A Quick Guide on How To Use A Scroll Saw Properly | DIY Projects

Whether you are a carpenter or simply a house owner, the scroll saw is quite handy from time to time. When it comes to high precision cuttings, you can create plenty of shapes and patterns thanks to this excellent tool. Yet to have it alone is not enough, you must know how to use a scroll saw properly as well.How To Use A Scroll Saw

As with everything else, getting used to the scroll saw operation is not exactly easy at first. However, as long as you are able to invest your times and effort, you will master the techniques pretty soon. Down below is additional information about the tool handlings couple with step by step instructions on its employment.

Cutting tips and tricks that you should keep in mind

Pay attention to your fingers

As you begin cutting, you will use both of your hand to direct the blade and control the saw. It’s vital to position your finger at a sufficient distance away from the blade in order to keep them safe. You are not in a hurry here, take your time and move forward at your own pace.

Rush sawing is ill-advised due to the threat it poses to your fingers, not to mention potentially unsatisfied results. Unless you want to have crooked patterns and less than ideal shapes, you better be patient at all times. Slowly yet steadily manipulate the saw blade then you shall have what you want in the end.

Only perform blade adjustment when the tool is completely cut off from power

From regulating tension to installing a replacement, don’t touch the blade when you have the tool connected to an energy source.  Even turning it off is inadequate, you have to unplug the tool entirely from the electric outlet. All it takes is a short – circuit and you might end up with a nasty injury so be careful.

Your own well being is the most important, don’t cut corner for negligible convenience. Safety is number one priority, remember it whenever you operate the scroll saw and everything will turn out just fine.

Choose a suitable blade to use

There is a variety of blades available for different needs and materials, a wrong choice could lead to poor cuttings. Test out as many kinds of blades as possible to determine what works for you the most. Take into account the manufacturer manuals to install a brand new blade, ideally base on the brand recommendations.

Have a firm grasp on the material characteristics.

Next to wood, a scroll saw is capable of dealing with plenty of material such as metal, plastic, etc. It’s a good idea to inspect everything you are about to process with the scroll saw for unnatural signs. For an example, if you attempt to cut a piece of wood, it must be free of nails, staples and alike.

Sufficiently illuminated and cleaned workspace

You can’t expect to achieve a high working efficiency without enough light to let you see the cut lines clearly.

Ensure that you have the right level of illumination to complete your project with precision. As a consequence of the cuttings, there will be lots of sawdust, dispose them all to keep the workspace cleaned.

The cutting procedures of the scroll saw

Step 1: Equip protective gears and keep them on until the very end

Before you try anything, make sure that you have the right set of stuff for the task at hand. Promptly put on a pair of goggles, gloves and dust mask for the entire duration of the project. Wear a hat to cover your hair as well if you want an all-around protection.

Your clothes should not be an obstruction to the body movements, you must be able to move freely. It could get kind of hot later on so go after clothes with breathable fabric if you can. The shirt sleeves must stay close to your arm and nowhere near the saw blade.

Step 2: Prepare the material and the saw

Grab a piece of material you want to cut and started marking the desired shape and pattern on it. It’s much easier for the scroll saw to cut if the piece is already at a suitable size to operate.  In the case the material you choose is wood, sand it a bit to make its surfaces and edges smooth.

For the scroll saw, decide the blade you should use base on the thickness of the material. Usually, thinner materials make it necessary to use a blade with smaller teeth. Again, only install a blade and adjust its tension when you have disconnected the tool from the power grid.

Try out the blade effect on a different piece of the same material and see if it’s good or not. When it seems ideal, hit the dust blower and begin cutting for real. Clamp the saw to the working table and get ready.

Step 3: Cut your way through the marked lines

Select the speed level by relying on the hardness of the material, the tougher it is the higher the speed.  With that being said, turn on the saw and guide its blade toward the lines on the piece of material.  Use your hand to have stable control of the saw and reposition the piece if needed.

Should you have to make a 90-degree turn, you don’t actually have to turn off the scroll saw. Back the blade out through already cut line, place the saw on the adjacent line and cut toward the angle.

Step 4: Finish

When you finish the project, detach the saw blade and unclamp the tool for storage. Sand the final result to remove its rough spots and that is everything.

Conclusion

And that is all you should on how to use a scroll saw properly, not too difficult to take in, right? It could be a bit tricky at first but the moment you got the hang of it, the rest is rather easy. Practice a lot and you will become proficient with the tool in no time.

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