RBI vs Hegner and are they worth the upgrade?

[kmmcrafts]

17 minutes ago, octoolguy said:

I'm curious. What is a CW 40? Was that a typo or is it something I'm not familiar with?

Ray

 

Not made any more but it's a Hitachi model CW 40.. don't think they was on the market very long? just a few years back around 2007-8? I almost bought one but went with the Dremel 1800 at the time.. as the dremal had the disc sander that I wanted too.. so that was a cheaper smarter route for me..

[OCtoolguy]

3 minutes ago, kmmcrafts said:

Not made any more but it's a Hitachi model CW 40.. don't think they was on the market very long? just a few years back around 2007-8? I almost bought one but went with the Dremel 1800 at the time.. as the dremal had the disc sander that I wanted too.. so that was a cheaper smarter route for me..

Thanks Kevin. I thought maybe there was another saw for me to shop for. Whew!

Ray

 

[Blaughn]

I used the RBI 26 until an new Ex 21 came up on eBay.  Speaking from my personal experience, the EX is far preferable  - Top or Bottom feed, far less vibration and the tensioning system is less putsy.

Bruce

 

[SCROLLSAW703]

Mr. Ray, Hitachi made a 16" saw for a short time they called the CW - 40. It is an excellent saw, imo. It's been discontinued for several years, but parts are still available.

[Gonzo]

On February 6, 2018 at 8:44 PM, SCROLLSAW703 said:

bein' a Hawk advocate, I'm not goin' to say they are good for every type of cuttin', or, for every sawyer. As Randy pointed out, if you're lookin' for the John Deere of saws, the Ex, Hegner, Seyco, & DeWalt are what you're wantin'. 

If you're lookin' for the Cadillac of saws, the Hawk, imo, is the choice saw. For several reasons. Blade change is easy. Blade speed is easily adjusted. As mentioned, Hawk does have a given speed that they call "harmonic balance". You get around or above that & there is goin' to be some vibration. But, with use & practice, you can learn to smooth out the vibration.Blade Aggression can be adjusted on the fly. Easily worked on. Parts & tech support are superb!!! I'm not goin' to say they don't have imperfections out of the box. Ya may have to tinker with it some to get it just right for you. Squarin' & levelin' the saw is a snap! Everything is out in the open that needs lubed. I have mine on casters, on a wood shop floor, & I have it on HF rubber mats. I have eliminated all of the vibration. Mine will pass the nickel test w/out hesitation.

 

Yes, they are a slower cuttin' saw, but designed to cut with perfection. You'll find that you can cut with a #0/2 blade up to as big a blade as you think you need. I own a BM 26, & I can cut a 2" stack with a #7 blade if need be. I don't cut that thick very often bcause all of my projects are hardwood. I cut each project itself so it's clean & perfect for the customer.

I have a CW 40 I also use for certain projects. I also have a Craftsman Set up I use. I've worn out one Hawk. 

IMO, the question of which saw is best because it costs more is BULLSH*T!! Ya need to test drive the saw for yourself to see if it suits ya! Every saw cuts different, sounds different, handles different, & has a learnin' curve! The best advice I'd give ya, read & study the reviews. Get your hands on the saw BEFORE ya spend yer money. LEARN about the machine. You won't regret it! God Bless & good luck.

Thank you, Scrollsaw 703. As I said in my original post, I'm looking for opinions from those who have the Hawk or Hegner. Not necessarily, the best. As we all know, "best" is subjective.  

[SCROLLSAW703]

gonzo, best is just a phallacy in folks' minds. Only you can decide what's "best" for you & your type of projects. Like most, I started out with what 26 years of scrolling brings me to call junk now. 

 

[tgiro]

I love my EX-21 - since I do, mostly, intarsia, I dcon't have to worry about the constant blade connect/disconnect that fretwork cutters do. If I do have fretwork or inlay involved - I'm a bottom feeder, so a top feeding saw doesn't impress me.

What I like, most, about the EX is the head tilts - not the table. When I'm cutting rings for my bowls, I have a nice flat surface to cut with.

The only Con I have with the saw is the bottom blade clamp. I'm a chronic over-tightener, and I keep spreading the darn things. I have to replace about once a year.

Having said all of that, if you want to look into a new saw - go find one, sit down, and try cutting some things. I know scroll saws are not the most common tool on the market, but vendors do carry them. And wood working shows do demonstrate them. Wood working clubs have them and even some schools have them. Maybe someone on the forum lives somewhat close enough they would be kind enough to let you try theirs.

Finding a new saw is a fun thing, but I have found if you ask 12 people about the best saw - you'll get 12 conflicting opinions.

[OCtoolguy]

4 hours ago, tgiro said:

I love my EX-21 - since I do, mostly, intarsia, I dcon't have to worry about the constant blade connect/disconnect that fretwork cutters do. If I do have fretwork or inlay involved - I'm a bottom feeder, so a top feeding saw doesn't impress me.

What I like, most, about the EX is the head tilts - not the table. When I'm cutting rings for my bowls, I have a nice flat surface to cut with.

The only Con I have with the saw is the bottom blade clamp. I'm a chronic over-tightener, and I keep spreading the darn things. I have to replace about once a year.

Having said all of that, if you want to look into a new saw - go find one, sit down, and try cutting some things. I know scroll saws are not the most common tool on the market, but vendors do carry them. And wood working shows do demonstrate them. Wood working clubs have them and even some schools have them. Maybe someone on the forum lives somewhat close enough they would be kind enough to let you try theirs.

Finding a new saw is a fun thing, but I have found if you ask 12 people about the best saw - you'll get 12 conflicting opinions.

Sort of like trying to get an answer to a question from the I.R.S. They will each give you a different answer because, like the Bible, they each interpret the tax code differently.

Ray