Help choosing my first saw

[Mrt88]

Hi all,

Firstly I've been a long time reader but it's time I started posting.
I've been looking at scroll saws for a while now and it's time to buy.

I've gone through allot of the posts here but some advise would be amazing.

I'm looking at getting a entry level saw to try my hand at it. I am looking at the base hegner saw, it looks like most here recommend one. It's at the top end of my budget. The one thing putting me off is the single speed only on the unit.

I don't really want to spend more then £350.
My questions is do need a variable speed machine? It will be a hobby machine. I would really like to try making a clock with one so that's my end goal.

Sorry about the long first post.

Thanks all
Theo

 

[scrimper]

Hi Theo
it all depends on what you want to do with the saw, Personally I find 3 things are essential in a scroll-saw as follows -:

1) Quick release blade tension
2) Quick release blade clamp
3) Variable speed

If you are going to do work with internal cuts the first 2 are (IMHO) Obligatory, otherwise it will drive you nuts having to do up a screw knob to set the tension every time you insert the blade through a fresh hole.

If You do delicate work or work on thin materials or metal then variable speed will make you life a lot easier especially when you are learning.

If you just want to use it for general woodwork then none of the above are essential also for general woodwork one of the cheap saws on the market will suffice.

Probably better to find a decent second-hand Hegner with the above features than buy a new one without. You could also have a look at the Axminster hegner clone http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-tr ... saw-501201 it seems to be excellent value at £400 and looks to be a dead copy of the Hegner saw.

 

[Claymore]

Welcome to the forum Theo and agree with the above post...... if you can stretch to £399 for the Axminster saw you will get a superb bit of kit that will everything you want and is also a Trade model so built to last. I have the Axminster saw and love it..... quiet and smooth with no vibration and makes using it a pleasure.
Have fun
Brian
ps Don't worry about long posts as I myself tend to ramble on but once you get the scrollsaw bug ya can't help it lol

 

[AES]

Welcome to the Forum Theo. You'll find all the help and encouragement you could possibly wish for here, there are many here (NOT myself) who are real experts by any standard and positively enjoy encouraging everyone.

Personally I agree entirely with scrimper's list of "essentials". And I would add 1 further point - IMHO, the variable speed is not only very important for thin materials and metals, it's also VERY useful to have when you're first starting out - perhaps it's 'cos I'm old n slow, but when cutting out just about anything which is at all intricate, when coming up to the "curly bits" it's very helpful to be able to slow right down as you progress through the cut. As you practice more you'll get faster & faster but especially at the beginning it's a good confidence booster to be able to slow right down as things get "hectic".

OTOH, variable speed does cost more (and I understand that on the single-speed Hegners for example it's impossible or far too expensive to upgrade them to variable speed). And there are plenty of people who have produced stuff far better than I ever will and they've done it all at fixed speed.

AES

 

[Mrt88]

Hi guys.

Thank you so much for all the replies. I did think that would be the answer I would get. I did spot the Axminster when doing my research. I guess I would need to pay £20 for a hegner quick release to go worth it.

I do appreciate the cost of a decent toll. My daily use tools are all decent quality and I know they will last.

Doing so research on blades currently. My Mrs would like to use it to cut out wooden animal shapes for toys. I'm looking to make a clock. Or try anyway.
Does anyone know of any decent sites with a breakdown of what to look for ?

Thanks
Theo

 

[AES]

@Theo:

If you do a Google search for scroll sawing sites (mainly in the USA) you'll find several with ideas on what blades to choose (by that I mean number of TPI, type, etc, etc, rather than actual brand/manufacturer). Several sites cover introductions to choosing the blade according to the type of work to be done, material, etc. Mostly that all comes down to the type of material (softwood, hardwood, plastics, etc, etc) and the thickness/es you'll be working with.

Depending on those variables you may well find that the blades you use for your clock will suit your wife's toys equally well.

If you don't find any details you like, or are still a bit confused, send me a PM and I'll send you a couple of .pdf files containing more blades info.

As to brand/manufacturer, do a bit of reading back over posts in this section for the past few months. Personally I've found Pegas to be good (they're made here in Switzerland but would you believe I buy them through a dealer in Germany!) but you'll find others who swear by/swear about(!), for example, Niqua, Hobbies, Flying Dutchman, etc.

You may also find some blades in your local DIY emporium and they're not all bad - I buy some in my local DIY place and they're not too bad.

Whatever you try, I suggest buying just a dozen of a particular type/TPI/brand first of all, as what suits me may not suit you. Later on buying by the gross works out cheaper.

In UK I believe Hegner sells blades direct to the public by E-mail, ditto Hobbies Ltd.

HTH

AES

 

[loftyhermes]

here's a blade chart from Olson that might help. http://www2.woodcraft.com/PDF/Olson-scr ... -chart.pdf
happy scrolling
Steve

 

[Mrt88]

Hi all,
Thanks to everyone's advise Have been putting spare cash aside and ust bought the Axminster machine. Not cheap but think it will suit me great.

As its a clone of the Hegner can anyone confirm if I can buy the hegner quick release clamp for this ? I want to learn fretwork and think it will come in useful.

Can't wait to get it and get started.

Thanks
Theo

 

[Claymore]

Hi Theo,
Well done you have got yourself a cracking machine, I have the same one and love it to bits. Yes you can use the Hegner quick blade clamp on the Axminster and no mods to the saw needed. I got the clamp for mine think it was around £24.00 but worth every penny and certainly makes blade changes quicker.
Have fun
Brian