Ber Gueda Posted April 15 Report Share Posted April 15 Hello, I am looking for a new scroll saw and I would like to ask, if someone in the community has experience with 30" scroll saws. I was thinking about buyint the Pégas 30" saw, but I don't know if the difference with the 21" worths the bigger price. Thank you for your comments. OCtoolguy and MarieC 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted April 15 Report Share Posted April 15 3 hours ago, Ber Gueda said: Hello, I am looking for a new scroll saw and I would like to ask, if someone in the community has experience with 30" scroll saws. I was thinking about buyint the Pégas 30" saw, but I don't know if the difference with the 21" worths the bigger price. Thank you for your comments. I have no personal experience but I might just say, in your scrolling experience, have you ever had a need for a bigger saw? Do you ever make large projects? Have you ever had to NOT do a project because it was too big? For me, all the answers would be no. I have no need for a larger saw. But if you do signage, I can see where it might be useful. Just my 2 cents worth. And probably not worth that, even. MarieC, Hawk and Sycamore67 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dak0ta52 Posted April 15 Report Share Posted April 15 I have a Pegas 30" I purchased from Denny (Artcraftersonline.com) and I love the saw. I typically cut portrait type wall hangers and having the saw 10-months now I haven't cut anything that would require the extra throat depth. However, I do have a pattern that will require the larger saw and plan to cut in the future. The way I looked at it was the difference in the cost was just a couple hundred dollars and the extra depth was there if I ever needed it. If I had any negative to say about the 30" would be lifting the arm. I can't say that it is any harder than it would be if it were the 21" saw because I've never cut on a 21" saw. My first saw was the WEN which only had a 16" throat and the upper arm did not lift. As with any piece of equipment I did have to make slight adjustments when I received the saw. Initially the upper arm would not stay raised when lifted. Also, the blade was set for very aggressive cutting. The adjustments for these corrections are clearly indicated in the manual and were very easy to fix. Finally, the saw is BIG!!! And Heavy! I mounted casters to my stand that aid in moving but have recently placed it in an area where it most likely will sit for now on. My shop is not climate controlled and I purchased a 6X8 popup greenhouse enclosure and a 1500 watt heater cuts the chill nicely. If you have the bucks, go for the extra throat depth. But make sure you have the space to set it up once it arrives. Give Denny a call. I'm sure he'll do you right on price. OCtoolguy and MarieC 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomanydogs Posted April 16 Report Share Posted April 16 I agree with everything @Dak0ta52 has said, I also had a 16” and the arm did not move. I bought a 30” a few years ago and I love it. I do cut fairly big projects, it’s nice not to be limited in the projects I choose. MarieC, Dak0ta52 and OCtoolguy 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAIrving Posted April 16 Report Share Posted April 16 I have a 21" Pegas which I bought from Denny at Artcrafters. I love the saw and I like doing business with Denny. As I understand it, the difference between the 2 saws is the depth of the throat and the size of the saw. The action and feel of the machine at the cutting end should be the same. I have limited space and sometimes think I would be better served with a smaller machine, maybe an 18" Pegas (if they made one). OCtoolguy and MarieC 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denny Knappen Posted April 16 Report Share Posted April 16 45 minutes ago, TAIrving said: I have a 21" Pegas which I bought from Denny at Artcrafters. I love the saw and I like doing business with Denny. As I understand it, the difference between the 2 saws is the depth of the throat and the size of the saw. The action and feel of the machine at the cutting end should be the same. I have limited space and sometimes think I would be better served with a smaller machine, maybe an 18" Pegas (if they made one). They make a 16" saw, but only for the European market. OCtoolguy and TAIrving 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTTHECLOCKMAN Posted April 16 Report Share Posted April 16 Now no one will be able to tell you what you should do because we have no idea what your intentions are. but we can mention the pros and cons. I do not have a 30" saw but have 2 RBI saws. a 220 and 226. The 226 does take up much more room as will the 30" If you have the room then that is a check in the +. I bought the 226 because I got a good deal and also I was making larger projects such as my mirrors. I was able to increase the size of those which made them more sales valuable. If you have plans for making larger