Thread: Ryobi vs Delta vs Makita

Here's a pic of the old girl ...

Wow modelmaker - you wanna be careful oages will want to snap up the old-girl and add it to his collection.

I have none of the machines you talk about as I managed to get a Dewalt secondhand (near new) on ebay for just over $400 so I am a very happy vegemite.

From what I have read in the past and pretty much from what you have written you can see the guys like the Delta.

I have the Delta, it's a great saw.
I wouldn't have either the ryobi or the makita.

Originally Posted by TEEJAY

Wow modelmaker - you wanna be careful oages will want to snap up the old-girl and add it to his collection.

New Zealand is a little far away to get it anyway

Out of those three choices I would go the Delta, but I havent had an experience with the Ryobi and Makita.

Well, it's looking like it's going to have to be the Delta. I can't find one locally, but even with the freight charges it still works out cheaper than the Makita, and sounds to be better.

I had a look at the local library today, and there's some good books in there with patterns. So I'll have to get one out and make something as practice on the new machine when I get it.

I also use a Delta and am happy with it. Does everthing I need it to do ( and probably a heck of a lot more) I like the quick blade change, watched the guys with the expensive Haegner and seems the Delta is easier. I mainly make toys... puzzles and stuff with 3/4' pine or whatever native timber I can get my hands on... the saw works great on that, but I also do some finer work and it still holds up well.
Juvy

Thanks for your help guys.

I've been right through this forum, and a few other places, to find what out I can about these scrollsaws before making a purchase, and thought that in the interests of expediency for the next person that wants to know about these saws I would list my findings here in one place.

The information below has been obtained partially from within this site, partially from other sites worldwide, and partially from my own observations. I don't pretend that it's all there is to know about these saw's, nor that everyone will agree with all that's written here. It is just a collection of other peoples and my opinions.

Ryobi ESW1240
Dust extraction port in the front of the machine to take dust from below the cut and a dust blower above the cut. Combined speed control and on/off switch on the front of the machine next to the dust extraction port. This works like an older radio on/off volume control - IE: Turn it clockwise to switch the machine on and continue turning to increase the speed. Turn it anti clockwise to reduce speed and keep turning until it clicks off. Therefore you can't just leave it set at your favourite speed.

It accepts pin blades only, but advertises that an adaptor kit is available to enable pinless blades to be used. Many people have stated that they have not been able to obtain this adaptor kit and have been told that it has been discontinued. Some people that have bought this scrollsaw have been happy with it, but most have upgraded within a few months to a new machine (normally a Delta), saying that the new machine was significantly better. Not really stated what the problems were, but enough people have said the same thing for it to be considered a fair endorsement.

Delta DE-40-540
No dust extraction fitted, dust blower fitted above the cut but not very effective below full speed. Most people fit an aquarium pump as a replacement blower, also possible to fit a tennis ball below the bottom arm and run the blower line to a hole in it. Separate speed control knob and on/off switch on the left side of the machine. Designed for pinless blades and has a tool less quick change mechanism on the top blade mount, and a tool change mount on the bottom.

It appears reasonably common that the bearings fitted to the top and bottom arms are near dry as new and should be lubed before being used, although apparently the manual states this shouldn't be required until after 20 hours use. The table may need to have some minor grinding done underneath it to enable it to sit perfectly at 90 deg to the blade. Some people seem to have vibration issues with the machine, but this is easily cured by bolting the machine down using the provided mounting points.

Overall users all seem to be very happy with this machine and there are lots more recommendations out there for this machine than the others.

Makita SJ401
Dust extraction port in the front of the machine to take dust from below the cut and a dust blower above the cut. Combined speed control and on/off switch on the front of the machine next to the dust extraction port. Turn the knob clockwise/anticlockwise to increase/decrease speed and pull the knob to switch the scrollsaw on, push the knob to switch it off. It appears to accept pin blades only and requires an allen key to change blades.

I haven't found much on this machine from other people. I have read of an unreliable speed control, which doesn't always maintain a constant speed, complaints of excessive vibration, but also people that are very happy with it.

I think this about covers what I have been able to find out about these saws.

There are other machines out there too - some are below these 3 machines in quality and price and some above. I merely looked at 3 in the price range I was prepared to pay that would do the job I wanted well, without being overkill. However, these other lesser and better quality machines may be the perfect machines for you and the job you want to do with them.

