What is the best scroll saw? - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

Kristina Tompkins · 12-01-2006, 12:16 AM

Ok for christmas I have asked for a scroll saw and my husband wants me to find out what is the best one out there. Any info please would be great!!!

Thank you

Kris

Rolf · 12-01-2006, 12:45 AM

Do you want to start a war?

Everyone of us has the best saw as you will find out.
This is a great group and we all love to give our opinions.

It really depends on how much money you want to spend.
I like my Delta SS35o (low end $180)
Absolutely love my RBI G4 Hawk ( High end $1100)

The Hegner is also an excelent saw (high)
Eclipse (high)
The Dewalt 788 seems to be the most popular (mid Range)
The Delta P20 is also a very popular saw

The list goes on. The ones I mentioned are only the ones I am familiar with

Jediscroller · 12-01-2006, 12:45 AM

Hi Kris,
A lot depends on what you want to do with the saw. What types of items are you cutting now? What kind of saw did you get last Christmas that you're already wanting to upgrade? This would help us steer you in the right direction.
There is no 1 best saw, there are several outstanding saws available. Hawk, Hegner, Excalibur, Eclipse, Dewalt and Delta all offer outstanding saws. It's a matter of how much you'll use it, what type of cutting are you doing (or can't do with your current saw), how large are the projects, etc.

Rolf · 12-01-2006, 12:55 AM

Kevin

What is an EX30?

lucky788scroller · 12-01-2006, 02:40 AM

EX30 is the 30 inch throat excaliber.(Im not kevin, but thought I could help)

Now, for Kristinas question.. The best scrollsaw is the one you can afford. Look for ease of blade change, user friendly controls, variable speed, accepts plain end blades,decent dust blower, and little vibration. I personally am happy with my dewalts, but I wont say thats the best. The best I have seen I think would be the Eclipse, but I havent used every other brand out there, just some of them. Dale

Jediscroller · 12-01-2006, 03:23 AM

Gee Dale,
An opening like that and you took it away. LOL

Yep, it be the purple beast. When I decided to upgrade, for the type of work I like to do I had narrowed it down to the G4 and the Excalibur as the Eclipse had some limitations which didn't suit what I wanted (near the top of the list was top feeding). Once I found out that the EX was purple, it won.

Seriously though, I have no regrets in my decision. The EX is an outstanding saw.

Kristina Tompkins · 12-02-2006, 01:22 AM

ok i have a ryobi. i like it but i use mostly hard wood and it is really hard. I'm not sure if i using the right blades, but my husband is a carpenter and know so he knows what ones to use. He wants me to get a dewalt, but I want all of your opinion. I make really small animals and things like that. so please help

thanks

Trout · 12-02-2006, 01:34 AM

that's what I keep telling my wife...
the problem is that I haven't got her up to the half way mark yet...
until then I'll run my Craftman to the ground!

I hope this helps...

Trout

ChuckD · 12-02-2006, 02:59 AM

Trout, I did that with my Craftsman in about 2 1/2 years, gave it to my cousin and he hasn't spoken to me since. And that is not a bad thing.

Neal Moore · 12-02-2006, 04:19 AM

Kris, you really can't go wrong with the DeWalt saw. I would however recommend that you buy it at a place where you can try the saw out. DeWalt has had some problems for the last year or so with table flatness and excessive distance between the blade clamps on the "Type 2" saws. I have a Type 2 and am perfectly happy with it. I would, if I were you, try the saw you intend to purchase to ensure that you will be happy with it once you get it home. Hope this helps some.

12-01-2006, 12:16 AM	#1
Kristina Tompkins Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Naples Florida Posts: 4	What is the best scroll saw? Ok for christmas I have asked for a scroll saw and my husband wants me to find out what is the best one out there. Any info please would be great!!! Thank you Kris

12-01-2006, 12:45 AM	#2
Rolf Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bellport, LI New York Posts: 2,808	Do you want to start a war? Everyone of us has the best saw as you will find out. This is a great group and we all love to give our opinions. It really depends on how much money you want to spend. I like my Delta SS35o (low end $180) Absolutely love my RBI G4 Hawk ( High end $1100) The Hegner is also an excelent saw (high) Eclipse (high) The Dewalt 788 seems to be the most popular (mid Range) The Delta P20 is also a very popular saw The list goes on. The ones I mentioned are only the ones I am familiar with __________________ Rolf RBI G4 Hawk, Delta SS350 Philosophy "I don't know that I can't, therefore I can"

