Scroll saws are one of a woodworker’s most handy tools. They can cut different designs on wood as well as other materials like metal and plastic. They’re known for cutting even very detailed designs.
So, how does one use a scroll saw for woodworking projects?
1. The first step, as to any woodworking cutting tool, is to put on safety gear.
Protective glasses and a dust mask are most common. Make sure that no clothes sleeves will be in the way when it’s time to start cutting. Once all of your safety gear is ready, put them aside for a while.
2. The next step is to prepare the wood to be worked on.
Get it to the right size and sand it along its rough edges. Then, draw your design or pattern onto the wood. It’s important to make outlines first before cutting. You can’t uncut wood after all.
Make sure that the pattern you’re drawing can be easily seen. If you’re a beginner with the scroll saw, stick to easier patterns and designs. Wood working projects use the concept of positive space and negative space a lot.
If you’re a beginner, it’s a good idea to start with the basics. There are a lot of resources online for easy patterns and designs.
3. Prepare your saw.
To keep your saw stable, clamp it onto the surface of your work area. Refer to the instruction manual from the manufacturer to know how to clamp the scroll saw properly.
Once you’ve followed all instructions for clamping, it’s time to install the scroll saw’s blade. There are a variety of blades to choose from depending on the material you’re working with.
Assess which blade you’re going to need by looking at your materials and the intricacy of your design. Thinner materials require blades with smaller teeth. Blades with smaller teeth allow more control of the blade. Small toothed blades are for more intricate designs too. A #2 or #3 blade is best used for wood that is about 3.2mm thick. A #5 or #7 blade is best used for wood around 19mm thick or for stacks of wood.
After that, make sure to turn all necessary settings on. Scroll saws often come with dust blowers and lights to keep your work area clean and visible. Make sure that both are turned on.
4. Perform some prep checks before turning on the saw.
For starters, make sure you put the safety equipment on. The protective goggles should always be worn when handling the saw. This will prevent wood particles from going to your eyes.
Before working on your main design, test the saw out on a scrap piece of wood that’s identical to the wood you’re working with. This way you can practice a bit more and know if the saw scroll blades work well with your material.
Set the scroll saw to a slower speed if the wood is thin. Thicker materials need faster speed and thinner materials need slower speed.
5. When you’re confident with the scroll saw blades, begin with your main design.
Use both hands to control the saw and don’t rush the cutting process. Rushing can lead to accidents because your hands can slip.
6. After the pattern is cut, turn the scroll saw off. Sand the pattern’s edges if needed and then clean up your work space.
As with anything, using a scroll saw gets better with practice. Try more designs online and scale up on the intricacies of the patterns.
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