Scroll saw advice

[mlwmerk]

I have had a Craftsman 16 inch Scroll Saw for about 10 years.  I use it a lot.  Good saw for my use.  I think I paid about 150 USD back then.  About a year ago it was not performing well.  Lots of slop, vibration, blade tensioner wouldn't hold, etc.  Since  it is a Craftsman I received with the saw new, a parts list and diagrams. 

Being an adventerous sole I decided to dismantal the saw with the goal of replacing the defective parts, replacing wear parts and lubricating strategic positons.  Long story short, I got it all apart, found the defective parts, ordered the new parts online thru Sears Parts Customer dialogue page.  I got the parts within three days of ordering them and put it all back together.  It now works beautifully.  The total cost of all replacement parts ran about 40 USD.  A year later the machine is working like a charm. 

I've always liked taking things apart and trying to fix them or improve them.  Saves much dinero and I get the satisfaction of doing it myself.  If I screw up, I still have the knowledge and techniques I learned taking it apart and trying to fix it.  I salvage what I think I might be able to use down the road.

OBTW, I'm a 74 year old retiree who drives a 1993 Ford Escort that was my daughter's college and grad school car.  I would rather take something apart and fix it for x dollars than spend 10x dollars for a new one. However, I know my limitations after a lifetime of doing this so I am not adverse to hiring Professionals to do something I can't or don't want to do.  Money is dear now that my wife and I are retired and the grand children keep being born.

Walt in CT

[dgman]

Thank you for all the advice. It looks like the answer is to try and make it by with mine. Seems like the EX21 is what would be the best. I have also done some research on the 788 also and it looks like with the DeWalt you need to find a Type 1 which was made in Canada but they seem to be few and far between. Do they not make them there anymore?

No. The type I is the saw that was made in Canada. It has been over ten years since they chanced manufacturing to Taiwan. That means if you do find a type I, it will be over ten years old, and they do wear out. I had a type I that was new when I bought it and I wore it out! I replaced it with a new type II, and it is just as good as my old type I!

[rteubner]

Thats good to know dgman. Seemed like quite a few had problems with their type 2 but then again if there was that many problems I guess they wouldnt be selling any now would they? 

[Jim Finn]

I had a type 2 (I think) that lasted less than two years.  My good friend has had his about ten  and has replaced the motor FOUR times at $400 each time. Other folks have had this saw for as long with zero problems.  I wonder if it may be the difference in usage that causes this.  My friend and I both cut thick woods in making toys and doing compound cutting and no fretwork.  (1 3/4" Thick) We both cut with these saws 5-8 hours a day every day. It may be that those having long life with their machines are only doing fretwork on thin stock.  DeWalt is a great cutting saw but maybe it is best used for lighter cutting than we are doing.  I now have a Hegner (Since 2008) that seems to have no trouble with cutting this thicker wood.

[multifasited]

Everybody is different ,Most change blades more often ,don't force feel ,keep correct tention ,and do a little maintainance ,others ,Don't ,I'm sure if I cut 5 hrs a day everyday ,I would notice a lot of differences,and would get my money's worth out of spending that kind of money ,HD production is not in my future ,It's all in what you plan to do and how much it's worth to you !  IMHO 

[puzzlemaker]

Those with not enough room for larger projects than their saw allows - have you thought of turning the blade around to cut the back half? Works for me!

Puzzelmaker (Pat)