Thread: Blade for straight cut-please

Gday Arch, I'd just ensure you are using quality scrolling blades, when I'm going I just use a no. 3 or no. 5 for everything. An 80mm straight cut wouldn't be worth putting a specific blade in for.

The knack is just learning to compensate enough for the blade's tendency to "steer" one way, this is quickly grasped once you practice a bit.

I have the same saw as you, and sourced my blades from mikesworkshop.com a fair while ago. The same blades I think are available through Harris Traders in Horsham, Vic or through Neil Schultz in Adelaide. Other members should have contact details for them, or an archive search should yield fruit.

I'm a fan of spiral cut blades. They take more practice to become used to at first, but I think it's worth the effort.

They'll cut as straight as you can feed the wood, without a tendency to wander. Unless you're in the habit of cutting from one position all the time, in which case one "side" of the blade will blunten more quickly than the rest, introducing a bias.

But that's operator error rather than the blades' fault, IMHO...


(Then again, I'm a lazy sod who quickly grew tired of changing blades for different jobs so settled on one type and has learned to stick with it. You'll notice I don't show my work here... )

Hi

I use Harris Traders, they are fast, efficient and get the blades to you in the matter of about 3-4 days. You don't have to prepay them. When you get your blades, (backed on cardboard so no bending), you pay the invoice straight into a National Australia Bank Account.

Their details are as follows:


Helen Harris
Harris Traders
PO Box 1065
Horsham Vic 3402
Ph: 03 5382 6224
Email: [email protected]

Helen and Owen are great to deal with too.

The blades are $4.50 per dozen and 12 dozen for $45.00 + postage (very little expense). This is what I paid only a matter of a couple of months ago.

Everyone I know uses them and has no complaints.

Good luck with your scrolling and don't be afraid to ask any questions as we are all happy to help with the answers. No questions are silly, we have all asked them ourselves.

Cheers for now and good luck.

JAx
Oh! The Saw Dust!

Originally Posted by Arch Stanton

I have just got my first scroll saw, a Delta 40-540. I bought it for a project which has a few straight cuts about 80mm long and some small arcs about 12 mm long with a raius of about 300mm. The material is Silky Oak about 12mm thick. The size of the kerf is unimportant.

Being new, I want to give myself the best possible chance of producing a nice job.

Arch, I have very special blades for this particulor job. I have importered them from Korea and I am happy to share them with you. I live in Chadstone and if you still need them , just let me know and you can pick them up after 6pm.

Originally Posted by AnatoliSirota

Arch, I have very special blades for this particulor job. I have importered them from Korea and I am happy to share them with you. I live in Chadstone and if you still need them , just let me know and you can pick them up after 6pm.

Anatoli,

thanks for the kind offer. What sort of blades are they and what makes them special?

Brian

Originally Posted by Arch Stanton

Anatoli,

thanks for the kind offer. What sort of blades are they and what makes them special?

Brian

Those blades are indeed very special. I ordered them from Korea a few years ago to use in the coping saws. But as it turned out, they are also good for the straight cuts and thick materials. They are made from a very hard steel, so they even cut nails and metal up to 2 mm thick. They are pinned and a bit longer then normal pinless bladed. So I simple cut them back with pliers to the right size and install into my Delta scroll saw, if I want to cut quite thick plywood.

I agree 100% with Jax.... Harris Traders is the way to go for blades.
I've just received another shipment - haven't had the chance to try them out yet.... they are flying dutchman ultra.... can't wait... need to get off here...... lol

As for the silky oak... I've cut heaps of that with a blad called Modified Geometry #5 and also #7
They take a lot of abuse, don't break easy and I have no problem cutting straight... they have reverse teeth and leave a nice smooth edge.


Juvy

Keju,

you are making it harder not easier .

Well I've worked out one thing there is definitely no one particular right blade for this job. I think I will get a selection of blades and spend a bit of time practising and learning how to use the saw.

Thanks for the advice guys.

Anatoli, thanks for the offer to share your special blades. I'll take a rain check at this stage.

lol that wasn't harder.... I gave you just TWO choices lol
But..... just to add to the fun.... I just tried out a brandnew blade.......
FD ( flying dutchman) ultra reverse...... had read about it on a US forum - send Harris Traders an e-mail and I have a selection in my hot little ( not so little really lol) hands. Couldn't just buy 1.... had to get one of each size!

I used the #3 and it's really easy to stay on the line with this one! So this #3 feels more like a #5 of the modified geometry ( Pegasus)

Juvy

Originally Posted by keju

I gave you just TWO choices lol

Yes, but you couldn't stop at 2.

I had just fired off an email to Harris Traders. I'll give 'em a call in the morning and check out the Ultra Reverse.

I can see an order for $500 worth of blades coming up for one small job.

awwwwww....... but...... one can never have too many blades?
Just make sure you keep them in a container.. if you're slow using them they can rust.
If you bought a bunch of blades there ought to be one that you can use for the job. Might just be a matter of a bit more practise.

Juvy

Hi Keju and others

I found a good way to store blades, get yourself some cheap toothbrush holders (only tooth brush not the combination toothpaste holder) and keep your blades in them. With each type of blade, it has it's own separate brush holder. It keeps them in their own sleeves and away from the air. All you have to is store them laying down or standing up. Such easy storage!!!

Hope this helps.

Jax
Oh! The Saw Dust!

Ken has made me the perfect blade holder when I first started out... have no problem with rust at all.
Toothbrush holders... don't they have air holes in the ends?
They are awfully wide too.... you must put more then one size blade into those?
I have about 20 different blade sizes, so don't think that would work for me.

Juvy

Hi Keju

I glued the holes up and I find them perfect to store my blades. I have seen others in the books on a lazy susan style, but nowhere to put it at the moment.

Jax
Oh! The Saw Dust!