Maybe the problem is between the Stool and the Saw

(old computer programmer joke about the problem could be between the Chair and the Keyboard)
Or
“Things that I have learned and do not want to forget “
For Beginners I recommend the book I started with by John A. Nelson
(We share the same name)

After that here are the things that I pass on from my experiences.

I cannot use round blades have tried several times  so these are based on flat blades

Category	Steps	Products	Comments
Before	Wax the Tabletop	Johnson Paste Wax in the yellow can	At least once a week, or any time you feel like the cutting is not going at your normal speed.
Before	Blade slipping out		Remove and clean the tip of the Thumb Screw. Make sure it spins freely. Drill 7/32 holes in a thin board (1/2″) and turn the thumb screw and the set screws into the holes just to the face of the board. Sand the front flat.
Before	square the blade to the table		Side to side making sure the blade is in the center of the holder, (Front to Back as I like accuracy over speed). For those with EX type saws with the knob in the back adjust the arm parallel to the tabletop. If you need to apply more tension do it every so slightly. Using the smallest blade you have cut the shape of a 3 leaf clover out of some 3/4 hardwood/ check that the piece slides out easily in both directions
Before	Blade Storage		I place a gross dozen into glass cigar cases. and as I open a dozen blades I put them into smaller tubes (from Seyco).. I have a magnet in front
Before	Top Feeding		Release the tension, release bottom thumb screw, only lift the saw a little over your last cut with one hand and move the next hole to the blade, lower the blade slowly and reach under the table with the other hand and push the blade into the clamp. tighten the thumb screw.. add tension to the saw.. cut and then repeat over and over.. just takes practice, Top Feeding Video
Cutting	General cutting 3/4 Hardwoods	Flying Dutchman Ultra Reverse or Pegas Modified Geometry	Both are great blades. The Pegas seems a little more aggressive, I have switched to it. I use #1, #3, and #5 blades.
Cutting	Portraits 1/8 Baltic birch 1/4 Oak Plywood	Flying Dutchman Penguin Silver Reverse #1	Stack cut two or three 1/8 otherwise it is very hard to cut.
Cutting	3D 1 1/2 wood	Flying Dutchman POLAR or Pegas Super Skip	You DO NOT want reverse teeth when cutting real thick wood.. You need to clear the sawdust. The #5 will give good detail if your doing compound cutting 3D. Use a 3D Scroll Saw Cutting Jig – Steve good Cutting jig Leave about 1/2″ of wood at the base uncut to hold things together. and leave some wood at the top as well. Drill a starter hole for each side, when finished cutting the sides then cut off the bottom.
Finish	Watco Natural Oil Finish		I dip the wood in a container letting it sit for about 5 minutes. remove and let rest on newspaper for another 15 minutes. then I dry with air and paper towels. Let dry for 2 days and repeat. I do 3 coats for trivets. (place the newspaper and towels in a plastic bag and cover with water)
Finish	50/50 Mix		I store the 50/50 mix in 1 gallon jars. dip and hang ornaments and 3d cuttings then sand and repeat
Finish	Deft Lacquer Spray		Model# DFT011/54 Be ware some are water based. I use this after the watco. spray let dry then sand with 320 grit. Respray a light coat.
Pattern	Blue Painters Tape		I cover everything that I am going to cut with blue Painters tape, I then spray the blue tape with spray adhesive, and spray the back of the pattern with a good coat as well. no patterns seem to come up even after leaving them glued up for a few months I do not like covering anything in clear tape. 1st because it’s hard to see when you remove it from the wood, 2nd because if you cover a pattern with it sawdust collects between the pattern and the tape and then the pattern comes loose.
Pattern	3M Super 77 Multipurpose Adhesive		I spray a light coat on the Blue painters tape or the shelf liners and another light coat on the back of the pattern
Pattern	Duck EasyLiner Adhesive Surfaces, 18 in x 24 ft, Clear		works as good or better than the painters tape. be sure to sand and then use a tack cloth before applying.. I buy the wide rolls and cut to size on a bandsaw.
Pattern	Placeing Pattern on wood