Scroll saw from Harbor Freight

[tohellwithuga]

My wife has agreed to take a trip to Harbor Freight for me today (over an hour away, but she will be in the area).

Anyway, I am making a list of things for her to pick up. One item I am wondering about is their scroll saw (93012) for $50. Is this a decent tool and a decent price? I didn't see the scroll saw listed in the HF 'gems' list, so I wasn't sure.

http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/...o?itemid=93012

Thanks in advance.

[frumper64]

If you want to do any fret work or a lot of inside cuts, I would pass on this and look for a used saw locally instead. Two of the most important things on a scroll saw is the ability to use plain end blades instead of pin end blades and the ability to easily and quickly change blades. You should be able to find a lightly used Delta 16" saw for right around the same amount of money and I think you would be happier in the long run.

[tohellwithuga]

Awesome, thanks!

[JoeyGee]

Scroll saws are on CL almost 2-3 times a week around here.

[Al R.]

If you want to do any fret work or a lot of inside cuts, I would pass on this and look for a used saw locally instead. Two of the most important things on a scroll saw is the ability to use plain end blades instead of pin end blades and the ability to easily and quickly change blades. You should be able to find a lightly used Delta 16" saw for right around the same amount of money and I think you would be happier in the long run.

I agree with that. I have had this one for yrs and it also vibrates much. I have kept it because actually I do not use it much; so I would recomend a DeWalt unless you want to buy a Hawk G4 Scroll Saw. There is some things at HF that is worth to spend your time to upgrade them, but the scroll saw they have is a poor quality one.

[tkarlmann]

I agree with that. I have had this one for yrs and it also vibrates much. I have kept it because actually I do not use it much; so I would recommend a DeWalt unless you want to buy a Hawk G4 Scroll Saw. There is some things at HF that is worth to spend your time to upgrade them, but the scroll saw they have is a poor quality one.

I completely agree. I bought a Ryobi scroll saw that vibrated so badly ... ((how bad was it?)) Well, it vibrated so badly that it broke it's own blades -- without ever touching a piece of wood. I took it back. A scroll saw is not a tool that you can buy by reading a data sheet or looking at pictures.

Moral: I agree with the above -- there are things you can be OK with from HF, but a scroll saw is not one of them. The Dewalt is very nice; as is the Hawk if you can afford them. I have found that my Delta has almost the same low level of vibration as those two, and the Delta has extremely fast blade changes as well as a very handy tension adjustment.

[Al R.]

I completely agree. I bought a Ryobi scroll saw that vibrated so badly ... ((how bad was it?)) Well, it vibrated so badly that it broke it's own blades -- without ever touching a piece of wood. I took it back. A scroll saw is not a tool that you can buy by reading a data sheet or looking at pictures.

Moral: I agree with the above -- there are things you can be OK with from HF, but a scroll saw is not one of them. The Dewalt is very nice; as is the Hawk if you can afford them. I have found that my Delta has almost the same low level of vibration as those two, and the Delta has extremely fast blade changes as well as a very handy tension adjustment.

Good to know about the Delta. Thanks.