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This will be a birthday gift for my sister. She has a collection of rubber ducks. I thought I would add to it. Woods used: Poplar, Aspen, Tigerwood, Paduk and Walnut. Cut with #5 mg blade. Beeswax butter for the finish.

This is Jim Blume's "Heading West" pattern that was designed to be 11X14. I decided to make it a little more challenging by cutting it into an 8X10. Baltic Birch stained Ipswich with a black backer and a Pine frame. Both cutting and frame were sprayed with several coats of Polyacrylic with light sanding between coats. This was a lot of fun to cut and surprisingly the reduced size didn't make it very difficult. Thanks, Jim, for another great pattern.

Well, after nearly 30 years of using mine I can use the tool under the table without looking.

I personally do not like a tool to change a blade. I had a problem with my Hegner saw because you needed a wrench to change a blade too but at least you could take the clamp off the saw and work on it at eye level. You have to be a contortionist to use that wrench under a saw and the older you get the harder it is to do that. Again my opinion. And that is why it drives me NUTS.

Your question was would you buy this saw and my answer would be NO. As mentioned parts can be a problem and if I remember correctly that saw uses a tool to change blades that would drive me nuts. better options out there. My opinion only.

I've copied here my reply to your post in introductions. That's a Delta 40-540 and if the top Quickset blade clamp is complete and works as it should, then it's a great machine, built like a tank, will just sit on a bench, purring away all day long and not move, I've even had it sat on a workmate portable bench doing demonstrations at craft fairs. I've been using its brother the 2 speed 40-560 type2 (which I bought brand new) since 1995 and it's still going strong. I also have 2 540's and another 560, (they are identical machines except for the electrics, 2 speed v's variable speed,) which I've picked up over the years. I agree, parts are like hens teeth, especially the top clamp, (that's why I'm always on the lookout for cheap machines as spares, but so far I never had to rob one). So I would say go have a look at it, try it out and if it cuts wood buy it, (I would snatch it up).

My main concern with anything with the label Delta on it is parts. Delta is pretty famous, least in my experience is not having parts for their products. But wait for more responses, Because I know very little about this particular model.

Looks like a model 40-540? They was made from around 1990 until maybe around 2000 ish then they went to a 250SS Shopmaster. Decent saws back in the day but now days many parts are obsolete..

Here are all parts (12 round connectors and 30 edges)

Finally I have an opportunity to cut new projects by new scroll saw - Proxxon DS 230. In general, if you have a choice and financial opportunity, then I would not recommend this scroll saw, but at the moment for me it has some advantages. Anyway here is my first project in 2 year - 3D sphere. I hope such patterns will be popular: it looks unusual and eye-catching, interesting to assemble, it could be made of scraps of wood (as each piece is not large) and it could be assembled without glue. I plan to make more 3D geometric patterns, so what do you think of this project and such patterns? Video of making 3D sphere Pattern - https://alexfoxua.etsy.com

After seeing Ron Johnson's posting of toys I had to try my luck. Seeing his posing of the F-16 fighter jet I decided to make one for a nephew who is a pilot in this aircraft. Probably not the easiest pattern to choose for my first attempt, but I think it turned out OK. I am pleased with it, hopefully my nephew is and you are too. Jerry

Would you buy this as a newbie for $65? For sale on FB market place near me for $65. Ad says "Delta variable speed 16” scroll works great extra blades included"... The guy said that his Father game it to him last year and he doesn't know much about it. However he said that he did start it up and used it and it worked fine. I looked at his profile and he seems like a decent person and also a craftsman with a decent looking shop. What do you guys think? Anything else I should ask him?

I have been thrown a curve ball, our sole importer if Niqua/Flying Dutchman scroll saw blades is not importing #0 Pin Less Blades anymore leaving me up a creak without a paddle. So the question is you are familiar with the type of Fretwork Complex patterns I cut. I’m not totally relaxed using Spirals and I know they have a huge following, so what I’m really asking if I can’t get #0 will #1 or #1 reverse tooth do the job.

I live in a typically dry, arid climate in the US. The woods I order will start warping in a couple of days after I receive them. Has anyone made a device to store wood to prevent warping?

