Description
This article is from the Woodworking FAQ
Collection 5, by multiple authors.
154 Scrollsawing
From: stern@nssdcb.gsfc.nasa.gov (Dave Stern)
Date: 10 Apr 91 15:42:10 GMT
Everyone seem to agree that Delta is the most reliable or best quality
for the cost. Mine is a delta-like saw available from Trendline for
about $100. It comes with clamps for pinless blades.
After a few hundred hours of use, I have no complaints. If I ever
upgrade, the only things I might look for would include a table inset
(for cutting really small pieces), a bellows (usually I just blow the
dust myself or rig up a manual one from a baster operated by my foot)
a light (I have a separate one) and multiple speeds (This I rarely
need but it is indeed true that single speed models operate too
quickly to cut plastic. The heat generated just welds the plastic
behind the kerf).
For childrens toy, standard pin-type blades work well. The saw should
have a throat of at least 15 inches but in a pinch you can always stop
the machine, reverse the blade and continue. (I blew up a pattern of a
12 point buck to full size and cut it out this way. Then I mounted it
on a plaque over my fireplace :) It looks great!)
For fretwork I've found that walnut gives the most satisfying results.
I prefer a pinless blade with 20 tpi. Any fewer and you generally
can't make the more intricate cuts. Any more and you end up burning
the wood (well at least I do working on 3/8") With this many teeth,
there is literally no sanding necessary afterwards. The cut is that
smooth.
Virtually the only source of patterns are from books by Spielman. By
far their best is called something like "Scrollsaw and Fretwork
Patterns". They have a number of simpler books generally dedicated to
country patterns and childrens toys. These are good if you enjoy
painting onto the completed pattern (kind of ridiculous in the case of
walnut). They also have a relatively new book called "Victorian
Patterns". This is mainly fretwork for the advanced scrollsawer. All
of the above are available thru Trendline and I think Klockit as well.
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crafts, woodworking, bandsaw, biscuit joiners, dust collect, jointer, miter saw, motors, planer, router, sander, shop heat, toy safety, ammonia, antique tool, hide glue, motors, wood bending, workbench
