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I started making these for apprentice lineworkers once they completed their training (4 years) and became journey level lineworkers. I retired back in September and didn't wnat to leave out apprentices that I hired and started their training while I was still there. I plan on still making them as workers complete their training. May not be able to give in person but hope they like them.

This would not be a dilemma for me. I would keep both! For me, it’s important to have a working saw at all times. If something went wrong with my primary saw, I have a backup till I could repair it. Yes, it takes up space, but at least it’s there if I need it.

Got two Russ Beard patterns done, both were a lot of fun but each was over 400 cuts. The wolf one is done on a 3/4 inch oak TV tray. the 2 tigers are done on oak also but it is several strips I edge glued up for a cutting piece, it is about a 1/2 inch thick. Blades used were on the 3/4 piece #5 UR dutchman and for the 1/2 oak # 3 UR dutchman blades. All worked good for me. Had a small issue on the large 3/4 inch oak but Charlie Hand helped out and gave me a couple of tips that worked great. My thanks to Russ for both patterns I really am happy how they came out.

Pattern from Wooden Teddy Bear

Its been awhile since I have posted any of my works but just wanted to put this one on! This is a Jim Blume pattern and it has been a few years since I have cut any portrait style with just using spiral blades, fd 2/0, 3/0! The cutting is 11"x 14" using 1/8" bb mounted on 1/2" mdf. I cut 2 and they will be given to 2 different animal rescues. Erv

All, Thanks so much for the input. I truly appreciate all the responses. Looks like I'm keeping the Dewalt. It's an old friend and fits well in my shop. I'm retired and woodworking is a hobby that keeps me off the streets and out if trouble. I don't really see me needing two scroll saws. If the Dewalt dies again, I'll buy a new one. This rebuilt will hopefully last as long as I well. Thank again all. Jm

Well, I am thinking - the best thing to do is just send me the Delta and I will cover shipping...This is just causing too much mental turmoil for you and you need a saw gone....

A young southern boy in math class. No Teacher! Pie are round. Cornbread are square.

I would keep both. I have two and would have three if I had space for the third saw.

If you aren't paying goofy high credit card interest on the Delta, keep both. One never knows what the future holds.

When I took up scrolling, I never dreamed it would become so complicated or confusing. Thanks Wick.

One

So I cut this pattern this evening. 5/16" hardwood, FD #1 polar blade, glued directly to the wood, tape added as needed to support the pattern (next time I'll cut the inside first, outside last). Found a feature in Inkscape that will (I think) measure the length of all the lines in a pattern: File in svg mode; import, ungroup, trace bitmap (only use the bitmap image). Select the pattern then; extensions > visualize path > measure path (measurement type, length) Inkscape said that the total path(s) length was 242.78 inches (when I enlarged the pattern and remeasured the length increased proportionally). To compare, Splat Cat, came in at 412 inches. I took 90 minutes to cut out the pattern, so 90 x 60 = 5400 seconds / 242 inches is 22.31 seconds per inch cut. (Yes, my brain melted about then). The whole point of this exercise is my attempt to extrapolate how long it should take me to cut an unknown pattern. If I can get the extra big panels to work it's something I'll need to know. Here is the item:

Another goblin. I saw a photo on google and decided to print it to make my pattern, here is the result. I painted it with watercolors so as not to lose the grain of the wood Thank you in advance for your comments, greetings to all!

I saw @Hawk 's post about rving, and well we are starting to gather information regarding this possibility. Our scenario is a bit different, but I would like to get some input and ideas from others. We have 2 trucks - 1 a pickup we just purchased hauls our inventory trailer, the other is going to haul our sleeping trailer (expanding trailer). our truck with the inventory trailer will also be loaded with most of our equipment, generator, gas etc but scaled down slightly - 1 drill press instead of 3 LOL etc. What we are considering is the ability to go on the road, visit various craft shows along the way and sell if we can. Park for a few days, replenish our stock and hit the road for the next event/venue. We're thinking of this as our ultimate retirement plan and the last leg of our journey together.and getting back to a simple life Feel free to offer your ideas if you'd like

Would saw dust in the trailer be a issue? Are you thinking about dust collection noise?

