Precision scroll saw

Jewelry Discussion
1

I am looking for a precision scroll saw that can use fine jewelry
saw blades to do piercing cut-out work. Specifically, I would like to
cut out coins for use as pendants. I’ve done it by hand with a "C"
frame jewelers saw and I need a faster method. Neither Rio Grande nor
Stuller tool catalogs list anything. Any suggestions?

Thank you. /s/ Lyle Ang.

2

Hi, Most any woodworking saw will do piercing, I highly recommend the
Hawk precision scroll saw, it is one of the best on the market.

http://www.rbiwoodtools.com/scrollsaws.html

Also, Dremel make a small scroll saw but I have no first hand
knowledge of that unit.

The scroll saw can handle most any project, it’s all about using the
right blades.

Hope this helps,

Chuck
Charles Lyndon design
70" of snow so far this winter in Northern Maine…
and 10" more on the way tomorrow…WooHoo!

3

MicroMark (.com) carries a saw which uses jewelers blades. I don’t
use mine a lot, since I don’t do a lot of sawing, but when I have
it’s always been much easier than the hand saw used to be. Only
gripe is that it’s really hard to recover filings out of it.

Diane

4

Not wanting to belabor the point for those that are tired of this
subject, may I direct you to the post (last week) that went on at
length about this? Look at this:

Lee Marshall

5

Haven’t we just had a whole thread about scroll saws for cutting
metal? I seem to recall quite a few posts about it and the fact that
they are designed for cutting wood and as such the blade has too
short a travel? The New Concept scroll saw (designed for metal) was
the one recommended if I remember it right.

Helen
UK

6

Hi Gang,

I’ve successfully used the Proxxon model DS 115/E scroll saw with
jeweler’s saw blades for piercing. The nice thing about this saw is
that there is an adjustment in the head that will allow the use of
shorter (read broken or worn) blades.

The saw sells in the US for around $147.00.

Dave

7 
Most any woodworking saw will do piercing,

And a screwdriver can be used as a chisel, but it doesn’t work
nearly as well as chisel when used like one.

I highly recommend the Hawk precision scroll saw, it is one of the
best on the market. http://www.rbiwoodtools.com/scrollsaws.html

I think the Hawk is a fine saw and actually looked into buying one
just before the New Concept saw came out. I have used a Hawk to cut
brass sheet (the easiest metal to saw cut) and it works to a degree
but still suffers from the same list of problems as any scroll saw
designed to cut wood when used on metal suffers from. Lack of
stiffness and short stroke length. These two items make it just
about impossible to do fine work with a scroll saw designed for wood.
What is considered fine detail work in wood is large and coarse in
metal and with those long springy arms no scroll saw will ever do
precision work in metal. Also with a Hawk saw selling for nearly
$1000 you might as well buy the right saw for the job. Lee Marshals
New Concept saw does precision work in metal. I can cut lace work
designs that are as delicate (or maybe more delicate) as I can cut
with my jewelers saw with it and have much less hand fatigue and arm
strain after a couple of hours at the saw.

Check it out at http://www.knewconcepts.com

Jim

James Binnion
@James_Binnion
James Binnion Metal Arts

360-756-6550

8

hi dave,

I've successfully used the Proxxon model DS 115/E scroll saw with
jeweler's saw blades for piercing. The nice thing about this saw
is that there is an adjustment in the head that will allow the use
of shorter (read broken or worn) blades.

i was wondering about getting a proxxon. i’m doing a lot of pierced
celtic knotwork in both metal & 2mm thick woods (ebony, holly,etc).
the time consuming bit is diconnecting/re-connecting the blade each
time to thread it through the next pilot hole. how long does it take
to do that on a proxxon, relative to a hand saw, would you say?

ans any other makes of precision scroll saw?

chris

9

Hi Diane,

I don’t have a Precision Scroll Saw, but looked at the one on Micro
Mark’s web page. I have lots of tools from them and have been happy
with them all, but there is not much info on the scroll saw.

A question came to mind.

How long does a blade last? It seems that if it uses a jewelers
blade, it would only be using a small quarter inch of the whole
blade. At that rate, how much can you cut. I may be pretty cheap…
but I use the full length of the blade while I’m cutting and they
still wear out faster than I like to replace then.

How easy is it to change the blade?

I can change the blade on my hand saws in 30 seconds or less. How
long doesit take on the saw by Micro Mark?

Can you go into detail of what is meant by " it’s really hard to
recover filings out of it"? Did you purchase the dust blower and how
well does it work for metal filings?

Thanks

Love and God Bless
randy
http://www.rocksmyth.com

10 
How easy is it to change the blade?

On the Knew Concepts saw, it is as quick as changing one on your hand
saw. Everything is right there for you. Tensioning is even faster.
look at the video at:

http://208.96.4.228/15970-35205/knewconceptsaw.wmv

Lee Marshall

11

Hi Chris,

i was wondering about getting a proxxon. i'm doing a lot of
pierced celtic knotwork in both metal & 2mm thick woods (ebony,
holly,etc). the time consuming bit is diconnecting/re-connecting
the blade each time to thread it through the next pilot hole. how
long does it take to do that on a proxxon, relative to a hand saw,
would you say?

I’ve never really time it, but I’d hazard a guess that it might take
50% longer until you get the hang of it. The blade can be tensioned
simply by pressing down on the spring loaded top mount.

Dave

12

Micromark’s miniature scroll saw would probably be great if you were
a (plastic) model builder, doll house builder, or just cutting balsa
wood. IMHO, there are too many issues to use it on silver/gold.
Broken blades (short) will not fit. There is no “clutch” to deal with
a stuck blade; either your piece of silver will flail up and down
till you get the thing turned off or the blade will break.

I tried cutting silver with it; Let’s just say that i was lucky
enough to sell it and get my money back.