One of the first questions many people have when starting off with scrolling as a pastime is what saw to get. Whether you’re seeking to buy your first scroll saw or upgrade to a better one, there are several factors to consider. In this post, I will strive to cover all bases so that you may make an informed conclusion. I’ll also provide some recommendations based on my experience and what I believe to be the general agreement of the scroll sawyers I’ve spoken with about the subject.
Important Factors to Consider in Scroll Saw Selection
Blades and Holders: The saw should accept standard 5″ pinless blades. A saw that requires pinned blades simply cannot accomplish a lot of scrollwork. While pinned blades offer certain advantages, they have one significant disadvantage: you cannot make any little interior detail cuts since the blade’s pin must be inserted through a large hole.
Also, how simple is it to replace a blade? Is it necessary to use a tool for this? Hundreds of holes can be seen in certain scroll saw projects. This requires removing one end of the blade from the holder, threading it through the wood, and then remounting it in the holder more times than you can count. Make sure the procedure is comfortable and straightforward. A saw with an arm that can be lifted and held in this position, as well as tool-less blade holders, is ideal since it simplifies the procedure.
Variable speed: Many saws have variable speed, and you should have no trouble locating it in any price range. Slowing down the blade will let you to cut more slowly at times, but it will also prevent the blade from scorching the edges of the wood as you cut. To change speeds on some scroll saws, the belt must be changed. Personally, I would strongly suggest a saw with an electronic speed control.
Vibration: When cutting, vibration is particularly distracting and should be maintained to a minimum. Some saws are designed to vibrate more than others. This attribute is heavily influenced by the price of the saw in question. The vibration of the saw can be decreased by placing it on a stand. Vibration can be reduced by using a solidly placed saw and a heavier saw/stand combination. Many firms sell stands designed specifically for their saws.
Manufacturers frequently mention the maximum cutting thickness of their saws. Because this is always more than 2″, you can disregard it because you will almost never wish to cut anything thicker than that on a scroll saw.
The depth of the throat, on the other hand, is something you should think about if you plan on cutting particularly huge items. A narrow throat limits the size of the piece you can swing around on the table while cutting. For many, this isn’t a significant problem because swinging around a large piece of wood on a scroll saw is laborious and uncomfortable. This limitation can also be overcome by using spiral blades, which do not require the work to be turned at all.
Because it is difficult to work on a project when the bulk of your wood is hanging down the edge of the scroll saw’s table, table size should also be addressed.
Overall Arrangement: The overall layout of the saw’s controls and adjustments is critical to examine. The power switch, tension lever, and speed control should preferably be situated at the end of the saw’s arm and easily accessible. Because most scroll work requires stopping and feeding the blade through a hole dozens or even hundreds of times, having the tension lever and power switch next to the upper blade holds is considerably more convenient. (Most people, but not all, remove the blade from the upper blade holder in order to pass the blade through a hole. Some folks, however, choose to unscrew the bottom holder instead.) Also, you may want to modify the speed control or tighten the tension while in the middle of a cut, so having these controls close by is a smart idea.
Some folks choose to utilize a foot pedal switch rather of the saw’s power switch. If you buy one of these, make sure it is just an on/off switch and not a variable speed pedal like those used on sewing machines, as this might harm some motors.
Price: Of course, practically all of us have financial constraints that restrict how much we are willing or able to spend on a scroll saw. Purchasing a nice secondhand saw may allow you to get more bang for your buck than purchasing a new inexpensive saw. When purchasing used, however, you are taking a greater risk and must evaluate numerous extra aspects. Is the saw still being produced? Will you be able to purchase replacement components if necessary? How much have you used this saw? Is the seller’s asking price reasonable? In general, I would not advocate buying used unless the saw is in excellent condition and the asking price is much less than the new price.
When choosing on a pricing, keep in mind that scroll saws are often a “you get what you pay for” type of gear. Scrolling should be a pleasurable experience; if you have to struggle with a saw that is difficult to use or works poorly, you will not be having fun.
Other factors to consider: Other factors to consider are the manufacturer’s support and service. Will you be able to service the saw locally? How long does the warranty last? What is the manufacturer’s overall reputation? Could you see that there was anything unique or distinctive about the saw that you think would be useful?
Some saws come with lighting, magnifiers, stands, and dust blowers. Each and every one of these key functions add value to the saw and the dust blower, which most people would consider essential.
