by John F. Kendall

Created on: March 20, 2009   Last Updated: March 24, 2009

How to use a scroll saw in woodworking projects.

A scroll saw is, essentially a very thin saw blade that is tensioned between two metal arms. The blade is held in place by an upper and a lower clamp. The upper clamp is usually mounted on a threaded rod or bolt system that allows for increasing or decreasing the tension. Practical experience will show the user how this works with a greater ease than it can be described here. Suffice it to say, if you can tighten a nut on a bolt, these mechanics should give you no trouble.

Every tool has one function that it was created for and at which it excels. As the name suggests, the scroll saw was originally conceived to saw forms that were flowing or scroll like. It is a tool that allows the user to make cuts wherein curves, waves, or interior forms are required.

To this end, it is the tool of choice for sawing out small ornaments or figures. If you want to build a whirligig or a make a plaque with letters or a cartoon figure on it, the scroll saw will handle the work well. It also is used to cut out intricate forms for such project pieces as ornate shelf brackets or heart shaped holes in the back piece.

If you have never used a scroll saw ,the basic technique is very simple. After you transfer the design to the wood all you have to do is follow the line. The saw itself will suggest a sewing machine to many. The movement of the blade is reciprocal [i.e. it moves up and down in equal strokes] and it cuts whatever is fed into the blade's teeth. It is important to keep your fingers out of the way of the blade and to keep the table, the part of the machine you rest the work on, clear of sawdust to facilitate a clear view of the line you are following.

Sometimes, an interior cut is called for. This is a cut where you want to make a shaped hole in the wood for decorative effect or to lift out a wood form while leaving the wood around it untouched. To do this, drill a small [1/16 inch] hole in the least obvious part of the pattern. Release the blade's tension, disconnect the blade from the top clamp of the saw, and feed it through the hole. Re-clamp the blade, re-establish tension and cut as you would any other cut. Complete removal of the wood from the saw will mean that you must disconnect the blade to remove the surrounding wood. The interior form will simply pop out on its own.

It is advisable that a dust mask be worn. All sorts of shapes are possible: the limit is your imagination.

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