How to Install Plain End Scroll Saw Blades

Scroll saws hold a unique place in the woodshop. Similar in appearance to a sewing machine, they fulfill a necessary niche in the cutting world. Learning to replace a plain end scroll saw blade may seem intimidating, but with my guide, you will return to cutting right away.

When to Install a New Plain End Scroll Saw Blade

The blades of scroll saws are some of the narrowest used in woodshops. These narrow blades can easily cut through thin wood, in tight spaces, around curves, and create clean joints. 

Importantly, scroll saws allow wood workers to cut entirely through pieces of wood at changing angles and pitches. Given the precision and saw-blade speed necessary for the best scroll saws to work well, the sharpest blades will yield the best results.

Difficulty Making Cuts

You will know it is time to replace your scroll saw blade when you are being forced to push wood through the saw. Even the hardest of woods shouldn’t challenge the scroll saw to make cuts.

Allowing the scroll saw to do the work of cutting your piece is important. Applying too much pressure to the blade will wear it out prematurely.

If you notice your cut edges are darkening in color, the blade is likely burning your wood as it is cutting. Burned wood is another sure sign of a dull blade.

Scroll Saw Blade Bouncing

If the scroll saw blade has too much flex and is bouncing when wood is introduced to the blade, it may be time for a new blade.

Contrarily, if you are finding it difficult to cut curves or slopes, this may also be an indication that it is time for a blade replacement.

Learn more about the best blades for your scroll saw.

How Plain End Scroll Saw Blades are Secured

Most older models of scroll saws use pinned blades. Pinned scroll saw blades tend to be thicker and pinned blades are usually more difficult to install. 

By investing in a scroll saw that accepts plain end scroll saw blades, you open yourself up to the ability to use thinner blades and to speed up the blade swapping process. Plain end scroll saw blades are also referred to as pinless scroll saw blades.

Prior to installing a plain end scroll saw blade, you need to understand the mechanisms that hold your plain end saw blade in place. While securing pinless scroll saw blades varies from saw to saw, there are two common methods: keyed chuck heads and factory clamps.

Keyed Chuck Heads

Keyed chuck heads are usually found on scroll saws that accept both pinned and pinless (or plain end) scroll saw blades. These scroll saws have chucks on the upper and lower end of the saw blade.

The upper and lower chucks have hex head screws which are tightened to hold saw blades in place. When the screws are tightened, the scroll saw blade is pinned into a small divot within the chuck. 

The upper and lower chucks usually install by hooking onto a latch in the base and another latch on the upper arm. If an older pinned blade scroll saw has been upgraded to accept pinless blades, it likely has upper and lower keyed chuck heads.

Factory Clamps

Scroll saws with factory clamps are likely made to be entirely pinless. These highly desirable scroll saws can use the thinnest scroll saw blade for the most precise cuts. 

A reason pinless blades are superior and able to be thinner are because pinned blades, where a small pin passes through the upper and lower ends of the blade, must be manufactured sufficiently thick to bear the force applied to push and pull the pins in the blade up and down.

Force on pinless blades is applied across the body of the pinless blade, not just at the pin-blade connection point.

Factory clamp scroll saws usually have a keyed chuck that detaches from the lower end of the scroll saw and then the blade can release from the chuck. Normally this bottom end of the blade is held in place with a hex head screw within the chuck.

The upper end of the blade is held in place through a small tension vice. This vice keeps the blade from slipping while the blade is moving and moves in conjunction with the lower keyed chuck.

How to Install Plain End Scroll Saw Blades

We will walk through the steps to replace plain end scroll saw blades on both keyed chuck heads and factory clamp models. Regardless of the method by which your scroll saw blades are held in place, safety first.

Protect your hand and eyes when replacing your plain end scroll saw blades by wearing leather gloves and eye protection.

Replacing Keyed Chuck Scroll Saw Blades

Tools:

• New saw blades
• Allen wrench

Tip: It can be helpful to match the brand of your scroll saw to the brand of your blade. Pinless scroll saw blades come in many lengths. Double-check that you purchase the correct blade.

Method:

1. Unplug saw and put on safety gear.
2. Release tension on the blade. This is usually done by turning a tensioner knob counterclockwise. 
3. Release upper and lower chucks.
4. Loosen the hex-head screw in each chuck by turning counterclockwise with an Allen wrench.
5. Carefully remove the old blade and set aside.
6. Inspect the new saw blade for defects and find the proper cutting orientation.
7. Place the bottom end of the plain end scroll saw blade into the bottom chuck, then firmly tighten the hex-head screw. Consult your user’s manual for proper torque specifications.
8. Put the top of the scroll saw blade into the upper chuck and firmly tighten the upper hex-head screw. Consult your user’s manual for proper torque specifications.
9. Relatch chucks onto upper and lower mounting brackets.
10. Retention the saw blade by turning the tensioner knob clockwise.
11. Plug in the scroll saw and perform a test cut. Adjust tension as necessary.

Tips: A gentle pluck of the scroll saw blade should give off a musical twang. The blade is too tight if cannot be plucked and too loose if it wobbles. Listen to the music.

Some older keyed chuck head scroll saws have a built-in jig on the top of the scroll saw frame. Use this jig to ensure your plain end scroll blades are correctly aligned within the chucks. These jigs can also make tightening the chucks easier.

Replacing Factory Clamp Scroll Saw Blades

Tools:

• New plain end scroll saw blades
• Allen wrench

Method:

1. Unplug the scroll saw.
2. Take tension off of the blade. Look for a tension bar near the end of the upper arm. 
3. Slide the blade out of the upper clamp.
4. Jiggle the saw to release the lower chuck from its latch on the lower mount.
5. Find and loosen the hex-headed screw in the lower chuck.
6. Remove the old blade from the lower chuck.
7. Install the lower end of the plain end scroll saw into the lower chuck making sure the teeth of the blade are facing the correct way.
8. Tighten the chuck to hold the lower saw blade in place.
9. Latch the lower chuck into place.
10. Slide the upper saw blade into place.
11. Push down on the upper arm of the scroll saw until the saw blade makes gentle contact with the top of the upper housing.
12. Apply tension to the blade by moving the tensioner bar.
13. Plug in the saw and perform a test cut.

Conclusion

Scroll saws have an invaluable place in the woodworker’s arsenal. It is able to make precise cuts in the tightest of spaces. However, blades wear out quickly. You should only expect 15-45 minutes of run time per blade. Familiarize yourself with changing blades on this machine because you will be doing it often.