Delta 40-690 vs Hegner 22v

[Berone]

So now I have 3 scroll saws. 1 enormous J-Line which is non-functioning due to irreplaceable parts and destined for the scrap yard
(the base and motor are being recycled, but if anyone has a use for a huge hunk of cast iron scroll saw, let me know). Then there's the Delta 40-690 that I bought last year. Nice saw, like it. I sold the base out from under it and put it on the J-Line base. Then there's the Hegner 22v that I bought yesterday from a woman that bought it new 13 years ago and hardly used it. She said the blades broke too much and it made a noise that scared her. After examining the pristine saw (with a less than pristine base- peeling paint and rust on the bottom of it) I concluded that the problems were user error. This is a very nice saw.


So currently the Delta and the Hegner are sitting side by side in the shop, waiting for me to have time for a side by side test run. Hopefully tonight, but mom is visiting, so who knows...
At a glance, the table for the Delta is bigger. Might or might not be an issue- I make some 13x19 jigsaw puzzles. I think the Hegner table is big enough. The control placement for the Delta is definitely better- I like everything up top. Hegner has the quick release which I like a lot. Hegner stand is more solid than I found the Delta stand, so I think it would live on that and the J-Line base would become the base for a lathe that will also use the Baldor motor from the J-Line.
I paid less for the Hegner than for the Delta and also less than I think I can get for the 8 month old Delta, even without the stand.
Apart from what I mentioned, does anyone with experience with both saws have a pro\con opinion on them? Obviously there's no warranty on the Hegner and 4+ years left on the Delta. I suspect I'll keep the Hegner and put the Delta on Craig's List next week. I'll offer it here, if there's an appropriate way to post something for sale- I don't see a "swap and sell" type forum.

Thanks for any input,
Anthony

[hotshot]

Before you jump ship, use the Hegner for a while, make sure you love it before you ditch the Delta. If you have been top feeding on the Delta, your in for an mental adjustment when you discover how things work on the Hegner. There are pros and cons to both saws, and different folks would swear by each brand/type. Really, it boils down to personal preference. I use both Hegner and Ex for different stuff.

------Randy

[Berone]

I read your critique of the 22v before I bought it. It gave me pause, but at $195 it was too good a deal to pass up. What was funny was that after reading it I thought, "Huh. Top feeding. That would probably be easier, wouldn't it!" I've been bottom feeding with the Delta, so that wouldn't really be a big adjustment for me! I don't scroll enough to justify two saws, either financially or space in the shop, so one of them has to go! I will take your suggestion, though, and spend some time with each before deciding.
Thanks,
Anthony

[turtleteasers]

Originally Posted by Berone

Hegner has the quick release which I like a lot.

You say you like the Hegner quick-release, but the photo doesn't show it installed. The Hegner quick-release is a fairly large knurled knob. If you decide to keep the Hegner, make sure you check out the quick-release, which I think is almost essential.

[Berone]

Sorry, I meant the tension quick release. I was looking at the blade quick release online but I haven't changed the blade yet to see how the default works.

[Stoney]

I own both a Hegner 22v and a Delta P20. The Hegner is a better quality saw

but there are some features on the Delta I like better. The cast iron table and

the quick release blade clamps.

One thing about Hegner saws over the Delta is replacement parts

availability. Hegner fine Delta not so much. Hegner has been making their

saws pretty much the same for a lot of years Delta not so much. With my

Delta P20 I have had to seek after market parts. Just a thought.

[hotshot]

$195, you absolutely stole that saw. How cool is that? Unbelievable!

Trust me, spend a few more dollars and get the quick clamp to finish the saw out, it will make your really awesome purchase more awesome.

-------Randy

[Jim Finn]

I agree....get the quick clamp.

[Berone]

I got to sit down in front of the Hegner tonight for a half hour. Turns out the lady who sold it to me had the quick clamp in the bag with other small accessories. So I used that.
First impression- I have to agree with everyone who has commented on changing the blades on this saw. Remarkably ill-conceived system. Breaking the blade should not put parts on the floor! What was funny was when I sat down and looked at the saw (I forgot the manual upstairs), I wondered what the odd little doohickey sticking out the side was for. Then while wrestling to loosen the blade clamp I looked at it and thought, "Doh!" Got the blade installed, glued a pattern to a piece of pine and went at it.
The Hegner is one sweet saw. I had no serious complaints about the Delta. It has enough power, blade changes are quick, controls are well placed. Nice table. I thought the stand was a little light weight and, while I could have thrown a sandbag on it, I elected to just use the stand from the behemoth J-Line instead. But there's really no comparison to the Hegner. The Hegner just feels better. Better tension, better control on very tight curves, and generally easier to use. On the Delta I had to adjust my pressure way more to follow the pattern. On the Hegner it was almost effortless. I know the blower gets a bad rap, but I thought it did a much better job at keeping the cut-line clear than the Delta. I seemed to be constantly adjusting the Delta to keep the cut-line visible. Of course when I stood up I realized that my shirt was covered in sawdust, but I plan to make a shroud to hook my dust collector to it, so that problem should be mitigated. For me this is a no-brainer- the Delta is up for sale.
Now I need to overcome some of the Hegner's shortcomings, like the lower blade clamp. I'm not sure that it would be practical to mount a blade with the lower clamp in place, but I think it should be pretty easy to put a guide on the blade mounting device for quicker blade alignment, and possibly a quick cam to lock the clamp, if I can find one small enough. The dust collector shroud will also have to have a way to catch the lower clamp and keep it from ending up in my cyclone. And I need a light for it. Not really practical to swing the light from the Delta over once I sell the Delta!

[rbpuzzles]

Where are you located?
Might have a home for your J-Line.