scroll saw review - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

kardar2 · 08-08-2012, 05:41 PM

Hello,
I think it would be really cool if you did a Scrollsaw review shoot out like every couple of years and then have a give away. I would even buy tickets. So you could recoupe some of cost of the review. I like to see articles/reviews of stuff that we scroll sawers use. Or a video review on these on your website here would be good. Thanks Karl Atkins

BobD · 08-08-2012, 06:12 PM

Hi Karl,
Thanks for the feedback. Not much has changed in the saw world since we did the review back in Issue 40. The EX16 came out, and they have changed the Delta saw. I've reviewed the EX16 in a past issue, and I'm reviewing the Delta in our upcoming issue.

I spent upwards of 100 hours assembling and testing the saws we received, and writing the article, so unfortunately, it's not something we can do very often (especially since a staff of three people (plus our photographer) put together Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts, Woodcarving Illustrated, and several special interest publications every year.

Best Regards,
Bob Duncan
Technical Editor

kardar2 · 08-08-2012, 09:02 PM

Wow I thought you were a lot bigger than that. I am looking at RBI and Hegner and don't know a thing about the belt drive so I am in search of some knowledge in the saws.

Rolf · 08-08-2012, 09:41 PM

They must be very old if they are belt drive.

Jim Finn · 08-09-2012, 01:59 AM

New Hegner Polymax saws are belt drive. I have one that is 3 years old now. It is the longest lasting scroll saw that I have owned......so far. I also bought a used 26 year old Hegner single speed, that is not belt driven .

Rolf · 08-09-2012, 01:04 PM

Jim,
I was not aware that Hegner still makes a belt drive saw. I have never seen one and we have lots of Hegner owners in our club. That will teach me to make a blanket statement.

3_M · 08-09-2012, 02:51 PM

Rolf,
I just called Advance machinery.
They told me that the Hegner Polymax is a belt driven saw. I believe it is the biggest they make.
FD Mike

Rolf K. · 01-10-2013, 09:40 PM

My comments Are in Reference to Issue 50, Scroll Saw Buyers Guide.
On Page 69, in Reference to Vibration, three of the Five Expensive Machines Have Not Been Tested, Why Is That? In My Opinion If You Can Not Test for Noise and Vibration much the articles usefulness is missing.
Also on page 67 in the bottom right-hand box there is a reference to a Powerful Motor is needed for
Intarsia. But nowhere else in the article are there any reference to the horsepower of machines motors. Of course the horsepower is reflected by the amperage indicated on the machine but this is seldom published so in articles like this it would be most helpful to have it revealed.

In the Comparison Chart there are no distinction between the older design with long arms and the newer designs with the shorter arms. And from the pictures it is almost impossible to tell which is which. Being fairly new to the scroll saw hobby, I would dearly like to know if there is a compelling reason for me to replace mine that's over 30 years old, I thought it was quite expensive at the time. It works just fine now that I have corrected several problems that was caused by sloppy assembly and poor design.
See: http://www.pbase.com/sinoline/hawk_scroll_saw

Rolf K.

wood-n-things · 01-10-2013, 10:19 PM

If it works, why replace it?

Phil J · 01-11-2013, 04:32 AM

Just a crazy idea, but much like you see car magazines sometimes have articles and photos of "classic" cars from the past and also ones restored, it would be fun to see the same done with scroll saws...and I know that folks have 20 + year old scroll saws out in their workshops/garages/etc. that perhaps may be still used....just a thought..

Phil J.

08-08-2012, 05:41 PM	#1
kardar2 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Redding, Ca. Posts: 146 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	scroll saw review Hello, I think it would be really cool if you did a Scrollsaw review shoot out like every couple of years and then have a give away. I would even buy tickets. So you could recoupe some of cost of the review. I like to see articles/reviews of stuff that we scroll sawers use. Or a video review on these on your website here would be good. Thanks Karl Atkins

08-08-2012, 06:12 PM	#2
BobD Technical Editor Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Lebanon, Pa Posts: 3,378 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 10 Thanked 27 Times in 21 Posts	Hi Karl, Thanks for the feedback. Not much has changed in the saw world since we did the review back in Issue 40. The EX16 came out, and they have changed the Delta saw. I've reviewed the EX16 in a past issue, and I'm reviewing the Delta in our upcoming issue. I spent upwards of 100 hours assembling and testing the saws we received, and writing the article, so unfortunately, it's not something we can do very often (especially since a staff of three people (plus our photographer) put together Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts, Woodcarving Illustrated, and several special interest publications every year. Best Regards, Bob Duncan Technical Editor __________________ www.WoodCarvingIllustrated.com www.FoxChapelPublishing.com www.ScrollSawer.com Shopsmith, Hawk G4

