Palmgren Scroll saw $89 shipped

[jasontking]

Amazon continues to deliver the Palmgren deals. Seams like good value tools. Well made and at Amazon's prices great values.

This scroll saw sells under the CM name for $250. The review on Amazon is not too good as the owner had a problem with the unit. The reviews on Sears website for the CM branded version are very positive. Palmgren is to have a cast iron table while the CM version is alluminum.

It is a pretty heavy unit which is always nice in a stationary tool. The main downside is that it uses pin type blades. Not a favorite with hard core scrollers.

For medium use is looks like it mat be a great value.

For those worried about the Palmgren name, they are an old company out of Chicago that has most its history in metal working tools.
web page

http://www.amazon.com/Palmgren-83116...8?ie=UTF8&s=hi

[theminor]

hmm. I haven't done any scroll work, so I really know nothing about scroll saws. How does this one compare to, say the delta or the ryobi - both of which can be had from lowes or HD for $99? Cast iron table sounds nice but I'm not sure what the blade distinction really means. For $10 more, would I be better off going with the Delta or Ryobi? I've seen the Harbor Freight scroll saw on sale for as little as $50 with coupons. Any experiences with this one as well?

[theminor]

Anyone? Any scroll-sawers out there?

[MikeMcCoy]

I have and use a Delta scroll saw but I'm far from expert. The pinned blades aren't readily available anymore so that's a major drawback. Not to mention, the pinned blades can be a pain to install which is also a big deal since even an uncomplicated scroll pattern might have dozens of inside cuts. I bought the Palmgren 13" planer and was very impressed but I would have to take a pass at this saw no matter who made it. Maybe I'm old fashioned and the technology is perfect but it "looks" like a toy.

[ptraeg]

I have the Sears Craftsman "Professional" version of this saw. Got it last March for about $60 on clearance. It's since been replaced with a newer model with a slightly different color scheme. I also have a Delta scroll saw. - http://www.amazon.com/ShopMaster-Var.../dp/B000LNK88U

The Sears saw is pretty good, but not great. I'm happy with the low vibration level (less than the Delta I also own). The pin-end blades are readily availble at Lowes under the Vermont American brand. I do notice that I cannot cut a sharp of a radius with pin-end blades as I can with the standard blades in the Delta. Also for interior cuts you have to drill a larger pilot hole to accomodate the larger pin end on the blade. Despite these issues the pin-end blades still work well on simple crafts projects that I make.

This saw has an unusual dust collection system that I've never seen on any other scroll saw. Most have a blower. The one on my Delta was so weak at slower speeds that I hooked an large aquarium pump to it instead. The vac system works pretty well on the Sears unit. Better than I expected. It's not perfect, but it's pretty good. On the Sears unit there is a clear guard mounted in front of the blade and the dust pickup is right behind this guard. I found the clear guard made the cut line hard to see so I removed it. I was concerned that it would affect the dust collection peformance, but it doesn't make much, if any, difference. The Palmgren unit seems to have integrated the guard and dust pickup in one plastic piece so you might have issues with that.

The Sears unit also came with a stand which works well. I haven't even bolted the unit to the stand since the vibration is so low. The Delta I have vibrates a lot more if it's not bolted or clamped down.

These saws also include an integrated worklight that's fairly dim. Better than nothing, but not as bright as I'd like. The table on this model is quite a bit larger than on my Delta - I like that. The hold-down foot on the Sears is harder to adjust than on the Delta and not as effective. Serious scrollers don't generally keep these feet on the saw anyway. Then again most serious scrollers don't use pin-end blades either.

Overall I'm satisfied with the unit for $60 and it would be a good deal at under $100 as long as you aren't going to make a lot of intricate cuts (eg: fret work). I had originally intended to have the Sears unit replace my Delta, but I've kept both. I use the Sears for most work and the Delta for finer work.

[jasontking]

Well guys. Not good. Got the saw....Piece of crap IMHO. After buying two of the Palmgren sanders and being extremely pleased, this is a pretty big let down. First off, the saw I received was built from parts half from the Palmgren color scheme and half from Craftsman scheme. It had touchup paint on the metal body parts that did not match and and scratches all over the table. I might have even lived with all that, but it vibrates and howls so bad I would never be able to stand using it.

Zero stars. Avoid this product based on my sample size of 1.

[ptraeg]

Sorry to hear the Palmgren was no good. At least all the parts match on my Craftsman. There is no way I would have paid $250 for this unit and that's the current price at Sears. I'm surprised you had vibration problems as my unit has been pretty good in that regard.

[jasontking]

I suppose the vibration and noise issue could be a direct result of the shop being very cold right now. I believ this thing transfers power via a belt. Cold and belts don't mix well. Even without that this mis match of parts makes it one ugly duck.