My wife was talking about wanting to try doing some projects with a scroll saw. She is much more skilled and "crafty" than I am. Her patience and fine motor skills far and away exceed mine and I think she might enjoy making things and be good at it, but I am biased.
I have been looking on Craigslist and have seen everything from Skil/Ryobi level stuff at around $100-200 up to Dewalt and RBI machines. I do not know anything about scroll saws but what I have seen cheaper ones vibrate more and make getting smooth cuts but I don't really know.
I see that I can spend about $150 on a cheap unit, around $350 for a Dewalt DW788, or $700 for the RBI. Most of the reviews I have read on different saws mention things like excessive vibrations, foot problems, blade change ease on the less expensive ones.
Is this a case where buying more than you need is overkill or better to spend once cry once?
I would avoid the cheapest ones. The Dewalt is a solid performer as is the RBI. If you want a decent starter saw, Lowe's sells a Porter Cable for 250 and if you want a bit better new saw, a Delta for 380 that is very similar to the Dewalt. The drawback of the cheap saws is the vibration. If you get one of those your wife will most likely have a poor experience. If you look for used saw, stick with Dewalt unless you find a good deal on RBI, Hegner or Excalibur. And avoid Craftsman.
The cheap ones can be helped a bit by bolting them to a table top or something solid, but they are what they are. For the next level up, the Dewalt is probably the best loved. The porter cable is reported to be basically the same saw as the Dewalt as mentioned above, and the Delta 40-694 is reported to be in the same class. Then you get to the top end machines, which are the RBI, Excallibur and Hegner, with the Hegner being the most expensive of the bunch.
I would try to find a used machine rather than buy new - just because you aren't sure if your wife will even enjoy and continue scroll sawing. Generally, if she decides that it's not for her, you can re-sell the machine for basically what you paid for it.
Thanks for the info. @MrUnix those were three that I was looking at. Sounds like the $300- $700 range is where I am at. Nice to know the Porter Cable and Delta are less expensive options
Thanks for the info. @MrUnix those were three that I was looking at. Sounds like the $300- $700 range is where I am at. Nice to know the Porter Cable and Delta are less expensive options
- deeve
Keep in mind that those are only the ones out there right now, but many more will come and go if you are patient, and many will be much better prices. If you are willing to drive a little bit, expanding your search area will yield even more. I stumbled upon my first scroll saw at a yard sale just by accident - I was driving along and saw it sitting in the driveway. It was a top of the line Delta, and I wound up walking away with it and some other stuff for $35. I've seen ones like mine (40-601) selling on CL in the $100-$250 range. The older C-arm Deltas are nice saws, and the Q3 is an excellent machine but rarely shows up used. I just missed a 26" Hawk complete with the custom RBI bar stool and a ton of extras for $200 last year. Same with a new in the box Excalibur for $250. I kept an eye out for years for a reasonably priced Hegner, and scored a like new one a few months ago finally for what I consider a great deal (even trade for a lunchbox planer I had).
They are out there, and there are some fantastic deals to be had - but you have to be patient and ready to pounce when they show up. Like with those two deals above that I missed out on - they typically don't even last for a day, and that Excalibur sold within 30 minutes of being listed to some lucky slob!
Years ago I posted about an insane scroll saw find I came across. It might inspire you to look around like I did. Because of this (and a $25 Dewalt, new, biscuit joiner) I frequent craigslist quite a bit.
I scroll saw almost 40 hours a week in my shop. I agree with the advice given. I have two Hegners and one Hawk I prefer the Hegners. The only advantage to any Hegner is that they are very durable. The one I use the most was made in 1986 and the other in 2008. Going strong. DeWalt is a good saw for light work (Fretwork) but I make toys and do inlay cutting 3/4" wood. Killed a DeWalt doing that.
dewalts are good saws but the QC isnt the greatest. quite a few complaints of varying things breaking not too long after purchase. i bouth a type 2 that the motor windings shorted out. ive read of problems with warped tables with them,too.
ive read a lot of good about the PC.
i personally have an excalibur that i live BUT it was purchased before production moved to china. from what i read the made in china quiality is not that good.
seyco is another top quality saw but pricey.
if you find a made in taiwan excalibur on CL for a decent price, it could be worth a look.
on CL scrollsaws- if you find one to look at, take some wood and blades and go for a test drive.
something i think is wise is to have a heavy stand to bolt the saw to. if the saw doesnt have rubber feet, put some rubber vibration dampeners between the saw and stand.
+1 on the Dewalt's, they show up regularly on CL and FB Marketplace. Do not buy a cheap saw that uses pinned blades.
Check out Steve Goode, he has a ton of videos out there and does good reveiws http://scrollsawworkshop.blogspot.com/
I have the DeWalt, and my Wife loves it. Of the cheap ones I had before the DeWalt, the Ryobi was the best one. Not sure if it's the same saw today though.
