Anybody use a scroll saw for steel?

[Lssix]

I am looking to have a number of ways to cut steel in my shop and while a horizontal band saw is in my future I was thinking an older scroll saw may work for some needs.

Google results say most folks pan the idea but it seems like they are all talking about newer integrated motor saws, an older saw with a belt drive could be slowed right down with a pulley swap.

As the operator I would need to be aware of the up stroke so as to not damage the blade but thats no different than lots of old sawzall type saws.

Its kinda an excuse to ****** up one of the cheap vintage saws around here but I dont want to either ruin a tool or spend $$ on something that wont do what I need.


Also, unlike trying to convert a band saw there are no tires to ruin or really any mechanism that couldnt be easily protected.

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[rsanter]

can you find blades for that to cut steel?
I have never seen them.

but if you can find or make the blades and if you can slow the unit down then there is no reason you cant do it

bob

 

[Lssix]

It would depend on the style of saw I suppose, but its not a big deal to make holes and trim blades to length.

I have a bunch of blades from my sawzall I might try if I pick one up.

Hell, theres a video on youtube of an older gentlemans contraption that is essentially a sawzall converted to a scroll saw.

Its a sawzall attached to the bench and a wood arm setup to clamp to the blade and stabilize it.

That brings to mind ideas like speed control and orbital motions

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[Packard V8]

As we used to say, "A cat can eat a grindstone; just gonna him take a lotta licks."

Bottom line - it isn't a good way to cut steel.

jack vines

 

[Roberts210]

How thick a piece of steel do you want to cut?
Until I got a Rockwell W&M, I cut many, many pieces of steel using my Sawzall.

 

[Lssix]

Realistically 1/4" I suppose, I still have my sawzall from my days of parting out cars and have cut through rocker panels frames and suspension pieces with it.

It would definitely do for rough cuts and turning large pieces of stock into smaller pieces of stock but its not the most accurate option.

I may use the scroll saw to snip a piece down to size but mostly Im thinking of using it the way scrolls were intended to be used, controlled intricate cuts like curves and inside radius cuts.

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[Roberts210]

If you're cutting 1/4" steel, doing it that way will take a loooooooong time and many blades.

Even using my W&M, cutting 1/4" steel takes a lot of pressure pushing the metal into the blade. I can't imagine a scroll saw blade would hold up.

What about a used plasma cutter?

 

[Roberts210]

I have fabricated many things using either a Sawzall or W&M, and round and half-round hand files.

 

[Lssix]

If you're cutting 1/4" steel, doing it that way will take a loooooooong time and many blades.

Even using my W&M, cutting 1/4" steel takes a lot of pressure pushing the metal into the blade. I can't imagine a scroll saw blade would hold up.

What about a used plasma cutter?

I would be using metal specific blades modified to fit the saw.

Power and speed wouldnt be an issue for a belt driven older saw though throwing parts at it would make the budget blow up rather quick.

And as it happens a horizontal band saw has popped up for $50 here, it looks like an HF piece but people claim they can be made to work well.

A plasma cutter would be great also, but those dont show up often at all.



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[Tedley]

The the reason I didn't try is because it seems the metal filings will fall into the guts of my 1939 King Seely scroll saw. The aged cloth dust boot was meant for wood. Metal dust will get where you don't want it to and there's a gearbox which acts as an oil reservoir down there. But the same idea occurred to me.
Those diy powered hacksaw videos are cool.

I would be using metal specific blades modified to fit the saw.

Power and speed wouldnt be an issue for a belt driven older saw though throwing parts at it would make the budget blow up rather quick.

And as it happens a horizontal band saw has popped up for $50 here, it looks like an HF piece but people claim they can be made to work well.

A plasma cutter would be great also, but those dont show up often at all.



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[Lssix]

The the reason I didn't try is because it seems the metal filings will fall into the guts of my 1939 King Seely scroll saw. The aged cloth dust boot was meant for wood. Metal dust will get where you don't want it to and there's a gearbox which acts as an oil reservoir down there. But the same idea occurred to me.
Those diy powered hacksaw videos are cool.



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Yes they are, thats another thing I considered. It still irks me that one went up for sale here for $35 and was sold before I could get to it.

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[Lssix]

Well...got this for $20

I mostly got it for the stand, I'll use that for my drill press when its back together.

Also another old electric motor is always nice to have around, the saw though I dont know if I will keep it.

Its a basic as you can get Dunlap so Im not worried about wrecking a very valuable machine.

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