HI All,

 

 

I am not destitute but am living on a small and mostly fixed income.  I do have a seasonal part-time job in the summer which does allow an occassional purchase and that is what I am considering right now.  I essentially turn pens as a hobby and also as gifts and also turn some "pens for soldiers"  Up to now I have been cutting pen blanks to length using a hard back (hand) saw and a cheap. plastic miter box.  Works okay but the miter box is mounted on my porch railing outside and it is inconvenient in the very hot summer day and in the cold Michigan winter and I don't have too much leverage since I am a full-time wheelchair user.  I want to get a scroll saw to cut pen blanks and also to do small scroll saw projects (signs, silhouettes,  whirley gigs, and the like).  I can't afford a "good" scroll saw.  I keep looking in Craigs list and what is listed is grossly overpriced. (example there is currently listed a Delta belt driven Scroll Saw (called jig saws in the day) that looks like the one I used as  a boy in wood shop around 1954 for $250.00  asking price.  Since I can't find a reasonably priced used one that leaves new.  I am looking at the Harbor Freight and the Ryobi.  The Ryobi is almost twice as much as the harbor freight (especially with a 20% off coupon).  I know the general attitude of most folks against Habor Freight but I have had good luck with my Harbor Freight Mini Variable Speed Lathe.  

 

What do you foks think of the two machines?  Is the Ryobi worth the extra dollars?  Do you have an alternative suggstion?  My wife is a long suffering soul and has been pretty good about my hobby but I still need to be very economical.  We are both retired and both disabled and both with not a lot of discretionary funds.

 

Any help will be appreciated.

 

 

Ernie Richardson (BAA Bugler)

and SD Ruby

Ernie,

For occasional use, you can't beat the price ($119 at Lowes) for the Ryobi. 

 

Plus, the Harbor freight saw uses pinned blades. The ease of use and lack of aggravation with the pin-less blades makes the small price difference worthwhile, IMHO.

Ernie,

For occasional use, you can't beat the price ($119 at Lowes) for the Ryobi. 

 

Plus, the Harbor freight saw uses pinned blades. The ease of use and lack of aggravation with the pin-less blades makes the small price difference worthwhile, IMHO.

Thank you Gene for the information.  That is exactly why I asked this forum.

I ran the Ryobi as my first saw. It wasn't bad. I ran it hard for 3 years then upgraded to a better saw. Really not a bad starter saw.

Ernie,

Keep watching Craigs List. Not every lister knows what they have, so bargains can be found.

More than likely you have ran accross adds listed by collectors that beat you to the original listing.

(They picked it up for cheap, and are trying to make top dollar to support their own purchases)

I recently saw a Craigs list add for an early 1930's Delta 8" table saw/4" jointer combo for $100.00 (It didn't last long) The following day it was listed on ebay for $400.00.

 

Another good place for bargains is Estate Sales. Most times folks are cleaning out a relatives estate, but don't have a clue as to what the machine is or what it's value might be.

 

Also check the GoodWill stores.

A friend of mine recently got a 1940's 14" Delta Wood Band Saw for $40.00.

(It also had the much sought after retirement light that usually fetches $75-$100, along with about a half dozen blades)

Goodwill had it labled as does not work.  They must not have noticed that it had 2 power switchs and missed seeing the switch located on the motor.

The machine only needed a new v-belt, the old belt had become stiff which caused a vibration when we got it running.

I've seen very similar machines listed in the $500.00 price range.

Great feed back guys, and excellent advice Larry!

I love Ebay,

Ernie, Ebay can do pretty good by ya.

See here at Ebay Scroll Saws

Ernie, is this the Ryobi you are looking at?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-16-in-Corded-Scroll-Saw-SC165VS/205419917

Really, if all you are going to use it for is cutting pen planks, why not an inexpensive band saw?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Skil-2-5-Amp-9-in-Band-Saw-with-Light-3386-01/204504290

Ernie, is this the Ryobi you are looking at?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-16-in-Corded-Scroll-Saw-SC165VS/205419917

Yep  that's the Ryobi

Really, if all you are going to use it for is cutting pen planks, why not an inexpensive band saw?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Skil-2-5-Amp-9-in-Band-Saw-with-Light-3386-01/204504290

I always liked a band saw but was thinking of the HF scroll saw  because it's half the price of either the HF or Ryobi band saws AND I thought I might like to try a little scrolling  for signs and Whirley gigs. (I like whirly gigs )

Ernie - heck yeh, man, once you get into cutting on the saw, it will get you hooked.