Scroll Saw

Description

A scroll saw is a small, motorized machine used to cut intricate curves in wood, metal, or other materials. The fineness of its blade allows it to cut more delicately than a power jigsaw, and more easily than a hand coping saw or fretsaw. Like those tools, it is capable of creating tight curves with 90-degree edges (or beveled edges, by pivoting its table).

The scroll saw's name derives from its traditional use in making scrollwork, sculptural ornaments or intarsia which prominently featured scroll-head designs.

While somewhat similar to a band saw, a scroll saw uses a reciprocating blade rather than a continuous loop. Like a hand coping saw, the scroll saw's blade can be removed and placed through a pre-drilled starting hole, allowing interior cutouts to be made without an entry slot. Also, the fineness in both width and tooth count of a scroll's blade permits significantly more intricate curves than even the narrowest gauge band-saw blade.

Scroll saws are classified according to the size of their throat, which is the distance from the blade to the rear frame of the saw. The throat depth determines how large a piece of wood can be cut. Smaller saws have a throat of as little as 12 inches (300 mm), while commercial saws can approach 30 inches (760 mm). The Scroll Saw in the SOA has a throat depth of 22 inches, and a 2-inch maximum material thickness stroke height. A small, drilled hole is required for interior cutouts, preferably a drill press for finely detailed work.

Safety

All loose clothing must be either removed or pulled back from machine. All long hair must be tied up/pulled back (note: rubber bands are located at safety glasses cabinet by the wood shop entry door).  Long strings or necklaces (example is sweatshirt pull strings), and bracelets, should be removed or otherwise contained. The Scroll Saw blade reciprocates at a high rate of speed, and the blade or other moving parts can pull loose items into them, causing a potential hazard. No extraneous materials should be kept on the Scroll Saw worktable during operations.

Using the Hold-down

The work piece hold-down/finger guard should always be in place with the guard portion immediately in front of the saw blade. To set the height, place the work piece directly underneath the hold-down foot and simply drop the foot onto the work piece by releasing the locking knob. NOTE: If your work piece has an uneven surface, you may wish to raise the hold-down slightly to allow free movement of the piece.

Power and Speed Controls

To turn on the power, press the upper segment of the toggle switch, located on the right-hand side of the Control box, located on the front of the machine, under the lower-right hand side of the worktable.

To adjust the speed, the Scroll Saw is equipped with an electronic speed control knob, permitting you to operate between 400 and 1700 RPM, or strokes per minute. Simply set the electronic speed control at the desired setting (faster for thin materials and slower for thick materials) and turn your machine on or off with the switch on the side of the control box. One exception to this is: when cutting through plastics, a very slow speed is necessary, to avoid “friction-melting” of the material behind the cut.

Feeding your Work piece

To make straight cuts, feed your work into the blade by placing one hand on each side of the blade (NEVER place your hand in front of the blade!) and pushing the work gently but firmly directly into the blade evenly with both hands. You should also press gently down as you push forward. The harder you are feeding the work, the more downward pressure should be applied (illustration). Feeding the work piece (Image)

NOTE: The single most common cutting error is inadvertently pushing the work piece sideways into the blade instead of forward into the blade. This puts side pressure on the blade and can lead to shorter blade life, uneven cuts, burning of the work piece edges, and more bouncing of the work on the table.

To make turns, increase feed rate on one side while reducing it on the other. Be sure to hold work down more firmly during turns for best results. You can turn on the spot, but must do so, slowly and carefully.

Tilting the Work Table

While most scrollwork is done at 90 degrees, you can tilt the table on the Saw for additional versatility, easily and securely. Simply release the angle-locking knob under the left front corner of the worktable (turn counterclockwise) and position the table to suit your task. Tighten knob clockwise to lock table into position. Be sure to re-square your table after doing bevel cuts.

Blade Changing

Since the blades used in the Scroll saw are typically quite small and thin they tend to break fairly often, especially when cutting through hard materials. When a blade breaks, simply turn off the saw and seek the assistance of a shop technician to replace it for you.

Clean-up

When you are finished working at the Scroll Saw, clean the area before leaving the workstation. There are 4 Trash barrels in this room, and each one has a broom, bench brush and dust pan attached. You must use these items to clean up your work areas at each machine, when you are finished working there. Also, there are scrap barrels at each workstation to deposit scraps of material, which may be useful for someone else. Please do not put materials with stray hardware or glue on them, or food/drink items, only re-usable materials.