Asking for advice with my Delta 16in blade clamps

[Archer]

I recently started using a Delta 16in saw. It cuts clean and straight and I like it but the blade clamp assembly is horrible. even after several months of using it the blade is still a nightmare to change. There is nothing wrong with the blade clamp itself but it is not user friendly. I know some people have swapped blade clamps on other saws. My question is, does anyone know if changing the blade clamp on my Delta is possible/a good idea, and if so, what should I replace it with?

Thank you,

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

There is an antique. Wow. They used the same blade clamps for quite awhile. The older P20 saws had those too and many users loved them. I do not know if the Pegas blade clamps are compatible to this saw but that is the clamp most people upgrade to. Might check with a vendor who sells them. I am sure someone will come here and mention a vendor for you. But you could stat doing a google search in the mean time. Good luck. I do not believe they work on that type saw but maybe they have different set ups. Why is not user friendly. That was one of the first style with a flip lever to hold blade. Once you set blade tension just flip open and close to do fret work. 

Here is an older thread from here talking about that saw.

https://www.scrollsawvillage.com/forums/topic/39056-delta-40-540-blade-insertion-difficulty/

 

There is a gentleman here that can probably answer what he did to his and he makes videos. Hope this link works for you.

 

https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=can+the+blade+clamp+holders+on+the+Delta+40-540+scrollsaw+be+changed+to+a+user+friendly+style&refig=6990a1628672443b81cf7fb122364f00&pc=HCTS&FPIG=40585751F7444D5AB02290358DC8056D&first=3&ajaxnorecss=1&sid=3E7E4AAFA44568A202DF5DAFA5066943&jsoncbid=0&ajaxsydconv=1&ru=%2fsearch%3fq%3dcan%2bthe%2bblade%2bclamp%2bholders%2bon%2bthe%2bDelta%2b40-540%2bscrollsaw%2bbe%2bchanged%2bto%2ba%2buser%2bfriendly%2bstyle%26refig%3d6990a1628672443b81cf7fb122364f00%26pc%3dHCTS%26FPIG%3d40585751F7444D5AB02290358DC8056D%26first%3d3%26FORM%3dPORE%26ajaxnorecss%3d1%26sid%3d3E7E4AAFA44568A202DF5DAFA5066943%26format%3dsnrjson%26jsoncbid%3d0%26ajaxsydconv%3d1&mmscn=vwrc&mid=5E708E6FFF63AB4471AE5E708E6FFF63AB4471AE&FORM=WRVORC&ntb=1&msockid=5473937909c211f184be77aa48c65961

Edited February 14 by JTTHECLOCKMAN

[Wichman]

I still have and use the two speed model of that saw. IMHO that is the best blade clamping system ever devised for scroll saw blades; BUT it is a royal PIA to change blade sizes. I do 90% of my cutting with one size and type of blade and that probably explains why I think it's so good.

The Pegas style clamps are not compatible with the quick clamp, at least not without a machinist degree. The Delta has a single attachment point and the Pegas has two.

The replacement clamp that the Artisan Pirate shows in his video no longer exists on Amazon, and Amazon doesn't have anything similar.
If you have metal working experience you could make an adapter yourself; 3/16" bar stock, hole drilled in the top, drop down 1/2" twist stock 90 degrees, form a v in the bar, cut a notch for the blade in the front of the V. use a blade holder such as the Hegner style clamps, clamp fits in the V.

[Archer]

4 hours ago, JTTHECLOCKMAN said:

There is an antique. Wow. They used the same blade clamps for quite awhile. The older P20 saws had those too and many users loved them. I do not know if the Pegas blade clamps are compatible to this saw but that is the clamp most people upgrade to. Might check with a vendor who sells them. I am sure someone will come here and mention a vendor for you. But you could stat doing a google search in the mean time. Good luck. I do not believe they work on that type saw but maybe they have different set ups. Why is not user friendly. That was one of the first style with a flip lever to hold blade. Once you set blade tension just flip open and close to do fret work. 

Here is an older thread from here talking about that saw.

https://www.scrollsawvillage.com/forums/topic/39056-delta-40-540-blade-insertion-difficulty/

 

There is a gentleman here that can probably answer what he did to his and he makes videos. Hope this link works for you.

 

https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=can+the+blade+clamp+holders+on+the+Delta+40-540+scrollsaw+be+changed+to+a+user+friendly+style&refig=6990a1628672443b81cf7fb122364f00&pc=HCTS&FPIG=40585751F7444D5AB02290358DC8056D&first=3&ajaxnorecss=1&sid=3E7E4AAFA44568A202DF5DAFA5066943&jsoncbid=0&ajaxsydconv=1&ru=%2fsearch%3fq%3dcan%2bthe%2bblade%2bclamp%2bholders%2bon%2bthe%2bDelta%2b40-540%2bscrollsaw%2bbe%2bchanged%2bto%2ba%2buser%2bfriendly%2bstyle%26refig%3d6990a1628672443b81cf7fb122364f00%26pc%3dHCTS%26FPIG%3d40585751F7444D5AB02290358DC8056D%26first%3d3%26FORM%3dPORE%26ajaxnorecss%3d1%26sid%3d3E7E4AAFA44568A202DF5DAFA5066943%26format%3dsnrjson%26jsoncbid%3d0%26ajaxsydconv%3d1&mmscn=vwrc&mid=5E708E6FFF63AB4471AE5E708E6FFF63AB4471AE&FORM=WRVORC&ntb=1&msockid=5473937909c211f184be77aa48c65961

 Answering your query on it not been user friendly - I suspect it is worn. The lever falls out every time I open it and most often the wire tensioner does too. I have to loosen the screw almost every time to remove the blade and then the clamp plates twist. Taking the blade in or out can take several minutes, although I'm getting a little faster when it cooperates. Sometimes it takes several tries to seat the blade properly but that may be inexperience - I've only used the saw about two months. If the clamp set-up did not fall apart every time I use it I would keep it, especially since the saw doesn't actually belong to me - it belongs to the local Men's Shed. My Shed mates are okay with changing the saw to be more user-friendly, though. The bottom clamp also works fine - the only issue I had was the blade popped out once, which I think was user error.

Thank you for your comment and help.

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

5 hours ago, Archer said:

 Answering your query on it not been user friendly - I suspect it is worn. The lever falls out every time I open it and most often the wire tensioner does too. I have to loosen the screw almost every time to remove the blade and then the clamp plates twist. Taking the blade in or out can take several minutes, although I'm getting a little faster when it cooperates. Sometimes it takes several tries to seat the blade properly but that may be inexperience - I've only used the saw about two months. If the clamp set-up did not fall apart every time I use it I would keep it, especially since the saw doesn't actually belong to me - it belongs to the local Men's Shed. My Shed mates are okay with changing the saw to be more user-friendly, though. The bottom clamp also works fine - the only issue I had was the blade popped out once, which I think was user error.

Thank you for your comment and help.

If you look on ebay you maybe find a new or a resonably used one to replace. Not sure if Delta still offers them as replacable. It is an older saw.