Adjusting The Speed; Selecting The Correct Speed; Scroll Saw Operation - GMC LS1620 Instruction Manual

Adjusting the speed

The speed can be adjusted to
suit the workpiece being cut. The
variable speed dial (1) is located at
the top of the saw for convenient
adjustment of the speed.
1. Turn the saw on by lifting the
on/off switch (1).
2. Turn the dial in a clockwise
direction for a faster speed
and in an anti-clockwise
direction to reduce the speed.
3. Determine the optimum speed
by making a trial cut in a scrap
piece of material.
Note. Using the correct speed for
the job increases the life of the saw blade.

Selecting the correct speed

The below table shows the most appropriate blade and
speed to be used for different materials and applications.

Scroll saw operation

1. Ensure that the table insert is in place and flush with
the table.
2. To start the saw lift up the on/off switch (1).
3. Adjust the speed to suit the workpiece being cut.
4. To begin the cut guide the wood into the moving saw
blade, the blade teeth cut only on the down stroke.
Blade Teeth
Width
per Inch
6 - 10 2.8mm
10 - 15 2.8mm
15 - 18 2.4mm
Strokes
Thickness Material and Application
per Minute
Hard and soft woods from 5mm to 50mm thick
0.5mm 1200–1600
plastics, paper, felt
Wood, plastics, extremely thin cuts in materials
0.5mm 600–1200
2.5mm to 13mm thick
Tight radius work in thin materials 2.5mm to 3mm thick.
0.3mm 400–600
Wood, veneer, fiber, plastic.
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5. The saw will not cut wood by itself, you allow the saw to
cut wood by guiding the wood into the blade as it moves.
6. The drop foot (8) should always be lowered until it just
rests on top of the workpiece to prevent your workpiece
from lifting during operation but not so much that the
workpiece drags. To lower or raise the drop foot loosen
the drop foot locking knob (9) and position the drop foot
so it rests on top of the work piece. Retighten the drop
foot locking knob.
7. Ensure that you feed the wood into the blade slowly
because the teeth of the blade are very small and
they can only remove wood when they are on the
down stroke.
8. The blade will flex backwards when applying feed
pressure. Too much feed pressure will cause blade
breakage.
9. Best results are achieved when cutting wood less than
25mm thick.
10. When cutting wood thicker than 25mm, the user must
feed the wood into the blade very slowly, increase blade
tension and take extra care not to bend or twist the
blade while cutting in order to maximise blade life.
11. Teeth on scroll saw blades wear quickly and as a result
must be replaced frequently for best cutting results.
Scroll saw blades generally stay sharp for 30 minutes
to 2 hours of cutting.
12. Once finished push the on/off switch down to turn off the
saw and unplug the tool from the power point to prevent
unauthorised use.