"The top half is for Christmas. The bottom half is Birthday."

TRedd351, Good luck. Don't need a saw gone that badly. I would prefer to "sell" to someone that can use a good scroll saw to get started or who needs a new one. But thanks for the note. Jim

Needmore, My Dewalt 788 was sent to the facility in Las Vegas. I live in Arizona, so that was the closest. You are near the Gwinett Woodwokers in Georgia and I believe Bob Brokaw ma still rebuilds these. His are probably better than Dewalt. You can probably get some information from them as to where would be best to send your unit. Not really sure how to help. I went to my local Dewalt service center and they took care of the connection to Las Vegas. Let me know how you make out and I'll see if the folks here can give me directions to a location near you. Best I can do now is try to get directions for you from here. Keep me posted. PM If you would like. Jim

HA! I'm working on the very same thing. A Christmas (belated) gift for my brother-in-law... don't judge, lol. Might just turn into a birthday gift.

Like others have said, if the cost and floor space isn't a concern, I'd keep both. IF I HAD to narrow it done to one, I keep the Dewalt. Delta as a company always seems to be questionable as of late and in years to come parts availability may be slim. Dewalt has been around in basically the same configuration for awhile and probably will have parts available. Just my thoughts.

Jim I have a Dewalt DW788 that needs rebuilding also, which service center did you send your to? Thanks

If you are an active scroller my thought is to keep it. If not, put one up for sale, priced for demand. For every seller there is a buyer and with the money you could reinvest in other related wood working items. my two pennies worth.

If ya can afford it, and if ya have room for them, keep them both.

Can't you return the Delta?

I have only designed a few fret patterns, but I set myself the task of making them with as few entrance holes as possible. I believe this ads another level of enjoyment to the cutting process.

If you have the space and can afford it, I'd keep both. I have and EX21 and an old Dewalt, but would like another saw as I hate not having the right tool for the job when I need it.

LOL, The one shown in the pictures is not a 5th wheel, But I do understand what you're saying about working with what you have. I'd certainly want to do that and try what you're trying to do before selling off everything and then have it not work well for you.

@kmmcrafts yeah, I've looked at this type of trailer in the past, There is just enough room in a mid size to roll in a ATV and of course you can put the back down as a platform, However, I have not seen one that can be pulled without a 5th wheel which again requires sale of all our existing vehicles. Not to mention, once you load up with the minimal tools, there will be very little area for inventory. As to camp grounds, there are actually other places to park/rv without going to an actual RV camp, Many are free open sites, where you can pull in, setup a generator and shop and produce. I have a few links for these types of sites if you're interested. often they are off the beaten track which allows for hiking and outdoorsy things

Our forefathers brought forth...

I have 2 RBI Hawks. I keep one size blade in one and another size in the other one. That way if I’m working on a project that requires both sized blades all I have to do is switch saws.

I agree with everyone else, keep both machines. I have three so if one goes down I have another to use.

Keep both. Nice having more than 1 saw.

You paid $300 to get the Dewalt overhauled. If you need to recoup that money, selling it would do that. Otherwise, it don’t eat nothin’

Keep Both

Gone Fishing - my latest project, some of my customers asking me who I coming up with patterns. Sometimes idea of the pattern and finished pattern are very different. This pattern is nice example: fistly I wanted to make just a pike, then I remember that one of my customer asked for "gone fishing" pattern, so I added this sign, but this scene looks not finished, I added fishing rod, but it looks not realistic, I added fishing line with bait, it came out too fragile, I added seaweed to make more connected areas. And here is final result Video of making project Gone Fishing pattern

