Should I buy a scroll saw, or something else?

[OCtoolguy]

2 hours ago, Simpleman said:

Here's a question for anyone still following this - do your saws cut other materials? Are they all essentially built to do so with the correct blade?

I was reading the hawk tools website, and am kind of impressed that you can cut pretty much anything with them -of course, I'd be into at least $1500 before even getting any accessories for it, but I can also keep a look out for one for sale on craigslist.

I might mention that I spent a decade as a mechanic, something you never really quit doing, even when you aren't on the line anymore, and shaping metal to my needs is a handy ability to have, and one I'm severely limited on with my current tool set. Being limited to working around other people's ideas is part of what made me look for something more fulfilling, but I've never stopped using it, and I know people on the full-custom and auto restoration side of things. I know this is a far cry from machine shop tools, but I can see making billet engine-driven accessory brackets and custom interior parts, and all manner of other items that always suck or maybe don't even exist on cars, but you always want them. They'd all have to be non-lathe-built parts, but there are plenty of those around every car. Even just custom metal, fiber. graphite and wooden trim and inlays are in demand for restorations and custom cars. I was a bit worried that the applications would be a little too much on the art side of things. I don't wonder why people like things like that; they're neat - I am so practical in that regard that I only recognize that things that don't serve a function still have to be cleaned. I have zero decorations in my home for that reason, save a few framed items on the wall. No judgment to anyone else - I know I'm the weird one.

Anyway, does anyone cut metal or any other materials on their saws? This has piqued my interest anew. I wonder what thicknesses of metals can be cut, or if anything is impossible to work with on a scroll saw, provided it doesn't exceed the throat clearance. Hawk even has glass cutting blades. It's pretty enticing.

I see more used Hawks than any other saw. Second is Dewalt but there are just a ton of Hawks around me. Anywhere from $150 on up. But, there are many things to know about Hawks before you jump in and buy one. There are many folks here who will gladly guide you.

[Simpleman]

@octoolguy
Well, this why I came here to learn!

Anything you can tell me offhand? In other words, is there something I'm missing about the tool due to my ignorance? I'm all ears! I'm not being sarcastic; I'm learning about this stuff from the ground up.

I recall seeing a scroll saw in my high school wood shop 30 years ago. Both sides of the bow\arms were exposed and looked like they were cast together/the same part with a blade suspended in-between the tips, violently shaking up and down while someone moved a piece of wood in bizarre directions. I remember that it was noisy, like a great big sewing machine. It kinda looked like old,old sewing machine technology, like it once had foot pedals attached to it to make it move, but then electricity was invented. I made things that didn't need it, and then proceeded to forget scroll saws exist for most of my life.

Do high schools still have wood shops? If I knew then what I know now, I'd have spent as much time there as I could have. It's about the only useful information you get in high school.

I haven't seen a hawk yet around me on craigslist. Lots of 'new' smaller saws that someone bought and obviously didn't enjoy for whatever reason. Lots of old craftsman saws, too. I definitely don't want something I can't get parts for if I need one. I noticed Hawk sells pretty much every part of their saws individually, should something break.

[carl1]

I think if you would conduct poll, you would find out that most who have a scroll saw also have a bandsaw and table saw and miter saw,

 unless you just want to cut plywood's. me thinks.  Good luck on your search

[OCtoolguy]

36 minutes ago, Simpleman said:

@octoolguy
Well, this why I came here to learn!

Anything you can tell me offhand? In other words, is there something I'm missing about the tool due to my ignorance? I'm all ears! I'm not being sarcastic; I'm learning about this stuff from the ground up.

I recall seeing a scroll saw in my high school wood shop 30 years ago. Both sides of the bow\arms were exposed and looked like they were cast together/the same part with a blade suspended in-between the tips, violently shaking up and down while someone moved a piece of wood in bizarre directions. I remember that it was noisy, like a great big sewing machine. It kinda looked like old,old sewing machine technology, like it once had foot pedals attached to it to make it move, but then electricity was invented. I made things that didn't need it, and then proceeded to forget scroll saws exist for most of my life.

Do high schools still have wood shops? If I knew then what I know now, I'd have spent as much time there as I could have. It's about the only useful information you get in high school.

I haven't seen a hawk yet around me on craigslist. Lots of 'new' smaller saws that someone bought and obviously didn't enjoy for whatever reason. Lots of old craftsman saws, too. I definitely don't want something I can't get parts for if I need one. I noticed Hawk sells pretty much every part of their saws individually, should something break.

Yes, Hawks & Hegners have great parts availability. The Hawks started out with belts and 2 groove pulleys that offered 2 speeds. Over the years they have made many improvements. As far as I know most any Hawk can be upgraded if you have a fat wallet. The blade clamping and tensioning systems are the major changes. And they wen't through a period of time that they had motor problems. If you find a saw with a Fasco motor that is one to walk away from. Not all bad but why take a chance? There is a ton of info on the Bushton site so if you have a serial number you can find out a lot about a saw. And all the manuals are available. As for Hegner pretty much the same goes for them. Except the motor problem. I've never heard of them having any problems. Great customer service too. They are sold by Advanced Machinery in Delaware and Wolfgang is their contact man. Parts are expensive but luckily nothing much wears out on them. If you find a saw and want help just let us know.

