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I have a Ryobi 16" scroll saw, somewhat like this, and started wondering, does anybody do any inlay with one of these Bad Boys.

    I know, of course, you could do wood, but what about shell, without any problems?

I've never used it, except to scare the cat!

Billy DeanBilly T38986.25

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

NO the problem is with shell, first finding blades to fit it. and second when cutting shell you want to cut only on the down stroke this would be impossible to control on a power scroll saw.

What happens when you cut shell on the upstroke especially with abalone is delamination or chipping of the edges because the teeth are designed to cut down and on the return stroke there is nothing but friction or a hammer action. I have seen some pedal powered scroll saws to cutting shell but you have the control to only cut on the down stroke with them.

Billy, I have used a scroll saw to successfully cut a couple of pieces of pearl. You have to glue the pearl to a backing material, I used a .125 piece of walnut, and you need a very fine scroll saw blade. The problem is you can't cut anything very small due to the nature of that jumping blade. Also, if you try to cut too fast you'll break the pearl. So, it can be done, it is just not the best way to do it.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

I have a really nice Dremel brand scroll saw collecting dust in my shop. It never gets used.

Al

I've thought about trying it, but haven't yet. I thought I might sandwich the pearl between two pieces of 1/32 or 1/16 plywood. You try it Billy and report back to us.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Yes Billy, i have one too so me and Ron are waiting for your expertise, no pressure though, just report tomorrow please!

[quote]and second when cutting shell you want to cut only on the down stroke [/quote]

That's easy! Turn the blade upside down!! Thanks Michael

[quote]You try it Billy and report back to us.[/quote]

You got it!

Thanks
Guinea Billy   


Billy T38986.9827662037

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Billy, I was going to try it using one of those spiral blades that lets you cut in any direction, so there wouldn't be much turning of the pearl. The way they are made, I don't think the upstroke would be as much of a problem as with a normal blade.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Ron/Billy, I didn't find the upstroke to be a problem. Just use very little pressure as you cut. Gluing it to a backer of some sort is recommended though.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Dave, have you cut pearl and/or abalam?

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

I haven't cut the abalam but I used mine to cut some abalone. The scoll saw I have is a delta with variable speed.

Some of the problems I had was the speed wasn't slow enough even at the lowest setting so you have to go slow and with very little pressure,as Dave said. Sometimes the blade will tend to grab the piece you are cutting and hammer it onto the table breaking it. Sometimes even with a backer glued to it.

Mostly now I use the SS to get the biggest areas and finish by hand sawing. Also I picked up one of those round abrasive tile cutting blades, (The kind that goes in the hand saw)and cut off the looped ends so it will fit into the SS. It works well on cutting stuff like Abalone.

I tried the spiral blades that Ron mentioned, but they didn't last 30 seconds for me on the abalone, but they are great on wood, bone and stuff like that.

[quote]I tried the spiral blades that Ron mentioned, but they didn't last 30 seconds for me on the abalone, but they are great on wood, bone and stuff like that[/quote]

   I read something about the way shell is laid up, layered calcium with a binder that makes it really tough stuff in some conditions.

    This Ryobi, really "rocks out", and it's hard to get it very slow. I was mostly curious.

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Ron, I've only cut MOP on the scroll saw. D.L. has it right about the speed, you have to really watch what you're doing or it will yank the piece from you fingers and start slamming it up an down on the table. Also, you can't do anything very small as it tends to be very hard to hold onto.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars