foot powered Scroll saw #6: Spring my foot

I bought a package of four springs at Home Depot. You can put a spring at the back or at the front. I tried the different sizes in different places and picked the 4” one near the front.

I put it on by gluing short pieces of dowels, one to the base and the other to the bottom arm, and slipping it on.

The next thing to do is drill a hole in the end of the bottom arm. I failed to mention that the hole for the blade holder is 1” in from the front end of both arms. Also, I cut about 3/4” off the end of the top arm for visibility reasons. Anyway, the hole for the rope is 1/2” in on the bottom arm.

You can see another hole on the bottom arm. I tried putting the rope there but it didn’t work. So ignore that hole. The rope ties with the smallest knot possible the goes through the center of a small board.

Then weave it through as shown down to another board. Mine is long because I stand up to use it. You could make it shorter and sit. I believe it is what you get use to. I found that I don’t need it very high off of the ground, that it is comfortable at a lowest height. You don’t have to pick up your feet so much. You can use either foot and changing the rope length is no problem. I put sand paper on the bottom rung so my foot doesn’t slip.

The last thing to do is cut the cutout it the table top. This is so you can see what you are doing when changing blades, find small parts that drop through, and change the hole the blade cuts up. I did mine with 1/2 ply. I think it would be better to use 1/4 ply instead. Mine only has a 1/4 lip left on the table which isn’t very strong. Anyway just make you insert, trace it on the table and very carefully rout it out.

Your done! Any questions I will be happy to answer.