If you had your choice!

[ElRojo]

Hi:
If you had a choice of scroll saw to work with thick hardwoods (3/4" to 1 1/2"), which scroll saw would you choose? Would it be the hawk, the Hegner, the DeWalt, or other>

[Plaquerd]

ElRojo
I have two Dewalt 788 type 1 saws, I cut 3/4" to 1 3/4" hardwoods on them regularly with no problems. I'm sure you will hear from others as to their preferences.
Dave

[jigsue]

I just love my Hegner - it is my third saw and I wouldn't swap it for the world. When I bought it, I had gone along to buy a DeWalt (when they still sold them in the UK). After talking to the guy at the DeWalt stall (at the National Woodworking exhibition) about the sort of stuff I do, he advised me to buy a Hegner. I went over to their stall, had a play and did the deal. sold my othr in the pub to a guy who made doll's houses and have been happy ever since.

Sue

[thecopperfish]

I mostly do intarsia from thick hardwoods. I have a DeWalt 788 and it handles it well. I'm sure there are other saws that would do well also.
Chris

[workin for wood]

Considering the options you list, I'd say the Hawk, but if my options where unlimited I'd go for a water jet, ohhhh yeah! Then I could cut wood, stone, metal, whatever, all quick as a whip with crisp clean edges. If your going to dream, dream big!

[Gill]

The DW788 won't disappoint you but, like Sue, I'd go for the Hegner every time. I've used both saws and the Hegner is my preference provided it's got the quick release blade clamp and the chosen model has a tension release lever on the upper arm. I haven't used a Hawk or Eclipse so I can't pass comment on those from personal experience.

For really tough woods, I've yet to encounter anything as effective as a Diamond, but blade changing is a little primitive and I daresay the £:$ exchange rate isn't terribly attractive right now.

Gill

[Marsha]

I have a DW788 and have no problems cutting thick woods, which I do on a regular basis. The boxes I make are all 1 3/4" thick after adding the bottom. I would love to own a Hawk though, just to many $'s for my pocket book.
Marsha

[Tor]

Originally Posted by Gill

For really tough woods, I've yet to encounter anything as effective as a Diamond, but blade changing is a little primitive and I daresay the £:$ exchange rate isn't terribly attractive right now.

Gill

Well, I have a Diamond, and I will say that I like the blade changing on the type 7 holders (Unless Gill has perhaps only tried type 6 holders, I don't quite understand her opinion here. Type 7s are great even for extremely tension sensitive 8/0 jewelers blades, and are fast, although type 6 don't have the depth stop.) Really haven't used the 6s yet, but I probably will soon. Just got some of the hardtooth blades, and at some point will see about turning a piece of black ebony I have into veneer. As yet, I actually haven't cut more than a 1/8" stack (that is not a typo), so I don't have personal experience with thick woods. The machine is great, and excellent for a stack of two veneers (1/21" total, 1/42" each) when reconfigured for vertical stroke.

For my work, the 5" on either the Eclipse or the Dewalt makes a big difference. Also on the Eclipse (I have not verified this, but I think the maximum thickness may be a little less than other saws. If this is important to you, you might ask.) You can also keep the blade holders on the Diamond rotated to cut straight at the back of the saw (I know, I know, you all are going to tell me that you quickly get used to that, and you do. Still a fine option.)

Tor

[Gill]

I have used both the type 6 and type 7 blade holders on the Diamond. Although the type 7s facilitate quicker changing than type 6s, in my experience they are still nowhere as quick as my Hegners and DeWalt. Although I don't own a SIP or Delta, I've seen them demonstrated and they are also much faster.

My Diamond was supplied set up for a slight pendulum cutting motion and that makes it very effective when cutting hardwoods. On one occasion it was the only saw I could get to cut a stack of 3½" hard maple without any burning.

Tor, you say it is possible to set up the Diamond for a perfect vertical cut, eliminating the pendulum action. How do you do this?

Gill

[Marsha]

Originally Posted by Gill

My Diamond was supplied set up for a slight pendulum cutting motion and that makes it very effective when cutting hardwoods. On one occasion it was the only saw I could get to cut a stack of 3½" hard maple without any burning.
Gill

Gill, you need to post a pic of this saw, I've never seen a saw with a deep enough stroke to cut 3 1/2" thick wood. I just measured the Dewalt and 3 1/2" dosen't even fit under the top blade arm. What size blades does this baby take?
Thanks Marsha