Scroll saw help

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swanny70

swanny70

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Joined
May 8, 2012
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71
Location
Monticello, Wi
Need help. I bought a scoll saw @ Harbor freight. I know....cheap, but wanted to see how it works cutting blanks. Tried to cut an acrylic blank and the blank started to melt. What kind of blades should I use and how fast should I have the blade move? Thanks in advance for any advice. Oh, I was just hand cutting the blanks using a miter saw blade.
 
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Depends on the type of "acrylic". For alumilite I use a 7R or a 9R at full speed for simple cuts or for complicated cuts if you go slow you can use the 5R. It also helps to put some clear or masking tape on the blank bec for some reason it reduces the heat. You can find them in Rockler but if you do some searching you can find them cheaper.

Olson PGT Scroll Saw Blades - Rockler Woodworking Tools

Eugene.


swanny70 said:
Need help. I bought a scoll saw @ Harbor freight. I know....cheap, but wanted to see how it works cutting blanks. Tried to cut an acrylic blank and the blank started to melt. What kind of blades should I use and how fast should I have the blade move? Thanks in advance for any advice. Oh, I was just hand cutting the blanks using a miter saw blade.
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Not to say you are doing this but if you push in any direction but straight towards the back of the saw you will build up heat from the side of the blade rubbing against the (whatever you are cutting). My only other thought is that you are overworking the blade by pushing too hard.
 
Yeah, that's always a problem with a scroll saw. The scroll saw was my first "shop love," and I still use it regularly -- but not for blanks for that very reason. I use my bandsaw.

Like was said above, a larger blade will help some on acrylic blanks -- faster cuts. Try a skip-tooth blade and see if it clears the debris a bit quicker.

Maybe consider a miter box and hand saw?
 
I started making pens by using a miter box and hand saw. Thought using a scroll saw would be faster cutting acrylic. I will try using the blades that Elmostro suggested. Thanks! For now my wife is making me use it to make display stands for her Scentsy products. Speaking of Scentsy, she makes me have a scentsy burner in my shop brcause she can't stand the smell of acrylic.
 
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