What blades to get

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Alzey

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Joined
Oct 9, 2011
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369
Location
Erwin, Tennessee
Just ordered a Delta 40-690 20" Scroll Saw. Wasn't planning on buying one for a while but the deal was just too good.

So now I need to figure out what blades to get. The main use for this tool will be to cut and segment pen blanks. I may eventually do other things a scroll saw but for right now my focus in on pens.

I think I can buy most any 5" pin less blade and many have said that Olson are the best. I am looking for advice on blade thickness, TPI, and any other info I need when buying blades.

Thanks
 
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+2 on Flying Dutchman blades from Mike. His are the only ones I use. You can call him and let him know what you are cutting and he is very helpful in getting you the right blade.

Larry
 
I have used Olson for years. Here is their web site
Check out the product info links toward the bottom of the page. Great PDF downloads for info and tips on scroll saw blades and band saw blades. I printed it out one page on each side of the paper and then stuff it in a plastic page holder and keep it in a 3 ring binder memory file/instructions.

Same as the PDF one for the band saw tips for all blades
The abrasive strips are new and have heard good things, if you need to do a lot of sanding.

Buy more of the blades than you think you will need, as getting the tension and feed rate correct can take some practice!(some blades break easy)
My current favorite general cutting blade is the spiral all direction cutting blade, Don't know if it would give a smooth enough cut for segment work
:clown:
 
I switched from Olsen blades to the FD myself. I took comparison pictures awhile back and there is a huge difference in the fuzzies. Every 3rd tooth is reversed and I use mostly the #3 ultra reverse for my cuts.
Here are the comparison photo's.

The first one is done with the Olsen #2 that I used to use, and I used alot of them. They also wore very easily.

The second is done with the FD blades and I can use them a bit longer.

It will all depend on what you are cutting. But as I always say "To Each His Own."
 

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But Olson makes reverse-tooth blades as well which makes less fuzzies :biggrin:. Most people will respond that they use Flying Dutchman... I can't cut with them myself.

Olson makes many different types but my favorite blades are just the ordinary reverse tooth ones. This series wears faster than some of their others and probably faster than FD's but the control on them is what really matters. The blades cost about 25 cents each... I don't care if they wear a little faster than some others.

Mike from FD is a really nice and helpful guy. Because of this, Sheila and I have tried several times to work with his blades and we just can't make them work for us, despite us both wanting them to.
 
I do agree about the control. I am not ditching the Olsen blades at all. They are a great buy and work great, but the saw is also a factor on how each blade works. I still try to use my Olsens, (i have so many lol) but only when I am test cutting something. I tell you what though, the tension between the 2 is a huge difference.:biggrin:
 
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