Papatch

Hello Art, Click on this link, http://www.mikesworkshop.com/index.htm, (or copy/paste) then click on scroll saw blades. At Mikes the correct drill bit size is listed in the description of the scroll saw blades. Mike also sells the bits and a miniature bit chuck to fit them. I hope this helps. By the way, Mike's Flying Dutchman blades are the best, IMHO. Ed Sr.

I find the living room to be a great place for a scroll saw. Ed Sr.

Hi Mike, Welcome to Scroll Saw Village. If you want to learn how to make patterns the university classes here at the Village are the best, and they're free. Download Gimp and Inkscape and you'll be making patterns in no time at all. Study all the patterns here at the Village and refer to them when working on your own patterns. A few really talented artist have posted a lot of great patterns for us less so talented to learn from. Good luck and enjoy making sawdust. Ed Sr.

Thanks for the imput. The Delta 40-695 replaced the Dewalt clone. It is so similar that I think I'll have about the same experience as you. I cut bbplywood for now, maybe later I'll cut solid wood, maybe even hickory, who knows what the future holds. Ed Sr.

A little late on the post, but I use 8.5 x 11 and 12x15. I like the 8.5x11 because I buy them pre-cut that way. I like the 12 x 15 because I have a printer that prints 11x17. I make my own frames. It took a little set up but now I can make frames pretty quickly. I made 12 frames for 8.5x11 today in about an hour and a half. Twelve frames for about $5 in materials, plus about $5 in clear spray. I enjoy doing it. Ed Sr.

I don't think it would be useful to a serious scroll sawyer. For the same money I buy a good used saw, if fact that's what I did. You can get a pretty good saw on C/L for $50 to $75. I picked up a nice Craftsman with a stand for $50.

For downloaded patterns I rework them a little using GIMP (Thanks to Travis), export to the desktop and import into InkScape to scale and size the drawing to the size I prefer, 8.5 x 11 or 11 x 17. If I want larger I use the Poster utility in my HP tools. I use InkScape to change the color form black to light grey with a thin black outline, this is easy on my eyes and save a lot of ink. The poster utility will create a drawing that is either 4, 9, 16 or 25 times as large as the 8.5 x 11 original. You simply print it out and tape the pages together. If you want something a bit smaller you'll need to scale the size down using either InkScape or Gimp, you would still print it on 8.5x11 sheets of paper, you would have some trimming to do before you tape them together. If your printer has this utility it can save you a trip to the print shop. Ed Sr.

I listen to classical music, oldies (40s,50s,60s), The Peter Schiff radio show, Thomas Woods, Murry Rothbard and others at the Mises Institute. Ed Sr.

I tried glue and nails, then painters tape. I like the tape best when I stack cut. I also spay a coat of quick dry lacquer on top layer before gluing the pattern down. Works for me. Ed Sr.

I have a Craftsman ss that makes a clanking sound when I set the tension too loose. Maybe?

I've decided to purchase the Delta 40-695. I was in town today on other business and stopped by WoodCrafter. The saw is everything I need and they told me that there will be a 10% off of sale in October. I can wait, my Craftsman works really well. I've looked at a number of really nice used saws, the least expensive being a 20" Hawk for $300. The saw is in great shape, but its ten years old, hardly used, and no warranty. The Delta has a five year warranty and WoodCrafter has a good return policy. Plus WoodCrafter is sixty miles closer. I also like the lift arm on the Delta. If the fella with the Hawk would lower his price to $200-$250 I'd probably buy it. But considering the up-coming sale and the cost of gas to get the Hawk, it only cost another hundred to buy a new Delta. Well that's that. Ed Sr.

From what I've read, the 40-690 looks like a winner, especially at the prices there were selling them for a few months ago. If they were still available my searching days would be over. I may end up paying a bit more and getting a bit less. But if the 40-695 is as good as 690 it will all work out. Saturday I'll head over to WoodCrafters and look at one close up. Thanks for the help. Ed Sr.

Ralph, I like your lamp fixture. I have the same lame, the clamping fixture ain't worth a hoot. When I get to it I'll make something similar but maybe just a little different. I may saw the thing in two after drilling the holes then bolt the halves back together with wing-nutted bolts for a real snug fit so the dang lamp won't spin and flop like it does now. The fellow selling scroll saw blades sure has good prices. Good to hear from someone in Oregon. I'm in Veneta, just west of Eugene. Ed Sr.

Hi Don, Did you purchased one of those discontinued Delta 40-690s. I got the bug too late or I would have bought one. They were on sale at WoodCrafters for $350. Or did you get the newer 40-695? I'm looking at the 40-695 and have a question for anyone that uses one. Thanks for the advice. Ed Sr.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am rather new to scroll sawing, about a month. I've been using a 16" Craftsman 2161 to cut portraits, its a good saw, I only paid $50 for the saw with a stand, the saw is like new and works flawlessly. But, changing blades is more difficult that it should be, resetting the tension for each pierce cut is tedious and I am limited to the size of portrait I can cut with ease. I am going to up-grade to a 20" saw. I have my eye on a used RBI Hawk 220VS for $300 and the new Delta 40-695 for about $500. The RBI would be an as/is purchase where-as the Delta would have a five year warranty. I have to travel 100 miles round trip for the RBI and the Delta is available at the local WoodCrafter store. Assuming both saws are top quality what is most important to me is to be able to change blades quickly and to feed the blade easily for pierce cuts. I have never used any other saw but my Craftsman. Any opinions or advice would be appreciated. Ed Sr.