Blade Collection

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

I have been cleaning my shop and reorganizing a few things to get ready for some new projects. Today I opened a cabinet that stored many bits and things like that in there. But there was a box of scrollsaw blades. Now over the years I probably tried every blade that ever hit the market till I settled on FD blades which are my go to blades even till today. But I found some packages of Pegas blades. Have to give those a spin. Found some Tiger blades which came from the Old Steebar. They were a Swedish blade and I loved those when I first started. Found some Olsons. Some Vermont Americas. and a few that had no name on packages. Now I have a drawer that has all my old blades at least I thought so but these too can be added to that pile. I could not possible use all blades in 10 life times. Anyone else ever do the trial and error blade challenge? 

[Fab4]

Hi JT:
Anyone who has been scrolling for awhile, will have or should have a variety of blades
You have to find what works for you.
I smiled when I read your list of blades. I'm very close to having the same assortment of blades.
I still have of the 3" blades from when I first started....lol
Fab4

[BadBob]

I have lots of blades. Sometimes I think I have more money tied up in my blade stash than I paid for my saw. I try to keep the blades in their original packaging, or in a labeled container, but I have a few of unknown origin. I think some of my blades are 40 years old.

[barb.j.enders]

Time to take up Intarsia and just change the blade every 10 minutes

[Fab4]

12 minutes ago, barb.j.enders said:

Time to take up Intarsia and just change the blade every 10 minutes

Hey Barb:
Not a bad idea but what blade would that be?

[TAIrving]

I have a supply of my go-to blades (Pegas) in many sizes and enough to last me a long time.  

Last year I bought a used Seyco scroll saw off Marketplace and it came with a very substantial supply of blades, both FD and Pegas.  The former owner was a blade collector along with the best of us.  

[kmmcrafts]

I have not only a large selection of blades that I've bought over the years, but I also have bought and been given many used saws over the years that also came with blades.. I will say there are names of blade manufactures that I've never heard of or even seen mention of. I should have wrote down those names because I no longer have most of the ones I never used as I gave many blades to Kevin ( AmazingKevin ). I sent him a couple boxes full of blades and then he got sick and last I knew he wasn't doing any scrolling anymore... so now maybe someone else has those blades, LOL.  Not to change subject but anyone seen or heard from him? Last I knew he was going into a rehab place to try regain strength after having got very sick with Covid. 

Back to the blades.. The worst blade brand I ever used was that Vermont American. I bought and tried about every brand and most configurations of those brands. Some Olsen blades are my go to for certain projects and at one point Flying Dutchman was my go to for many years but then I settled on Pegas about 10 years ago. I also like some of the SuperSharps. There were quite a few names out there that were nothing more than rebranded Flying Dutchman that I found that out the hard way by ordering them.. which was kind of a disappointment once I got them and figured that out but at the same time I liked Flying Dutchman blades so at least they got used and wasn't one of those that I bought and didn't like that ended up in that junk drawer, LOL  

Now you all know, not only did I try all the different blades.. How about trying all the different scroll saw brands and styles, that's another whole can of worms there that I went through.. settled on the Hawk but like many others for certain project types and each saw has its good and bad thing. LOL.. I think I've cut on most all the different brand and models of saws from back in the day except the Eclipse.. never got to even see one in person but there were sure talked about being built like a tank.. Never see mention of these anymore. 

[Sycamore67]

I do mainly Intarsia and some 3d compound cuts.  I typically use a skip tooth blade like the FD Polar blades.  I really like the PS Woods Super Sharps.  IMHO they are the best for cutting 3/4" wood.  BUT...they are the most expensive blades.  They are $9.99 for a dozen at Woodcraft or $0.83 each.  The FD Polar are $4.12 a dozen at Mikes Workshop or $0.34 each.  For some things the Super Sharps are worth it.  For some of the woods that I cut for Intarsia, none of the blades last long.  I try to change blades as soon as they start to get dull.  If I do not change then the ability to cut on one side of a line becomes very difficult.

 

Just as an explanation, if I cut exactly on the line for every piece, I start to get gap problems fitting things together.  Each piece will be slightly under size and the builds up when you have many pieces.  If I cut on one side of the line, the pieces to together much better.  A sharp blade and magnifying light make this easier.

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

kevin brought up point about getting blades with saws. Forgot about those blades. I think they were called AMI blades that I got with my Hegner. Delta blades and there were a bunch off brand names I never heard of but have samples of.