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Depending on what you are cutting. I almost exclusively use Olson blades.
I cut a lot of baltic birch plywood stacked to about 1/2 inch using the Olson 2/0 reverse blade. 30-45 min is typical. If it is a critical cut I will start with a fresh blade. I tend to toss the blade sooner than later. I won't risk a couple of hours worth of fretwork to save a few cents.
There are a couple of indicators such as when you feel like you are pushing or the blade is not tracking like it did when fresh, it is time to change the blade. Some other soft wood, pine etc., the blade will go longer. The Mach series and the PGT series I go longer.
Some woods are very gummy, like bloodwood, and it is easy to over heat the blade quickly, once that happens it is done.
Rolf
RBI G4 26 Hawk, EX 16 with Pegas clamps, Nova 1624 DVR XP
Philosophy "I don't know that I can't, therefore I can"
Proud Member of the Long Island Woodworkers Club
And the Long Island Scrollsaw Association
There are so many variables at play, that it is pretty tough to give an objective answer to that specific question. Generally speaking, 30 minutes doesn't sound unreasonable. Scroll saw blades are a consumable, kind of like sandpaper, so don't get too caught up in how long they last. Buy blades in bulk to minimize the cost and you won't worry about it as much.
Homer : "Oh, and how is education supposed to make me feel smarter. Besides, every time I learn something new, it pushes some old stuff out of my brain."
Try both and see which you are most comfortable with. I started with Olson about 7 years ago so that is what I am comfortable with. But as you see on this forum there are a lot of FD fans. Sloans is a great source for Olson blades Sloan's Woodshop - " The Scroll Saw Store " they only take phone orders but they are very friendly and fast.
Rolf
RBI G4 26 Hawk, EX 16 with Pegas clamps, Nova 1624 DVR XP
Philosophy "I don't know that I can't, therefore I can"
Proud Member of the Long Island Woodworkers Club
And the Long Island Scrollsaw Association
Good advise has been provided. I find a lot depends on the wood and how thick. Some very hard woods like zebra wood you will be lucky to get 10 minutes of cutting time and that is with packing tape top and bottom. When in doubt replace the blade.
In preparation for a scrolling demonstration I decided to make up a piece that would show the different ways I've cut puzzles. It's 2 layers of 1/8" BB. The puzzles were cut out as tray puzzles and then glued back in so pieces wouldn't get lost as it was handled.
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Update at 13 April – Its been almost a month since my last post and my shop extension is progressing albeit slowly largely due to me nibbling at it on a regular basis rather than sticking with it and going full blast to get it finished.
The outside of the extension is almost finished apart...
Quartz I only bought the air filter, That same model is sold by many distributors, I see Grizzly has it and several others. I was going to build one but this thing works great. I will get a charcoal filter for it also. Great when doing Pyrography. They also had a Pfingst brand flex shaft tool I haven't...
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