Operation – Ryobi SC165VS User Manual
Page 12
12
OPERATION
CHOICE OF BLADE AND SPEED
The scroll saw accepts a wide variety of blade widths and thicknesses for cutting wood and other fibrous materials. The
saw uses 5 in. long blades of either the pin end or the plain end style. The blade width and thickness and the number of
teeth per inch to use are determined by the type of material and the size of the radius being cut.
NOTE: As a general rule, always select narrow blades for intricate curve cutting and wide blades for straight and large
curve cutting.
Teeth/Inch
Width
Thickness
Speed or Strokes
Per Minute
Material Cut
10
.110 in.
.020 in.
1,200 - 1,600
Popular size for cutting hard and soft woods 3/16 in.
up to 2 in. Plastics, paper, felt, bone, etc.
15
.110 in.
.020 in.
600 - 1,200
Wood, plastics, extremely thin cuts on materials
3/32 in.to 1/2 in. thick.
18
.095 in.
.010 in.
400 - 600
For tight radius work in thin materials 3/32 in. to
1/8 in. Wood, veneer, bone, fiber, ivory, plastic, etc.
USING VARIABLE SPEED
See Figure 11, page 17.
By turning the variable speed knob, the saw’s speed may
be adjusted from a high speed of approximately 1,650
SPM (Strokes Per Minute) to a low speed of approximately
450 SPM.
To increase the strokes per minute, turn the variable speed
knob clockwise or to the right.
To decrease the strokes per minute, turn the variable
speed knob counterclockwise or to the left.
SCROLL CUTTING
For general type scroll cutting, follow the pattern lines by
pushing and turning the workpiece at the same time. Do not
try to turn the workpiece while engaged in the blade without
pushing it – the workpiece could bind or twist the blade.
INTERIOR SCROLL CUTTING
See Figure 12, page 18.
One feature of a scroll saw is that it can be used to make
scroll cuts on the interior of a workpiece without breaking
or cutting through the edge or perimeter of the board.
To make interior cuts in the workpiece, remove the scroll
saw blade as explained in the section on
Installing and
Removing Blades.
Drill a 1/4 in. hole in the workpiece.
Place the workpiece on the saw table with the drilled hole
over the access hole in the table.
Install blade through the hole in the workpiece; adjust the
drop foot and blade tension.
When finished making the interior scroll cuts, simply
remove the blade from the blade holders as described
in the section on
Installing and Removing Blades and
remove the workpiece from the saw table.
STACK CUTTING
See Figure 13, page 18.
After becoming well acquainted with the saw through practice
and experience, you may wish to try stack cutting. Stack
cutting may be used when several identical shapes need to
be cut. Several pieces of wood may be stacked on top and
secured to each other before cutting. The wood pieces may
be joined together by placing double sided tape between
each piece or by wrapping masking tape around the corners
or ends of the stacked wood. You must attach the stacked
pieces of wood to each other so they will move on the table
as a single piece of material.