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pedrobedro
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We have one that my wife used to make doll-house furniture and miniatures and I would not use it to cut metal under any circumstances.
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With the relevant blades a decent one (Hegner or similar) with variable speed will....infact some are rated for metal, not sure on the capacities for steel though-pretty thin, and i'd imagine it a bit frustrating. Not sure about the budget end of the market though...
Any other options?
Any other options?
Jan
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Nice. I've seen one seriously cheap in a local Cash Converters. I don't need to shape much in the way of metal thickness. 2mm should be more than enough. Just need to find a few metal cutting blades that will fit. Can't recall the make or model.
MattF
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Hobbies should have a good selection of blades. They've been selling scrollsaws for donkeys.
http://www.alwayshobbies.com/tools/hand-tools/saws/fretsaw-blades-$4-accessories
The type of blade in most is the straight type, (I think they're 5"long), without pin. The likes of Medding's used the pin type blades which you use in coping saws.
http://www.alwayshobbies.com/tools/hand-tools/saws/fretsaw-blades-$4-accessories
The type of blade in most is the straight type, (I think they're 5"long), without pin. The likes of Medding's used the pin type blades which you use in coping saws.
DanielW
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MattF
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Just out of curiosity, why? Personally, I've never found any problem cutting any material with correct blades. It's no different to using something like a jigsaw with a metal blade, and how many times are jigsaws recommended on here for cutting quirky shapes in plate steel, or for cutting purged gas canisters for wood burners etc.? Whether it be a hand powered tool or a powered tool, it's only the blade type and method which matter, within reason. Obviously, trying to cut through 10mm thick plate is going to be taxing on anything but the manliest of arms or motors,
but thinnish stuff is easily done if you aren't going at it like a loon.The only thing I would suggest making absolutely sure of before purchasing any scrollsaw is blade alignment. A blade which points off to slightly one side and can't be aligned is the mother of frustration. Even when you know you have to slant the work slightly, it just goes against the grain and is an absolute pain to work around. Things like speed etc. though are all readily sortable, if something outside of the normal range is required for the machines primary usage. Slow and steady usually get the job done perfectly well no matter what though, (this is coming from someone who still reverts to hand powered tools mainly, even when I have powered versions available,
, so it's a point noted from experience).Now if we were discussing items intended for use in something like the space or aerospace industry, then obviously, every little bit of precision and perfection is essential, but for most scenarios any of us are likely to personally see, extremely good work can be done with the most basic of tools. I think with scroll/fret saws specifically, it's merely that we've been brought up and taught that they're generally used for wood which tends to be the main reason why we don't class them more seriously for metal work. For intricate work though, they're pretty much the only viable option unless you use a coping saw else go down the route of something like a plasma cutter, though personally I'd still plump for the coping saw or scrollsaw over something like a plasma. Plus, things like plasma's weren't even available to our predecessors, so how did they get the job done? Old school and simple still very much has its place for those of us who aren't into modern gizmo's, CNC etc.
Kent
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Anything can be done with almost anything. A guy dug out of Alcatraz with a spoon, a kango hammer would have been quicker but the spoon suited his purpose and it was all he had and time wasn't a big issue to him after all.
There is very little than you can do with a jigsaw or scroll saw in a fab shop that cant be done with a better and quicker / easier with another tool IMO but at times I have used such ways. On 3mm thick ali one could be quite handy but between that and laser cut?
There is very little than you can do with a jigsaw or scroll saw in a fab shop that cant be done with a better and quicker / easier with another tool IMO but at times I have used such ways. On 3mm thick ali one could be quite handy but between that and laser cut?
Jan
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Well ... I went and got it. £25 (one recently sold on eBay for over £60)! I beat another customer to it by under minute ... phew. It's a Nu Tool SS16 405mm jobby in solid steel. Only a 94 watt motor, but it's what it will do rather than how fast it can do it that matters to me. So far the blade appears to run truly vertical as well as being aligned with no detectable play top or bottom. Just need to get a few 130mm pinned blades in various types/tpi and it's all systems go.
Swung by Screwfix on the way back and picked up a 710 watt single speed (variable and reversible) drill with keyless chuck and a handful of drill bits for just £19.99. I can't speak for other branches, but it was the last one in Rotherham.
Swung by Screwfix on the way back and picked up a 710 watt single speed (variable and reversible) drill with keyless chuck and a handful of drill bits for just £19.99. I can't speak for other branches, but it was the last one in Rotherham.
MattF
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Not disagreeing. Just trying to point out that it's not unrealistic to use items for other than the generally accepted purpose is all.
The limitation of any tool, within its comfort range, is generally user and not tool based.
MattF
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DanielW
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This is true,I mean I have put a file in my reciprocating saw before today to file some aluminium plate side.
MattF
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This is true,I mean I have put a file in my reciprocating saw before today to file some aluminium plate side.
Using a tool for its designed purpose is one thing, but using a file when you have no control over pressure on the backstroke is just plain wrong. That's a quick way to knack a file.
DanielW
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well it was either knacker the file or knacker meself,me lungs can't take much exertion.
Kent
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Not disagreeing. Just trying to point out that it's not unrealistic to use items for other than the generally accepted purpose is all.
Try telling that to a guy with only a spoon and a concrete wall
I have an ancient old Hobbies bench fretwork Machine cuts stainless steel sheet into inlay shapes on a regular basis, I have a big selection of blades, never had a problem, it was maybe meant to be powered by an electric drill but a small Brook motor is silent and provides surplus power. Mounted on rubber bungs. Mind the blades are so old they could be Moore and Wright, for their piercing saw range.