12-01-2006, 12:45 AM	#3
Jediscroller American Crafstman Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Galaxy far, far away Posts: 3,174 Blog Entries: 5	Hi Kris, A lot depends on what you want to do with the saw. What types of items are you cutting now? What kind of saw did you get last Christmas that you're already wanting to upgrade? This would help us steer you in the right direction. There is no 1 best saw, there are several outstanding saws available. Hawk, Hegner, Excalibur, Eclipse, Dewalt and Delta all offer outstanding saws. It's a matter of how much you'll use it, what type of cutting are you doing (or can't do with your current saw), how large are the projects, etc. __________________ Kevin Scrollsaw Patterns Online Making holes in wood with an EX-30, Craftsman 16" VS, Dremel 1680 and 1671

12-01-2006, 12:55 AM	#4
Rolf Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bellport, LI New York Posts: 2,808	Kevin What is an EX30? __________________ Rolf RBI G4 Hawk, Delta SS350 Philosophy "I don't know that I can't, therefore I can"

12-01-2006, 03:23 AM	#6
Jediscroller American Crafstman Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Galaxy far, far away Posts: 3,174 Blog Entries: 5	Gee Dale, An opening like that and you took it away. LOL Yep, it be the purple beast. When I decided to upgrade, for the type of work I like to do I had narrowed it down to the G4 and the Excalibur as the Eclipse had some limitations which didn't suit what I wanted (near the top of the list was top feeding). Once I found out that the EX was purple, it won. Seriously though, I have no regrets in my decision. The EX is an outstanding saw. __________________ Kevin Scrollsaw Patterns Online Making holes in wood with an EX-30, Craftsman 16" VS, Dremel 1680 and 1671

12-01-2006, 02:40 AM	#5
lucky788scroller Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: wisconsin Posts: 6,260	EX30 is the 30 inch throat excaliber.(Im not kevin, but thought I could help) Now, for Kristinas question.. The best scrollsaw is the one you can afford. Look for ease of blade change, user friendly controls, variable speed, accepts plain end blades,decent dust blower, and little vibration. I personally am happy with my dewalts, but I wont say thats the best. The best I have seen I think would be the Eclipse, but I havent used every other brand out there, just some of them. Dale

12-02-2006, 01:22 AM	#7
Kristina Tompkins Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Naples Florida Posts: 4	hi ok i have a ryobi. i like it but i use mostly hard wood and it is really hard. I'm not sure if i using the right blades, but my husband is a carpenter and know so he knows what ones to use. He wants me to get a dewalt, but I want all of your opinion. I make really small animals and things like that. so please help thanks

12-02-2006, 01:34 AM	#8
Trout MrsTrout's Husband Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hayward Calif. Posts: 1,711	the more it cost, the better it cuts.... that's what I keep telling my wife... the problem is that I haven't got her up to the half way mark yet... until then I'll run my Craftman to the ground! I hope this helps... Trout Last edited by Trout; 12-02-2006 at 01:37 AM.

12-02-2006, 02:59 AM	#9
ChuckD Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Beautiful Southern Oregon Posts: 694	Trout, I did that with my Craftsman in about 2 1/2 years, gave it to my cousin and he hasn't spoken to me since. And that is not a bad thing. __________________ Chuck D A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour. Hegner 18, Delta p-20, Griz 14 inch Band saw

12-02-2006, 04:19 AM	#10
Neal Moore Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cottageville, West Virginia Posts: 1,085	Kris, you really can't go wrong with the DeWalt saw. I would however recommend that you buy it at a place where you can try the saw out. DeWalt has had some problems for the last year or so with table flatness and excessive distance between the blade clamps on the "Type 2" saws. I have a Type 2 and am perfectly happy with it. I would, if I were you, try the saw you intend to purchase to ensure that you will be happy with it once you get it home. Hope this helps some. __________________ If it don't fit, don't force it....get a bigger hammer!!

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