StevieB
Established Member
I have been cutting wooden jigsaw puzzles on the scrollsaw, mainly in 6mm birch ply without a problem using flying dutchman puzzle blades. When I switch to 25mm hardwood to make free standing 3D puzzles as recommended in a book I recently got I run into a problem.
The blade does not seem to be making vertical cuts, rather the bottom of the cut seems to 'lag behind' the top of the cut such that when i turn a curve or sharp corner it makes the pieces only fit together from one side ie I can put piece A into piece B, but not piece B into piece A. Sorry if thats not a very good explanation.
I can think of a couple of reasons for this. 1) I am pushing too hard and not letting the blade cut. 2) the table is not square to the blade, 3) the blade is not square to the timber. I have slowed down and checked 2 and 3 to no avail. Does anyone have any other ideas or tips?
I am the first to admit its a cheap saw (Rexxon from B&Q). I assume I am getting the same problem with 6mm birch ply but 6mm is not enough to make the pieces mis-fit. The only other thought I had was that the puzzle blades were too fine for use in 25mm thick timber and I should switch to a #5 or possibly #7. Problem with this is as its a free standing 3D jigsaw I need the pieces to fit fairly tightly - widening the kerf of the cut is going to affect this.
On the plus side, the FD blades really are as good as other users have suggested, leaving a silky smooth edge to birch ply that needs no sanding.
Steve.
The blade does not seem to be making vertical cuts, rather the bottom of the cut seems to 'lag behind' the top of the cut such that when i turn a curve or sharp corner it makes the pieces only fit together from one side ie I can put piece A into piece B, but not piece B into piece A. Sorry if thats not a very good explanation.
I can think of a couple of reasons for this. 1) I am pushing too hard and not letting the blade cut. 2) the table is not square to the blade, 3) the blade is not square to the timber. I have slowed down and checked 2 and 3 to no avail. Does anyone have any other ideas or tips?
I am the first to admit its a cheap saw (Rexxon from B&Q). I assume I am getting the same problem with 6mm birch ply but 6mm is not enough to make the pieces mis-fit. The only other thought I had was that the puzzle blades were too fine for use in 25mm thick timber and I should switch to a #5 or possibly #7. Problem with this is as its a free standing 3D jigsaw I need the pieces to fit fairly tightly - widening the kerf of the cut is going to affect this.
On the plus side, the FD blades really are as good as other users have suggested, leaving a silky smooth edge to birch ply that needs no sanding.
Steve.