I started with this saw and used it off and on for many years with no issues.

I highly recommend the Pegas Scroll saw. Here is how I came to 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 would not do, and 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 and liked it much better. Not because it cut better but because it was much larger and easier to use. The RBI Hawk was my primary saw for several years.

Then, I stumbled across a video demonstrating how easy and fast blade changes were on Excalibur EX-21. It took a whine, but I found a made-in-Taiwan saw used in my local area. The EX-21 became my go-to saw, and I gave the AMT to a friend. You can get parts and support for EX-21s from Seyco, who also makes a fine scroll saw. I had a problem with my EX-21 and got 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 switching was a pain. Blade changes on the Hawk could have been faster and smoother. After much research, I decided to buy a Pegas scroll saw. I have a small business that relies heavily on my scroll saw, and I need a backup saw that works and is similar to my primary saw, so switching between the two is not a big deal. As I was about to pull the trigger on a new Pegas, I saw a used one pop up in the Facebook marketplace. It turned out to be a saw that was bought assembled and never used, being sold for half what a new one would cost. I made a 500-mile road trip to get it.

I sold the RBI Hawk and now have an EX-21 and Pegas saws in my shop next to each other. There is very little difference in the saws. Switching back and forth is fine. 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 will have hundreds of initial cuts, requiring you to disconnect one end of the blade and insert it into the next hole. EX-21/Pegas saws can do this with a knob twist and a lever flip. When these saws are appropriately aligned, there is no tension adjustment. There are no loose clamps to fiddle with or chase around the floor when a blade breaks.

Drilling Smooth Eye Holes With No Tearout

 

Here is how I do it using a drill press. I drill a lot of eye holes.

A sharp quality is essential no matter what type of bit you use.

I insert the bit and adjust the table height so the tip of the bit barely touches the backer board. The idea here is to get a tiny hole (forstner or brad point) or little bump (twist drill) so you can easily locate the hole position from the backside of the board.

Drill the hole with the proper speed. Faster speeds are better for small holes. Turn the board over. Find the small hole or bump and carefully drill from the other side. This is easy with brad point or forstner bits. It takes some practice to work well with twist drills. With twist drills, I hold the piece lightly while lowering the bit slowly into the wood.

To get a smooth hole, you need to let the bit do the cutting. I have watched many woodworking videos where they force the bit through the wood.

Softer woods require sharper, better-quality tools to get smooth cuts.

If possible, drill your holes before cutting on the scroll saw. I have broken many pieces by not doing this.

When buying forstner or brad point bits, buy the best you can afford.

Lee Valley Lipped brad point bits a great. Buy the sizes you need. With sets, I find that there are always a lot of bits that do not get used.

I like Freud or Fisch wave cutter bits for my forstner bits. However, I have a couple of carbide-tipped metric bits I purchased from Aliexpress that work amazingly well. They only come in metric sizes.

I always buy high-speed steel bits.

For twist drills, I use Harbor Freight bits. They may not work for steel, but I am not using them for steel. They are cheap and run true.

Harbor Freight brad point bits are junk. I bought a set to try them out. Only three of the bits were useable. The rest were ground off-center or were not straight.

I Sold My RBI Hawk 220 Scroll Saw - A Little History

RBI Hawk 220 Scroll Saw

If I had the floor space, I might have kept it. It took about three weeks to sell on the Facebook marketplace, and I let it go for $100.00 with some blades and spare parts.

I bought it several years ago, covered with dust and sitting in the back of a barn. I spent well over $100 refurbishing it, and it was my go-to saw for a long time until I purchased a used Excalibur EX-21. It didn't take long before the Hawk was collecting dust. I gave away my old AMT 16-inch saw to a friend, and the Hawk became my backup saw. My EX-21 is my backup, and a Pegas saw is my primary.

While I had my AMT, EX-21, and Hawk scroll saws sitting next to each other, I experimented. I cut the pattern using the same wood and blade type on all three saws. There was very little difference in the way they cut. Surprisingly, the AMT saw produced a smoother cut than the other two. For me, blade changes trumped everything, so the EX-21 was the winner.

The AMT had to go, and I began a search for another use, EX-21. By this time, they didn't make new EX-21 saws anymore, and no one was selling used ones anywhere within a day's drive. They started making them in China, but these seemed to be junk. After over two years of watching for a used saw, I was about ready to pull the trigger on a new Pegas when I accidentally stumbled across a used Pegas in new condition for sale on the Facebook marketplace. How the ad was worded would never show up in a search for scroll saw. It took me two days to get it, but it was worth the trip. The Pegas had been purchased new and never used.

So now I need to clear out enough room for the Pegas bandsaw. 

I cut a lot of projects on this 16 Inch AMT Scroll Saw

Play Pal Tractor Trailer Semi Truck Some Variations

 

Part of my gransons truck collection.

 

You can custom order any of these in any color:

 GoImagine
 Etsy

Here are a few variations of the Play Pal Trailer Truck. These are all in my grandson's collection. Inspired by his complaint about the first one, everything he tried to put on it fell off. It was a flatbed trailer simialr to the one front and center. You can easily see.