[OCtoolguy]

11 minutes ago, carl1 said:

I think if you would conduct poll, you would find out that most who have a scroll saw also have a bandsaw and table saw and miter saw,

 unless you just want to cut plywood's. me thinks.  Good luck on your search

I have every kind of saw you can name I think. Maybe no tile saw. Haven't needed one of them yet. Hope I never do.

[Simpleman]

@carl1
Well, I have a table saw and a sliding/compound miter saw. Router w/table. Lots of hand tools. I never bought a band saw. I never bought a scroll saw, either. Most of what I do isn't done in my garage. I load up my stuff and head to where the job is. Tools that are mounted in place haven't been historically useful to me for that reason, but I'm getting interested more in finer-quality, higher-detail work in different woods as I age, so I suppose you're correct; I'm gonna have to add to my collection. Additionally, I need a "shop". I've never really needed one of those, either. I'll eventually need a bevy of new tools!

[Simpleman]

@octoolguy
Oddly, I'd like to do more tiling - just for practice. Only done it once. The tile saw I rented was the least pleasurable part. I missed sawdust.

[Simpleman]

@octoolguy

Yes, Hawks & Hegners have great parts availability. The Hawks started out with belts and 2 groove pulleys that offered 2 speeds. Over the years they have made many improvements. As far as I know most any Hawk can be upgraded if you have a fat wallet. The blade clamping and tensioning systems are the major changes. And they wen't through a period of time that they had motor problems. If you find a saw with a Fasco motor that is one to walk away from. Not all bad but why take a chance? There is a ton of info on the Bushton site so if you have a serial number you can find out a lot about a saw. And all the manuals are available. As for Hegner pretty much the same goes for them. Except the motor problem. I've never heard of them having any problems. Great customer service too. They are sold by Advanced Machinery in Delaware and Wolfgang is their contact man. Parts are expensive but luckily nothing much wears out on them. If you find a saw and want help just let us know.

Very good information! Thank you!

[Roberta Moreton]

I personally think that you want a band saw. It is heavier duty than a scroll saw. You CANNOT do interior cuts. You can cut thick material, you can resaw. Keep thinking about what project you want to do and what tool will help the most. 

[kmmcrafts]

8 hours ago, Simpleman said:

Here's a question for anyone still following this - do your saws cut other materials? Are they all essentially built to do so with the correct blade?

I was reading the hawk tools website, and am kind of impressed that you can cut pretty much anything with them -of course, I'd be into at least $1500 before even getting any accessories for it, but I can also keep a look out for one for sale on craigslist.

I might mention that I spent a decade as a mechanic, something you never really quit doing, even when you aren't on the line anymore, and shaping metal to my needs is a handy ability to have, and one I'm severely limited on with my current tool set. Being limited to working around other people's ideas is part of what made me look for something more fulfilling, but I've never stopped using it, and I know people on the full-custom and auto restoration side of things. I know this is a far cry from machine shop tools, but I can see making billet engine-driven accessory brackets and custom interior parts, and all manner of other items that always suck or maybe don't even exist on cars, but you always want them. They'd all have to be non-lathe-built parts, but there are plenty of those around every car. Even just custom metal, fiber. graphite and wooden trim and inlays are in demand for restorations and custom cars. I was a bit worried that the applications would be a little too much on the art side of things. I don't wonder why people like things like that; they're neat - I am so practical in that regard that I only recognize that things that don't serve a function still have to be cleaned. I have zero decorations in my home for that reason, save a few framed items on the wall. No judgment to anyone else - I know I'm the weird one.

Anyway, does anyone cut metal or any other materials on their saws? This has piqued my interest anew. I wonder what thicknesses of metals can be cut, or if anything is impossible to work with on a scroll saw, provided it doesn't exceed the throat clearance. Hawk even has glass cutting blades. It's pretty enticing.

I've cut aluminum and copper.. just thin sheets. nothing more than 1/8" and it's very slow going.. Someone out there might be able to cut thicker metal materials but I think watching paint dry would be more fun. I did actually cut a manifold spacer for a race car a few years back but free handing it and getting it to match up perfectly proved to much of a challenge. The thing with scroll saw work is.. you can cut the same item 10 times and all 10 will be different because it is free hand and harder to do than you might think. Kinda like trying to cut a perfect circle from paper with a pair of scissors.. You can get one where it looks real good, but then get some measuring devices and start doing measurements and you find it's a lot farther off than you thought, LOL 

[preprius]

i just cut 1 inch thick acrylic. 

I have cut 1/8 inch thick aluminum. With an aluminum cutting blade.

and a 2.5 inch branch. Ok I might have been pushing the limit there.