Fret (scroll) Saw

[Brian AbbottParticipant @brianabbott67793]

Hello all.

Can i use a fret saw for cutting thin gauge steel, 1.5mm maybe 2.0mm ?

Does anyone have any recomendations ?

Thanks everyone..

[Brian AbbottParticipant @brianabbott67793]

[Brian HParticipant @brianh50089]

What a good name Brian is!

Is this a hand held or a powered fretsaw? Either way you need blades with enough teeth per inch to keep at least 3 teeth in contact with the job

Don't see any problems though but don't push too hard.

Brian

[Brian AbbottParticipant @brianabbott67793]

Hello Brian..yes not enough of us about these days.

Powered ideally, so i need to find a fine blade ?

[Ian McVickersParticipant @ianmcvickers56553]

Hand held saw then yes but it's slow work. Never tried it on a scroll saw but you might need some type of loose hold down to stop it pushing the plate up off the table but still allowing you to move it.

[Brian AbbottParticipant @brianabbott67793]

Scroll saw, thats what i meant.

Edited By Brian Abbott on 29/09/2018 20:23:22

[the artfull-codgerParticipant @theartfull-codger]

If your using a scroll saw your best of getting good quality blades,not too fine for thicker metal it'll cut it easily but you really need a saw with speed controll for cutting steel as the fixed speed saws are usually too fast. Look for piercing saw blades.

[Brian GParticipant @briang]

Does your saw have blade clamps Brian? I'm not sure that the best blades are available pin-end.

Brian (yes another one)

[roy entwistleParticipant @royentwistle24699]

I have often use a piercing saw on 1/32 Gauge plate for clock hands. Finest blade you can get and lubricate

Roy

Edited By roy entwistle on 29/09/2018 22:02:02

[Cornish JackParticipant @cornishjack]

Wouldn't imagine there would be any problem. Many years back at the ME exhibitions, Hegner used to demo their saws cutting intricate pieces in 3/8 brass so 1-2mm steel ought to be fine. Quality blades are importantthough. I bought (on recommendation) some Windjammer blades from the U.S. Pricy but good.

rgds

Bill

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

I find a bit of candle wax best for lubricant. Sit down and take it slowly.

Ian S C

[lfoggyParticipant @lfoggy]

I have a Hegner scroll saw and regularly use it to cut complex shapes in steel up to a few mm thick. Make sure you use a few drops of lubricant on the blade. The blades do break quite frequently but they are very inexpensive.

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

Once you have blunted the small area of blade on contact with the work add a scrap of plywood packing with a suitable notch under the sheet to use a fresh part of the blade.

Personally I find it faster to do it by hand with a piercing saw frame and a notched sawing board clamped to the pillar drill table to bring everything to chest hight when working standing up.

regards Martin

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

I use a jig saw with a metal blade quite successfully. I place the sheet to be cut on top of some foam insulation and cut out the required shape (Foam and all). DO WEAR GOGGLES as the metal swarf is hot and has quite a range !!

[Brian AbbottParticipant @brianabbott67793]

Thanks for all the the reply's, been away from a computer for a few days so sorry for the delay in thanking you.

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