I sometimes have trouble getting a good grip on the T style blade clamps on the Excalibur scroll saw. This is especially true of the lower clamp. It can be a pain to adjust your fingers to get a thumb and finger in the correct position. Seyco sells a set of plastic knurled knobs that look good but they are $30 plus shipping. These are probably better than what I have made but this cost me next to nothing.Making your own will cause them to be slightly bigger and reduce the distance between the bottom of the knob and the top of your project. If you regularly cut extremely thick material then you will want to continue to use the T clamp.
The DIY knobs are just a friction fit so they can be removed when needed. You could also just leave the knob off until you wish to loosen the blade. Just use the knob as a tool to assist blade removal. I prefer to leave them in place but that is just my preference.
I used 1/2" thick Baltic Birch plywood for strength. I tried hard maple but they broke while I was pressing the plastic clamp into the knob. Trust me the ply works much better.The downloadable pattern includes complete instructions to get a good fit.
As always anytime you modify a tool you run the risk of voiding your warranty. These knobs could allow you to apply extra pressure and possibly strip out the clamp head or break it. Use this knob at your own risk. Don't use it to try and tighten the clamp tighter than normal. If you are having trouble with blades slipping it's not because they need to be tighter. Something else is wrong.