projects than what you do now then put that in the + column. Now I found myself using the 220 much more than the 226 because it just felt more comfortable and yet both operate the same way. If you plan on keeping both saws you too will probably gravitate toward one saw over the other more. But if you want just one saw then you have to weigh the other +'s and see where they stack up. Good luck. TAIrving, MarieC and OCtoolguy 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarieC Posted April 17 Report Share Posted April 17 I agree with both @Dak0ta52and @JTTHECLOCKMAN. I think space is very important and the sizes of your projects. When I started I got the EX21 (Canadian) which I love and still have but I did needed a bigger saw for my wood art and also I want to do mirrors as well. So I bought a Hawk G426 (26 inches) for a great used price.... which I also love but I did have to move my Lathe out of my small heated workroom to make room for my Hawk. But wow, if I could get a Pegas 30 that would be awesome! Everyone must really like them because I have only seen one used in all the years I have been looking and it was a small one. Good luck on your decision! TAIrving and OCtoolguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill WIlson Posted April 17 Report Share Posted April 17 I have enough trouble fitting the wood between my gut and the blade on projects that fit my 21" saw. Can't imagine swinging a project large enough to require a 30" saw. I'd be so far away I couldn't see the blade. MarieC, JTTHECLOCKMAN, GrampaJim and 2 others 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmmcrafts Posted April 17 Report Share Posted April 17 99% of my projects could be done on a 16 inch and probably even a 14" saw.. I have two 26" saws and a 21 and 18" saw.. It is nice to be able to have the option for cutting very large projects.. it's also nice to have more shop space for other useful tools, especially if your space is limited. Everyone is going to have different opinions based on what projects they make. Largest projects I recall doing was a 4ft wide x 2ft tall sign.. I did this back when the only saw I had was a 20" Dewalt. Blades can be modified by bending the ends so you can cut from the side of the saw instead of in front.. Spiral blades are also quite helpful in large projects.. No more large projects I do I really could just have a 21" saw and make do with how I go about cutting a large project.. IF I was always doing large stuff then yes a large saw would be a must have.. Pattern designers typically design stuff that works on most standard sized saws. I personally think a 21" saw is plenty large enough to do most stuff comfortably anyway. I guess you have to figure out if the space is going to be an issue as well as the price of the saw going to be worth it for the amount of projects you'll do with that big of a saw is the bottom line. Another tool could be had for that extra cash and also could use the spot in the shop for that extra space too.. Also feel like the extra cost of the saw is lost IF/When it's time to sell it off.. They seem to sell harder and don't bring the cash that the cheaper smaller saw would. Something I've seen time and time again is when folks retire they decide to travel in a camper, sell homes to downsize etc.. Many of them ask questions about small lightweight saws so yet having to buy a smaller saw to downsize.. Just something else to think about.. I know my wife and I plan to do a little RVing and I intend to keep my small lightweight Hegner to take along. I can't imagine dragging my 26" Hawks around in a RV, LOL.. Not only is it heavy as crap.. I could put 3 hegners in the same spot that one Hawk takes up. OCtoolguy and MarieC 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ber Gueda Posted April 17 Author Report Share Posted April 17 Thank everyone for your opinions and comments. I really appreciate it. I will be making a decision in the next days, so I will let you know. As some of you said, having enough room for such a big saw might be even a more important issue than the extra money. It's amazing finding so many people willing to help and giving their best advice. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted April 17 Report Share Posted April 17 I bought a Hawk 226 Ultra. Actually, I stole it. Less than 20 hrs on it. I really liked it but in my small shop the footprint was just too big. It had to go. Sad! MarieC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ber Gueda Posted April 26 Author Report Share Posted April 26 Well, 30" Pégas ordered. I hope I will be sawing with it in a couple of weeks. Thanks again everyone for your tips. Wichman, OCtoolguy and kmmcrafts 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmmcrafts Posted April 26 Report Share Posted April 26 Congrats on the new saw!! You should get many years of joy out of if.. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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