Delta scrollsaw

[Tom]

Did Delta dicontinue the SS350 saw? After browsing for all sub-$300 scroll saws, I decided on that one, but it looks like hardly anyone sells them now. Are (were) they dogs or something ?

Tom

[Jim]

Lowes carries them around here (Indiana).

I looked at them too and wound up buying a Craftsman that was on sale. My thought was that the craftsman had a bigger table and "looked" more polished (As it turns out this wasn't the optimal method for choosing scrollsaws) The basic machine is ok, table, mechanics, etc but the blade clamping mechanism is about as bad as could possibly be engineered and still "technically" be considered to work. It is just a set screw with an opposing thumb scress that traps the blade between them. Basically it is impossible to lock a blade in place with out twisting it.

I ordered the delta quick clamp and replaced the original top clamp with it. The delta quick clamp is VERY well designed and actually works! The only down side is that I had to mount it backwards in the craftsman to get it to fit. Although it is now a blind feed into the clamp, the darn thing is made so well this isn't really as serious a problem as you might think.

Ah well... live and learn I guess. My plan was to buy a cheap saw and if my daughter stays interested in it I will probably upgrade to a DeWalt in the near future. At least now I'll have a much better appreciation for what I'm paying for with the more expensive saws.

Jim

"Tom" wrote in news:V79wb.131$ [e-mail]: