Papatch Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 Ladies and Gentlemen, I am rather new to scroll sawing, about a month. I've been using a 16" Craftsman 2161 to cut portraits, its a good saw, I only paid $50 for the saw with a stand, the saw is like new and works flawlessly. But, changing blades is more difficult that it should be, resetting the tension for each pierce cut is tedious and I am limited to the size of portrait I can cut with ease. I am going to up-grade to a 20" saw. I have my eye on a used RBI Hawk 220VS for $300 and the new Delta 40-695 for about $500. The RBI would be an as/is purchase where-as the Delta would have a five year warranty. I have to travel 100 miles round trip for the RBI and the Delta is available at the local WoodCrafter store. Assuming both saws are top quality what is most important to me is to be able to change blades quickly and to feed the blade easily for pierce cuts. I have never used any other saw but my Craftsman. Any opinions or advice would be appreciated. Ed Sr. vendefwrife 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonR Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 Ed, I also began with a Craftsman 16 inch and I liked it. I used it for about seven years with only minor problems but blade changing was a problem so I "invented" a bigger thumbscrew to make blade changing less painful. Recently, I upgraded to a Delta when they were on sale a few months ago. There is no comparison, the Delta is by a long shot far superior to the Craftsman in every way. In short, I love my Delta. Good luck with your choice. Don R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papatch Posted August 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 Ed, I also began with a Craftsman 16 inch and I liked it. I used it for about seven years with only minor problems but blade changing was a problem so I "invented" a bigger thumbscrew to make blade changing less painful. Recently, I upgraded to a Delta when they were on sale a few months ago. There is no comparison, the Delta is by a long shot far superior to the Craftsman in every way. In short, I love my Delta.Good luck with your choice. Don R Hi Don, Did you purchased one of those discontinued Delta 40-690s. I got the bug too late or I would have bought one. They were on sale at WoodCrafters for $350. Or did you get the newer 40-695? I'm looking at the 40-695 and have a question for anyone that uses one. Thanks for the advice. Ed Sr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonR Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 Ed I got the 40-690 on sale. Great saw great deal. Don R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papatch Posted August 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 From what I've read, the 40-690 looks like a winner, especially at the prices there were selling them for a few months ago. If they were still available my searching days would be over. I may end up paying a bit more and getting a bit less. But if the 40-695 is as good as 690 it will all work out. Saturday I'll head over to WoodCrafters and look at one close up. Thanks for the help. Ed Sr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabitfast Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 I would appreciate updates if it’s pushed through, Ed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papatch Posted August 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 I've decided to purchase the Delta 40-695. I was in town today on other business and stopped by WoodCrafter. The saw is everything I need and they told me that there will be a 10% off of sale in October. I can wait, my Craftsman works really well. I've looked at a number of really nice used saws, the least expensive being a 20" Hawk for $300. The saw is in great shape, but its ten years old, hardly used, and no warranty. The Delta has a five year warranty and WoodCrafter has a good return policy. Plus WoodCrafter is sixty miles closer. I also like the lift arm on the Delta. If the fella with the Hawk would lower his price to $200-$250 I'd probably buy it. But considering the up-coming sale and the cost of gas to get the Hawk, it only cost another hundred to buy a new Delta. Well that's that. Ed Sr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjR Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 Is this the Delta saw that is a clone of the DeWalt 788? My 788 is about 2-1/2 years old and I have used it to cut name plates out of hickory! (flooring scraps) The only porblem has been the blades grips have to be super tight to work in that hard of wood. (I have actually made a "grip" from a piece of hardwood-- then stripped the wingnuts out of the aluminum blade carrier.. I then actually found bolts and am using them instead of the wing-nut things. They seem to hold better and are actually easier to set than the small wing nuts were. The hold-down foot is also poorly designed. The rest of the saw seems to be a great design. I have a few decades and a large pile of sawdust for experience. If you are NOT intending to cut 9/16 (HICKORY/IRON??) it should be a great saw for you. If you are NOT cutting superhard wood like the hickory; you probably will never have the same problem anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papatch Posted September 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 Thanks for the imput. The Delta 40-695 replaced the Dewalt clone. It is so similar that I think I'll have about the same experience as you. I cut bbplywood for now, maybe later I'll cut solid wood, maybe even hickory, who knows what the future holds. Ed Sr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabitfast Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 It’s good to know that, Ed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artmill Posted September 28, 2012 Report Share Posted September 28, 2012 I purchased my 788 SS, 12 1/2" Dewalt planer, craftsman 12" bandsaw and craftsman 6 1/4" jointer on craigslist for a wopping $565 and they work and look like new. amazingkevin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarrynKy Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 I found a deal on craiglist for a 2002-03 model RBI Hawk 226VS. The sellers had purchased new and had never used the saw. They sold it for $200. Just be patient when seek a use saw and be willing to drive 100-150 mile radius of your locale. I love this saw. Quiet and smooth....and American made.... Larry Smith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amazingkevin Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 WHAT A DEAL GREAT HUNTING Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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