Not really knowing what tools you'd need but when I said toy hauler I was talking about a trailer that has a small portion in the back for hauling toys.. they make them this way already.. Your reply made it sound as though you buy a regular trailer and convert it. Most I've seen of them are at the sand dunes etc. and the folks using them put their dune buggies, dirt bikes, golf carts etc. in the "toy area" of the camper.. Maybe this wouldn't be enough room for the living area? I haven't really "looked" at them.. I can say when we camp we stay outside most the whole time other than if it's storming. I have a feeling if I was to do this I might not saw enough to make it worth while because I enjoy the walks and bike rides, hiking etc.. I could see using it if the weather is bad.. For me.. just having a hand drill and a few scrolling boards.. patterns etc.. and a saw mounted on a board for easy storage is probably good enough when / if I was to hit the open road. Don't forget that some campgrounds may frown upon if you run certain equipment that might be noisy.. table saw and chop / miter saw comes to mind.. people go camping to relax.. and forget about work..

You guys are doing math for fun? There is so much other fun stuff you could be doing instead, like taking out the trash, or cleaning the cats litter box…

Wife and I talk about something similar.. just the two of us so we don't need a huge 40ft travel trailer.. Was actually thinking about going with a toy hauler and have the minimal tools in the toy / shop section of the trailer.. this way we can ride together instead of both having to drive.. no need for two trucks trailers etc. etc. I suppose if you're not going all that far away maybe not a big deal for two trucks etc.. I'm just not sure why one would want to hit the open road driving alone somewhat.. Like I said though may work that way for a small 3-5 hour trip.. but if you're traveling the states and going distances.. doesn't sound fun at all to me.. Another option is to haul a 5th wheel TT.. as with a 5th wheel you can also haul a smaller enclosed trailer attached to the 5th wheel.. that way still one truck.. Then again.. if you have that spouse that never stops talking and drives you nuts.. then the idea of two trucks is genius..

Did a portrait of my sister. She likes it so I guess it's a win. 1/2" red oak.

In many hole patterns, it is not how many holes I can cut before a blade breaks, but how many holes I can thread WITHOUT kinking the blade. When that happens I know shortly thereafter the blade will break. The need to use very small pilot holes for many intricate patterns make threading the blades difficult and kinking the blade much more likely. A #2/0 spiral blade is a snug fit in a #68 drill bit hole and I have broken more than one new blade immediately after trying to thered it the first time only to have it kink. In patterns that have larger cut outs, a larger pilot hole can be used and if I'm careful, no kinks and the blade will last a very long time.

A few cutting in the new shop. The Ice skate, Dream Catcher and Cupid are cut from 1/4 inch Furniture Grade Pine ( my new favorite) . I bought the pine at Johnson workshop and I really like it. It cuts easy and there is very little sanding. Has anyone else used this wood? Thoughts?

It might be a Sakura. Or a knock off of a PS Woods. I'm not sure how to tell.

Just a follow up. 1. Although I found the air tube can be remounted to extend out to the right side, I did not leave it there, but put it back on the left side where it remains set in place and does not need to be reset each time the work is relocated and does not interfere with reaching thumb screw that holes the the blade. 2. I also purchased a magnetic mounted goose neck LED light that I mounted on the right side. This light is physically much larger than the little light that is on my Porter Cable but is very bright and creates that shadow of the blade that aides me seeing where the blade is along the pattern line. My depth precetion is compromised as I have monocular vision (I only see out of one eye at a time) and i found I could not determine exactly where the blade was, even with my 5X magnifier LED lamp, with out being able to reference the shadow. 3. As all the comments I received said remove the Hold Down and the plastic dust collector diafram so I decided to take that advice and have done so. Yep, operation and control is much better and the dust and small pieces of wood fall through preventing interference with the movement of the project. I sweep and vacuum the floor between projects anyway so all is good. Thanks for all who offered comments and suggestions, they were all very helpful and appreciated. Here a few pics of the way I have the saw set up and is working for me:

My brother lived in on rv. He would park in the walmart parking lot and at night would sit in the dark crying himself to sleep. he was cold, miserable and always hassled by bums and and the cops. I thought it sounded like fun until I thought of that and he explained the reality of the plumbing and electric and what not. of course had he had some money he would have had those things but if he had had money, he never would have done it in the first place. Just a different take on it.