Thread: Scroll Saw Advice Please

Ian, if you spend an hour and read the other threads here, you wolud find all answers to your questions. Many people here have simulor problems to find a good scroll saw under $400. When Carba Tec stopped selling a basic and relaible Delta, a scroll saw under $400 doesn't exist anymore. My 16' Delta is 6 year old and it is still OK. If you want to buy a new saw, you need to increase your budget at least up to $500-600 to buy something like Trupro. Otherwise find $950 and go for Excalibur EX21 .
Pesonally I woludn't buy a second hand saw. Last year I had an experience when I found 20" Delta on E-Bay. The seller stated that the saw was hadly used ( just 2 or 3 times !) and he sold it because it was useless in his garage. I won it and next Sunday morning I trevalled 75km to his place to pick it up. When I arrived to the spot the seller looked confused. He said that his saw worked OK just yesterday and now he switched it on just 10 minutes ago and it refused to work !? After my first look at the saw I mentioned that that saw had a very hard life. It was definatly used on a regulor base and it never drunk a drop of oil. It didn't have a blade installed as well and the seller proposed to buy it for $50 for parts. I didn't but I had a good lesson. Acctually the seller informed me later that he was a craftman and he used that saw to cut marrow bones for his business.

Thanks for the advice - I have searched the forum here. Thought there might have been a new development since the "demise" of the Delta.

Seems to me there is a big gap in the market. Pay $200 at Bunnings for a big disappointment or $550 for a Trupro.

Looks like I'll have to find the money.

I can't find much information on the Trupro. I'll ring a seller to ask about blade changing, tension, maintenance etc.

They called me from the Warehouse :

http://165.228.72.165/webshop/EWWHome.csp

They have Trupro in stock now and they open 6 days a week. But I want to treval to Geelong one day to have a look at Excalibur EX21 before I pay $550 for Trupro. Acctually Mr Carrol does have Trupro as well.
This Friday I have a day off and if you want, we can treval together. I live in Chadstone and my van on gas. If you are interested send me e-mail:
[email protected]
Anatoli

sorry, I didn't pay attention that you are from Brisbane
But maybe someone want to join me this Friday to have a look at Excalibur EX21 in Geelong ?
Mr Carrol, if you read this thread, will you be open this week and what is your time table ? Thanks ?

10am- 5pm monday - friday
10 am - 1pm saturday.
Sunday is a day of rest.

I have a Delta 40-540 scroll saw purchased 2 years ago but only used a few times to cut balsa for my model planes. I had great difficulty keeping the blade clamped on the top clamp irrespective of how much adjustments I made. Invariably the blade loosens at the top and slips out despite the fact that I have initially a good tension on the blade I persisted until the job was completed and my model plane built. I am now trying to cut harder wood and it is impossible to keep the blade in place. Upon careful examination of the chuck clamping lever mechanism it appears that the clamp design may be at fault as the lever always tends to loosen itself when supposedly in the clamp position. A colleague told me that it was indeed a design fault and to ask for replacement (clamp). Is that a known problem with this model and has it been rectified?
Thanks

Originally Posted by brw0513

Hello everyone. Newbie here with an interest in scroll saws.

I've done some research and am now totally confused about what scroll saw to buy .

I want to make my own model helicopter frames out of sheet material. 3mm MDF first for prototypes, then 2mm fibreglass sheet or aluminium sheet or even carbon fibre. Each frame is no bigger than an A4 size piece of paper. There is some intricate work involved - inside and outside curves and straight lines.

I had decided on the Dremel 1680 scroll saw and was very happy with that decision until I found out it doesn't seem to be available here in Australia anymore?

I pretty sure I need variable speed and plain blades. I'm also fairly certain I'm going to break a good many blades so tool-less changes or easy tool changes would be good.

I'd prefer to buy new but would be happy with a quality used saw.

My budget is $400 and I'm totally over buying cheap tools.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Cheers,

