Still learning blade selection. Jet 18 inch saw. 1 3/4 inch thick hard maple(?)

[Tallbald]

I have drawn a toy car I want to make for a grandchild of mine. The body will be 1 3/4 inch thick seasoned hard maplke, with either walnut or maple fenders and wheels.

Asking too much of my new Jet scroll saw? If not too much, what specific Pegas blade would work well please? If the thickness is too  much I suppose I could cut two identical halves and carefully laminate them together. Education appreciated very much. Thanks.

Don

 

[Wichman]

Your Jet should be able to cut 1 1/2 just fine (although the motor is in the back of the saw). My old Delta two speed can do it, so a newer saw should be fine.

As for blades, I don't have a clue about Pegus, but remember it's not the thickness of the wood that is the primary driver of blade selection, it's how tight a turn you need to make in a pattern. Long sweeping curves are easier to cut with a larger blade, but I have cut sliding dovetails in 1 1/2 purple heart with a #1 blade. I would not cut a gentle curve in 1/4 material with the blade though.

[Scrappile]

You need a blade with fewer teeth, without out reverse teeth,  meaning you want a blade that will clean as much sawdust out of the kerf as you go as possible.  If I used pegas I would start with a #5 Modified Geometry maybe even a #7.   A "skip tooth" without reverse teeth works well also. Your saw can cut 1 3/4",  but no matter the saw it is not going to cut as easily and quickly as a 1/2" or 3/4"  piece of wood. It will be slow going and concentrate on not pushing to the side, straight into the blade is what you want.  Stop every once and a while let go of the wood, let it get straight up and down then continue.  It is a normal tendency to push to the side. Use a speed you are comfortable with and experiment some with blades, speed and feed rate until you find what is most comfortable for you. No right or wrong, only what works best for you. 

[Timberdan]

I agree with Scrappile on the blade selection #5 or #7 and may I also add that if you are cutting any hardwood use packing tape on top of the pattern so that you don't burn the wood as you are cutting it lubricates the blade as you cut. If you have to force the cut pull back and change the blade to a new one they are cheaper than scrap wood and makes cutting more relaxing . Good Luck!

[Tallbald]

Thanks to you each and all. These are the answers I was needing. Don.

[Jim Finn]

On 3/26/2023 at 9:44 AM, Tallbald said:

I have drawn a toy car I want to make for a grandchild of mine. The body will be 1 3/4-inch-thick seasoned hard maple, with either walnut or maple fenders and wheels.

Asking too much of my new Jet scroll saw? If not too much, what specific Pegas blade would work well please? If the thickness is too much I suppose I could cut two identical halves and carefully laminate them together. Education appreciated very much. Thanks.

Don

 

For wood that thick I use Olsen Precison ground (PG) #7 blades. Making toys.