Just Another Tool in the Box

[Scrappile]

There is always talk on here about spiral blades, some like, some hate.  I think a lot of people are thinking in terms of you use them, that is all you can use.  I use them often as well as straight blades.  When I first started scrolling a lot, I used only spiral blades, mainly because I wanted to do intricate pictures.  I watched videos of Charles Dearing scrolling, and that is what he used.  So I thought that was what had to be used.  And it was pretty much all he could use,  His pictures were measured in so many feet x so many feet.  Anyway, after some time, I decided to try straight blades.  I agree that they give a cleaner cut.  So long story shortened.  I now use both.  There are times when straight blades are best.  The last picture, I did, the pheasant one, I used both.  Sometimes I used both to cut out one piece.  In the picture below, I show some of the places where I switched to spiral blades. In real small cuts, I want to shape as opposed to just drilling a hole, because a drilled hole looks like a drilled hole.  I do not like that.  I circled where I used a spiral because where there were small cuts, and using a straight blade would mean having to move the wood a lot to make a very small cut.    I put lines with arrows pointing to where I switched to spirals, because again more convenient for making the jagged lines for hair, feathers, or tree branches.  There are times when you do not want a clean, smooth cut.  Instead of having to turn the wood for every little bump in or out, you can just slightly move the wood side to side.   One other place (not required in this Picture) that I switch to spirals is to increase the kerf when veining  I first cut the vein line with a straight blade, then switched to a spiral and cut it again.  The spiral will follow the straight blade cut if you let it do its own thing and don't try to force the cut.

The reason I make this post, mainly for newer scrollers to understand that it is not either/or.  They both have a good purpose.  This is my opinion only.  Take it for whatever it is worth. 

[preprius]

Great post. I agree with you. 

I too use both.  The spirals can do feathers or fur really well.  Bear fur , coyotes, dogs etc.  Get a few different sizes.  

Outer edge of feathers can give feel of actual soft feathers. 

Viening with straight blades can not give you the accents unless your up close.  They also get filled in with the protective finishes.  Use spirals instead. 

 

 

[kmmcrafts]

I pretty much have always used both.. really depends on the project.. much like you say.. sometimes both on the same project.. I don't see a lot of people using them on thick wood either.. usually portrait type cuttings in thin stock. 

I also sometimes will use them after I've used a flat blade, such as for widening out veining tye cuts.. The spiral will usually follow the cut line perfectly once you've already cut a line with a flat blade.. Most of the body lines in my car clocks I make are done with a spiral this way.

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

Glad you found a use for them and yes to have many tools in the tool box pays off. I tried once or twice and hate them. I probably should find the bunch I have and offer them up for sale because I will never touch them again in my lifetime.. But they take up so little room they can go when whoever buys all my tools when I am gone. I can easily cut a line with a flat blade and then if I need to widen I do that with same blade. Done this many times. It is like shaving with a planer blade. It is what you teach yourself to use and do with the tools in your tool box.