herrwood Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 Thinking about getting a new saw I have been looking at the Excalibur saws. The 16" would most likly be ok for me but I see they also have a 21". Just wondering on average how much a longer saw then 16" is needed. The aditional cost is not a problem but do not want to spend more then I need to. While I have been working with wood for years never did much scroll work but as I am getting older, smaller and ligher projects are starting to appeal to me . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrolling Steve Posted November 6, 2014 Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 I have the ex21 and have been scrolling for less than a Year. I have only taken on one project (Charlie Dearing design) that a 16 would not have handled. The 21 is optimal IMO. Good luck with your decision..........Happy Scrolling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bendita Posted November 6, 2014 Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 This all depends on how good you are with spiral blades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amazingkevin Posted November 6, 2014 Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 Basically a 16" saw can handle a 32" project doing it in halfs. A 21 will accept projects up to 42" in.I have 20" saw 's for years now and never want to go smaller as i do lots of skinny but long projects.If you ever need more saw and settle for a 16" ,not good.If your projects are just going to be regular copy paper size a 16" will be fine for you.I used a 16" saw 4 or 5 years before i got a 20" saw. I really struggled and stretched to do bigger projects.For myself a 21 " saw would make my life even easyier! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browders Posted November 6, 2014 Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 It's like a lot of things in life. You settle, and everything is fine until that one time you need it. oldhudson 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herrwood Posted November 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 Well so far the jury seems to be leading toward the 21" amazingkevin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjR Posted November 6, 2014 Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 (edited) The 16 will be very fine -- for about 90% of your cutting! But it will be just not enough on that other 10% I had a 16" Dremel pin blade saw that would let me turn the blades sideways; it did about 99% with that feature! Now some of the pros hate pin end blades; most of what I do they would do fine! I now have a DW 788 and it is a very fine saw and has done a lot of tough(hickory, maple & oak) cutting. I can say that it is a good saw! Get a decent light for it right away though, as the factory one is garbage. Edited November 6, 2014 by rjR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dansnow Posted November 6, 2014 Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 I would always go for the larger one. The room is there is you need it, and I could almost guarantee that if you get the 16" you'll find you need it! amazingkevin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Multifasited Posted November 6, 2014 Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 If you got the bread ,and the space ,jump all over it ,You only live once ,But , now your excuses are limited ! amazingkevin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heppnerguy Posted November 6, 2014 Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 that is so true. If money is not a concern then go for the bigger saw. I have a 20 inch saw and only one time was there a problem cutting a longer piece but I was able to work around the lack of length. but if I did have the extra inches.. why not ? Dick heppnerguy amazingkevin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenf Posted November 6, 2014 Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 If you have the space and can afford the best buy it kenf amazingkevin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KurtP Posted November 6, 2014 Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 I would definitely go for the 21". I used a 16" when I first started and a couple times I found that I could have used the extra space. amazingkevin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ike Posted November 6, 2014 Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 I have been scrolling off and on for about 30 years and still learning. I have used 16' saws but it limits what I can do I now have a 20 inch DeWalt 788 which is a very good saw. and sometimes I wish I had a 24 inch, I recommend nothing less than a 20 inch. amazingkevin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Finn Posted November 6, 2014 Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 I have a 20" Hegner , a 25" Hegner and a 15" jet. I use the 15" jet 95% of the time. I use the 20" only because I have the Jet set to a 2.2 ° angle and when I need a 90° cut I use the 20" saw. My 25" saw is in storage. I could do all my work with 15" saws. It all depends on your needs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Scroller Posted November 6, 2014 Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 This is one time when size does matter and if you can afford it go bigger I have the EX-21 and wish I had the EX-30 because I hate spiral blades which I have to us if the jobs to big. Roly LarryEA 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herrwood Posted November 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 Thanks for replies as most stated the 21 would be a better choice but that brings up the thought if you have 21 do you need 22 or larger. A interesting turn of events was speaking with a friend who is moving and he has a dewalt 788 about 6 months old that he will not be able to use when he moves and is at a price that is hard to say no to. I do like some of the different features that the Excalibur had but will have to consider this option which I think is also a good saw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryEA Posted November 6, 2014 Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 Boy, aren't you one to 'Wiff Woff' and prolong a decision. Wiff Woff- bounce back and forth like a ping pong ball Get the 20" Dewalt, wear it out and then buy a 33 1/3" saw or a 21" Actually, the answer is to get the Dewalt and the Excalibur Oh, you never said what saw you currently have. Another thought is experience would tell you to get the bigger saw, no experience would say, 'any saw will do.' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herrwood Posted November 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 (edited) Oh, you never said what saw you currently have. Another thought is experience would tell you to get the bigger saw, no experience would say, 'any saw will do.' Never did much scroll work mostly have done thing like tables, bookcase, small cabinets and things like that for family and friends but geting older and looking for faster and smaller projects. I have a 16" roybii about 25 years old that my son used when he was young. I was looking at it the other day and it was cutting out but it was a bad plug so I do have it working and can do some work with it but figured I would start with something a little newer. I am trying to spend as much money as possible before I die so no one has to fight over whats left . So the Excalibur seemed like a good place to start. Now with a more inexpensive option in the slightly used dw788, it sounds like a good way for me to go. Edited November 6, 2014 by herrwood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ike Posted November 6, 2014 Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 Get the biggest that you can afford. for me the 16 inch is not big enough and I never start any thing that a 20 inch can't handle, very seldom do I see something that large . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amazingkevin Posted November 6, 2014 Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 If i had the money im like ROLY go big .I'd love and drool for a 24" saw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted November 7, 2014 Report Share Posted November 7, 2014 I'd go as big as I could affort. If that was a 30" that is what I would have. I have a 21", love it and if I had know how much I like scrolling I will have probably gone for the 30". I have only once gone down is size on a tool and now I have found times when I regret it. I went from a full sized lathe to a midi size. There have been a couple time I've thought I like to try something on it but it is not big enough. But I have a small shop and sacrifices must be made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryEA Posted November 7, 2014 Report Share Posted November 7, 2014 I am trying to spend as much money as possible before I die so no one has to fight over whats left . So the Excalibur seemed like a good place to start. Now with a more inexpensive option in the slightly used dw788, it sounds like a good way for me to go. The Dewalt is a good saw and plenty big enough for whatever you cut. Are you going to cut anything longer than your legs? Cut one of the doors in your house in half, will you cut anything bigger than that? I think you will love the Dewalt especially after the Ryobi browders 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombatie Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 Get the DeWalt while you have the chance, you can always get the EX later when you have done more scrolling. Get the experience behind you and then you will know what size you need. Marg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heppnerguy Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 Well, my input would be, if you can get a good price on the DeWalt, I don't think you would ever regret buying it. I have had mine for several years and has serviced me well. It seems rather senseless to me to spend a lot more money on a saw when you have this opportunity, If the saw is a good savings, then the DeWalt would be my choice, Without it to consider, i would go ahead and buy the larger of the two other saws if that were my only choice. You never mentioned what sort of price offer you got on the DeWalt though and that might effect my answer. It seems to me that if you are a conservative driver and you have a nice car with all the bells and whistles and you enjoy it but you find out about a different car that can go 160 MPH but it costs $100,000. to buy the faster car and you never speed anyway, what is the point of spending the $100,00 ? That is my point Dick heppnerguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herrwood Posted November 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 I got the dewalt yesterday, it looks like it will do all I need at this point in time. Its a little heavy to keep moving it around so I will put it on the stand, ordered one it should be here soon. Thanks for all the feedback Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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