Scroll Saw

[Tim CooperParticipant @timcooper90034]

Just had an EMail from Aldi about their latest offers. This Thursday they have a small Scroll Saw for £69.99.

I don't know what the quality is like or if it would be useful for model making.

Tim

[Tim CooperParticipant @timcooper90034]

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Tim
In my workshop I have a band saw and a scroll saw. They do different jobs and both are indispensable. The scroll saw is a very old Dremel which still works OK, but if I were looking for a replacement then I'd certainly think seriously about this one **LINK**
It has all the clever bits like variable speed, a work-light, a tilting table and even a blower + with a 3-year warranty I reckon you can't go far wrong for seventy quid.
Dave M

[Malcolm FraryParticipant @malcolmfrary95515]

The big question with any scroll saw is "are replacement blades easy to get?" A bargain from a box-shifting outfit might be less of a bargain if replacement blades are not easily available.

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

I've used these people for scroll-saw blades in the past. Their Power blades fit my Dremel and the ALDI saw apparently takes either pinned or plain blades, so there's plenty of choice. Their retail shop is only just up the road from Tim, too. **LINK**

Dave M

Edited By Dave Milbourn on 03/10/2018 11:08:13

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Tim
I've just compared the £70 ALDI "Workzone" saw with the Record Power one at £120 **LINK** and they are remarkably similar. If nothing else this would suggest that the blades for the more expensive one will suit the cheaper one.
Dave M

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

I have a clarkes and so long as the blade holder used a grub screw for holding and tightening a blade as well as a tensioner on the arm, any blade including piercing saw blades will fit…….and they are all basically the same, being manufactured in the far east……..even Record are now manufactured in China or Taiwan I believe.

[S MParticipant @sm83187]

Blades are pretty standard these days, thank the global economy for that, you do have to watch for metric and imperial lengths of blades as on some occasions they differ and you can run out adjustment so measure any you buy before fitting just to be sure, depending on your fitting.

[mike farrell 1Participant @mikefarrell1]

Hi Tim , I recommend you try Nicki Blades are the are the best blades for close work. They are not cheap but you will not have to change them so often . Only draw back they are only pinless. For cutting thicker material I use the general purpose blades which to my way should be thrown away after 2or 3 uses. I currently use a Hegner but justified cost when cutting through a deeper throat Paul Thomasons latest offering ment I needed longer cuts .

You might find you can turn the blade carrier at 90 degrees allowing you to cut long cut Hope this helps

[John W EParticipant @johnwe]

hi there, Mr Milbourn – well I will give you 7 out of 10 for that recommendation for the Scroll saw – I ordered one on line and its just been delivered today. Sadly I had to return it due to the framework that holds the tilt table in – the alloy had cracked on the mounting lug, making the table unusable – I returned it to our local store who swapped it for me with no problem.

Overall, it took some setting up; to get the blade to cut straight. Once set up, it seems quite happy to cut half inch plywood no problems. Also I have managed to fit the fretsaw blades, which I use for my hand fretsaw, into the new Scroll Saw. Its a faff on – but in the end got there.

I am going to do a couple of amendments to the clamping arrangement of the blades, so I can clamp the fretsaw blades better – but me overall opinion from a dye hard fretsawer – its pretty good – be ideal for me next project which has a lot of frames to cut out John

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Hardly a recommendation, John – after all, my own scroll saw is an elderly Dremel – but I'm glad you're happy with it. If it will chew through half inch plywood to your satisfaction then it has to be pretty good. I wouldn't use mine on anything more than quarter inch.
In my previous professional life I once visited a die-tool maker and he had a scroll saw with a table three feet square, for making die-cutting tools for cardboard boxes. He demonstrated it by cutting a dead straight line, by eye, in 3/4" marine ply. What a beast that machine was, and how good was he?!!

Keep the faith, my marra.

Dave M

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