Which scroll saw (UK)?

[RPaul]

Hi All, 

I'm thinking of a scroll saw, so which one? The usual modeling applications, budget up to £200, UK.

Someone I know swears by his Einhell - any thoughts on them?

 

Thanks!

[cog]

I am not knowledgable on Einhell, but Proxxon has a good one but restricts you to size, and is near to what you want to spend. Another option is Hegner, but more expensive. However, the first question you should ask yourself, is "what will I use it for, and what's the largest piece I will cut with it". That will decide the type of machine, and (unfortunately) the price. If you buy only based on price, you might end up with a machine gathering dust, and I don't mean sawdust.

[vaddoc]

For years I ve been using The Dremel moto saw. It is really all I need and is very user friendly. I build in large scales and often I need to cut very thick laminated pieces, it is powerful enough. The blades last a long time and are easy to change. Dremel sells side blades so the length of cut is unlimited. It is permanently attached to my bench with a fish tank pump blowing air. It still goes strong after 5 years of relatively hard use.

I usually cut just on the edge of the line and finish off the piece on the disk sander, this gives superb accuracy. I absolutely would buy it again.

 

Hegner of course is on another universe, both in regards to quality and price.

 

I d buy the Dremel, and use the left over money towards a disk sander or the Proxon drill press

 

Regards

Vaddoc

[Jaager]

IIf you do not mind cutting "fat" and finishing with a drum sander:

 

An Asian 9" bench top band saw that uses standard 59.5" blades  1/8"  is the  most narrow available here.

with a guide mount that will accept a Carter Stabilizer. 

Over here the saws are in the $150 or less range and the Carter is $75 more or less.  The fitting allows for tight curves to be cut.

1/4" Maple is no problem.

You will need a hand fret saw to cut inside closed jobs.

You will only face headache and frustration if you try to use a band saw this weak to resaw wood that is thick, so justifying the purchase with the additional function will not pan out.

[davyboy]

Hi RPaul,

 

I have an Einhell BT-SB 200 bandsaw. Never had any problem with it,have cut 1" thick European Boxwood among other timbers on it. Also used it to cut the false keel and bulkheads for a scratch build,much easier,faster and vibration free than using a fretsaw.  

 

Dave 

[Matrim]

I love my Hegner but it is probably out of your modelling  budget

[RPaul]

Yeah, Hegner seems to be the Rolls-Royce of scrollsaws, but I'm not sure my needs justify the expence: I only need it for frames, bulkheads and so on, and I hardly ever cut anything thicker than 5mm ply. It would, of course, be nice to have some extra capacity in case I need it, but...

[RPaul]

What about Clarke, Record Power, Scheppach, Ferm, Lumberjack, or others on Amazon? They are all within the same price bracket, and other than power and some comparatively minor features, are more or less the same. None of the brands above sound familiar, though, and I'd rather avoid buying a scrollsaw-shaped toy. Any experience with those?