Beginners guide about scroll saw uses

The scroll saw is a power tool that is used to make different delicate cuts and intricate designs in the thin workpiece. It is mostly used for making arts or designs or wooden sculptures or patterns for different projects. It has a flat work table with a vertical column coming up from one end of the table which later extends an arm parallel to the work table. A small, thin blade comes from the arm and passes through the table and ends at the bottom of the saw. The working pattern with the scroll saw is such that the blade will move in a constant up-down motion and the woodworker will guide the workpiece against the saw blade to make the cut. The scroll saw uses are of various kinds and it is one of the most important to make decorating curves on workpieces apart from its manually operated counterpart, the coping saw.

Safety issues

There is no doubt that a power saw could be very dangerous to use. But, about a scroll saw, it is one of the safest and easiest power tools to work with. But still, a tiger is a tiger. If you are not careful, then you are his meat. Similarly, a power tool is a power tool. If you are not careful, well, a power tool will not eat you at least. But, what will happen to the part that it will touch; nobody can tell. So, maintain the safety warnings very carefully.

You have to wear safety goggles and ear muffs or just something that does not let the excessive sound to get into your ears. You should also wear a mask that can prevent sawdust from entering your mouth or from getting inhaled by the nose. Wearing loose clothing is also not wise. Loose clothes or loose pieces of jewelry can get in the middle of the saw and blade and cause…I think you can understand what it is going to cause.

Uses of scroll saw

The scroll can be used for making many types of cuts and on many types of workpieces. This is why; a scroll saw is mainly used by woodworkers, craftsmen, and artisans. The many types of materials in which a scroll saw can be used to cut are woods, plastics and sometimes even metals. But special precautions should be taken before cutting metal with the scroll saw. The blade of the scroll saw is a very thin one. So, if it is used to cut too hard substances, then the blade might break down. So, special metal cutting blades should be used to cut metals. And in no way, a wood cutting blade can be used to cut metals or some other type of hard materials.

Things you can make using a scroll saw

1. You can use a scroll saw to make marquetry, intarsia, and templates.

2. You can use a scroll saw to make jigsaw puzzles and wooden toys and any designs required for them on the wood piece.

3. Professionals can use a scroll saw to make dovetail joints for

4. manufacturing small furniture or other types of wood materials.

5. You can use a scroll saw to crafting intricate designs and also for cutting angles.

6. A scroll saw can also be used for cutting pearls, corks, bones, and ivory.

7. A woodworker can use a scroll saw for making letters and lettered signs.

Portraits can be made by scroll saws for desks, cabinets and for other furniture. Because the scroll saw is the ideal power tool for making sharp details on any workpiece.

You can use a scroll saw to make a sanding station.

Using a scroll saw

Place the workpiece on the saw table and slowly push it towards the blade. Keep both of your hands firmly on the workpiece. Use one hand for applying pressure on the workpiece and the other one for moving the workpiece as necessary. But do not apply too much pressure. It will get hard to control. Moreover, too much force can break the not so strong and thin blade of the scroll saw. Place your fingers very carefully when you are pushing the workpiece against the blade. It is better for you if you do not place the fingers right in front of the scroll saw blade. Place them anywhere at the side of the workpiece except for the front of the blade.

Increase the speed of the blade if you are cutting soft wood. And, decrease the speed of the blade if you are cutting very thin workpiece of wood. And, there is this another thing, you might as well know but I am still telling again that, a blade with more TPI (Teeth per Inch) tends to give a very fine and smooth finishing. And the blade which has less TPI will give you quite a bit rough cut.

Oh! I almost forgot to mention that the blade which has more TPI will cut faster and the blade which has less TPI will cut slower. So, when you are working on a project which requires very fine cutting, slower the rate of the motion of the blade.

If you want to know more about the process of using a scroll saw, then you consider visiting our another article about how to use a scroll saw.