What to think about when start using spiralblades?

[Bo Liljeborn]

So far I have used flat blades and it work fine but I have seen many and read o lot of using spiralblade and its advantage’s so I have ordered a pack of spiral to test out.

But I wonder if you experts can give mi some advice about what to do and even more important what not to do with this blades.

I planning to cut some bigger piecies and mi saw are a 16” soo it seams like a good thing what I can saw in any direction whiout turning the piece around, it will mostley be puzzles and some wallart.

 

So give mi some tips so I don’t have to make all the rookie mistakes

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

Not a big fan of spirals but I did try them. My advice would be to do samples and experiment with them on scrap wood items first before you go at a premiere project. It takes some practice for sure to go from flat blades to spirals. But you basically cut the same way as flats though you have the ability to cut at all angles. My opinion is those blades shine the best when doing patterns that have many veins and ragged edge lines like in trees or animal fur or grass scenery and things of this nature. You do not have to do all that turning. Good luck.

[kmmcrafts]

I use them from time to time, really depends on the projects I'm doing as I'm not one that uses them on every project.. some only use spirals and some only use flat.. I use both but as I said.. depends on the project. You mentioned puzzles.. so many different types of puzzles out there so I'm not sure what you mean by puzzles but I don't see spirals working well for the majority of the puzzles that I know of.. too wide of a kerf for puzzles to lock together nice and tight. 

My experience with spirals is I go smaller blade size than I would with flat blades.. The biggest spiral I use is a #1 and I mostly use a #2/0.. But each manufacture # size is slightly different.. I find that the Pegas blades run a bit smaller than FD or Olsen.. so a #1 Pegas is more like a 2/0 in a FD.. 

The easiest controlling spiral is the FD New spiral.. I think it's best to practice spirals with plywood as it's a bit more consistent in density than regular timber. You will learn quickly that spirals take the path of least resistance and timber has hard and soft spots throughout the grain.. the spiral will try to pull you into the soft spots.. kinda like driving the car through a large puddle of water on one side of the roadway and it wants to suck you in sort of.. so just my opinion.. using a ply will help you get used to them a bit easier.. You will also find that cutting is faster and easier from the front of the saw.. that is because the motion of the saw is made more for cutting from the front and the saws all have a slight forward movement on the down stroke. Some folks say the spiral is easier to control if you're cutting on the back side of the blade.. Probably just less aggressive and the sawblade will be moving forward on the down stroke and moving away from the wood rather than biting into the wood. Just some helpful insight as to what to expect them to be like.. they aren't bad to use so long as you just take your time..  

[Bo Liljeborn]

Thanks for all tips I will do plenty of practice on scrapwood to get use to them.

[OCtoolguy]

I ordered a gross of Pegas 2/0 a while back and have been too intimidated to try them. I guess that's what I have been saving all my BB scraps for. I don't have a burn bin so I might as well "burn" them up with my saw. 

 

[tomsteve]

best pieces of advice I can think of:

don't expect them to cut as fast as straight blades. they are slower.

let the blade do the work.

[Davevand]

Spiral blades can be useful, I use them when I do animal/bird or nature patterns. Anything that has a bunch of non straight cuts and a clean edge doesn't matter. I have never had good luck cutting plywood with spiral blades. I cut solid wood and the only thing I need to watch is the grain, the spiral blades will follow the grain if you are not careful.

[crupiea]

I personally cant stand them and have no desire to learn how to use them. 

[Scrappile]

I think they are another useful tool in the box.  Do not over-stress about them.

[Bo Liljeborn]

Need some help again

I have a hard time finding pinned 5” spiralblade over here I Sweden, I have ordered some but when I get them whey were pinless ;-(

So anyone who can tell me where I can find blades like what over on our side of the big pond?

Sense I have no idea witch shops who is serious or not a link would be helpful.

