#7 Reverse Blade discovery

[Dena F]

I was doing the #2 exercise in Scroll Saw Workbook by John A. Nelson with 3/4 " Plywood, I have not idea what kind of plywd. A freeby from builder across the street. Have not used this thick of wood before. I started out as instructed and I thought it was cutting awfully slow, being very patient by nature I continued, after an hour I decided to take a break and that this wood must be really hard stuff too cut. Next morning I try again another hour goes by and I just barely at the cats face, man this is really hard stuff to cut. I quit again, other things to do. Monday morning I start again, just getting no where, I decided to change to a new blade. When I took the blade out it looked like it was cutting in a strange place. I usually mark the top of the blade with a red sharpie pen, so I can tell which is top or bottom if I drop the blade when putting it in. I didn't do that this time, I just felt the teeth and said ok thats the right way and put it in. Well "guess what" stupid me put the blade in upside down. I put the blade in correctly and it took only three of four minutes to finish the project. The discovery was it will cut both ways, just very very slow going upsidedown. LOL The moral of the story is if its taking to long to cut , check your blade for right side up. LOL
Dena

[sheltiecarver]

Dena
Humbling, right? Just don't think your'e the only one, nor the last.
Sandy

[Back2Jake]

Thanks for the smile this morning!

Sometimes I think there should be a scrollers "blooper" video. I am sure we could all contribute on some level.

[jadings]

I thought I was the only one to do that. I guess I just never told anyone....
Thanks for the smile.

[Greenfield_Bob]

I've done that more than once and I have scrolling over 15 years.

[will8989]

Ok, what am I missing here? I use reverse blades on one side, take it out and flip it over and continue cutting and have the same good quality cut from either end. It makes no different which end you cut with, right? Or am I totally messed up on this one? Or do I not know what I'm doing? Wouldn't be the first time!! Maybe I should stick to quilting? After all that's what these "threads" are for, right? LOL!!!!

[Dena F]

Thanks to all. I'm glad I'm not the only one to have bloopers.
Dena

[jttheclockman]

Well I can say this Will8989( hate calling you that I wish you would use your first name I am sorry I do not remember but do know you are of the female gender) but you can not be using a reverse tooth blade and flipping it over and cuttting well with it. The reason is on a reverse blade there is only a small amount of teeth that are reversed usually about 1" worth or so depends on the maker of the blade. Now if you reverse the blade the blades that were on the bottom are on top and do not reach your work piece but in turn the teeth that were cutting from the top down are now cutting from the bottom up thus putting presure on your work piece to lift it off the table. Makes for a tough cut. Now there are some blades that are designed to do just this. They have alternating teeth. Just wanted to clear that up and not to give others that is a good practice.

[minowevie]

bloopers

hahahaha. i so enjoy reading these post. for i too have done all the above . once i had my blade upside down,. and yes it was cutting so slow , but the anoying part was I was getting all the dust on the top. WHAT, is my blower going out drats. also the frezzies where on the top hahaha. boy did i feel stupid when i took my blade off and looked , hahah. the one thing that was good was. i could turn the blade around an aaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwww no frezzies. an yes it cut much faster, an cleaner. and i was so thankfull my blower worked just fine. I take more time to make sure my blade is in right now. and if i can't see it , I will feel it, also i have to feel which side the burr is on . on a crown tooth blade. and Tonie I think it would be a great idea to have a bloopers section. bet that would humbale alot of us an make those of us feel so much better about booboos. Evie

[BobD (Archive)]

Thank goodness for the magnifying lights--I still struggle with #2/0 blades--a few too many callouses on my fingertips from all this typing <grin>

Bob

[CanadianScroller]

A little dab will do ya.

Once you get your blades and you find the right direction of the teeth, take a dab of nail polish and put it on the top of the blade. That way you know which end is up.

You can also color code your blades by size.

[urband]

Age Check

This is REALLY off the subject, but I wonder how many of us remember the phrase "a little dab will do ya"? Anyone who is retired will almost for sure remember, but I wonder if the "youngsters" know?

Dan

[jttheclockman]

Brillcreme

[Old Mooner]

Yessir, I remember Brillcream and "A little dab ul do ya." I also know that if, as John T says, you are turning over a RT blade you get less than an inch of actual cut. The only blade I am aware of that can be "turned over" is the "Crown Tooth" blade which actually cuts in both directions. Maybe that is what you have been using.
Moon

[3_M]

Moon,
The FD-TC can also be turned over. However most people don't like to do it, you have to get used to moving the wood in an other direction, the same with the crown tooth blade. After you turn them over it is not only the direction but most of the time the strength of the blade is gone.
Mike M