Savannah Scroller Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 Hey , I am ready to upgrade to a Top Class Scroll Saw up to $ 1000.00 I cannot make up my mind which one to buy. Right now its between the Excalibur ex-21 $899.99 , the Delta Q3 - no price , Delta p20- no price , Delta 40-694- est. $400.00 Dewalt 788 20in Est. 580.00 Any advice would be appreciated . I want the easyest blade change system as well as vibration free and smooth cutting -of course. I have been on several web sites and everyone gives different opions. I hope to get to know everyone better. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrolling Steve Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 Thomas , The EX21 is an excellent saw! I got mine from Seyco with the stand and foot pedal.....I have loved the saw from day one! Steve Savannah Scroller 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ike Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 I HAVE A dEwALT 788 AND I LOVE IT IT WAS $499 AT hd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustLarry Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 I have the Delta 40-690 - the DW 788 clone. After using it for nearly 3 years, I would be happy with the 788 or 40-694. The 788 has a 3 yr warranty. the 694 as 5 yr warranty. And the EX 21 would fit nice also. If there is anyway you can try one out it could help with the decision. Larry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Scroller Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 If you have the money It's the EX-21 for me if mine ever broke I'd buy another. Roly Lucky2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 I've had the DeWalt and now have the Ex 21. I love my Ex but I'm really not sure it is $400 worth better. I had no problems with the DeWalt while I had it. Although I have already used my Excalibur more in the few months I've had it than I did the DeWalt which I had for many years. I do like the tension lever on the Ex better and the upper arm raises a couple inches higher than the DeWalt did. It is a little quieter and a little less vibration. amazingkevin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savannah Scroller Posted November 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 Thanks for the replys so far. I kind of thought the EX was the one to go with . This is for Obsessed Scroller- How easy is the blade changer for Pinless blades? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ike Posted November 19, 2014 Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 I CAN CHANGE BLADES ON THE 788IN LESS THAN A MINUTE AS LONG AS I DON'T PUT THE BLADE IN UPSIDE DOWN. marter1229 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Multifasited Posted November 19, 2014 Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 What kind of a car do you drive ,ROLLS OR CHEVY OR TOYOTA .i KNOW PEOPLE THAT DRIVE A RATTLE TRAP BUT NEED A Browning shot Gun .Others drive a Sadies and used pawn shop Mossberg .Both seem happy .I quess it's personal importance ,both get game ,I doubt there any difference in taste . And like Vinnies Future wife says ,she doubts the game cares what the S.O.B. that shot it ,was using for agun or what he was wearing ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amazingkevin Posted November 19, 2014 Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 (edited) I've wore out a dozen saws ,chinese and craftsman.Now i'm sold on dewalts.I've wore one of them out and the second one too but i keep the second one limping just fine with regreaseing the whole machinre where i can and replace one broken bolt.Quite as a kitten and tight as a drum.I have a brand new dewalt for back up but it's a type 2, never try one.I do an extreme amount of scrolling and mostly 3/4" plywood. Edited November 19, 2014 by amazingkevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonacker Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 I started with the Dewalt 788. Good saw, never had a problem. Then I got the Excalibur 21 because of the tilting head. Never regretted it. It's the best! Savannah Scroller 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mort Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 One question I would have, is the tilting head instead of a tilting table a worthwhile $400 option? Or is there another reason the Excalibur costs so much more? LarryEA 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC Scroller Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 I have two older DW788's in my shop. I love them. One has thousands of hours on it. It could use some work but it runs fine. If I had to buy a new saw today I would get an EX-21. ONLY because of the quality issues that seem to plague the new DW788's. But before I paid for a new I would be watching Craigslist for a gently used DW788. They are out there if you watch and wait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ike Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 The best scroll saw I bought was a Craftsman I bought in the early 80"s. I wore it out I 2012,( I paid $250 for it) I looked at the Craftsman's and they didn't show me much not near what I had before. So I bought a Porter Cable kept it for a year and it wore out it was still under warranty but I junked it any way. I now have a DW 788 It is a good saw had a little problem with it but it was fixed under warranty I guess I would recommend the DW788 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjR Posted November 24, 2014 Report Share Posted November 24, 2014 Unlike ike I still have my first scrollsaw--it has run on homemade parts for 55 or so years now. It is still working; although very little. I bought a DW 788 about3-1/3 or so years ago now. Good saw, I cut a lot of hardwood name=plates etc. It is a very good saw in the price range!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Finn Posted November 24, 2014 Report Share Posted November 24, 2014 My experience with the DeWalt saw was short lived. It died just out of warranty at twenty months. I then bought a Hegner. That was in 2008. Since then a friend of mine replaced his DeWalt motor five times. The DeWalt is a great cutting saw but most any saw with brushed motors will not stand up to hard usage. My friend and I use our saws to cut 3/4" - 1 3/4" stock and this is hard on this saw. If you plan to cut thiner stock as in fretwork the DeWalt will serve well. I also have a 15"Jet scroll saw (paid $15 for it) that I use every day cutting 3/4" stock, that was made in 1988 with an induction motor, and it still runs well. Different strokes for different folks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mengtian Posted November 27, 2014 Report Share Posted November 27, 2014 I have a Craftsman, got an Delta 40-694 which had nothing but problems. Missing two pins, severe back and forth motion with blade. Returned it and got an Ex 21 from Performance Line Tool Center (free shipping and no taxes). I have benn using the Ex 21 for a week now and love it. Phantom Scroller 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southern Scroller Posted December 7, 2014 Report Share Posted December 7, 2014 My first saw was a Delta 16" variable speed. Vibration almost disappeared after putting it on a old table and throwing a couple sacks of Quickcrete on the bottom shelf. A great little saw! I miss it and might pick up another just for grins. They're really cheap if bought used. My current saw is a Type 1 DW788 I bought in 1995. Still using it but if replaced might go with a Hegner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ike Posted December 7, 2014 Report Share Posted December 7, 2014 I figure that my DE Walt had a problem after about 900 hours of work I can't complain , and it was still in it's first year of service. I put between 4 and 6 hours of work on it work it 6 days a week 9 month a year and the rest of the year it up to the weather, I don't have a heated shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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