Smoking and Squaring the table

[cpowell]

So I had to replace a defective saw this week. On the first one I had tried to square the table using a 12" square and level. I don't have a machinists 2" square and am not sure even where to look for one since I am a beginner.
As I sat and pondered a better solution to the squaring, I lit up a smoke. That's when I realized the pack, new one, boxed Marlboro's, was square and just about the right size.
I checked it against a couple of squares I had handy and sure enough it was on the money. I set it up against the blade and adjusted the table, made a cut or two and found it was right.
I know you're not supposed to smoke but it came in kind of handy this time. Maybe someone else can use this tip. Probably won't work with soft packs though.

[3_M]

I use a piece of 3/4" wood. Cut about 1/8" into it and than try to put it in the back of the blade. That is the easiest way for me.
FD Mike

[wood-n-things]

Use an old credit card. They are free and dead on.

[SteveK]

Smoking and Scrollsawing. Maybe a new ad for Surgeon General. "he lit up near the saw and the cloud of dust exploded!"

Smoking Kills

Hehe

[louhodson]

Cutting a slot maybe 1/8 deep in a piece of wood works to square up a blade. Cut the slot then try to fit it in the back edge of the blade. If it doesn't fit, move the table 1/2 of the offset, then try it again. The best method I use is a cheap clear plastic protractor about 6" wide and 3" tall. Set it behind the blade move the table until the center mark and the 90 degree mark line up on the blade. To double check, turn the protractor around and verify that that reading is the same. That"s as close to 90 as you can get for a buck.

[Forester21]

Steve was making a joke, but his observation is right on. Sawdust will explode when it comes in contact with sparks or flame. Please do not smoke where you are using your saw!
T

[treslakter]

How many blades can you burn for a pack Marlboros .....

[cpowell]

Ha ha ha...you guys...
Actually using the scroll has cut down on my smoking. I'm not sure you can smoke while wearing a dust mask and using both hands to guide the cut. Well, I can't anyway.
However I do sometimes take a little break between cutting projects, sit back, light up and survey my work. I also keep a fan blowing across my work to clear the sawdust and to help clear the air around me. Here in south Texas, I try to do all my cutting outside.
Thanks for all the concern though.
Now you have my curiosity up. Has anyone ever actually heard of a scroll saw sawdust explosion? I think they would have to be cutting a lot more wood than my piddly little things but maybe not.

[Xray]

Steve was making a joke, but his observation is right on. Sawdust will explode when it comes in contact with sparks or flame. Please do not smoke where you are using your saw!
T

Realistically, dust would have to be built up to a level far, far greater than a scrollsaw is capable of producing to present an explosion hazard, unless perhaps if you do your scrolling in an unventilated closet.
I smoke while sawing sometimes, haven't spontaneously combusted yet !

[jim_mex]

Hi - as a non smoker and a bit of a cheapskater I'm with Mike in using a credit card except that instead of using an old one I prefer to use my wife's current one - and if I accidentally cut into the PIN chip, so much the better !

Seriously though, credit cards work great.

[cpowell]

Thanks XRay and Jim you made me laugh out loud! I hadn't thought of it that way but now, no more smoke packs. Wife's credit card it is!!!

ha ha ha ha

[cpowell]

P. S. Let's be done with this thread. I don't want anyone's feelings to be hurt. I'm out...

[Xray]

I don't think anyones feathers are going to get ruffled over this cp ... Just different opinions.
I am a union construction worker of over a decade, and I have been through 100's of industrial safety classes over the years, sometimes running them myself. So I have a strong safety ethic, and this naturally carries over to my personal endeavors.
Some things, such as wearing safety glasses when cutting/sawing, wearing ear protection around high decibel noises, wearing a safety harness when working heights, are pretty much self explanatory and unarguable.
Other things are judgement calls, and this is one of them. I think the real hazard hear is the smoking itself. Scroll saw dust is generally very fine, and doesn't tend to get airborne the way a router or table saw would kick up dust. That, combined with the fact that very little is generated anyhow, makes the prospect of a dust explosion all but impossible.

[ubgoofy2003]

Well, I'm just going to say one thing on this thread. MIKE, I don't agree with you on the credit cards, THEY ARE NOT FREE ! At least the one we have isn't. HA

[Northerner]

i found one better for you guys, head over to steve goods scrollsaw workshop and pick up
(or i should say print out) his protractor he made up and the best part as always is his
generosity as its free!
http://www.stevedgood.com/anglegauge.pdf