My choice has been the Delta, due to the use of pinless blades and the greater choice these offer, plus the quick change mechanism fitted and the great number of recommendations this machine receives compared to the others. I've ordered it from Carba-tec in Auckland and it's winging its way to me now. It should be here in a couple of days, so I'll let you know what I think of it then, and then show you its first born.

Ummm ... Sorry for the long post, but hopefully it'll be of use to someone.

OK, the Delta arrived today. Assembled with no trouble, cleaned the grease off the table with kerosine initially, then followed up with meths to get the last traces off grease and kero off, then waxed it with car wax - it's nice and smooth and clean now. Cut up a few scraps of wood that were lying around, just to have a play and see how it went and was impressed with the quality of the cut. I'm not bothering with the hold down foot as it doesn't seem to need it. The quick change mechanism worked well intitially but now isn't :mad:

The small blue lever that clamps the blade in position wont stay closed unless the small black adjustment knob on the right hand side is used to reduce the clamping force to the point that the clamp wont hold the blade when the larger blade tension lever on the top is closed. The spring tension on the blade clamp lever just keeps popping it open. I've no idea why? It worked fine intitially, now wont. I thought that maybe I had got oil off my fingers and onto the end of the blade and into the clamp, and therefore the clamp wasn't able to exert enough friction to hold the blade anymore, so I cleaned it all thoroughly - but no good. Then I tried some 600grit paper on the end of the blade and inside the clamp - still no good.

If I hold the blue blade clamp lever closed with the tension set at the minimum needed to hold the blade in the clamp while the larger blade tension lever on the top is closed it's fine, but as soon as I let the blue lever go it pops open.

This machine has run for a total of 30 mins at the most with and without cutting wood, and I've buggered around for an hour or so trying to sort this clamp out. Needless to say I'm not very impressed.

Anyone got any ideas?

I have the same model Delta, sounds like the little lever isn't going "over centre", bit hard to describe but I doubt anything's wrong with it, just fiddle about until it goes "back in the groove"

No real technical help there, but hope you get it sorted.

If you get desparate, you could disassemble the quickclamping mechanism, then put it back together. Fiddly, be very careful to not lose any bits, including the little spring (DAMHIKT ) but it may come to that.


Good luck...............cheers................Sean

Originally Posted by model maker

OK, the Delta arrived today. Assembled with no trouble, cleaned the grease off the table with kerosine initially, then followed up with meths to get the last traces off grease and kero off, then waxed it with car wax - it's nice and smooth and clean now.

I hope it was silicon free car wax,,,,silicon makes it hard to get a finish on the completed projects. I used and still use a johnsons floor wax from the '60's and its silicon free and I reckon a similar product should be available over there just make sure its silicon free
as to your problem sorry cant help out as I dont own a delta
Pete

Originally Posted by fxst

I hope it was silicon free car wax,,,,silicon makes it hard to get a finish on the completed projects. I used and still use a johnsons floor wax from the '60's and its silicon free and I reckon a similar product should be available over there just make sure its silicon free
as to your problem sorry cant help out as I dont own a delta
Pete

I don't know if it's silicon free or not, but I've used the same stuff on my Saw Bench and Bandsaw tables in the past with no problems. But thanks for the pointer, I'll check it out and maybe have a look in the supermarket for an alternative.

Originally Posted by scooter

I have the same model Delta, sounds like the little lever isn't going "over centre", bit hard to describe but I doubt anything's wrong with it, just fiddle about until it goes "back in the groove"

No real technical help there, but hope you get it sorted.

If you get desparate, you could disassemble the quickclamping mechanism, then put it back together. Fiddly, be very careful to not lose any bits, including the little spring (DAMHIKT ) but it may come to that.

Good luck...............cheers................Sean

Yep, that's the problem - it's not going over centre. I was close to disassembling it but was hoping to avoid it as parts with "little springs" :eek: are usually a bugger to get back together again. So, as it was getting late and I was getting frustrated and tired, I figured discretion was the better part of valour and went to bed instead. I'll give it another crack when I get home from work tonight.

Thanks for that

One other wee thing ... What's DAMHIKT and SWMBO short for?
I've seen the 2nd one in a few posts and figure it somehow relates to the ball and chain?

SWMBO She Who Must Be Obeyed.
On the subject of wax, as FXST pointed out, don't use asnything with silicone.
I used to use Johnsons floor wax but now use Ewe Boot (thats the NZ version) Traditional Wax.
Available in NZ from Carbatec and Sherwoods, have a look at the U Beaut site for distributors.

Model maker,
don't ask me how I know this but DAMHIK is an acronym for Don't Ask Me How I Know.

Mick