Thread: Hmmm... what to buy??

I'd go for the both option...luv spending other peoples' money.

I agree with Watson. Get them both.
Cheers Elderly

For what my opinion is worth, here is my two cents worth, which is possibly overpriced.

For the few toys I have made and the materials used, I would say that the scroll saw would be my No I pick of the two. Eventually you will want both because the limitations of the scroll saw will irritate you until you concede and head for a band saw purchase.

Here are my reasons, for the work that I do and the materials I have available I feel the scroll saw gets my preference.

Having been in the presence of some very talented scrollsawers and also seen experienced people on a small bandsaw the output between the two is cheese and chalk. With a scroll saw getting around small curves and tight areas the output of talented people is fantastic and only little if any sanding needs to be done.

With a bandsaw, when you get to tight circles and small curves in the work I have seen you have to sand a lot more. A scrollsaw will strugle with 50mm softwood like pine but achieve a good result. The bandsaw starts to accelerate away from the scrollsaw as the wood density increases and the thickness increases.

But, you can get around both problems somehow. With the scrollsaw, choosing the correct and sharp blades is important and I think a pinless type is very important.

I will explain more later if need be, Santa has just arrived, so got to go.

Merry Xmas.

Pete

I have been working with wood since i was 5 or 6..Hard to believe i know..i have always had small band saws. i recently purchased a 12 inch craftsman...I have had a scroll saw for ten years..i ave used it may be a dozen times..my vote is for the band saw..i hardly ever even use a table saw since i purchased a good band saw

I agree with Noel, you need both. but if I had to choose between the two if I could only have one of the machines then I would opt for the Band saw and use a fine 3/16" blade for the tight corners and curves for some work. Some real tight curves are possible with the right blade on a band saw as can be seen on some of the band saw boxes in the band saw box forum.
I really do think you need both for the intricate work of some of the toys and models shown on this forum but to start off with, if I could only choose one of the machines, I would pick the band saw and save up like mad to get a scroll saw as soon as possible. That's my two bobs worth.

Yonee while you ponder this dilema you can always use simple hand tools such as Coping saw, and rasps to get started, even a Jigsaw.

Back to the dilema you'll also require a belt/disk sander, bobbin sander, lathe (you thought pen making was a slippery slope)

WOW the more replies I see,
the bigger the list of tools that one could purchase;
maybe "Yonnee" should start with a bigger shed;
that's what I want!!
Crowie

Hi Yonnee.
I mainly use my 12" bandsaw for most things now.Before I got that I had and still use an 8" bandsaw
I also have a scrollsaw and only use it for internal cuts(I havent found a way for the bandsaw to do that
There is a lot of other tools you will quickly find you need as well
I would forget the fretsaw and jigsaw as suggested above.

Here's my 1 cents worth on saws

I have a 10in. 70 odd year old band saw that I use use all the time(I make a good living out of toy making)I use it a lot.
The new ones, good ones anyway should have all bearing guides for the blades.
A good sturdy tilt mechanism is a must, one that accuratly and easily adjusts to the degree you want and back without having to spend a lot of time resetting it and can take a bit of a knock with out moving out of whack.
A good fence that wont move when you are ripping timber.
My scroll saw is 25 years old and it also gets used a lot.I like the unpinned blades because they seem stronger and finer but make sure it has a easy blade change unit on it and a good air puffer, I hooked a fish tank air motor to mine.
You have all next years wages untouched as yet, buy good ones of both

I have a 16 inch band saw and a scroll saw and am finding I am heading to the scroll saw more often. A lot of this years Christmas toys I made were quite simple though and I don't think I used the bandsaw once.

My lathe, tablesaw, drop saw, bobbin sander, disc sander, drill press and orbit sander were probably used more.

Wow, thank you for all the replies so far.

Noel and Elderly. I have an 8 and 10 year old that love spending other people's money on things for themselves, so I don't get too many chances to spend on me. So maybe both it is, before it all goes...

Star, here's 4c... tell me more... why the pinless is so important an option to go with?

Foz. Having used neither before, I can't say I have a preference for either, but I can certainly see the benefits of a scroll saw for internal cutting.

John, I'm certainly leaning towards both, and if I look at the Carbatecs I've pictured (RSS-16V 16" Scroll and the BAS-250B Bandsaw) I'm almost there on price.

Wheeliround, (Oops... did I miss the 'n' in the middle ) I do have a coping saw, and a jigsaw, so it might be a start. One of my Secondary School 'Technology' teachers was a big fan of making us kids start out by using hand tools. He said it made you appreciate what power tools actually do for you. I even have a lathe... just never had anywhere to set it up.

Crowie. I do have a 40' x 24' x 10' shed, but my 10' x 12' storeroom, steel rack, welding/fabrication area, 7' x 4' workbench and 2 poster hoist, I'm trying to think of ways to expand.

AUSSIE, good to hear from you. I do have a range of other tools (router, Triton, drill press that came with a 2" drum sander, and a Dick Smith version of a Dremel), I just need to start using them.

Prime Mover, it was nice meeting you at the show in October. It's also good to know that a 10" Bandsaw isn't too small for what I've seen you do. I will have to check the Carbatec for table tilt...
70 years... They certainly don't make them like that any more. I'd be happy for this first one to last 7.

Ashcook, I had been thinking I'd find more use from a Scroll saw, at least for what I want to do to start with.


So... any major failings with the Carbatec tools I'm looking at? For the price point I'm starting with I hoep they will do the job, for at least a few years, or until I find their limitations, and I am steering clear of the GMC's at Bunnys, although I'd have change to spare, even buying both of them.

Originally Posted by Yonnee

Ashcook, I had been thinking I'd find more use from a Scroll saw, at least for what I want to do to start with.

I have this one:

Gasweld Discount Tools for all you power tools | SCROLL SAW 16" VARI SPD+ LIGHT SC1600LVS

It is a little dearer then Carba-tec 16 inch which is $139, but mine has the light which is very helpful.

I can't complain about mine. Not that I have much experience with any others. But it is easy enough to change blades and does the job fine.

G'Day Ashcock,
That "Gasweld Scroll saw" looks identical to my Ryobi Scroll saw.
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G'Day Yonnee,
I'm jealous of your shed, your sure have the room for both.
If you're purchasing the 2 tools at the one time,
you should surely be able to negotiate a better discount,
especially for say cash with all the after Christmas & New Year sales.
Besides Gasweld & Carbatec
also checkout United Tools, Glenfords
and any other local tools speciality retailers.
Cheers, Crowie

Originally Posted by crowie

G'Day Ashcock,
That "Gasweld Scroll saw" looks identical to my Ryobi Scroll saw.

Cheers, Crowie

Hi Crowie,

I'm sure you are right. I have checked out a few other brands while browsing tools stores before as well and have sworn that they are from the same factory.