As mentioned before, these tips and tricks are opinions from our scrollers and in no way are meant to be the only solutions.  What works for one might not work for others.  Give some of them a try and see if they work for you.  We want opinions because we learn from one another.  (End of OpEd)

Funny sounding title, eh?  I got to thinking today as I was making some dust about what our blades could actual tell US what was going on.  Then it dawned on me that our blades tell us every day how we are doing.

Example:  Is that burning wood I smell????  Help me, I'm breaking.  Whoa, who said you could do THAT?

Let's take the first example.  Help me, I'm burning.  What are we users doing to cause this?  Too small of a blade for the wood we are cutting?  Speed way too fast?  Pushing too hard?  All of the above are possibilities, but, how about the following:

• 
  
• I'm I sharp or dull
  
• Did my user hone the back edges of me to get rid of burs
  
• Am I trying to cut too much too fast
  
• Is my user trying to cut too hard of a wood with my smaller siblings
  

Yep, these are but a few of things our blades could be telling us.

I wander all over the place instead of running true?

• 
  
• Too small of a blade when trying to cut from soft to hard pieces of the wood
  
• When I become dull, I can't seem to cut straight
  
• My user can't seem to get my tension right
  

I keep breaking

• 
  
• Tension too great
  
• Abuse by my user
  
• Forcing me to make corners that I'm not designed to do
  
• Sometimes I just get tired and this is a way I can tell my user to change me
  

And then there are stupid things my user does to me

• 
  
• Puts me in upside down
  
• Puts me in backwards
  
• Tries to make me cut nails and expects me to stay sharp
  
• Hones my teeth instead of my backside
  
• Expects me not to cut skin and/or finger nails
  
• Just to mention a few
  

How about the rest our scrollers out there.  Can you think of other things that our blades tell us?  Please share with us your opinions of this writer's ramblings and add your own ramblings.  Like I said earlier, when we share, we learn from each other.

Sincerely, Your happy blade family

ps - next week we will delve into inside and outside corners

---

Fred
aka Pop's Shop
www.pops-shop.com
'Soooooo many patterns - sooooo little time'
Scroll Saw Forum Host
'Stop complaining about the storm and learn to dance in the rain.'

Cool information, Thanks!

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time Traveler and Purveyor of the Universe's Finest Custom Rolling Pins!

Thank you Fred!!!!!!!!!

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

I've heard about honing the back of the blade but I forget to do it. I'll have to put my small honing stone by the saw in the spare blade holder.

The burning happened to me when I had the old saw cutting some Oak candle holders. Haven't had the problem with the new saw. Also the F/D blades are a big help!

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Harry Brink
Bulldog Woodworking
Montana

Fun but true!

Fred and others,

Don't forget about the chatter right before ..........................

---

Wayne Mahler
God bless and protect our troops that serve so we can be free.

I know that chatter well!

Wayne Mahler said:

Fred and others,

Don't forget about the chatter right before ..........................

---

Wayne Mahler
God bless and protect our troops that serve so we can be free.

yepper - gotta be ready for the OFF switch

Wayne Mahler said:

Fred and others,

Don't forget about the chatter right before ..........................

---

Wayne Mahler
God bless and protect our troops that serve so we can be free.

So there I was - doing great work for Fred - and then I started slipping out of the lower blade holder.  I know it got frustrating for Fred.  After a while I had to start reminding him that I was slipping because there might be a little oil residue in the holder.  Got him to remove the thumb screw, clean off the end of the holder with some alcohol, and then shine it up with his dremel tool with the flap wheel.  Just before he put a new blade in, I had him shine up both sides me on the bottom - removes any more oil and "blueing" that is on the blade.

He obeyed me on every count and now, Fred is a happy scroller and I don't slip out of the lower holder any more.  Any one else use this little tid bit from me?????????

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Fred
aka Pop's Shop
www.pops-shop.com
'Soooooo many patterns - sooooo little time'
Scroll Saw Forum Host
'Stop complaining about the storm and learn to dance in the rain.'

I'll keep that in mind next time I start cutting again.

Thanks Fred.

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Harry Brink
Bulldog Woodworking
Montana

Pushing too hard, change the blade!!!

When doing compound cuts, make sure to wrap it in packing tape, otherwise you'll have a piece of fire wood. I know because I just made some!

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Harry Brink
Bulldog Woodworking
Montana

Well, you still do have some cold weather in your parts don't ya Harry!

Harry Brink said:

Pushing too hard, change the blade!!!

When doing compound cuts, make sure to wrap it in packing tape, otherwise you'll have a piece of fire wood. I know because I just made some!

---

Harry Brink
Bulldog Woodworking
Montana

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

I had to give up for the day and come in. Didn't get above 30* and a little snow today!

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Harry Brink
Bulldog Woodworking
Montana

Hate to say it, Harry, - - - but - - - maybe running too quick as well??????  What kind of wood and thickness and size blade were you working with?????

Harry Brink said:

Pushing too hard, change the blade!!!

When doing compound cuts, make sure to wrap it in packing tape, otherwise you'll have a piece of fire wood. I know because I just made some!

---

Harry Brink
Bulldog Woodworking
Montana

It was 1 1/2" block of pine so it was soft.

The blade had been used for awhile but I was just trying to stretch it longer that I should have. The speed was a little on the slow side (I think). 

I started cutting on some more tug boats today with a new blade and speeded it up a little and it was working good. ( 1 1/2" pine ) The blade is a F/D 5UR.

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Harry Brink
Bulldog Woodworking
Montana

There ya go - gotta luv new blades  

---

Fred
aka Pop's Shop
www.pops-shop.com
'Soooooo many patterns - sooooo little time'
Scroll Saw Forum Host
'Stop complaining about the storm and learn to dance in the rain.'