, but when I first started cutting poplar I did not notice as much resistance cutting the grain. Then again, when I first started cutting poplar, I didn't know what the heck I was doing! LOL OCtoolguy, jbrowning and Gene Howe 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kywoodmaster Posted October 19, 2022 Report Share Posted October 19, 2022 I think you will find that Poplar varies widely with the type of Poplar (Yellow, Tulip ect.) OCtoolguy and jbrowning 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted October 19, 2022 Report Share Posted October 19, 2022 Like everyone else says, yes. jbrowning and OCtoolguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmmcrafts Posted October 20, 2022 Report Share Posted October 20, 2022 This don't happen to me.. I think it might be your Poplar and the saw.. send them both to me and I'll cut puzzles with the saw to see if it's your saw or the Poplar.. when the poplar is gone I may need more.. might be the poplar from your location so maybe others should also send me some poplar from your location so I can determine if poplar is different by location.. Can't send me just one board either.. I say 50 - 100 board foot would rule out that one stubborn board that we all run into now and then.. Yes it happens to me as well and I notice it in most all the species barb.j.enders, John B, Gene Howe and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonzo Posted October 20, 2022 Report Share Posted October 20, 2022 I’ve always thought cutting with the grain is more difficult than against the grain, especially pine. Its like cutting meat. Much easier against the grain than with it. jbrowning and OCtoolguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millwab Posted October 20, 2022 Report Share Posted October 20, 2022 If you liken it to using a table saw, they make blades specifically to rip (cut with the grain) and blades to crosscut. It has to do with the way the fibers are aligned in the wood. Think of scrollsaw blades as designed to crosscut. When cross cutting the saw cuts (shears) these cell fibers across their structure. When rip sawing the saw is cutting the cell fibers along their length cutting through their structure. When cross cutting the dust is fine and clears from the blade easier, when ripping the saw dust is "stringier" due to the structure of the wood cells and doesn't clear from the blade as well staying in the gullets and slowing down the blades ability to cut. Joe W., Gene Howe, OCtoolguy and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadBob Posted October 20, 2022 Report Share Posted October 20, 2022 Cutting with the grain (rip cut) differs from cutting across the grain (crosscut). That is why you can get rip, and crosscut blades for a table saw. Handsaws also come in both rip and cross-cut versions. Scroll saws by necessity need to be a combination blade. When you are cutting with the grain the sawdust is more difficult for the blade to clear and will be slower in some cases. This can vary greatly depending on the blade and the wood you are cutting. Every piece of wood is different. I find that when I am cutting flat-sawn wood the difference is less noticeable. When I cut quality plywood or MDF the direction of the cut makes very little difference. However, I have cut some 3/4-inch MDF that I swear had a grain. jbrowning and OCtoolguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barb.j.enders Posted October 20, 2022 Report Share Posted October 20, 2022 13 hours ago, kmmcrafts said: This don't happen to me.. I think it might be your Poplar and the saw.. send them both to me and I'll cut puzzles with the saw to see if it's your saw or the Poplar.. when the poplar is gone I may need more.. might be the poplar from your location so maybe others should also send me some poplar from your location so I can determine if poplar is different by location.. Can't send me just one board either.. I say 50 - 100 board foot would rule out that one stubborn board that we all run into now and then.. Yes it happens to me as well and I notice it in most all the species It's not April Fools yet!! kmmcrafts, OCtoolguy, Gene Howe and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmmcrafts Posted October 20, 2022 Report Share Posted October 20, 2022 2 hours ago, barb.j.enders said: It's not April Fools yet!! Just practicing for when it is. OCtoolguy, barb.j.enders, jbrowning and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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