Learning how to how to make scroll saw cuts is not as difficult as it may seem. You don’t need expensive tools and supplies and you don’t have to be a woodworker to use the scroll saw to its full potential. Most woodworkers can learn to use this basic, power tool easily. All that is required is the basics, such as sharpening the blade, cleaning it, and maintaining it. After that, it is just a matter of learning the proper techniques for the scroll saw and following the directions carefully.
To learn how to how to make scroll saw cuts, you will need to get a good piece of graphite or other hard, flat material. That will serve as your guide when you are cutting. Draw a line or two along the cut you want to make and hold the piece of wood next to the guide with the scroll saw. Take the scroll saw slowly across the line until it almost touches the line you first drew. This is your first cut.
The next step in how to make a scroll saw cuts is to hold the material to be cut out and hold the scroll saw steady against the piece of wood. It should be directly opposite the blade, but not touching. The idea is to have a point of contact between the saw blade and the material. As the saw cuts the paper, the material will become automatically pulled into the saw’s path.
Continue the process until the paper is completely covered. Then, using the scroll saw’s blade, cut another thin vertical line about one inch from the original border. Stop when the paper is completely gone. Your first cut should show you the starting position of the blade and where the blade will stop. Practice these steps enough times to get comfortable with the movements of the scroll saw and the precise placement of its cutting blade.
The third step in how to make a scroll saw cuts is to lay the horizontal bar and guide lines on the inside edges of the border. It is important that the straight edge of the scroll saw runs parallel to the inside of the guide lines. After the paper has been removed, you will see the two strips of wood. You must enter these strips along the vertical line you just created.
Use the scroll saw’s cutting blade to gradually cut the two strips of wood until they are lined up correctly. When this is done, you can finally mark the top of your new piece of scroll saw paper. This way, you will know where your cut will end and how far it should extend above the surface of the paper. If you want to make a straight cut, the distance from the starting position to the end of your cut should be exactly one quarter of an inch.
If your scroll saw manual instructs that you should “drill” the wood before you start cutting, then you will need to know how to make a scroll saw cuts without using the blade. First, place the paper on the saw table with the two strips of wood lined up. Next, slowly and gently tap on the edge of the paper with the end of the saw to create a creaking sound. Next, press the paper firmly against the table until it snaps. Then you will know you have drilled.
Finally, how to make a scroll saw cuts while standing on a stool involves getting down on your knees. Place a piece of chalk or a towel under your legs so that you don’t accidentally fall. Start by lining up the two strips of wood exactly as described above. Tap the edge of the paper gently with the end of the saw blade until it makes a creak or a crack. Once you get the hang of it, you will find this a very intuitive way to cut paper without the use of the blade.