I like the dual wheels much better than the singles, which never looked right.

The second change I made was to relocate the hole for the hitch pin so it was between the axles. Changing the location lets me use a longer dowel, and the length of the dowel is less critical.

I rounded the front of the trailer so the truck could make 90-degree turns. Originally I clipped the corners at 45 degrees to facilitate this, but I didn't like the look of it.

Play Pal Trctor Trailer Semi Truck Custom Order

Finisjed Wooden Toy Tractor Trailer Truck

 

This truck was a custom order. The customer wanted a clear shellac finish, where I usually sell these unfinished. I started making different trailers for these after making one of the original style trailers for my grandson and having him bring it back and tell me it was broken because when he tried to haul a car, the car would roll off. The truck is made from construction-grade pine and finished with three coats of clear dewaxed shellac. The wheels are amber shellac. I added a bit of paste wax and buffed it with a cotton cloth. It feels butter smooth.

Handmade Wooden Toy Truck Sanded and Partialy Assembled

THe last Piece In the Clamp

Handmade Wooden Toy Truck First Coat Of Shellac Drying

My New Pegas Precision Scroll Saw

 

Pegas Precision Scroll Saw

 

My new Pegas saw is up and running. I read the manual and could not find any place where it talked about adjusting the upper arm parallel to the table, as my EX-21 says. I did it anyway, as it was so far off I could see it without measuring.

This is the first saw I have ever had that has the guards in place. There was one on the bottom as well as the top. I removed the top guard because it significantly interfered with installing the blade, and I removed the bottom guard because it banged against the table when the saw was rum at high speed. Removing the lower guard required me to remove the table to get to the screws. I replaced the screws in case they were holding something inside.

While the top was off, I discovered that the thin plastic part of the dust collection was only attached to one side. I made one from a piece of magnetic sheet that I had. After waxing the bottom of the table and everything I could not get to without removing the table, I reinstalled the top and checked all of the alignments.

I did my first cut. I cut some kittens from a 3/4-inch piece of oak. It works great. There is minimal vibration at high speed, and the cuts are smooth.

The Grizzly mobile base that came with the saw will have to go. It adds about 10 inches to the width and gets in the way. One of the wheels is where I want my foot switch to go. Only two wheels are casters, making it more challenging to maneuver in tight spaces. In short, the mobile base takes up to much room.

I'm thrilled with the new Pegas Scroll Saw. 

Engaging Minds and Hands: The Cognitive Benefits of Wood Toy Puzzles

 

Cats and Kittens Freestanding Wooden Toy Puzzle

Buy Now

There are several benefits of handmade wooden puzzles. Here are some of them:

1. Quality craftsmanship: Handmade wooden puzzles are created with attention to detail and precision. Skilled artisans craft each piece individually, ensuring high-quality construction and durability.
2. Unique and one-of-a-kind: Each handmade wooden puzzle is unique, as it is crafted by hand. This makes them stand out from mass-produced puzzles and adds a special touch to your collection.
3. Eco-friendly: Wooden puzzles are often made from sustainable and renewable materials like natural wood. Handmade wooden puzzles contribute to a more eco-friendly lifestyle, as they are biodegradable and have a lower environmental impact than plastic puzzles.
4. Sensory experience: Wooden puzzles offer a tactile experience. The smooth texture of the wood and the satisfying "click" sound when fitting the pieces together engage multiple senses, providing a more immersive and enjoyable puzzle-solving experience.
5. Cognitive development: Handmade wooden puzzles offer numerous cognitive benefits. They promote problem-solving skills, spatial awareness, logical thinking, pattern recognition, and hand-eye coordination. These puzzles challenge the brain and stimulate mental activity.
6. Educational value: Wooden puzzles can be educational tools for children. They help with shape and color recognition, letter and number learning, and even introduce concepts like geography, animals, and nature. Handmade wooden puzzles often incorporate educational themes and designs.
7. Stress relief and relaxation: Engaging in puzzle-solving activities, such as working on a handmade wooden puzzle, can help reduce stress and provide a sense of relaxation. It allows you to focus on a specific task, providing a break from daily stressors and promoting mindfulness.
8. Decorative and collectible: Handmade wooden puzzles are often visually appealing and can be displayed as decorative pieces in your home. Their intricate designs and craftsmanship make them attractive additions to any collection or as conversation starters.
9. Multigenerational enjoyment: Wooden puzzles have a timeless appeal that people of all ages can appreciate. They provide intergenerational bonding and enjoyment among family members, friends, and loved ones.
10. Long-lasting and heirloom quality: Handmade wooden puzzles are built to last. With proper care, they can be enjoyed for many years and even passed down through generations as cherished heirlooms, creating lasting memories.

These benefits make handmade wooden puzzles popular for puzzle enthusiasts, collectors, and individuals looking for unique, high-quality puzzles that offer entertainment and cognitive stimulation.