metal cutting blades

Matt@ · 5 Jun 2014

Can someone tell me the best place to get scroll saw blades that will cut 2mm brass? Also, when I contact whoever they are, what are the best blades to buy for this type of job? Prefrebly ones that actually cut well and dont keep snapping! I have a Hegner machine but know very very little about scroll sawing...

Also, any tips for cutting 2mm brass? does blade need to be cooled? I've got a basic machine so I dont think its variable speed...

many thanks

scrimper · 5 Jun 2014

I use the Niqua metal cutting blades from Hobbies. http://www.alwayshobbies.com/tools/hand ... saw-blades

I have cut brass with them but you have to be very careful as it is easy to break the blades cutting metal.

You can buy them other places too, just look for metal cutting fretsaw blades.

Scrollerman · 6 Jun 2014

Hi Matt,
I've used scroll saws to cut non-ferrous metals in the past for small one-offs.
Fortunately, brass is so much softer than the steel that scroll saw blades are made from.
This means that although you can buy metal cutting blades, you can also use most normal wood cutting blades for cutting non-ferrous metals such as 2mm brass.
In general, metal cutting blades have lots of teeth so if you use a wood blade, choose one with fairly fine teeth such as No.5 for cutting 2mm Brass.
Depending on the detail you need to cut, you could go down to a No.3.
If you are rough cutting you could go to a No.7 or even higher depending on the thickness of cut above 2mm.
I would steer clear of the reverse tooth variety of blades as metal does have a tendency to want to 'kick' if not held down well and those bottom reverse teeth don't help !
Go for a standard tooth fine blade and you won't go far wrong in my opinion.

ChrisR · 6 Jun 2014

Matt.

Have a look on the Hegner web site. I purchase all of my blades from them.
Their price is competitive if you bulk buy, at a gross of any size type.

Take care.

Chris R.