Turning it isn't

[Grump]

Having not known what a scroll saw was I Googled it and see that Screwfix do one at around 60 pounds ..please would someone have gander at it and let me know what their verdict on it is ?

Scroll Saws | Woodworking | Screwfix.com

I don't no expert on scroll sawing in fact I have done very little of it.
I have that cheap Screwfix one in my shed, I invested in some decent blades and made my own plastic bit where the blade changes (dunno what its called but the original was a poor fit).
It cuts is all I can say and it did what I wanted it too so paid for itself, I would think as in most things you get what you pay for.
Mine has been under the bench for god knows how long now unused but it still works and would cut again if asked too.
There is a larger selection of blades available than I had realised so I got a selection of which nearly all are still in their packets.

 

[L200arg]

Thanks Doug no rush. I'm not surprised you are making some more they look great.

 

[naxie]

Cheap scrollsaws are a nightmare to use, Dad bought one and after hours and hours of struggling he gave up and blamed his ability. A year or so later I bought a decent one, mainly for the little lad to use and the misses to have a go at. Dad came out to have a go and was amazed that he could cut a straight line with ease and follow simple curves and patterns straight away! Not his age and ability after all then.

Doug is quite spoilt there with a Hegner, they are a great saw!

I use the flying dutchman ultra reverse blades from Mike in the states. The last lot, 3 gross I think, cost $2 in postage and were here in less than a week.

If you want to try some Doug, PM me your address an i'll post you a couple of dozen.

The scrollsaw is a great thing to have, very safe for Jack to use and learn saw safety on and also comes in useful for all sorts of little things.


Unfortunately, as I've said, a good one is not cheap.

Thats great cutting Doug! When ive got a chance I'll send you some links for free patterns and a niffty little program for printing words in various scrollsaw friendly fonts.

One of those all in one printers that can photocopy, lots of parcel tape and Prittstick are also invaluable Doug. :wink:

 

[paulm]

So then, Hegner is the one to have, what model? or any of them?

 

[naxie]

A multicut 2 would be fantastic with variable speed. A lot of people dont have variable speed and dont seem to miss it but I seem to be constantly changing the speed whilst cutting different types of wood and of course different thickness. I have some 5mm aluminium to cut for a disk sander, im sure it will be useful then as well.

I havent got a Hegner. I purchased the Excalibur 21" from Axminster. A lot of people report reliability issues with it but it has never had a hint of a problem for me. It has a few features that are not on the Hegner, being able to tilt the entire blade assembly over and keep the table perfectly flat is a major boon for instance. There are a lot of Hegner "snobs" for want of a better word that dont seem to acknowlage the existence of any other quality saw, but horses for courses I suppose.

I wouldn't think twice in buying a good second hand Hegner if I needed another saw, they are fantatic. You do seem to see a few on ebay very regularly and they are very robust. I wouldn't be without the Excalibur though maybe I've just been lucky and not ad a Friday afternoon one?

I found Dad an old NuTool one circa 1980 for £25 that is bomb proof, weighs a tonne, so no vibration and it was easily converted to pinless blades. Not sure id even look at the newer NuTool stuff but Dads is excellent and proves there are bargins to be had if your lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time

 

[naxie]

what model? or any of them?

They are all great saws Paul, but if you can get the 2 for a bargin price, then jobs a goodun!