 

Thanks ahead

[OCtoolguy]

23 hours ago, Bo Liljeborn said:

Need some help again

I have a hard time finding pinned 5” spiralblade over here I Sweden, I have ordered some but when I get them whey were pinless ;-(

So anyone who can tell me where I can find blades like what over on our side of the big pond?

Sense I have no idea witch shops who is serious or not a link would be helpful.

 

Thanks ahead

Can you get merchandise from Amazon? Also, try to find adaptors for your saw that convert pinned to pinless. Once converted you will be able to use any blade. Most saws are convertible.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Miulika-2x-Scroll-Saw-Holders-Universal-Pin-less-Adapter-Steel-Saw-Holders-Sturdy-Easy-to-Install-Conversion-Kits-Parts/5627111195?wmlspartner=wlpa&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&selectedSellerId=101311305&adid=22222222223000000000&wl0=e&wl1=s&wl2=m&wl3=10352200394&wl4=pla-1103028060075&wl5=&wl6=&wl7=&wl10=Walmart&wl11=Online&wl12=5627111195_10001330665&wl14=scroll saw blade adapters&veh=sem&msclkid=eb2720c4c7841bb26e7346aed76c5048&gclsrc=ds

 

Another thing that came to mind is that you can decrease the size of hole needed by pushing the pins out of the ends of you pinned blades. That will make them much smaller. Then once you have the blade through the now smaller hole, you use a safety pin to slide through the hole on both ends and it becomes the pin. It's a tedious way but something that will allow for a smaller hole to be drilled. But, if you can find the adapters, that's the way to go.

Edited June 13, 2024 by OCtoolguy

[Roberta Moreton]

On 6/11/2024 at 2:21 PM, Davevand said:

Spiral blades can be useful, I use them when I do animal/bird or nature patterns. Anything that has a bunch of non straight cuts and a clean edge doesn't matter. I have never had good luck cutting plywood with spiral blades. I cut solid wood and the only thing I need to watch is the grain, the spiral blades will follow the grain if you are not careful.

I do the same. I use both spiral and flat when doing fretwork projects. Some spots are just easier to do with spiral blades. I don’t try to move the wood sideways or backwards. Use the smallest blade for the piece.  Never use them where flat blades are best. (Like Letters and straight smooth cuts). 

[Bo Liljeborn]

So I was googling around and found a web shop what ships to Sweden and who had similar adapters as the one in the link above, so I took a chance and ordered a pair, the price was about 30 USD including shipping so even if it doesn’t work I can live with it.

So now I looking forward to try them out and if whey work well can I use all the blades I have left from mi Hegner so double win.

[OCtoolguy]

3 hours ago, Bo Liljeborn said:

So I was googling around and found a web shop what ships to Sweden and who had similar adapters as the one in the link above, so I took a chance and ordered a pair, the price was about 30 USD including shipping so even if it doesn’t work I can live with it.

So now I looking forward to try them out and if whey work well can I use all the blades I have left from mi Hegner so double win.

What happened to your Hegner? That was a great saw and worth repairing. If it was broken.

[Bo Liljeborn]

9 hours ago, OCtoolguy said:

What happened to your Hegner? That was a great saw and worth repairing. If it was broken.

It got stolen ;-(

[Scrappile]

I do not think I have ever seen a "Pinned" spiral blade.

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

1 hour ago, Scrappile said:

I do not think I have ever seen a "Pinned" spiral blade.

I believe at one time they were available but not sure any more. 

 

https://scrollsawnewb.com/where-can-i-get-pin-end-spiral-scroll-saw-blades/

Edited June 15, 2024 by JTTHECLOCKMAN

[Roberta Moreton]

On 6/15/2024 at 2:09 PM, JTTHECLOCKMAN said:

I believe at one time they were available but not sure any more. 

 

https://scrollsawnewb.com/where-can-i-get-pin-end-spiral-scroll-saw-blades/

I don’t think they make them. 

