Craftman 16' - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

Simplyme · 09-21-2008, 03:21 AM

Bought this last week at Sears and am returning it tomorrow. Changing the blade on this thing is unbelievable. To tighten the blade on the bottom or the top you have to use a hex key. And when you go to tighten either end the blade holder that is attached to it twist foward so the blade moves forward also. Do not understand why they would have the piece move at all, I could see the piece moving when loosening but they made it that it moves when you tighten. I bent 6 blades before I decided it was either return it or take my hammer to it.

My question is should I get the 18' Craftman or the 18' Dremel? I really do not want to quit this hobby I was having fun when it was working and I do want to finish my first project

greatdane2 · 09-21-2008, 03:37 AM

Well you have decided to keep going and you know what you don't want. I don't know how much you ca spend on a saw but I would sugest you get a better saw( as in Dewalt) and buy it at a store with a return policy. As so many people on this site have said a good saw is a beautifull thing. I was ready to quit with my first saw and took it back and blew $900 on a Dewalt. The first time I fired that sucker up I just sighed, what a difference. I just bought a second saw, another Dewalt. They sell for a lot less theses days.
I have been buying wood working tools for 35 years and believe in buying the best I can afford. If I do not know how much I will use a tool I tend to buy a cheapy. but for the main tools in my shop I buiy the best I can. For example I just bought a fourth Bandsaw, it's an 18" monster and it came from china. All I want it for is resawing logs down to boards. It will get a few hours per year and at $1700 was as good as I could justify. A good band saw that size is several times that much.
A long way of saying cheap tools make it hard to make a masterpiece. It can be done and you will see some of the amazing things that members here make with the cheaper tools. My first Dewalt lasted several thousand hours and I still use it to cut metal. Money well spent.

Alan.

lucky788scroller · 09-21-2008, 04:10 AM

Id say YOU should mess with allof your choices within your budget.Bring a blade with you to the store, and mess with both, then decide based on that.Also, someone heres been doing some great work with a hitachi scrollsaw, so if you see that one, look it over as well.If none seem to be good for you, dont give up! Keep on looking and saving, but do not give up the hobby, that would be a huge mistake!

marshall · 09-21-2008, 12:48 PM

Simplyme: I agree with the others don't give up on this hobby ! Just check around I know that their is something out there for you . I've noticed that a lot of the members on this site have several different brands and most of them have the so-called lower end saws and are happy with them ! And theres noting wrong with one of these saws, for thats how I started out on one off these saws, I now own a Dewalt 788 and gave right at $500 for mine, have heard of others on here that gave less and others that gave more { SHOP AROUND } !!! Lowe's and you small Lumber sheds may have a better choose on the cheaper saws ! But remember that the lower-end saws probably want give you the service that maybe a Dewalt, or Heger, or other top end saw would !! A cheaper saw will groom you to see if its in your blood !!! Yes try the Dremel in my book for the money ,Good Luck !!!!!! Marshall

oldvaxguy2 · 09-26-2008, 02:07 PM

I understand you having problems with a 16 foot saw. A blade for that should be really hard to change.....

I also a has Sears craftsman scroll saw took it back and bought a good saw on ebay.

Gaia · 09-27-2008, 10:08 AM

Hi,

I had the Craftsman 18" for a little while...took it back to Sears. The bottom clamp would not hold square.

I bought a Hitachi and love it. The blower just crapped out on me though (after having the saw for about 8 months now). Not a big deal, I'm just going to go get an aquarium pump for it. But other than the blower I've not had any problems with it.

Hope this helps...

