Replies

1. 
   forestgirl | Dec 06, 2003 05:35pm | #1

   I just bought a little Delta to replace the incredibly aggravating Dremel purchased several years ago.  Have you done much scrolling, or any yet?  What I discovered during this Christmas Ornament production fit is that ease in blade changing/threading is crucial!  Another important factor is vibration.

   Delta has a quick-change blade set-up that is wonderful.  It takes me maybe 45 seconds to change blades, and less than 10 secs to release a blade and thread it through a pilot hole, and set the tension again.  One of the reasons it works so well is that they use a square fitting to tighten against the blade in the bottom holder.  The holder with a round screw that tightens down on the blade end will move the blade and misalign it.  Incredibly frustrating.

   I bought the ShopMaster SS250 ($99) and love it.  The SS350 has a bigger table and dust collection.  In a review I read recently, there was some gritching about a "troublesome dust bin" and the fact that the table only tilts in one direction.  Both of these machines have pretty low vibration factor.  Mine doesn't "walk" at all when it's running.  I'm sure a $400+ saw would be much smoother, but I'd rather have a dust collector or overhead blade guard on my tablesaw!

   Here's a link to the 350.  Note it has true variable speed (rather than just 2 distinct speeds -- another major improvement over the old Dremel:
   http://www.northwestpowertools.com/scrollsaws/ss350.htm

   There is a very good scroll saw forum at Just Woodworking
   http://www.justwoodworking.com

   Several people there have the DeWalt scroll saw.  That's in the 300+ range though, and I think has the "round clamp" problem of which I spoke.

   forestgirl Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

   
   

   ---

   Edited 12/6/2003 9:38:00 AM ET by forestgirl

1. 
   stancalow | Dec 07, 2003 12:20am | #3

   F-G  what did you hate about the Dremel?  I got  one last year for a bargain price, but haven't used it at all. 

1. 
   forestgirl | Dec 07, 2003 08:08pm | #4

   Stan, my Dremel is several years old, so there have probably been some changes.  But the absolute worst thing is how long it takes to change blades.  The system on mine involves taking the two plain-end adapter/holders and placing them in a molded recession on the top of the saw (to get the proper spacing), then inserting the blade and tightening two set-screws down on the blade.  It's extremely difficult to get the blade in the center of the screws where it will stay in place, and when the screws are tightened they tend to move the blade off-center.  Reaching through the throatplate to get to the lower holder every 10 minutes was a pain, literally.

   With the Delta, I simply pull 2 tiny levers to release the upper blade end, insert a special self-aligning Allen wrench in the lower holder, and twist.  Blade comes out, insert new blade and twist again.  Clamping-nut is square and doesn't move the blade one iota.  Slip the upper end in, push the little levers and off I go, takes 45 seconds or so and works every time. 

   When threading through a pilot hole, all that's needed is to release the little levers, thread, insert and tighten.  10 seconds maybe.  With the old (1670?) Dremel, it took forever.

   Then there's vibration.  The Dremel walked all over my workbench, even with sandpaper underneath.  Stock chattered around, only had 2 speeds, instead of variable.  The little Delta vibrates more than its heavier cousins, I'm sure, but it stays put on my workbench and is acceptable for my level of work (novice, baby, wet-behind-the-ears).

   If you got yours for a bargain price, you probably did OK, especially if you're like to just use it occasionally.  I paid over $150 I think for ours, and it was pretty much wasted money, especially when trying to do a mini-production run.  Of course, at the time, I don't think any of the low-end scroll saws had quick-change blade systems.  Having done a quick look-see at HD and Lowe's, it looks like Delta has out-done everyone else in this department.forestgirl Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .. :>) --you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

1. 
   RANGERP75R | Dec 07, 2003 09:16pm | #5

      I have a cheap scroll-saw as I don't use it for anything but inside cuts at this point. The vibration is a problem you en-counter with the lighter machines. This is true with all the machines though. Here's how I eliminated vibration and was still able to opt for a seldon used tool in my shop.

      Bolted down to a heavy home-made base. The enclosed base has small Geenie vac inside and about 60 extra pounds of bar-bell weights sitting on two verticle pipes with a floor flange to keep them up-right. Over-kill... Well, I have been accused of that. But I don't get vibration. ha.. ha...

      BTW, I over-sized the table like the ones on the bigger machines also to get more surface space. Don't remember if that has been added when the pic was made?

   sarge..jt

   Proud member of the :  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

   Edited 12/7/2003 1:19:17 PM ET by SARGE

   
2. 
   adrienne4468 | Dec 09, 2003 12:35am | #6

   You should try the craftsman I got for the bargain price of $125.00 a few years back. Same blade change system only you have to provide your own vice to hold the plain end blade adaptors. Has only one speed which is too fast to cut most stuff, and the top to bottom alignment sends the blade side to side when it going up and down. Couldn't give this saw away without feeling guilty. Haven't scrolled much because of it either.

   I would really like to use a good saw once, it may change my attitude about scrolling altogether.

   Tony

   We already have enough youth, how about a fountain of smarts.

1. 
   forestgirl | Dec 09, 2003 10:07am | #7

   Tony, pick up the newest Delta Shopmaster (see model # in my post) at Lowe's for $99.  If you don't like it, take it back!  I love mine so much, I actually went out and bought a scroll saw book tonight!forestgirl Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

2. 
   jc21 | Dec 09, 2003 06:06pm | #9

   Don't know much about scroll saws but if you're interested in Delta, check out your local PC/Delta factory service center for recon units. They had some different models, all less than $100. New tool warranty, too.

3. 
   ChuckBuhler | Dec 09, 2003 10:08pm | #10

   I have both a $100 cheapie, and a Dewalt, and have used a fairly new Dremel. The Dewalt and Dremel both are better machines than the cheapie, but they all work. I like the blade change on the Dewalt best, but mostly because there is more hand room to get to the bottom blade clamp. The cheapie uses an allen wrench, that is always on the floor, just out of reach when you need it.

   Variable speed is a necessity. I don't know how anyone uses a single speed machine.

2. 
   forestgirl | Dec 09, 2003 10:09am | #8

   Hi again, Stan.  Just got back from my weekly Silverdale trip, and stopped by HD to get some stain and such.  Took a look at the current Dremel.  The blade clamping system is vastly improved over the one on my older model.  Nice and heavy too.  So......try yours out, see what ya think! forestgirl Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

2. 
   Sancho | Dec 06, 2003 10:09pm | #2

   I got the delta 16" VS. its the old model. ive seen it sell for about 100 bucks. It does a good job. I cant say how it compares with say a default or hegner but at the wood show I was talking to some guys from a scroll saw association and he showed me some nice work buy a guy who used the same one I got. I guess it boils down to the operator

   Forest G:

   Good idea about the Xmas decorations im a little late should of thought about it. Guess I can start working on making Easter Bunnies and Chicks....

    

   Darkworksite4:

   Estamos ganando detrás el estado de Calif. Derrotando a un #### a la vez. DESEA VIVO LA REVOLUCIÓN