08-08-2012, 09:41 PM	#4
Rolf Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bellport, LI New York Posts: 5,883 Thanks: 7 Thanked 105 Times in 96 Posts	They must be very old if they are belt drive. __________________ Rolf RBI G4 Hawk, Delta SS350 Philosophy "I don't know that I can't, therefore I can" Proud Member of the Long Island Woodworkers Club And the Long Island Scrollsaw Association

08-09-2012, 01:59 AM	#5
Jim Finn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lubbock Texas Posts: 1,011 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 13 Thanked 38 Times in 33 Posts	New Hegner Polymax saws are belt drive. I have one that is 3 years old now. It is the longest lasting scroll saw that I have owned......so far. I also bought a used 26 year old Hegner single speed, that is not belt driven . __________________ In God We Trust Hegner Polymax- 3 Hegner Multimax-3

08-09-2012, 01:04 PM	#6
Rolf Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bellport, LI New York Posts: 5,883 Thanks: 7 Thanked 105 Times in 96 Posts	Jim, I was not aware that Hegner still makes a belt drive saw. I have never seen one and we have lots of Hegner owners in our club. That will teach me to make a blanket statement. __________________ Rolf RBI G4 Hawk, Delta SS350 Philosophy "I don't know that I can't, therefore I can" Proud Member of the Long Island Woodworkers Club And the Long Island Scrollsaw Association

08-08-2012, 09:02 PM	#3
kardar2 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Redding, Ca. Posts: 146 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Wow I thought you were a lot bigger than that. I am looking at RBI and Hegner and don't know a thing about the belt drive so I am in search of some knowledge in the saws.

08-09-2012, 02:51 PM	#7
3_M Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Brandon, SD Posts: 1,415 Thanks: 1 Thanked 26 Times in 26 Posts	Rolf, I just called Advance machinery. They told me that the Hegner Polymax is a belt driven saw. I believe it is the biggest they make. FD Mike __________________ Home of the FD Blades Last edited by 3_M; 08-09-2012 at 03:04 PM.

01-10-2013, 09:40 PM	#8
Rolf K. Junior Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	My comments Are in Reference to Issue 50, Scroll Saw Buyers Guide. On Page 69, in Reference to Vibration, three of the Five Expensive Machines Have Not Been Tested, Why Is That? In My Opinion If You Can Not Test for Noise and Vibration much the articles usefulness is missing. Also on page 67 in the bottom right-hand box there is a reference to a Powerful Motor is needed for Intarsia. But nowhere else in the article are there any reference to the horsepower of machines motors. Of course the horsepower is reflected by the amperage indicated on the machine but this is seldom published so in articles like this it would be most helpful to have it revealed. In the Comparison Chart there are no distinction between the older design with long arms and the newer designs with the shorter arms. And from the pictures it is almost impossible to tell which is which. Being fairly new to the scroll saw hobby, I would dearly like to know if there is a compelling reason for me to replace mine that's over 30 years old, I thought it was quite expensive at the time. It works just fine now that I have corrected several problems that was caused by sloppy assembly and poor design. See: http://www.pbase.com/sinoline/hawk_scroll_saw Rolf K. Last edited by Rolf K.; 01-11-2013 at 03:36 PM.

01-10-2013, 10:19 PM	#9
wood-n-things Staying Positive Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Hamilton, Montana Posts: 18,550 Thanks: 49 Thanked 379 Times in 280 Posts	If it works, why replace it? __________________ "Montana MIKE" There is a very fine line between “hobby” and “mental illness.” As You Slide Down the Banister of Life, Pray That All The Splinters Are Pointed The Other Way... "Don't worry about old age--it doesn't last that long." Mike's Wood-n-Things

01-11-2013, 04:32 AM	#10
Phil J Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Waco,Texas Posts: 213 Thanks: 7 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Just a crazy idea, but much like you see car magazines sometimes have articles and photos of "classic" cars from the past and also ones restored, it would be fun to see the same done with scroll saws...and I know that folks have 20 + year old scroll saws out in their workshops/garages/etc. that perhaps may be still used....just a thought.. Phil J.

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