Author Topic: What do you do when you zona saw won't cut butter? (Read 3460 times)

Paul Taylor · « **on:** September 21, 2011, 07:33:37 AM »

I have a fairly new zona saw and it does not cut well. How do you keep yours cutting?

Bob Johnson · « **Reply #1 on:** September 21, 2011, 07:54:34 AM »

And pray tell... what have you been cutting with it?

wwwarbird · « **Reply #2 on:** September 21, 2011, 08:03:08 AM »

I move it back and forth repeatedly.

Louis Rankin · « **Reply #3 on:** September 21, 2011, 08:19:55 AM »

Throw it away and buy a good razor saw. Follow directions on the package.

Paul Taylor · « **Reply #4 on:** September 21, 2011, 09:58:57 AM »

Quote from: Bob Johnson on September 21, 2011, 07:54:34 AM

And pray tell... what have you been cutting with it?

Balsa.

Zuriel Armstrong · « **Reply #5 on:** September 21, 2011, 10:15:57 AM »

Quote from: Paul Taylor on September 21, 2011, 07:33:37 AM

I have a fairly new zona saw and it does not cut well. How do you keep yours cutting?

Did you try a butter knife?

Larry Cunningham · « **Reply #6 on:** September 21, 2011, 11:37:45 AM »

At last I have found another person who likes to use a zona saw to cut butter. (I love the serated edge it produces..)

Thought I was the only one. I also cut the cheese with the zona saw. ;->

L.

"Fools admire, but men of sense approve." -Alexander Pope

Peter Nevai · « **Reply #7 on:** September 21, 2011, 02:27:00 PM »

Bill Ervin · « **Reply #8 on:** September 21, 2011, 03:30:20 PM »

Paul, did you use the serrated edge? The smooth edge is for cutting marshmallows. I once had a chainsaw that wouldn't cut very well.

FLOYD CARTER · « **Reply #9 on:** September 21, 2011, 03:54:46 PM »

Hint: If you leave the butter out overnight it should cut easier.

F.C.

Steve Helmick · « **Reply #10 on:** September 21, 2011, 05:01:07 PM »

Never ever cut even aluminum tubing with an Exacto or Zona saw. Rips the teeth right off. Also, don't cut thin aluminum or brass sheet with either saw. Rips the teeth right off. There's not much offset, and you may have noticed that the blades are very thin (and teeth very weak). Like Ty, I have one, and avoid using it as much as possible. I'm not really sure what they're useful for, except shop emergencies.

Steve

Brett Buck · « **Reply #11 on:** September 21, 2011, 05:31:01 PM »

Quote from: Steve Helmick on September 21, 2011, 05:01:07 PM

Never ever cut even aluminum tubing with an Exacto or Zona saw. Rips the teeth right off. Also, don't cut thin aluminum or brass sheet with either saw. Rips the teeth right off. There's not much offset, and you may have noticed that the blades are very thin (and teeth very weak). Like Ty, I have one, and avoid using it as much as possible. I'm not really sure what they're useful for, except shop emergencies. Steve

Huh? I use my Zona saw for everything, cut brass, graphite, etc, and just about everything you might need a fine saw for. Mine hasn't worn out or lost any teeth, it's one of my favorite cutting tools.

The Exacto is a little less good, and those do wear out.

Brett

Douglas Ames · « **Reply #12 on:** September 21, 2011, 06:16:08 PM »

Quote from: Bill Ervin on September 21, 2011, 03:30:20 PM

Paul, did you use the serrated edge? The smooth edge is for cutting marshmallows. I once had a chainsaw that wouldn't cut very well.

Want to ruin a Chainsaw? Cut Railroad ties with it...the sand and creosote will wipe out you fancy $harpening job and burn the cutting edges a nice blue color

My razor saw's being going strong for 15 years!

jim gilmore · « **Reply #13 on:** September 21, 2011, 06:52:26 PM »

The zona saw may be good for chopping foam. Or balona.

George · « **Reply #14 on:** September 21, 2011, 07:30:47 PM »

Unfortunately the teeth on my Zona saw are too large for modeling use, but the saw works fine for general shop use. My GUESS is that you may ran across a nail or similar and did not notice it.

I use X-Acto razor saws on balsa to non-ferrous metals with no problem. Lots of brass and aluminum without problem...that's with the fine teeth. I use the larger teeth only on wood.

George

Dave Adamisin · « **Reply #15 on:** September 21, 2011, 08:30:25 PM »

I use my Zona for anything that requires close set teeth like thin fiberglass lay-ups..

Michael Schmitt · « **Reply #16 on:** September 22, 2011, 04:07:05 AM »

Years ago my father had assigned my the tast of sharpining his carperter saws using a file. I suppose you could do the same with the zona saw. I usually just buy a new one.

Brett Buck · « **Reply #17 on:** September 22, 2011, 04:33:27 AM »

Quote from: Michael Schmitt on September 22, 2011, 04:07:05 AM

Years ago my father had assigned my the tast of sharpining his carperter saws using a file. I suppose you could do the same with the zona saw. I usually just buy a new one.

Maybe with a microscope. My favorite type has barely visible teeth, the finest tooth they make, so I can cut brass tubing and tuned pipes with at least two teeth on the thickness of the material. Maybe that's why mine has lasted for hundreds and hundreds of cuts over the last 20 years - I don't catch the material between the teeth.

Brett

Will Hinton · « **Reply #18 on:** September 22, 2011, 09:16:19 AM »

I'm rather disappointed, I came to this post to make a snide comment about cutting butter, but there's no way I can top those great remarks already here! Drat.
On a serious note, one thing to make sure of is to be sure you buy a true Zona brand when you get your saw. I cut ebony fretboards, rosewood fretboards, and maple fretboards with mine, no problem and no dulling. The thing I love is being able to buy different thicknesses of blades for my fretting use.

Paul Taylor · « **Reply #19 on:** September 22, 2011, 09:31:36 AM »

So I was just trying to cut a 1/2x3 block and it was a struggle at best. Looking down the blade I do see just a slight bend in the blade. That must be my problem.

Russ Danneman · « **Reply #20 on:** September 22, 2011, 12:23:29 PM »

Quote from: wwwarbird on September 21, 2011, 08:03:08 AM

I move it back and forth repeatedly.

John Stiles · « **Reply #21 on:** September 22, 2011, 03:23:22 PM »

Quote from: Paul Taylor on September 21, 2011, 07:33:37 AM

What do you do when you zona saw won't cut butter?

Use it to spread jelly.

Author Topic: What do you do when you zona saw won't cut butter? (Read 3460 times)

Dave Adamisin