Help with blades

[Guest]

I am new to scroll sawing and have been doing it for a couple of months now. I have a Delta 16 inch variable speed. I only use wood that is no more than 1/4 inch thick. I have made shelves and fancy boxes etc., but I am having a problem with the blades staying in. I use normally size 2 or 3 for the detailed fret work, but a lot of the time I cannot get the blade to stay in when I push the lever back to tighten the tension. The top blade slips out sometimes and I have to stop to put it back in. I have turned the little knob that adjusts for the small blades according to the manual, but this doesn't always help. I have tried moving the blade higher in the clamp, but sometimes then when I start it comes out of the bottom clamp. This can be quite frustrating when I have a lot of detailed things to do where I go into a new hole quite often and then the blade slips out. But it doesn't happen every time, but often enough to be frustrating. I don't want to have to use a larger blade because then I can't manouver as well around the curves and small pieces. Any advice would be appreciated. Other than that, the saw works great.

[Bandaid]

Re: Help with blades

You might try cutting grooves (roughing up) the ends of the blade with a three cornered file. Another way is to put a slight twist, using pliers, on the tips of the blade. Hope this helps, good luck!