Here it is, finished and ready to hang on the wall. BTW, my wife has claimed it and it is to hang on our wall. Since I last posted about it, after many side-tracks and disruptions, I have encased it in clear epoxy, sanded and clear-coated it with lacquer. The wood is 3/8" mesquite and I used Pegas MGT blades, mostly #3. The finished product is roughly 7-1/2" H x 7-3/4" W. It was a fun project to cut although it took many hours. I had not originally planned to do the epoxy but the words at the bottom were fragile. There are several single bridges between the H, the N, the 3 and the 6. They broke and I had to glue them back together. You can probably see it if you look close enough. Now, with the epoxy, nothing is going to break. I will share the pattern if anyone is interested.

#ArtisanPirate

Have you checked out https://woodenteddybear.com/collections/flying-dutchman-scroll-saw-blades Same company as Mikes Workshop. They say they ship internationally via UPSP. I have order gross at a time to Canada and I have any problems. Never been stuck at customs. Usually take a week to 10 days. Are you looking for 2/0. They have those listed in ultra reverse and scroll reverse.

Extremely happy for you. You grew up with that saw. The question was is this a good saw. Yes a good saw but with flaws. if you go back when those saws came out the biggest criticism was that tool. There are so many other better saws on the market. May have to step up a little in price but they are available because people get out of the hobby for one reason or other. just letting the OP know there are flaws because they asked.

Looks great Pard.

Finished this beautiful Russ Beard pattern, double stacked on 1/8” Baltic Birch Plywood, cut with Niqua #0 Pin Less Straight blades, needs to be Oiled and a framed. This will be my last cutting for a while I have run out of blades. It is what it is, circumstances.

The tool is only used on the bottom clamp, usually only when the blade needs changing, and I can't see why it would drive anyone nuts. The top clamp you only need to flick 2 levers when going to a new hole, which can be done in under 15 seconds, that is, switch the machine off, release tension, release blade clamp, take blade out of cut hole, insert into new hole, close top blade clamp, reapply tension and switch machine back on. As for spares,the only thing I have found that cannot be replaced is the Quickset top clamp, anything else could be made or found from engineering suppliers.

Spent sometime in the shop before golf start. Made a charcuterie board out of roasted maple and a few bowls out of left over wood.

That one is very well done.

My, that is mighty fine. I thought you might go larger with the new saw.

Welcome to the Village forum from Tennessee. Stick around and show pictures of your projects.

I am an artist and sign maker. Looking to learn how how to use a scroll saw. Need advice on best saw to buy. Are there any classes available near me? I live in Cumming Ga. Thank you!

Thank you everyone!

Welcome to the Village! I don't know anything about that saw, but if the price is right, pick it up. If it runs well, maybe you get a great deal. If not, just know that the journey has begun. Good luck and happy scrolling.

That's a Delta 40-540 and if the top Quickset blade clamp is complete and works as it should, then it's a great machine, built like a tank, will just sit on a bench, purring away all day long and not move, I've even had it sat on a workmate portable bench doing demonstrations at craft fairs. I've been using its brother the 2 speed 40-560 type2 (which I bought brand new) since 1995 and it's still going strong. I also have 2 540's and another 560, (they are identical machines except for the electrics, 2 speed v's variable speed,) which I've picked up over the years. I agree, parts are like hens teeth, especially the top clamp, (that's why I'm always on the lookout for cheap machines as spares, but so far I never had to rob one). So I would say go have a look at it, try it out and if it cuts wood buy it, (I would snatch it up).

Nice work!

And over here after a little seaching,,, I say no. Parts not available, and not a great saw to begin with. Let us know your approximate location. and those in that area can help better. do not get in a big rush. A bette saw, better deal is out there.

Barb, nice job, RJ

Awwwwww

Oh he is just too adorable.

Was tired of the way my shop had been since we built it 11yrs ago, had a swing out table which blocked a lot of space, also making impossible to get to the cupboards behind it….my solution was to get rid of the swing out table, redo the bench behind it, and make a flat/level 4x4 assembly table…..put hardboard on the 4x4 table this morning and on the workbench on other side of 10x24 shop…..I’m very pleased with the way it turned out….see before and after pics.

LOL. Then you must have some great tools. Sigh! Wish I could be more help......................sorry.

Very nice bet you it will not see the bath tub.

I have no wall space. My stack tool box is full to the max. Remember, I sold tools for 40 years and I was my best customer.

