I started with this saw and used it off and on for many years with no issues.
After years of hands-on experience with various saws, I highly recommend the Pegas Scroll saw. Here is how I reached this conclusion.
I have owned four scroll saws, starting with an AMT cast-iron saw that took pined blades. I quickly learned that pined blades wouldn't do, so I modified the saw to use standard pinless blades. I used it for many years without an issue.
I then bought a used RBI Hawk, which I liked much better—not because it cut better, but because it was much larger and easier to use. The RBI Hawk remained my primary saw for several years.
After stumbling across a video demonstrating how easy and fast blade changes were on the Excalibur EX-21, I set out to find one. It took a while, but I eventually located a used, made-in-Taiwan saw in my local area. The EX-21 quickly became my go-to saw, and I gave the AMT to a friend. When I needed support and parts for my EX-21, I turned to Seyco, which also makes a fine scroll saw. I had a problem with my EX-21 and received all my support and parts from them. Made in Taiwan, EX-21s are completely rebuildable.
Switching from the EX-21 to the Hawk gave me fits; they cut so differently that it was a pain to switch back and forth. Blade changes on the Hawk could have been faster and smoother. After much research, I decided to buy a Pegas scroll saw. My small business relies heavily on my scroll saw, so I need a backup that's similar to my primary saw to make switching between the two easy. Just as I was about to buy a new Pegas, I saw a used one pop up on Facebook Marketplace. It turned out to be newly assembled but never used, and was selling for half the price of a new one. I ended up making a 500-mile road trip to get it.
I sold the RBI Hawk and now have an EX-21 and a Pegas saw in my shop, next to each other. Since there is very little difference between the saws, switching back and forth is fine; however, the Pegas is a bit smoother.
What you want to do with your scroll saw will drive your choice. For me, blade changes are a big deal. Some scroll saw projects require hundreds of initial cuts, so you'll need to disconnect one end of the blade and insert it into the next hole. EX-21/Pegas saws make this simple with a knob twist and lever flip. When properly aligned, these saws need no tension adjustment, and there are no loose clamps to fiddle with or chase around the floor when a blade breaks.
I have owned four scroll saws, starting with an AMT cast-iron saw that took pined blades. I quickly learned that pined blades wouldn't do, so I modified the saw to use standard pinless blades. I used it for many years without an issue.
I then bought a used RBI Hawk, which I liked much better—not because it cut better, but because it was much larger and easier to use. The RBI Hawk remained my primary saw for several years.
After stumbling across a video demonstrating how easy and fast blade changes were on the Excalibur EX-21, I set out to find one. It took a while, but I eventually located a used, made-in-Taiwan saw in my local area. The EX-21 quickly became my go-to saw, and I gave the AMT to a friend. When I needed support and parts for my EX-21, I turned to Seyco, which also makes a fine scroll saw. I had a problem with my EX-21 and received all my support and parts from them. Made in Taiwan, EX-21s are completely rebuildable.
Switching from the EX-21 to the Hawk gave me fits; they cut so differently that it was a pain to switch back and forth. Blade changes on the Hawk could have been faster and smoother. After much research, I decided to buy a Pegas scroll saw. My small business relies heavily on my scroll saw, so I need a backup that's similar to my primary saw to make switching between the two easy. Just as I was about to buy a new Pegas, I saw a used one pop up on Facebook Marketplace. It turned out to be newly assembled but never used, and was selling for half the price of a new one. I ended up making a 500-mile road trip to get it.
I sold the RBI Hawk and now have an EX-21 and a Pegas saw in my shop, next to each other. Since there is very little difference between the saws, switching back and forth is fine; however, the Pegas is a bit smoother.
What you want to do with your scroll saw will drive your choice. For me, blade changes are a big deal. Some scroll saw projects require hundreds of initial cuts, so you'll need to disconnect one end of the blade and insert it into the next hole. EX-21/Pegas saws make this simple with a knob twist and lever flip. When properly aligned, these saws need no tension adjustment, and there are no loose clamps to fiddle with or chase around the floor when a blade breaks.
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