Replies

1. 
   Shel | Jan 20, 2005 04:51am | #1

   YES. I bought the reconditioned option at Amazon, saved $100, and probably avoided pitfalls of a brand new unit. Get Flying Dutchman blades from Mike Moorman at Mike's Workshop. I am completely pleased.

2. 
   Jollyroger | Jan 20, 2005 07:43am | #2

   Hi there!

   I just started using that saw and am having a good time with it. It is not hard to use at all. If you want to start scrolling, start reading. The guy's name is Patrick Spielman and he has about ten books on scrolling out there. He has a primer called 'The New Scrollsaw Handbook'. It has more than you ever wanted to know about scrolling. The website that FG gave you is a great source too. It's a wonderful way to pass a winter inside. My shop is sort of frozen out now and I can do this in the house. When you get around to buying blades, start with #5 and #7s. There are a ton of sizes you will soon see, but these are easy to use starter blades.

   Happy Scrolling

1. 
   Manchild | Jan 20, 2005 08:05am | #3

   Thanks, The book sounds great. I'm writing all this down. Where's my glasses?

1. 
   nikkiwood | Jan 20, 2005 09:21am | #4

   Yeah, I have one and I think it is a decent saw. Maybe not as good as a Hegner or RBI, but way better than the cheaper scroll saws. It has decent size capacity, and it has a good mechanism for undoing one end of the blade and threading it thru a hole in your work piece.It will run very smooth if you get one of those anti-vibration mats to set it on (assuming you will set it on a table or bench, instead of buying the stand). That's what I did, since I didn't want to devote floor space to it -- since I don't use it that much.

1. 
   forestgirl | Jan 20, 2005 08:06pm | #5

   Nikki, does it have a quick release on the other end of the blade also, for fast blade changes?forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   TomMGTC | Jan 20, 2005 08:33pm | #6

   It does have quick releases for both ends of the blade. I use one for marquetry work with outstanding results. Very pleased with it. The only thing I may want in the future is a larger throat so I may have to upgrade to the rbi.Tom

   Douglasville, GA

2. 
   forestgirl | Jan 20, 2005 09:09pm | #7

   What's your opinion of the RBI Hawk vs. the Hegner??forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

3. 
   TomMGTC | Jan 21, 2005 12:26am | #8

   Honestly I don't have a lot of experience with either from I prefered the RBI to the hegner. The hegner I used had terrible blade changing functions but that may be changed on the newer models. For the type of marquetry work I do all of the saws seem to perform pretty well. The dewalt has worked great for me but the 22" throat depth kind of limits my designs.Tom

   Douglasville, GA

4. 
   nikkiwood | Jan 21, 2005 02:23am | #9

   Yep, you can release the blade from either the top or bottom.