Hello new to the forum and scroll sawing and hope some experts can help me with a new project I am starting.
I need to cut out pierced steel pointer hands for an old barometer that I am restoring. The metal ideally would be gauge plate (like silver steel but ground flat) and about 1.5mm thick. (It's a bit tougher than ordinary mild steel and can be heat treated too).
Will I be able to cut quite tight profiles (and pierced ones too) using a suitable scroll saw and metal cutting blades?
Would I be able to do them on a 'budget' scroll saw (say £150 ish) or would I need a more professional model and what would I need to look for bearing in mind I would have to thread the blade through for the pierced internal profiles.?
I have used a scroll saw before but only for profiling wood shapes which didn't demand any tight dimensions and profiles.
Will the metal sheet need sandwiching between some wood to keep it flat whilst cutting or will it be sufficiently rigid to cut directly?
Thank you and hope you can help me and look forward to your advice.
I need to cut out pierced steel pointer hands for an old barometer that I am restoring. The metal ideally would be gauge plate (like silver steel but ground flat) and about 1.5mm thick. (It's a bit tougher than ordinary mild steel and can be heat treated too).
Will I be able to cut quite tight profiles (and pierced ones too) using a suitable scroll saw and metal cutting blades?
Would I be able to do them on a 'budget' scroll saw (say £150 ish) or would I need a more professional model and what would I need to look for bearing in mind I would have to thread the blade through for the pierced internal profiles.?
I have used a scroll saw before but only for profiling wood shapes which didn't demand any tight dimensions and profiles.
Will the metal sheet need sandwiching between some wood to keep it flat whilst cutting or will it be sufficiently rigid to cut directly?
Thank you and hope you can help me and look forward to your advice.