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General Category => Tutorials, Techniques and Tips => Topic started by: ShadowB6 on April 18, 2011, 12:21:00 am

Title: Puzzle Blades
Post by: ShadowB6 on April 18, 2011, 12:21:00 am
Today I tried for the 1st time to make some 4x6 puzzles. Using the Flying Dutchman Superior Puzzle Blades, I started. It was like these blades had a mind of their own. I found I had very little control of path that they cut and I couldn't stay on the pattern lines. I adjusted the tension several times and did the same for the speed. Tried 2 seperate blades. I was cutting 1/4" baltic birch and had a stack of 4. After cutting 3 puzzle pieces I switched to a #1 scroll reverse blade and had no trouble. Anyone have any ideas what I'm doing wrong? When feeding the wood with the puzzle blade, I was travelling almost in a 45 degree angle (pushing right to left), which makes cutting almost impossible.

Mike
Title: Re: Puzzle Blades
Post by: mrsn on April 18, 2011, 01:01:35 am
I am not sure, but the stack may have been too thick. Puzzle blades are pretty thin, and as a general rule thinner blades work better on a thinner stack. You might try cutting a single piece of 1/4 ply and see if it helps at all.
MrsN
Title: Re: Puzzle Blades
Post by: jimbo on April 18, 2011, 03:04:39 am
I have found that problem with the puzzle blade as well even on thinner lumber
Jimbo
Title: Re: Puzzle Blades
Post by: julief on April 18, 2011, 07:56:54 am
It's not you.  I had the same problem with the superior puzzle blade.  Solved it the same way you did.  Changed to a #1 Reverse.
Title: Re: Puzzle Blades
Post by: cskipper on May 12, 2011, 04:02:14 pm
I finally got the hang of the puzzle blades and 1/4" plywood.  The trick is getting the tension right (not as tight as most blades) and really slow speed.  I found that using reverse-tooth blades and 1/4" plywood tended to kind of lift the edges of the puzzle "picture".