Ian B

I purchased a DeWalt DW788 scroll saw two years ago and it has already "bought the farm". Any saw less comparable to a DeWalt is going to be junk. I am getting ready to bite the bullet (notice, I am a cliche man) and purchase an Excalilbur, probably the EX-21. I have found it is better to go ahead and cough up the money and get a good saw, because in one to two years you will be replacing a lesser saw. I could have saved the $450 I paid for the DeWalt and applied it to the cost of an Excalibur two years ago and still had a great saw. By the way, I use my saw as a part of my business, and not just a hobby, so if you are merely a hobbyist, you might get by with a lesser saw, and the DeWalt might suit your needs. But I am afraid you are the only one who can decide that. But for me, any tool is an investment, and you must make a lot of careful considerations when purchasing it. I would suggest that you do your homework, take your time in deciding, and be sure you make the right choice. Try to find someone in your area who owns a scroll saw like the one you are wanting to buy and ask them if you can try it out. Most woodworkers won't mind you doing so. Some areas in the larger cities will have clubs where you could go and try out various saws. Woodcraft stores have workshops that you might be interested in. Look at all the features on any saw you are interested in and see that it is what you are looking for. And remember, the one thing that will sneak up on you regarding scroll saws is if it has excessive vibration or not. I hope this helps you out. I have been there, and I really don't want to see you with a saw that you are unhappy with or have continual problems with.
--Spiffy 53 in Texas

Originally Posted by asis

I have a Delta 40-540 scroll saw purchased 2 years ago. I had great difficulty keeping the blade clamped on the top clamp
Upon careful examination of the chuck clamping lever mechanism it appears that the clamp design may be at fault as the lever always tends to loosen itself when supposedly in the clamp position. A colleague told me that it was indeed a design fault and to ask for replacement (clamp). Is that a known problem with this model and has it been rectified?
Thanks

Never had a blade come out of the blade clamp. Is the little spring wire clip at the back of the clamping lever in place?

Bring the tension lever forward into the no tension position. Open the blade clamp release lever. Loosen the tri-corned tensioning knob a lot, so that more of the blade can be gripped by the whole of the clamp. Adjust the knurled nut to the right of the blade clamp so you get a nice firm clamping pressure when you operate the clamp lever. You shouldn't need a lot of pressure to operate the lever to clamp the blade.
Re-tension the blade to the correct tension.

I can't do anything more than reapeat what I have already said in favour of my Tru Pro saw and Carrols supply.

It is all good.

Delta - Before the Tru Pro I had a Delta. It was a very good saw. I did make a few changes to the top clamp. First I replaced the bolt with a high tension one. I then did away with the thumb nut and replaced it with a self locking nylon insert type from an engeneering shop. The reason for this was that the original nut used to creep loose when the blde was relised. The down side of this was that I had to use a small spaner to make the adjustments but this wasn't much of a problem and only had to be done when a different size blade was installed.

I clean my clamps regulary with spirit to remove any grease build up that might come from the blades when the are maufactured. This is quite easy with a cotton wool bud and metho

After that the saw worked very well. I only sold it because Delta supply in Australia stopped and I realised there wouldn't be any more spares.

Red Gum

I give my almost 4 year old Delta a daily workout.... it's a true workhorse that hasn't given me too many problems, never had any problem with the top blade coming out. Did have the problem at the bottom, took out the block that holds the blade and sanded it a bit to get rid of some ridges...

You're right... there is a gap in the market.... bit wide open one.... am looking at the Proxxon myself at the moment.... my father lives in Germany and had a look and gave it a bit of a workout at a couple of local furniture places.... both owners loved it and he was happy with it too. Of course I'd have the advantage knowing that if I can't get parts here I can have them send to me by my Dad.


Juvy

Originally Posted by spiffy53

I purchased a DeWalt DW788 scroll saw two years ago and it has already "bought the farm". Any saw less comparable to a DeWalt is going to be junk. I am getting ready to bite the bullet (notice, I am a cliche man) and purchase an Excalilbur, probably the EX-21.

Excalibur, DeWalt, only a bit of badge engineering and a yellow box.
I drive a 788 and all the parts are interchangeable.
I had a Proxxon briefly, kept me fit chasing it around the bench all day, very pretty but vibration was totally unacceptable, even the GMC (God forbid) was smoother.

Thanks for the input, however, I know several people here in the Lone Star that swear by the Excalibur. And if the parts interchange, all the better, I'll rob from the DeWalt to fit the Excalibur. Never heard of Proxxon. Must only be available on your side of the globe. And as far as the GMC, I am afraid the only GMC that I am familiar with is the one I ride around in. Never heard of them either. Our better saws here are considered the Excalibur, Hegner, and RBI. But with the latter two, you are talking over $1000. And as far as some of these guys having to retrofit their saws after they buy them, that shouldn't have to happen. You would think someone could come up with a good saw for $200-$300.
Thanks again, mate, I appreciate your comments
Spiffy53

I have had a Trupro for a few months now that I bought from Carroll's. I am very happy with both the saw and Carroll's service at this stage. The only thing that needs an immediate fix is the blade clamps, but that is quick and easy.
Noel

Thank you for the information, sir, I really appreciate it but I purchased an Excalibur-21 earlier this afternoon.

Respectfully,
Spiffy53