Is Spiral Blade Scrolling....Really Scrolling?

[Scroller Patroller]

First off! I've never really tried spiral blades before, and doubt I ever will, as Intarsia is my thing, but recently I read a review in a newspaper article about a portrait artist and she mentioned that she use's spiral saw blades in a scroll saw and a mini-router to do he portraits. She further stated, that the cutting with the spiral blade scroll saw was more rasping than true scrollng!

She mentioned that the mini-router with a tiny router bit inserted into the many drill holes helped to speed up the process.

Is this the normal methods used? Just wondering!

Rick

[PuzzledMoose]

I can just about see where the comment about spiral blades rasping rather than cutting comes from though it's very controlled rasping ...

I never heard of anyone using a small router bit before - and can't see an advantage ... ?

It's like drilling a huge blade entry hole with a larger drill bit for large areas - it might remove more wood but what's the point if you're cutting around the perimeter of the area anyhow? The only point I can see at all in using a larger drill bit than necessary at all is that larger bits break less easily ...

[Randy Huckeby]

Does a bear crap in the woods? Of course its scrolling' at least where the spirals are concerned.

[3_M]

A spiral blade is a regular flat blade what has been twisted before it was hardened.
It is scrolling. Just ask Jeff Zaffino.
Mike

[Gill]

Why is this matter of importance to an intarsian, Rick?

Gill

[CanadianScroller]

well to saw means to cut and to rasp means to scrape, so the cutting action of any saw is due to rasping.
I think of a rasp as a "roughing out" tool and a saw as a more precise instrument.
There is no doubt in my mind that spiral blades saw.
I have used a straight blade to rasp before though.
Now that everything is as clear as mud I hope I didnt rub anyone the wrong way.

There are times when I use either blade. If only one blade was ever required we would not have crosscut and rip blades on handsaws.
Best advice is to master all the blades and tools you can, then when a situation arises you will know which tool to use and when.

[Jediscroller]

To me that question is akin to asking if using watercolors is really painting. Of course it's scrolling.
I wonder if by a mini-router she meant a dremel mounted in a plunge router base. This is what I use to drill my holes. Many folks who do portraits prefer spirals though I'm not one of them (right Mike? hehehehe).

[Scroller Patroller]

Why is this matter of importance to an intarsian, Rick?

Gill

Gill, Because a forum like this is also a tool of education and I inquired and received reasonable educated answers. As far as the Intarsian remark...I drive a pickup truck also, but it doesn't stop me from wanting to know about other vehicles.

Thanks,
Rick