Scroll Saw help

[Fogey]

I wonder if I may ask a little advice re using a scroll saw. The machine I have is capable of cutting both wood and steel. The problem I have is that the blade will always 'wander' as I try to make the cut. Initially I thought that this was because the blade needed tightening. However, tightening the blade, even to the point that I'm afraid of tightening it anymore, hasn't helped.
What am I doing wrong?

 

[matt_i]

I think you are pushing too hard. A horizontal bandsaw will cut a banana despite all of its fixturing if the downpressure is too high. A contributor could be a dull blade requiring extra feed pressure to push the workpiece. Also making sure your guides are tight (as in very close fit) on the saw blade thickness is a very good idea.

 

[Dumber than lumber]

I think you are pushing too hard. A horizontal bandsaw will cut a banana despite all of its fixturing if the downpressure is too high. A contributor could be a dull blade requiring extra feed pressure to push the workpiece. Also making sure your guides are tight (as in very close fit) on the saw blade thickness is a very good idea.

Scroll saw? Or Band saw? Two very different machines.

 

[matt_i]

Scroll saw? Or Band saw? Two very different machines.

Agreed but the saw blade technology is very closely related in all "toothed linear saws". What's your theory?

 

[rkevins]

what type of blades are you using? I have found that some blades tend to work better than others, also blades do have a set to them even as small as they are and will cut better in one direction than the other. Example if you are cutting a curve it may cut better to the right than to the left.

 

[rlitman]

Most blades have teeth in a line and not all around. You need to pay attention to feeding the work into the cutting edge of the blade. Sideways pressure will bend the blade and cause such wandering. So will pushing faster than the blade can cut.

When in doubt. Hold your workpiece down firmly, shut the saw off, then after the blade stops, let the workpiece go. If it moves, you're doing something wrong.

 

[LeonardY]

Feed your material slower. Let the blade do the cutting. The quality of the blade is important too.
I would recommend practicing with scrap material to get the feel of the saw. I like to have the hold down just tight enough to allow me to freely move the material but not allow the material to bounce.

 

[rlitman]

Feed your material slower. Let the blade do the cutting. The quality of the blade is important too.
I would recommend practicing with scrap material to get the feel of the saw. I like to have the hold down just tight enough to allow me to freely move the material but not allow the material to bounce.

Good blades absolutely do matter. Also, your blade should be matched to the thickness of the material you are cutting.

Personally, I prefer the hold down to not even touch my work. But that requires a very solid technique, because allowing the work to bounce can be dangerous (or at least break blades), so it's not really a good idea for the beginner.

 

[ez-duzit]

...The machine I have...

Why so vague?

 

[Fogey]

Why so vague?

Because it's a German machine with a Germanic name which I cannot remember whilst sat in my office typing the question

 

[Fogey]

Thank you for all your replies - will take on board your comments and try again.

 

[seber]

If it is truly a scroll saw, it is not meant to saw a straight line. You guide the work through the blade following whatever curve you are working on. There should never be any force used on the work.

 

[beamrider]

When in doubt. Hold your workpiece down firmly, shut the saw off, then after the blade stops, let the workpiece go. If it moves, you're doing something wrong.

I just had a "lightbulb" moment. It can't be described any better/simpler than that. Thank you.