Poor mans Scroll Saw

[The Iceman]

Take your Jigsaw and mount it upside down in your vice!


Anyone tried Harbor freights?

Ice

[Vitamin K]

There's actually a commercial product, the "Blade Runner", I believe, that is essentially an inverted jigsaw on a table mount.

That said, I own the Harbor Freight jigsaw (got it with a 20% off coupon, to boot!). I'm actually pretty happy with it. The little plastic piece in the base is my main annoyance, but otherwise it has worked great. I picked up some finer tooth blades than what came with it, and it does great with pine and balsa wood.

Take your Jigsaw and mount it upside down in your vice!


Anyone tried Harbor freights?

Ice

[whodathunkit]

Take your Jigsaw and mount it upside down in your vice! Ice

For Real Iceman!
The biggest problem using a jig saw in this way is that there is no large table around the blade..
or an arm running over the blade to sort of remind you there is a blade there.
So the inclination to reach over or remove small waste could cause you to come back with a nub.
That's what makes this poor mans scroll saw so dangerous & a finger eater!

You would be better off puting the block in the vise and useing the jig saw in the way it was intended
to be use to stay on the safe side of things and not come back with a nub.

[The Iceman]

Oh I know but for these once a year racers it would work.

[Vitamin K]

Oh I know but for these once a year racers it would work.

Yikes, any way we can talk you out of trying this? What kind of build do you have in mind? Maybe we can offer you some alternative suggestions for cutting your block.

[whodathunkit]

Yikes, any way we can talk you out of trying this? What kind of build do you have in mind? Maybe we can offer you some alternative suggestions for cutting your block.

With Vitamin K" on this..

So What!
If you don't have use ..
Or even own a scroll saw or band saw to cut out car designs with.. Iceman.

A Coping Saw.. is a true poor mans scroll saw.
And it is by far the best way to show off your craftsmanship & working skills by the use of hand tools.
For one you can truely say that the cuts are a product of your craftsmanship & handy work!

Sure power tools are nice.. for makeing short work of things.
But anyone that's useing hand tools or a coping saw ..
Well to me that's saying craftsmanship at it's best.

[The Iceman]

Well went and picked up that scroll saw from Harbor Freight. Wow thats better!!! I just did another body last night and when I got finished it weighed .29 (no paint)

Ice

[Scrollsawer]

I happen to have a scrollsaw, inverted table- mounted jigsaw, and a coping saw.

The inverted jigsaw is the Rockwell Bladerunner. Here's a pic. of my son cutting on it.



We use it as a poor man's bandsaw. It can do some rough scrollsaw cuts, but not the fine detail that a true scrollsaw can provide.

Regards,

Scrollsawer

[FatSebastian]

The inverted jigsaw is the Rockwell Bladerunner. Here's a pic.

Yes, that is inverted!

[Scrollsawer]

I need to start making the boys' 'Arrow of Light' plaques on it for next year! I do like it for rudimentary cuts.

Scrollsawer

[whodathunkit]

Ok so maybe a jigsaw mounted up side down
can make for a cool homemade poor mans scroll saw.

Just not the jigsaw mounted upside down in a vise all by itself.

Check out the scroll saw that is powerd by useing a jigsaw At http://www.ibuildit.ca" target="_blank
just click on reader projects .. then go to the spindle sander link by Roy Salvesen.
Then do some scrolling down to see the jigsaw powered scroll saw.

[DerbyAddicted]

While I haven't bought anything, Craigslist seems like a good place to find a reasonable scrollsaw or a drill press. Pawn shops also seem to be another option for the Derby guy on a budget.