Scroll saw quick release issue

[paulrussell]

When a scroll saw blade breaks, which they often do, the tension is released on the upper quick release cam and itvis no longer locked down. In addition, due to the connection of the two arms by spring at the back end, the arm moves unrestrained up and down. As a result the cam swings up and repeatedly hits the clear plastic cover until I'm able to hit stop.
I have put cushioning between the upper arm and the arm cover to keep them from smacking together, but that darn cam sticks up too far.
The easiest solution is to leave the cover open or completely remove it. But I was hoping someone has a more elegant solution.

[jsburger]

Use a foot switch. Not the push on push off but, the spring loaded one where you have to hold it down with your foot. Almost an instant off. Blade pops remove your foot. That is what my wife uses with no problems.

[paulrussell]

Use a foot switch. Not the push on push off but, the spring loaded one where you have to hold it down with your foot. Almost an instant off. Blade pops remove your foot. That is what my wife uses with no problems.

It's on my shopping list. As far as the cam, for now I'm securing it with a rubber band. That holds it down when a blade breaks, and doesn't interfere with operation.

[edma194]

Use a foot switch.

Good idea. So I dug through the shelf of misfit tools to pull out an old polishing machine that came with an old foot pedal. I opened it up and after vacuuming out the remains of mouse habitation this is what I found inside.

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That's an ancient rheostat. Possibly from the early 14th century. When I stood it up to take a picture some insulation fell off the top. I'm going to try to cover that with some refractory cement. I think it's just a row of wire wound resistors in one big pack.

Look at the bottom of the pedal here to see how it works, there's a row of different length copper contacts that mate up with the ones on the rheostat at different points as the pedal is depressed. It has a 3 prong socket on it, but for some reason was wired with a 2 prong plug, that has to be changed. But it does work, at least for the short time I tried it out. The scroll saw already has variable speed so I don't really need that rheostat for that. I'm not really sure what that would be useful on, but just the on/off capability will be nice to have.

[paulrussell]

Got my HF "deadman" foot switch today.