Bobbi

Ramjet · 09-27-2008, 02:12 PM

Bobbi . I'm not familiar with Hitachi but my old sears stopped blowing away the dust . Put on an aquarium pump and decided to look at the old sears one . The hose had loosened off . You would think Sears would have a blade change reto kit by now ? Just a thought .
Roger

09-21-2008, 03:21 AM	#1
Simplyme Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 182	Craftman 16' Bought this last week at Sears and am returning it tomorrow. Changing the blade on this thing is unbelievable. To tighten the blade on the bottom or the top you have to use a hex key. And when you go to tighten either end the blade holder that is attached to it twist foward so the blade moves forward also. Do not understand why they would have the piece move at all, I could see the piece moving when loosening but they made it that it moves when you tighten. I bent 6 blades before I decided it was either return it or take my hammer to it. My question is should I get the 18' Craftman or the 18' Dremel? I really do not want to quit this hobby I was having fun when it was working and I do want to finish my first project

09-21-2008, 04:10 AM	#3
lucky788scroller Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: wisconsin Posts: 6,260	Id say YOU should mess with allof your choices within your budget.Bring a blade with you to the store, and mess with both, then decide based on that.Also, someone heres been doing some great work with a hitachi scrollsaw, so if you see that one, look it over as well.If none seem to be good for you, dont give up! Keep on looking and saving, but do not give up the hobby, that would be a huge mistake! __________________ Dale w/ yella saws

09-21-2008, 12:48 PM	#4
marshall Just love Being Here Join Date: May 2008 Location: Jonesboro AR Posts: 2,113	Don't give Up !!!!!!!! Simplyme: I agree with the others don't give up on this hobby ! Just check around I know that their is something out there for you . I've noticed that a lot of the members on this site have several different brands and most of them have the so-called lower end saws and are happy with them ! And theres noting wrong with one of these saws, for thats how I started out on one off these saws, I now own a Dewalt 788 and gave right at $500 for mine, have heard of others on here that gave less and others that gave more { SHOP AROUND } !!! Lowe's and you small Lumber sheds may have a better choose on the cheaper saws ! But remember that the lower-end saws probably want give you the service that maybe a Dewalt, or Heger, or other top end saw would !! A cheaper saw will groom you to see if its in your blood !!! Yes try the Dremel in my book for the money ,Good Luck !!!!!! Marshall __________________ Usually busier than a cat in a sandbox !!!!!!!!!!! { Dewalt 788 only }

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09-21-2008, 03:37 AM	#2
greatdane2 Dumb Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Vancouver Island, BC. Canada Posts: 2,225	Well you have decided to keep going and you know what you don't want. I don't know how much you ca spend on a saw but I would sugest you get a better saw( as in Dewalt) and buy it at a store with a return policy. As so many people on this site have said a good saw is a beautifull thing. I was ready to quit with my first saw and took it back and blew $900 on a Dewalt. The first time I fired that sucker up I just sighed, what a difference. I just bought a second saw, another Dewalt. They sell for a lot less theses days. I have been buying wood working tools for 35 years and believe in buying the best I can afford. If I do not know how much I will use a tool I tend to buy a cheapy. but for the main tools in my shop I buiy the best I can. For example I just bought a fourth Bandsaw, it's an 18" monster and it came from china. All I want it for is resawing logs down to boards. It will get a few hours per year and at $1700 was as good as I could justify. A good band saw that size is several times that much. A long way of saying cheap tools make it hard to make a masterpiece. It can be done and you will see some of the amazing things that members here make with the cheaper tools. My first Dewalt lasted several thousand hours and I still use it to cut metal. Money well spent. Alan.

09-26-2008, 02:07 PM	#5
oldvaxguy2 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 85	I understand you having problems with a 16 foot saw. A blade for that should be really hard to change..... I also a has Sears craftsman scroll saw took it back and bought a good saw on ebay.

09-27-2008, 10:08 AM	#6
Gaia Sawdust Maker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 173	Hi, I had the Craftsman 18" for a little while...took it back to Sears. The bottom clamp would not hold square. I bought a Hitachi and love it. The blower just crapped out on me though (after having the saw for about 8 months now). Not a big deal, I'm just going to go get an aquarium pump for it. But other than the blower I've not had any problems with it. Hope this helps... Bobbi

09-27-2008, 02:12 PM	#7
Ramjet Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Saltspring Island B.C. Canada Posts: 1,096	Bobbi . I'm not familiar with Hitachi but my old sears stopped blowing away the dust . Put on an aquarium pump and decided to look at the old sears one . The hose had loosened off . You would think Sears would have a blade change reto kit by now ? Just a thought . Roger