What Should I Look For In A Scroll Saw

 

Excalibur EX-21 Scroll Saw

My Etsy Shop

Avoid purchasing a saw that uses pinned blades. You will regret it.

For me, the ease of use and speed of blade changes are paramount.

 

My saws:

• Excalibur EX-21 was purchased used a lot. I have completely rebuilt it. 
• Pegas 21-inch I bought used in like-new condition.

 

What I appreciate about these saws is that when they are properly aligned, no tension adjustment is necessary. You flip a lever to change the blade, then flip it back into place. This design tilts the blade instead of the table, which makes angled cuts easier to achieve. I have access to parts for both of these saws and have completely rebuilt the Excalibur EX-21.

 

The Harbor Freight Bauer scroll saw operates similarly to the EX-21/Pegas saws. The lift mechanism is different. It is the lowest-cost saw of all the saws mentioned here. Harbor Freight's in-store warranty is as good as it gets. If it breaks during the warranty period, you can return it to the store and they will provide you with a replacement. If I were in need of a new saw, I would give this one serious consideration.

 

The Seyco saws are quite similar, but they feature a larger table and a

different tilt mechanism. However, I'm not fond of the table on the Seyco saws. Seyco saws have awesome support. They also support Excalibur and  Pegas saws with parts available for both.

 

Other Scroll Saws

• The Dewalt DW788 is well-regarded and widely available in the US. I have never used a DeWalt saw, but I understand they cut very aggressively. DeWalt saws can be rebuilt.
• Hegner scroll saws are known for their exceptional durability, but I find the blade mounting and tensioning system to be cumbersome. Additionally, they are quite expensive.
• Hawk scroll saws are known for their durability and are made in the USA. I used an older one for several years, but I eventually became frustrated with the blade mounting system. When a blade broke, the clamps would sometimes go flying, and I often found myself crawling on the floor with a flashlight trying to locate them. The newer models may have an improved clamping system.