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Tip
#51
Shopsmith
Scroll Saw (continued)
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Small
Pieces & Thin Stock
In addition
to its other capabilities, the scroll saw is the most delicate
and precise cutting tool commonly available to the home craftsman.
This makes it ideal for sawing very thin materials such as
plastics and veneers, cutting extremely small pieces for models
and miniatures, or even creating custom jewelry and decorative
ornaments.
Small
Pieces
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Figure
15-21.
Cut small components from larger stock or tape the stock
to a scrap of plywood, posterboard or cardboard for
safety and better control.
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Cutting
very small pieces presents two immediate problems. First,
the workpiece is often too small to control by hand and still
keep your fingers a safe distance from the blade. Secondly,
the normal blade opening in the table insert may be too large
to support the piece properly.
To achieve
better control, small components should be cut from a larger,
easier to manage piece of stock. A suitable piece of scrap
is often available and the waste is insignificant.
If you
must work with a tiny piece, use doublesided carpet tape to
mount it temporarily on a scrap of plywood, posterboard or
cardboard (Figure
15-21). In this case, the hold-down will probably be too
large to function properly, so lift it out of the way for
better visibility and press down on the backup stock to prevent
it from lift-ing or fluttering with each up-stroke of the
blade.
Additional
support for cutting very tiny pieces can be achieved by making
either a special table insert or complete table covering from
hardboard. This covering may be attached to the scroll saw
table with double faced tape.
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Figure
15-22.
Make an auxiliary table insert out of harboard to provide
extra support for cutting small pieces or thin stock.
A hole drilled in the center of the insert accommodates
the blade.
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To make
a table covering, layout and drill a small hole for the blade
in the center of the insert (Figure
15-22). Refer to the Scroll Saw Owners Manual if the blade
is not centered in the insert.
Check
the blade tension and speed setting before beginning your
cut. A blade with too little tension will be difficult to
control, especially for fine detail. Many people also find
that slower speeds are less distracting for close work.
Thin
Stock and Veneers
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Figure
15-23.
Tape veneer to cardboard or posterboard for added support
and a cleaner cut.
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Veneers
and other thin materials must be handled carefully to prevent
splintering and tearing. Choose a very fine blade and adjust
the tension to the highest recommended setting. Reduce the
tension slightly if blades begin to break frequently. Also
select the lowest speed setting--especially if the material
is brittle or the piece requires intricate detail.
Even if
you are using the special insert or table covering mentioned
above, you'll get better results by supporting veneers during
the cut. This is easily done by taping the veneer to a piece
of cardboard or posterboard (Figure
15-23). Many people sandwich the veneer between two layers
of posterboard to prevent fluttering.
If they
are available and suitable for your project, the new adhesive-backed
veneers seem to splinter somewhat less than ordinary types,
but even these cut smoother when an additional backup is used.
Continue
to Cutting Metal, Plastic & Other
Materials
Back to Raised or Recessed Inserts
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