Most, if not all, scroll saws include a hold-down to secure your work to the table. However, a great majority of individuals, including myself, remove these holders because they believe they are just in the way. This is a pretty safe procedure as long as you maintain constant downward pressure on your work. If you do remove the hold-down, please keep in mind that you do so at your own risk.
Saws worthy of special note
In order to buy a saw that you will be satisfied with in the long run, I believe you need be prepared to invest at least $500. If you can’t afford to spend this much, I believe you should carefully consider saving for a time until you can. That being stated, I’d want to highlight a saw in the sub-$500 price bracket that has lately earned some accolades.
CB370SS Porter Cable I have not used this saw firsthand, so I cannot comment to its longevity; but, it appears to be well-made on paper. All of the controls on this saw are easily accessible, and it comes with a light and a stand. If your budget is in the $180 range, this saw may be a suitable option for you.
DW788 Dewalt This is the saw I use myself, and I would suggest it to everyone. My saw is more than a decade old. It has been used for many hours and is still running strong. The only parts that needed to be changed at the time were the blade holders.
Dewalt has recently shifted to having its tools manufactured in Asia, and quality has dropped marginally as a result. Of course, as a result of this move, the price of this model has decreased dramatically. This saw comes with a light and a stand from Dewalt, however they are generally offered separately. This is a popular saw, and if you run across any problems, there are lots of individuals who can help.
This saw does not keep its top arm upright while replacing or feeding blades, but there is a frequently used “easy lift” device that works excellently and is now available for $19.95. This lift is available at http://www.jimdandy.com. If you don’t mind doing your shopping online, Grizzly Tools has a terrific deal on the saw/stand/light set, which may be less expensive than the equivalent Delta scroll saw kit. I have no hesitation in recommending Grizzly as a respectable dealer with excellent customer service.
Delta 40-690 Delta’s most recent scroll saw. This saw is a functioning copy of the DW-788 and includes a light and stand. If you require the light and stand, this entire kit is occasionally less expensive than ordering the three items independently from Dewalt. Black and Decker just sold the Delta name, so be warned that this may result in modifications.
Excalibur Excalibur EX-16, EX-21, and EX-30 Users have long liked the Excalibur line of scroll saws. The EX-16 is only a few dollars more than the Dewalt/Delta saws, but the EX-21 and EX-30 are between $200 and $350 more than the 16″ model, respectively. For the Excalibur range of saws, stands and a light with a magnification are offered. The stand can be ordered independently or in conjunction with the saw.
The Excalibur differs from other saws in that the head of the saw, rather than the table, tilts. This feature is great because it can help you conduct a lot of angled cutting. The one aspect that concerns me is that there is just a rapid release for tension at the front of the saw’s upper arm and the fine adjustment is at the back of the arm. The manufacturer has recently added this feature to the saw, but I have not received any bad criticism about it. In theory, once you’ve established the fine adjustment, you shouldn’t have to change it very much, and you just need the rapid release when undoing/redoing the blade to pass it through your project.
General International, a company known for its excellence, makes these saws.
Other noteworthy references RBI and Eclipse both provide high-performance saws with little vibration. If you can afford it, you should look into these saws. I haven’t heard much about them because they are out of most people’s financial range. Many of these machines, in my opinion, have inconveniently positioned controls and/or require tools for blade replacements, which causes me concern.
Hegner provides four distinct versions ranging in price from around $700 to $2400. The cheapest model, the “Multimax 14-E,” is merely a single speed, which I would avoid at all costs. There are other better options for a comparable or lower price, in my view. To alter the speed on the $2400 industrial “Polymax,” the belt must be changed, which is inconvenient. Because of this difficulty, as well as the expensive price, I would only consider this model for a very industrial use. This leaves the Mutimax 18-V and 22-V versions to think about.
Blade changes are required for all Hegner saws. This, along with what I would consider a difficult control arrangement, would make me reconsider purchasing a Hegner. Having saying that, most Hegner owners are pleased with the quality and use of their saws. I will leave this subject for your future consideration if you can afford a saw in this price range because I have not personally used one.
Conclusion
Hopefully this post about scroll sawing has given you enough knowledge to make the best possible investment of your money and start with or upgrade to a scroll saw that will offer you with years of scrolling joy.
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