Axminster RSS16E Hobby Series User Instruction page 15

3) Switch on the scroll saw by pressing the green
'ON' button, set the variable speed and carefully
guide the work piece into the blade, see fig 22.
Once you have completed your cut, switch off the
scroll saw by pressing the red 'OFF' button.
Fig 22
Scroll Saw Operating Characteristics
The scroll saw's unique ability is cutting intricate
curves which other saws cannot do. A scroll saw can
also be used for straight line cutting such as cross
cuts, ripping and bevels. The following is a list of
points to remember when using a scroll saw.
1) The saw does not cut wood by itself. You feed the
work piece into the blade, letting the blade cut the
wood as you move the piece ahead.
2) You must guide the wood into the blade SLOWLY,
because the teeth are very small, and cut ONLY on
the down stroke. If you push the wood into the blade
too rapidly, you can easily break the blade.
3) Although the capacity of the saw accepts wood up
to 2" thick, better results are obtained with wood no
more than 1" thick. For wood thicker than 1" , you must
guide the wood into the blade very slowly, taking
care not to bend or twist the blade.
Operating Instructions
4) The teeth on the blade will wear out sooner or later.
The blade must therefore be replaced often to obtain
the best cutting results. A blade will stay sharp for half
an hour to 2 hours of continuous running, depending
on the material being cut.
5) Be aware that the blade has a tendency to follow
the grain of the wood. You can compensate for this by
watching the grain carefully and guiding the wood
past the saw blade.
6) If you are not familiar with scroll saws, there will
naturally be a learning period - a period to learn the
saw itself, and a period to learn how the wood and saw
work together. Expect some blade breakages, scroll saw
blades are fairly fragile not the same types of blade you
find on a handsaw or circular saw.
Cutting Intricate Patterns
One capability a scroll saw has that other saws do not,
is cutting intricate patterns inside a work piece. To do
this, you should adopt the following procedure.
1. Drill a 1/4" hole in the middle of the work piece, in a
area which will not be a part of the finished object.
2. Switch off and unplug the machine from the supply.
3. Remove the blade from the machine. (See pages
16-17).
4. Place the work piece on the table, with the 1/4" hole
over the access hole in the table.
5. Replace the blade, through the hole in the work
piece, (with the teeth pointing downwards), and
re-tension the blade.
6. Plug the saw back in.
Check to ensure that the work piece is not touching
the blade before switching ON.
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