Scroll saw blades

[Paul in Brampton]

Good morning,
Having just bought a new scroll saw I was wondering if anyone knows the difference between the Olsen and the Flying Dutchman blades
and which in your opinion is the better blade
Thanks
Paul

[B Smith]

Flying Dutchman

[Andy in Georgetown]

Happy Boxing Day Paul,
I have never used Flying Dutchmen, but I do use the Olsen blade and have had great results. I don't know if this is common with all blades but I find I do need to re-tension after the first few minutes of cutting but then they are fine. Also I read of people breaking blades often, as this has never happened to me I got to thinking I was not applying enough tension. Therefore I tend to keep cranking until the noise of the plucked blade almost cracks glass. I have the DeWALT saw (3 years) and really enjoy using it.
Hope this helps............Andy.

[Paul in Brampton]

Hi Andy,
Happy Boxing day.
and thanks for the info.
I had just ordered 2 samples from Mike Moorlach in the USA. sent him an e-mail, within 10 minutes I got an email back from him saying they were in the mail. That's what I call service. If his blades are as good as they say I will order a bunch. I think they are about $3.00 US a dozen
Do the Olsen blades come with the bottom two teeth upcut?. Glad you are happy with the Dewalt. Now I have to get rid of my Crapsman.
I have attached a link to his website
Regards
Paul

http://www.mikesworkshop.com/

[William Young]

Flying Dutchman for sure. Nothing else even comes close and now with his new lower prices,and no S/H charge, it's an even better deal. I use the FD-SR series exclusively for my type of work but he has many other choices. Check out his site at www.mikesworkshop.com (http://www.mikesworkshop.com) and then email him. Tell him the type of sawing and wood you are using and he will send you a few free ones to try. He's a great guy to deal with.
W.Y.

[Paul in Brampton]

Thanks William,
You are right about him being a great guy I have just spent about 10 minutes e-mailing back and forth with him. I like the prices of his blades, mind you I don't know how much other blades cost. I will check out Olsen blades as Andy says he has had good luck with them
Regards
Paul

[William Young]

Paul;
I would guess that Andy has never tried FD's yet because it's like comparing a BMW with a UGO.. I gave away about 6 or 8 dozen Olson blades to a young fellow just starting into scrolling after I got my first Flying Dutchman blades. Olson are just OK wheras FD's are SUPER blades. They cut faster and smoother and last a lot londer. They will leave almost a mirror edge on the wood. Use the 2" wide packing tape with them (or any other blade) and you will double the life of them again.I have no affilliatin with FD. I enjoy passing on good news.
W.Y

[Keith in Brantford]

W.Y. What do you mean when you say "use the two inch packing tape with them?????

[William Young]

After fastening your pattern to the wood, put a layer of 2" wide clear packaging tape on the pattern and rub it down tightly with a rag before drilling the entry holes for fretwork. The tape acts as a lubricant for the blade and makes it last twice as long and it wont burn the wood even when stack sawing hardwood.
Gotta go to town. Hope this helps. Catch ya later

W.Y.

[Keith in Brantford]

for the info and the view from your little piece of heaven on earth.

[Don Fisher]

I have to echo Bill's remarks about the FD blades. I switched to them about 3 years ago and use nothing else. As far as I am concerned it is like comparing an apple to an orange. I also have no affiliation other than a happy user.
Don

[Paul in Brampton]

Thanks to all for your help. I will try out the blades as soon as they arrive
Regards
Paul

[Lindy in Dryden]

Hi William...... About a week and a half ago when my wife decided she wanted to try scroll sawing, my cheap mastercraft scroll saw kicked the bucket AGAIN. Someone on this awesome forum shared that HD had a sale on the DeWalt ($450), so while in Winnipeg last week we picked one up. The difference between saws is like night and day.
Now after reading your comments on the Flying Dutchman blades I have e-mailed Mike for some sample blades.

Thanks

Lindy

[Robert]

For the Olson blades go to R&D Bandsaws in Brampton
Try the PGT or just the reverse skip tooth blades

[Mike in Nanaimo]

Merry Xmas & Happy Boxing Day!
Beleive me guys & gals. Listen to Bill and others. There is no comparison. Not even close. Look at the Praying angel clock and tell me you can do the complete clock with an Olsen #5. This clock was done just using Flying Dutchman FD-SR#5.

http://members.shaw.ca/islandchimes/graphics/PC050004.JPG

[William Young]

Nice work on the clock Mike;
Every time I order a gross of Flying Dutchman blades, about 80% of them are FD-SR # 5. The rest are a variety of other sizes. Mike will mix and match sizes to make a gross and a lot of other suppliers wont do that. If you want a gross, most of them make you buy a gross of only one size so they can sell you the other sizes you might want as a separate order at more expense to you and more money in their pocket.
W.Y.

[Paul in Brampton]

Wow Mike that is beautiful.
It will be a long time before I will ever acomplish something that nice. I can't even follow a tight curve yet, but I know, practice! practice! practice!
Waiting patiently for my FD blades
Regards
Paul

[Andy in Georgetown]

I thought Olsen only made the PGT blades, by the way people are raving I guess I'll have to try the FD next time I need them.
Andy.