If all you've got is a wobble saw, that's what you're going to use. They are certainly less popular now than they were in the previous century, they still are the most cost effective option for grooving on the spindle moulder, an Omas wobble saw that covers a range of 3mm - 15mm is £140, whilst a Whitehill adjustable groover 4mm - 15mm is £300.
As far as tooling goes the wobble saw is one of the safer pieces of equipment, they just frighten the uninitiated as they make a lot of noise and look scary whilst running, provided safe working practices are followed there's no extra level of danger beyond any other piece of cutting equipment that conforms to modern regulations. After all, if they were intrinsically unsafe they would've been excluded from professional use when PUWER 1998 came about, one of the very few pieces of tooling that can be over a hundred years old and still conform to modern standards.
Using wooden packers to make a regular blade wobble on the shaft, now that's scary and used to be pretty common when I started out.
A agree.
It shouldn't be scary at all. We were taught to fit a false fence and then advance the saw blade through it to the desired depth, and lock it off at that. So all you have is the solid fence(ply) with the blade sticking out slightly through it.
I wouldn't have it without a false fence, the gap between the in and out feed fences would be too wide and that in itself isnt supporting the workpiece properly.
And if you are laying on, then you should be using a back stop and if you havent got that fitted, someone hasnt trained you properly.
Compared to other bits of tooling you fit to a moulder, it looks really tame.
I also use false fences on the router table. I prefer the was the workpiece is supported across its entire section, and theres no chance if it catching or sticking on the leading edge of the outfeed fence as you push it through.
There is one flaw to the wobble saw I think we should at least discuss, although It's never happened and while its unlikely, its something I've noticed. Might be superfluous with a modern wobblesaw or just down to the type. I've only use really old stuff.
Some have a locking screw(bolt to be exact), and I noticed it can end up getting a bit worn, and while its never happened to me or i've heard of it, it's the last thing you want to suddenly loosen off while running. Now a false fence is going to partially limit it going from 3mm to 15mm(or whatever) in an instant should it fail I think people should check these things periodically if its that type and replace that part where necessary.
It's probably just the way my head works. I see something like that and it makes me take notice of it, but I just thought I'd mention it
The case was I noticed the tightening slot of our saw bolt was really worn, and you werent able to apply a great deal of pressure on it as the bit would jump out. I replaced it with a new bolt.
