DME72 Posted January 31, 2016 Report Share Posted January 31, 2016 hi, i am new to the forum, but i have been scrolling for about 15 years off and on. a little bit of everything. i currently have a dewalt scroll saw type 1. i love my dewalt but also know that it is not going to last a lifetime. i have the option of buying a RBI 226vs scroll saw that looks like it is brand new. i knew the man who had it and i dont think he put 10 hours on it. he did buy it used about 2006 or so. the company says by the serial number it was made in 1999. my question is how much of a difference is there cutting with this saw over the dewalt? i have never cut on any other saw except my dewalt. they will let me test it out and check for problems. other than obvious signs of wear is there anything special i should check for? as i said the guy who had this took really good care of his tools. my next question is what is a fair value of a saw like this. as i said it looks almost new.any help or comments would be great. thanks DME72 amazingkevin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amazingkevin Posted January 31, 2016 Report Share Posted January 31, 2016 hi, i am new to the forum, but i have been scrolling for about 15 years off and on. a little bit of everything. i currently have a dewalt scroll saw type 1. i love my dewalt but also know that it is not going to last a lifetime. i have the option of buying a RBI 226vs scroll saw that looks like it is brand new. i knew the man who had it and i dont think he put 10 hours on it. he did buy it used about 2006 or so. the company says by the serial number it was made in 1999. my question is how much of a difference is there cutting with this saw over the dewalt? i have never cut on any other saw except my dewalt. they will let me test it out and check for problems. other than obvious signs of wear is there anything special i should check for? as i said the guy who had this took really good care of his tools. my next question is what is a fair value of a saw like this. as i said it looks almost new.any help or comments would be great. thanks DME72 I see these now an then but haven't keep track of info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heppnerguy Posted February 1, 2016 Report Share Posted February 1, 2016 I have both of these saws. I mostly use my DeWalt because my RBI has a blade change that requires a tool to do so. So I just sort of let the saw set unused. Recently I stared to use my RBI. I have found that the blade change is not really a big problem and I am getting used to the small inconvenience. One can buy a no tool thumb screw replacement for $25, but I am not sure it is that necessary to do. I do have to say that even though I truly love my DeWalt, I am slowly liking my RBI saw very much. The RBI has a longer blade stroke and is a smoother running saw than the DeWalt. The RBI original cost is somewhere around $1400 and the quality of the saw seems very high. I do not believe that I have heard anyone writing about a problem with one of them. Due to the higher price, I don't think there are that many people who are purchasing them. They do sell them in booths at trade show and I think people see them there and are impressed with what they see, so a lot of people seem to get enthused to buy them but do not use them much so they sit unused and a lot of them end up on Craig's list. You do not see RBI sold in regular tool stores and that is probably one reason you do not see them being used a lot. I purchased mine at a estate sale and I got it almost for free. I was so excited because it was the saw that I wanted more than any other scroll saw. If I was looking for a new saw and found one like you are talking about, I would jump on it if everything loves good. Have your friend demonstrate how to do everything on the saw and then cut on it , if you like the feel of it , and things appear to be sound, you should buy it. One man's opinion. Of course the price he is asking is truly a factor. I would say the very most I would consider for a perfect used saw would be $500 Dick Heppnerguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy Johnson Posted February 1, 2016 Report Share Posted February 1, 2016 I got a new RBI 226 back in 2002 and paid $1,200.00 for it. The only thing I have had to do is change the upper blade holder because I use it so much. I have seen used 226's go for as low as $500.00. I have several friends that have the Dewalt and they like them. Good luck on the hunt! Tommy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kepy Posted February 1, 2016 Report Share Posted February 1, 2016 If the price is right, I don't think you can miss. They are an American made saw of the highest quality. I have seen a later model of that saw recently for $500. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heppnerguy Posted February 2, 2016 Report Share Posted February 2, 2016 Ok guys... I got the killer deal on my RBI. I told you above that I got mine at an estate sale and it was obvious that the person doing the sale knew nothing about scroll saws, because I got mine for only ...........................are you ready for this??????? $65.00. that is correct only $65. I could not get it off the work bench and to the seller desk fast enough. there was no way I wanted that to get away from me. Unless you have a family member that died and had one and their spouse knew you scrolled and wished for you to get the saw and just gave it to you, I don't believe any one will ever get the deal I did on mine. Right place,,,,right time Dick heppnerguy GrampaJim 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted February 2, 2016 Report Share Posted February 2, 2016 WOW, Dick the saw gods were watching over you for sure. The best I have seen was a like new one for $300. I almost bought it but thought about is a little too long and the guy I was with grabbed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiloquinruss Posted February 2, 2016 Report Share Posted February 2, 2016 Great price, you are going to love it! Congrats. I love mine. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Hurley Posted February 3, 2016 Report Share Posted February 3, 2016 Hi,Tommy,I know there is a roll pin in the holder,did you have to remove the upper arm to replace it.I am also curious about the upper cam lever is that pressed in?I have seen some with a set screw, I have an rbi hawk 220v. I bought this at an auction for $100.00,it looks like new.The saw table had some scratches which were raised a bit so I used some 600 grit to smooth out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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