[Bo Liljeborn]

So finally I have had some time to test the adapters I ordered and I am positively surprised with their function, no masterpieces but they get the job done and what is all I ask for, so now I can use pinless blade to.

I also done some test with spiralblade and as some of you wrote whey take some getting used to, but I starting to get the hang of it, and for the relatively simple patterns I cut whey are good enough, and where won’t be either the saw, blades or any other hardware what will set mi limits for what I can cut, it will be mi lack of skill.

But as the old saying goes “practice make perfect” so I will keep on cutting and one day in the future I might be able to cut some really nice pattern to be proud of, but until when the gear I have will do just fine.

Big thanks to all for your advices and patients with mi probably stupid rookie questions,  I am afraid where will probably be more of them in the future

[OCtoolguy]

We've all been where you are so don't be afraid to show us your work. If you have figured out how to use spiral blades, you are ahead of me. I have a large project that will require me to learn how very soon. 

[scrollerpete]

The best time to start using SPIRAL blades Is NEVER LOL

[FrankEV]

Donot over tighten the Pegas #2/0 spira blades.  You will break a dozen in a few minutes if you do.

Let you brain think to follow the line.  Don't just trust your eyes.  Move the wood with both hands gently.  Think"trace the line".

Let the blade cut the wood, don’t push too hard.

If you start to travel off line, stop and restart. Don't try to push the blade sidewards to get back on line.  You will over correct and make it worse.

Change direction at sharp corners early or you will pass the corner.

Try to cut continuously.  Stopping and starting will usually result in a wiggle/bump in the cut path.

There are probably a bunch more do a don’ts, but those are just a few I can think of right now. 

For my art panels in thin ply I  almost exclusively use spirals.  Yes they cut slower but you complete cuts much faster not needing to spin the wood.

 

 

 

[Bo Liljeborn]

10 minutes ago, FrankEV said:

Donot over tighten the Pegas #2/0 spira blades.  You will break a dozen in a few minutes if you do.

Let you brain think to follow the line.  Don't just trust your eyes.  Move the wood with both hands gently.  Think"trace the line".

Let the blade cut the wood, don’t push too hard.

If you start to travel off line, stop and restart. Don't try to push the blade sidewards to get back on line.  You will over correct and make it worse.

Change direction at sharp corners early or you will pass the corner.

Try to cut continuously.  Stopping and starting will usually result in a wiggle/bump in the cut path.

There are probably a bunch more do a don’ts, but those are just a few I can think of right now. 

For my art panels in thin ply I  almost exclusively use spirals.  Yes they cut slower but you complete cuts much faster not needing to spin the wood.

 

10 minutes ago, FrankEV said:

Thank you Frank for these very good tips, some I learned already and the others I take your word for and don’t have to make more mistakes when necessary, I am so grateful for all of you here in the Village how share your knowledge and experience so generous it’s very appreciated.  

 

 

 

[Bill WIlson]

Spiral blades seem like one of those things for which one either has a feel, or they don't.  I'm somewhat surprised by the number of veteran scrollers, both those I've known personally and those in the forums, that refuse to use them.  But then again, maybe they just aren't something that everyone can pick up naturally and/or through practice.  

I can't hit a golf ball, despite my best efforts.  I played other sports all my life, but never could swing a golf club in any fashion that looked or felt the least bit natural, so not everything lends itself to proficiency through sheer determination.

[OCtoolguy]

4 hours ago, Bill WIlson said:

Spiral blades seem like one of those things for which one either has a feel, or they don't.  I'm somewhat surprised by the number of veteran scrollers, both those I've known personally and those in the forums, that refuse to use them.  But then again, maybe they just aren't something that everyone can pick up naturally and/or through practice.  

I can't hit a golf ball, despite my best efforts.  I played other sports all my life, but never could swing a golf club in any fashion that looked or felt the least bit natural, so not everything lends itself to proficiency through sheer determination.

+1 on the golf. Can't hit a ball off a tee. I can chip and putt fairly well but I do have trouble with the windmill.