Nice you even have a place to take a nap, RJ

Welcome, Cassie, glad to have you joing the village. This is a starting place right here on this forum: https://www.scrollsawvillage.com/articles/beginner/ There a many good saws to choose from. Do you have a budget? Sometimes there are good deals on used ones to be found on Facebook Marker or Cragslist, but please ask here with the address of the listing before buying used or maybe any saw. Lots of experience here to suck info from. ALso search around for maybe a club near you.

Kinda like a software update, but not really. My hosting provider sent me an email basically saying that they're restructuring their plans and SSV is using a lot of space and will be moving us to another price tier. The move would basically double my operating expenses. I think because SSV is a picture-heavy website, we have a lot of files, and many of them are large. So we're going over our limit. At any rate, I have to move a few things around. I think much of the uploads (gallery and forum attachments) will be moved off and onto a different server. For those interested, they'll be moving to Amazon's S3 service. S3 is very fast, which might even improve the responsiveness of SSV. It will be cheaper than what my hosting provider will charge, but it's just another bill I have to add to the pile, which is a bummer. I think everything will move over smoothly based on a few tests I ran. But there may be a transition time, potentially broken images that shouldn't last too long. I just wanted to give you a heads-up. Let me know if something goes sideways.

It is mini drill, I will make separate video review

Alex You always impress me with your creative projects. Right now I am "chugging" along on your train pattern. My wife bought it for me as a Birthday project. Paint/coating the orb with a reflective color and adding a LED light would make for a very nice Christmas ornament.

Suffered an eye injury ~3 weeks ago. Debris blew up under my glasses when mulching on my 42" deck tractor mower deck. I have been pretty much blind in my left eye, due to corneal injury over the pupil area. It was like looking through a glass with thick petroleum jelly on it and darkened. The whole eye was bloody red. Quite a bit of pain came alongside that for well over a week. I was prescribed an ointment for my eye 3x/day and steroid drops 2x/day. I had my 3rd follow-up with my eye Doc today (went to urgent care when I was injured). My eye has finally superficially healed on the surface (that's good), and also improved 4 steps on the eye test this last week. Pressure also moved in the right direction. She was pleased that I turned the corner as she was concerned last week at the slow healing. Now comes the continued under-the-surface healing so we wait. Scheduled an appointment to be back in a month. No more steroids in the eye, however, the ointment is only 1x/day now... When I got home this morning after the appointment, I tried some scroll sawing I actually could see my lines! FINALLY!!! cut the remaining pieces and rattle can finished my 4-layer Memorial Day pieces, which I could not work on while I was blind. Gun, dog tags, boots, & helmet. When I tried working on it when I was first injured it was a major struggle and had to quit for a few weeks, did an hour on Sunday during my YT live stream, but that was a struggle... now it feels like I am almost back to normal. Not fun being blind in my eye, thankful, it was temporary. Ran out of black paint on one piece so I did not speckle it the way I wanted. Getting more tomorrow.

Steve Good Pattern, still need to clean up and fix the S and stain. Made for Hubby. He loves his coffee.

My dad was a Baptist minister. 50ish years ago he brought a discarded upright piano home from the country church he was pastoring and refurbished it. It stayed in my mom and dad's home till they passed away. Then my sister had it for awhile, but it's been stored in a garage for years now. My sister saw something similar to these somewhere and asked me if i could make her one of the key holders. I made her and her daughter the key holders and my son and daughter-in-law the one that says, "Love is the key." All the materials except for the text and the hangers came from the old piano. The little brass buttons are part of the key/hammer mechanism of the piano, called capstans. Felt like my dad was smiling while I worked on them. The chips on the keys were done by my mischievous son and nephew with a toy hammer. Maw Maw wasn't happy.

I made wood-art pieces for a California friend of his beach house and the coast at Dillon's Beach.

This is a Dirk Boelman pattern that challenged my depth of my 26" RBI that I had to improvise. I made a few of these. I believe I still have a couple pieces that I cut and also the frames. The inside pattern was the challenge. Larger than you think when you spin it . but worked it out. Makes a great project. Man I look back at his patterns and I made so many of them over the years. He too was one of my favorite pattern makers. Loved his work. https://theartfactory.com/product/the-light-of-the-world/

I notice that the larger the piece gets, the less control I have plus the less intricate the designs can be. Gets less accurate the bigger it is. What I do to counter that is to cut the piece out of something smaller and attach it to the larger backing piece.

I stand when I need more maneuverability. Sometimes I stand to the side of the saw to get a good approach angle. Sometimes you need to be a contortionist.