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  1. #1
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    Default Scroll Saw Blades

    G'day everyone,

    Hope you are all well and looking after yourselves in these strange times..

    I am very new to scroll sawing and need some advice for my new addiction.

    I will be using mainly MDF anywhere from 3mm to 24mm - what are the recommended blades to use? At the moment I will be cutting smallish jigsaw puzzles for kids, toy cars, etc......

    Cheers, Graeme

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  3. #2
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    Graham you need to take care if using MDF as the dust can be toxic & you need to mask up or have a good dust collection unit. I have not tried puzzles yet, but you could start by using smaller blades for 4mm stock maybe No 1 up to No 3 & for the thicker stock No5 Up to No 7 or 9 . The bigger size blades will have a bigger kerf & it just depends how tight you want the puzzle pieces to fit together . My blades of choice are Pegas Modified Geometry Blades or my favourite Flying Dutchman Penguin Silver Reverse Blades the reverse teeth on the bottom of the blade reduces splintering on the rear of the work. I get my blades from Helen Harris from Murray Bridge ,she gives fantastic service. Contact Phone: 0885313440 or E Mail [email protected]. She has a couple of leaflets detailing Blades & other equipment & pricing. Hope this is of some help to you. Cheers Peter

  4. #3
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    G’day and welcome to the forum Graeme.
    Peter has given first class advice as he’s a very good scroller.
    The MDF warning is spot on; personally I detest the stuff and won’t use it for toy making.
    Please make sure you share your creations on toymaking and it the Scrollsawing sections of the forum with lots of photos.
    Enjoy your woodwork and enjoy the forum.
    Cheers crowie

  5. #4
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    G'day Peter and Crowie,

    Thanks for the advice, much appreciated.

    Using MDF as it is easy to practice with (and cheap). Any recommendations for a more suitable timber?

    I do volunteer work (currently suspended due to COVID-19) at an aged care centre here in Ballarat and spend a fair amount of time getting the men's shed up and running. A lot of the scrolling work I will be doing will be cutting up templates/patterns for the gents to use on their scroll saw but will also be doing a bit at home as well.

    This could be a very addictive hobby

    I will certainly post pics, etc of anything I do.

    Cheers, Graeme

  6. #5
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    I second Helen for blades and advice I have cut puzzles in the past using #3 blades as recommended by Helen.

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    A decent quality plywood is one recommendation for scrolling practice.
    Then whatever you want to use other than MDF.
    Could be worth ensuring a good dust extraction system is in operation if it’s a Mens Shed.
    Good on you for the volunteer work.
    Cheers crowie

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    one thing I didn't mention is it is imperative that the blade is square to the table this is a must or your puzzle will not come apart, sounds silly but this is the best tip I can give for puzzle success.

  9. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by mature one View Post
    one thing I didn't mention is it is imperative that the blade is square to the table this is a must or your puzzle will not come apart, sounds silly but this is the best tip I can give for puzzle success.
    I've found the easiest way to check squareness of the blade, is to use a piece of 75 X 50, cut in about 2-3mm on the 75 side, then turn it 180 degrees and line it up with the cut, once the machine is switched off of course. Any discrepancies will show up straight away.
    HTH
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  10. #9
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    I use an old credit card so far so good, or you can cut a hole in the middle of a piece of scrap if it won't go in or out from both sides make the necessary adjustment.

  11. #10
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    Graham I use mainly 4mm Marine Ply from Bunnings as I find it is better than the cheaper variety which somtimes has voids in it.I mainly now do fret work cutting vehicles Portraits etc. If I do other projects I would use 19mm radiata pine, or whatever timber I can scrounge that is suitable. We are also in the process of connecting a dust extraction system for our local Men's Shed or were before this Virus hit us. Cheers Peter.

  12. #11
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    I agree with pawoods that marine ply appears to have less voids which can be a nasty surprise when scrolling I find that although MDF is ok for puzzles my preference is for plain old pine easy to cut and dosent move much.On my scrolls I use a cheap cyclone setup with a vacuum cleaner that is positioned away from where I cut because the noise is off putting. The cyclone was purchased from aldav before everyone got on the bandwagon selling them, it does a better than average job for a small machine and was easy to install.

  13. #12
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    Hello
    Avoid MDF at all cost. Try 1/2" or 3/4" pine from bunnings. Look at my post here:
    My last month creations.
    All puzzles there are 3/4" recycled pine cut with #5 modified geometry Pegas blades.

  14. #13
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    Gday mate,

    I had a look at your puzzles and they are good. Mine are the flat version at this stage but will do some 3D ones later.

    Can I ask what the issue with MDF is.....

    Cheers, Graeme

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    Gday Graeme.
    MDF dust is so so bad for you with the glues and stuff.

    eLCOSH : Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) Safety for Carpenters

    It also feathers as you cut it.

    Well that’s my experience with glued up sawdust board called MDF.
    Cheers

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