Make certain to first read and review the owner’s manual and observe all of the safety precautions relative to the use of the scroll saw.
The saw is placed on a stand or bench. A heavy welded stand is best as it helps to absorb any vibration. Your saw and stand should be placed on a solid surface. The saw might tend to be noisy and vibrate on a wooden floor. If you prefer to sit while you cut, choose a comfortable stool at an appropriate height.
To install your blade, make sure the teeth face you and point downward. A blade installed backwards won’t cut wood and an upside down blade will pick the wood up off the table bed and slap it back down again. You will notice sawdust on the top surface of your work piece, instead of the bottom, if the blade is upside down. With very fine teeth, it is hard to see the direction of the teeth – simply run your index finger lightly up and down along the front of the blade (with the motor OFF), to make sure the teeth are pointing down. For proper blade tension, insert the blade and turn the tension knob three-quarters of a turn past the point of resistance. A blade that is too loose will not cut a straight pattern line, and a blade that is too tight will break.
For most projects it is necessary to make cuts with the saw table set square to the blade. Use a small square or protractor to make and check this adjustment. The factory calibrations of the blade-tilt scales of most scroll saws are difficult to read and the majority of them are not accurate. Make sure you do this check regularly, especially if you occasionally cut on an angle.
Most saws have a dust blower that blows the dust towards the scroller. A fan can be placed on the left side of the saw to blow the dust to the right and away from you. It is preferable to connect a dust extractor or vacuum to the extraction port. Remove the blower tube from the back of the bellows and insert it in the extraction port hole. Although a dust extractor can be noisy, it is an excellent way to keep the dust down.