Makita scrollsaw

**Iain** · 27th October 2001, 07:28 AM

While at the Melb WWW I had a play with the Makita scrollsaw and was rather pleasantly surprised.
The unit accepts either pinned or pinless blades through a cleverley designed clamp mechanism and has a cam lever tensioning device on the front of the saw. I would imagine this would have to be pre set with pinned blades but would not matter with pinless as there are no reference points.
The variable speed control is on the front and there is a dust axtraction port on the front. That was a minor gripe, I think it could have been mounted on the side as the hose is going to get in the way if sitting at the saw.
The table has a tilt to the left of 45 degrees and was a positive adjustment, the table, well, adequate but I would have liked to have seen it a bit bigger.
I ran a piece of 1" pine through with and without the aid of the hold down clamp (which worked well)and the vibration was minimal, the speed control was smooth and precise. The blade was a shocker and not really worthy of the saw, it was far too big and typical of what is supplied with saws just to get you going. A good blade would have made all the difference in the world.
Overall a very good saw for change out of $300.00 and my only little gripe was the blade change, needs an allan key to fit the blade and I think a thumbscrew would have saved a lot of heartache, if you are like me, you put the allan key down never to be seen again until you buy a replacement.
It's not a Dewalt but then it's not $1100.00 either and I think it will give the delta a run for the money.
If I was looking for a very good good entry level, this would be very worthy of consideration and for the occassional user it also represents very good value.

**Sir Chiz** · 15th June 2003, 06:09 AM

Hi Iain,that's the scrollsaw I have,only it has the brand label "Pro-Tech".
It is the exact same machine,nut for nut,but here in the U.S.,it's $40 less money.
I like it for my occasional use,besides being "space-challenged",I don't use one enough to justify the DeWalt.
"Don't drive a Porsche,till ya can afford it"

I did try thumb screws on the blade clamps,but I couldn't get enough muscle on them for the blade to stay put.I got a long "T" handle hex-key with a bright red handle,which extends beyond the side of the table so I don't have to reach under.

I was using it to cut 2" thick stock round for my lathe untill I got a bandsaw.

The controls are good,"up front",the only thing I don't care for is the dust port on the front with the shop vac hose sticking straight out.
It's not a big deal really,I think if I used it more I would make an "L" shape adaptor for the hose.

Phil.

**fxst** · 16th June 2003, 12:58 AM

well I have one mouldering under the bench since I got the hegner
I agree its a good machine for the price I paid $269 for it so it was priced right at the time and with flying dutchman blades worked well but the allen bolt head stripped out while doing a lot of inside cuts but welded a 5mm nut to it and its now ok

**oges** · 16th June 2003, 07:40 PM

Sounds like a good saw if you could do something with the allen key part, I have a cheap GMC saw and tried fitting pinless clamp to it that had allen key to do the blade clamp up and it stripped out after a while, the Hegner clamp worked for me much better.

I use the Flying Dutchman blades also, they are a good blade compared to others I have tried. When the finances are okay I will see about updating to a variable saw, will see whats around at the show this weekend.

One a side note, i managed to complete the windmill today and have given it a coat with oil to finish it.

**fxst** · 16th June 2003, 08:56 PM

Brett ,
Have you a picture of the windmill...a pattern?
I am after a pattern for a dutch windmill
Pete

**oges** · 17th June 2003, 07:07 PM

Pete
I havent taken a picture of the one I completed yet, will get it done tomorrow. But here is one I prepared earlier

The pic attached is the windmill from the site I got it from, I didnt put the clock on the front, modified it to be a window and my roof is different, they used shingles in the pic. I did mine in NG Rosewood and came up well when finished with boiled linseed oil.

I do have a copy of the plan too.

Oh, its about 9 inches high.

**fxst** · 18th June 2003, 05:19 PM

Thanks brett
thats the sort of thing Im after
what was the site ?
is the plan email sutable?
Pete

**oges** · 18th June 2003, 05:34 PM

Check your email Pete..
The pattern is available from www.wildwooddesigns.com but works out to be a bit by time you pay for postage and plan in US$'s.
Here is a picture of the one I made.

**fxst** · 19th June 2003, 01:04 AM

thats probably why I normally deal with a couple there that do d/l once the credit card is charged
thank for that brett and its a good change in design I like it
Pete

**oges** · 19th June 2003, 05:31 PM

Yeah i normally download my from a site that often has 99c sales, but I wasnt able to find the windmill or ferris wheel from anywhere but wildwood unfortunately.

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