Cross-Crafting Scroll Saw Basics

Changing Your Scroll Saw Blade

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Cross-Crafting Seminar Free Patterns

Changing the saw blade on the Ryobi is a breeze compared to some of the scroll saws I have used over my career. So let’s take a few moments and walk through the steps. I assure you that it will take far longer to read these instructions then to actually change your blade!

Please read the instructions that came with your brand of scroll saw for specific steps to changing your own blade.

Note One – Saw blades become dull far sooner than you would expect! If you are cutting thicker woods, hardwoods, or plywood a blade may only last about one-half hour. For soft woods and thin woods your blade may remain sharp for up to an hour’s hard use. Always have extra blades on hand so that you can change out your blade and continue working.

Note Two – A dull blade makes itself known by dragging through the cuts. Instead of a smooth, steady flow you will be able to feel it hanging up on the wood grain.

Note Three – My Ryobi came with a saw blade installed. Before I changed out my first blade I took a few moments to test the tension sound of the factory installed blade. Just as I would pluck a guitar string, I plucked the saw blade several times, listening for the sound tone the blade made. The higher the pitch of the plucked blade the looser the tension, lower pitches come from tighter tension. By checking the sound pitch I was able to tighten my Tension Knob for the new blade to the same tension as the original blade.

Step 1 Unplug the scroll saw and remove the Child’s Safety Plug. Release the Tension Knob on the top back of the scroll saw. The Ryobi has a decal next to the knob that shows you the directions for releasing and resetting the knob tension.

Step 2 Release the Drop Foot knob and lift the Drop Foot into its highest position. Tighten the knob to hold the Drop Foot.

Step 3 Reach underneath the work table and lift the Throat Plate. Remove the Throat Plate to give yourself full access to the lower portion of the saw blade.

Step 4 Release the Bevel Scale knob and tilt your work table to the 45 degree position, re-secure the knob. This gives you full access to the lower portion of the blade.

Step 5 From the top of the work table, reach inside the Throat Plate hole. On the left side of the blade holder is the tension knob. Release the tension knob.