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$400 Question. What Scroll Saw Should I Get For My Money?

6.2K views 18 replies 17 participants last post by  TheFridge  
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Ok, I have $400 for a scroll saw. The big question is: Which on should I get?

I have been looking around online and I'm leaning toward the PORTER-CABLE 1.6-Amp Variable Speed Scroll Saw.

I do all kinds of scrolling and my main concern is that I want a pin-ended and a pin-less blade feature. I have a budget of $400 and I was wondering if I might have over looked any.

What do you guys recommend?
 
#3 ·
Why would you want to use pined blades?

Cheers,
Brad

- MrUnix
Sometimes when I do larger work, I use the pined blades that I have laying around. But for the most part, I use pin-less.
 
#8 · (Edited by Moderator)
You can always knock the pins out. For $400, I'd be checking CL for a nice upper end machine. Excalibur, hegner, hawks typically pop up in that range, or even an older Delta like the G3. Not sure if I'd want one of the newer consumer grade plastic machines being sold today - although that DeWalt does seem to have quite a following.

Cheers,
Brad
 
#11 ·
Stay away from Porta Cable saw. The Dewalt 788 or the new Delta and now they have a 16" excaliber in that price range. Also like others have said for a better production saw try craig's list and look for a Hegner or an RBI. you can find them used in that price range. Also forget the pin end blades. Sell them or as some said knock the pin out and use pinless. You will not be sorry.
 
#16 ·
I picked up a Dewalt, like new and nothing wrong with it for $75 on craigslist a couple of years ago. I blogged about it here at the time. I thought, "it's got to be hot right?" Not so. It's been great. Deals like that really don't come around much but you can find a decent one at a good price sometimes. Often they don't get much use and depreciation is a great thing for the used buyer.
 
#17 ·
I owned the Porter Cable years ago, thought it was great until I lost it in a divorce and my new wife bought me the Dewalt 788.
There is no comparison. I've had my Dewalt since 2002. Runs like the day I bought it. Great saw, plenty of power, stable as a rock.
 
#18 ·
I have three scroll saws and have used them every day for over 8 years now.

In choosing a scroll saw it depends on what kind of sawing you intend to do. If you will be doing a lot of fretwork, with a lot of stopping and starting of the saw, I suggest Excalibur or even DeWalt. If you are planning on cutting thicker woods, as in making toys, I suggest a Hegner. I killed a DeWalt in 20 months to learn this.