The base on the one I had was blue. Otherwise looks very similar. It wasn't junk. I had an older Delta that was junk.
I am talking to a guy selling an Excaliber EX-16 for $300. I am going to see if I can get him down to maybe $250. That seems like a decent saw for the price? Anything to look out for if I go look at it?
I am talking to a guy selling an Excaliber EX-16 for $300. I am going to see if I can get him down to maybe $250. That seems like a decent saw for the price? Anything to look out for if I go look at it?
i have an ex16. it has hundreds upon hundreds of hours on it. only problem ive had was replacing the blade clamps but those are wear parts-theres a lot of turing the blade clamps.
look on the sticker by the motor. if it says "made in taiwan" it could be a good deal. if it says,"made in china" i personally wouldnt touch it. quality of excaliburs dropped when they moved production to china
That Excalibur is a good buy at 300$ if it's in good shape. And 250$ even better. I have an EX30 that I bought a few years ago for 500 and I really enjoy it
I have a ShopFox and it is an okay saw if you are on a budget and want something to get started or need a saw for occasional use. If you think it will be used a lot and she will really be in to scroll sawing I'd spend more. If you go with this one or most of the other cheaper saws I'd upgrade the blade holding to the retrofit system from https://www.pozsgaidesigns.com
I have some fun with mine and it is useful for my limited use, but if it saw daily use I'd look into what spending more would get me.
If it helps, my first was a Delta. I gave it away.
Later, I saw and ad for a single speed Hegner for $200.00, a couple hours away, round trip. I used it, off and on, for over ten years, then sold it for $400.00.
I bought an RBI for the variable speed for $200.00. I used it until a variable speed Hegner came up for $300.00.
I sold my buddy the RBI for $250. That covered initial cost and the light I added. He loves it.
I love the Hegner. My buddy ran it and loves it more, but is still very happy with his $250.00 investment.
I can sell the Hegner for $400.00, if I'm willing to wait.
These things said, any good working, used Hegner, RBI, Excalibur or equivalent would be a good find.
As has been brought out in other discussions, some of the Hegners can be upgraded and you can always get replacement parts for them.
I found an old Craftsman 20" commercial model with the Craftsman stand. I don't know what it weighs but I had to put it on wheels. The entire structure and arms are cast iron and it runs very smoothly. Variable speed is built in and it takes pinned or pinless blades. No comparison to the new Craftsman scroll saws.
1) How vibration free it is (some of that can be addressed in the shop, but it's preferred that the manufacturer took care of it).
2) How quick and easy blade changes are to do.
3) Parts availability, including extra holders, IF you felt you need them. Hegner holders are not cheap, but you only need the bottom one, if at all, and then only if you were swapping between kinds of blades on a project.
4) Upgradability. Some older Hegners can have arms swapped to allow you to speed up blade changes, for example.
Some things can be taken care of in shop and, really shouldn't be counted as the duty of the manufacturer. For example, an OFF/ON foot pedal can make using the saw far more easy and enjoyable to use. Those can be purchased on the Net.
You can buy a cheap one then buy another one. Then get mildly frustrated when it "does things" you don't want it to do or you have to fiddle with it to do what you want.
- or -
you can just buy a good one the first time.
RBI - Hegner - Hawk
And get a BIG table. You may think you are only going to do little cutesy little 4" x 4" stuff. And you will, for the first 2 weeks, then you will be doing bigger stuff. An 18" throat gives you 34" of working material - or - 18" of working material. You do have to reach into it and make the cut.
I bought a Dewalt on CL for 300 about 6 years agoTuned it up, because it made ALOT of noise. There was tons of information on this particular saw, so I was able tune it up. It runs perfectly now and has since I took it apart, cleaned it and tuned it. Oh, also, I had the ryobi, 16 inch I think and it was more frustrating than enjoyable.The blade never held tension or the clamp never held the blade. Because it took pins (I could never get it to use pinless, even though it said it would) it was limited in the type of scrolling you could evolve into. Getting the dewalt made a massive difference in my capabilities and enjoyment.
Thanks all. I have not checked out the Excalibur yet. Guy said he was the only owner and hasn't used it much but something just doesn't seem right. Maybe too cheap? I think someone who is into woodworking enough to buy that saw wouldn't be asking so little for it. Maybe I'm overthinking it
I have a Delta 400-694 it is a clone of the Dewalt except for the change in the saws body. I have used the Dewalt 788 and an Excalibur. Not much difference in the cutting all are vibration free.i got the Delta for the price it does a great job for me, but I am not using it on a daily basis.
Thanks all. I have not checked out the Excalibur yet. Guy said he was the only owner and hasn't used it much but something just doesn't seem right. Maybe too cheap? I think someone who is into woodworking enough to buy that saw wouldn't be asking so little for it. Maybe I'm overthinking it
theres been people that have purchased scrollsaws and found out they werent interested in scollsaw work.
its worth a look. take some wood and take if for a test drive
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