Craftsman 16'' Variable Speed Scroll Saw (21602) for < $50 - Would you buy?

[greenacres2]

Not sure about your equipment so far, but if you can come up with the funds, I would recommend going with a Ridgid EB4424 spindle / edge belt oscillating sander and then if you have a lathe, build a disc sander attachment for it...

I have this sander (got it refurbed for around $140) and it is a "go to" tool for me. I also have an old Craftsman 6" belt/9" disk (Craigslist, $70 or $80 as i recall) that i use enough to justify, would use it more if i ever put a rolling stand under it--really not a luggable tool but i do it anyway.

Scroll saw--got a new in the box Grizzly 16" on CL for $50, the guy had it for 4 years unopend (banding straps on it and the tape on the box was yellow enough to bear that out. I've used it very little and when i do use it that inexperience shows. Would like to find the time to pick it up, and maybe someday i will. Vibrates like crazy, but that may be my set-up--can't knock the tool without having taken the time to get familiar. I probably should have put the $50 somewhere else--but i didn't!!

I've read a few rumors that Ridgid (or maybe just Home Depot) may be discontinuing that OSS/Belt sander. Whether or not that is true--i'd still put it high on my wish list if i had to start over today. Your needs may vary.

earl

[LCHIEN]

vibration in scroll saws is present because of the rapid up and down motion of the sawing parallelogram.
I think inexpensive saws (e.g. $50-200) this is something you deal with.
Its caused by
1. less than perfect balance of all the mechanics
2. blade holders not being in a single vertical plane, this makes the blade at the workpiece move side to side some = vibration. If you get a saw make sure looking from the front that the blade moves completely in a single vertical plane - the blade holders have to be in the same plane and parallel the sawing motion.

What helps:
Larger saw mass - bolt or clamp it to a heavy stand.
better design (which is why the nice saws: Hegner, Excalibur, the dewalt) start at $500 and up.
Variable speed - find a non-resonant frequency to work at.

[rcplaneguy]

If you ever get into model airplanes, specifically RC airplanes, a scroll saw is very handy, almost a necessary tool in the hobby!

[cwsmith]

Loring mentioned "resonant speed", and I think that is very important to operating.

As mentioned in my earliest contribution to this thread, I very rarely use my Ryobi 18-inch VS (SC180VS) and keep it stored in the original box under my RAS. When I do get it out to use, I mount it to a board and clamp it to a portable table.

The table is relatively lightweight (a Stanley folding work table), but even with that mounting the scroll saw vibration is significantly dampned.

However, I do notice that at one particular RPM, the saw vibrates noticeably more. Above or below that speed the vibration drops considerably.

Also, because you are dealing with a "reciprocating" blade, IT is very important that you adjust the "hold down" mechanism so that it just slightly rests on the stock. You don't want it to be tight, as you must be able to freely move the stock; but you certainly don't want to have the up-stroke of the blade lift the stock either.

CWS

[LCHIEN]

if you can look at the unit in the store it will have a model no. on its body which is like xxx.21602-N
in which the XXX is the manufacturer's code. You see, all of Craftsman tools are made by OEMs, Sears has no manufacturing or design facilities of their own.
314, 315 are Ryobi for example, the rest there's tables on the internet that will tell you who made them. You can then look at the ratings of that manufacturers scroll saws to see what kind of product you are getting.

[tohellwithuga]

if you can look at the unit in the store it will have a model no. on its body which is like xxx.21602-N
in which the XXX is the manufacturer's code. You see, all of Craftsman tools are made by OEMs, Sears has no manufacturing or design facilities of their own.
314, 315 are Ryobi for example, the rest there's tables on the internet that will tell you who made them. You can then look at the ratings of that manufacturers scroll saws to see what kind of product you are getting.

Wow, I had no idea that info was available. That is very handy to know (hopefully Sears/Craftsman stays afloat)... So, based on a list I found online, and a closeup of the item on the website showing "137", it looks like it is a scaled down version of the Rexon VS4002A (maybe there are multiplemanufacturers for it, though).