Blade Clamp

[oges]

Two Christmas' ago I was given a scrollsaw. For the past year or so I have been getting more into scrollsawing. The scrollsaw is a cheap brand (GMC) but works good enough for what I want to do with it .. until recently.

I have been doing some patterns which require sections to be cut out of the wood to make the picture etc.. the trouble begins with the GMC using blades with pins so any cut out being under 6mm means i cant get the blade through to cut it. I know some of the better/dearer brands using a clamp to secure the blade into the machine making the use of smaller blades. My question is, can you get an adapter that you can fit to 'pin' scrollsaws to allow them to use non-pin blades? or should I butter up the bank manager and upgrade to a better machine? The latter being an option if im going to do more with scrollsawing.

Thanks in advance
Brett

[Iain]

You can get aftermarket pinless clamps but the cheaper ones are a pain in the as they never seem to align properly, the good ones are cost restrictive ( www.seyco.com (http://www.seyco.com) )
and I would seriously consider upgrading if yoy are going to take it seriously.
How many dollars do you want to spend?
Makita have a scrollsaw which I think represents good value for money and has all the good features of a saw, variable speed, tilt table (both ways), quick blade change, dust extraction port, blower and a heavy table. All this for change out of $400.00, well that was at WWW Melb last year.
DeWalt if you are feeling wealthy, about $1100.00 but shop around and screw a few dealers.
Never, Never NEVER buy a Proxxon, absolute crap and bounce around everywhere, impossible to hold down and likes to go walkies all by itself.
Although I have never used a Delta I believe their saws are good but the Makita would represent better value for money at the lower end.
Have fun...

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: http://community.webshots.com/user/iain49

[oges]

Thanks Iain,
Seems an awful bother to get something all the way from Texas that may work or not work. Seems it might be best to upgrade.

I would really love to spend $1200 for the top range machine, but realistically I would be looking around the $500 area. I might hang on till the Sydney WWW show and see what sort of machines they have going there .. might have to busk out the front for those extra funds http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/biggrin.gif

Brett

[AlexS]

Have a Hegener myself & am happy with it, but looked at the DeWalt and was very impressed. Very little vibration, long arms, ability to tilt either way, and ripped a 1" piece of blue gum no problems. I know it's not cheap, but well worth the money I think

[Iain]

I drive a deWalt, made by Sommerville in Canada the same as the Excalibur, as do a few others on this forum nut I stand by my comments on the Makita as a good, no, very good entry level machine that will do itself justice for several years to come.

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: http://community.webshots.com/user/iain49

[oges]

some clown at Bunnies recommended it to my mum as a good beginners scrollsaw http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/rolleyes.gif I guess he was sorta right for the money she was looking to spend...

[John Saxton]

I also drive a DeWalt ...left hand
drive ...beig produced on the North American Continent and also depends on.... ambidexterity http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif

I would defer to Iains judgement on the Makita for 1. he checks things out religously and 2. He's been in Scroll saws a lot longer than I have.



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Johnno

[rodent]

ask skewchidam he has one

[scooter]

v old thread, Rod :)