I am going to purchase a scholl Saw. It will need to have controls at the front, an air blower to enable me to follow the subject line/s. Also a foot control switch. This allows a user to keep both hands on the job. Without this It's easy for the subject being worked on to move as the operator lets go with one hand to get to the switch. An attached LED flexible light would also be a bonus.
Most manufacturers allow the base upon which the subject is on to tilt at up to 45 deg. I want one where the cutting unit tilts. This allows the user to easily keep the subject item still. (Tension control at the front means the arm remains almost still.)
Having spend almost 10 hours over the weekend visiting manufacturers web sites One soon realises that there are some great machines out there. Approx 60% are currently unavailable in the UK. Most of the US companies don't export to UK. One that does has a postal rate of $97. When it arrives here there is import duty, plus VAT to pay.
German companies, on the whole,don't export to UK since Brexit.
I like the way some are classed as portable when they weigh around 27kg!
I shall purchase a stand from Axminster Tools which allows height & levelling adjustments, also able to tilt the machine towards the user.
It will be used in what was my late wife's work room, called The Studio. I'll also connect a vacuum to the dust outlet.
Suggestions and comments are welcome.
Thanks so far to Alan Bishop who has loaned me 3 of his books on the subject. Also to Adrian Duckett for scroll saw suggested makes.
Having owned a vibro saw I'm aware of the pitfalls to go down. The vibration made it almost impossible to keep to any lines and also ones hands went numb quite quickly because of the vibrations.
October 2024.
A year ago I purchased, from Axminster Tools, a professional scroll saw, a workshop bandsaw and a 50ltr vacuum which is connected to my scroll saw & bandsaw using a two gate system. I have a pillar drill to which I have a second 50ltr vac connected. The third vac is portable on wheels (same one as in our shed.) This is for general cleaning and also when sanding by hand having a wide spray bar clamped adjacent to where I'm sanding. Finally I have an air cleaning vacuum suspended from the ceiling. I also purchased a Dremel 300 watt motor housing with flexible drive and included a foot control peddle.
I make verticle puzzles using hardwood. Eight different scroll saw blades are used, depending on actual wood used, the closeness of cuts required by some puzzles.
Since having an unrelated chest infection I need to wear a full face mask which filters minute dust particles and gasses too. My ear defenders reduce all sounds by 35db. At 60db it's almost silent. (could be handy on a Friday lunchtime.)
All wood is polished BEFORE I start, then the puzzle chosen is tack glued to the polished wood using tack adhesive sprayed onto the paper then placed on the wood. Finally I use a 50mm wood roller to ensure all air is excluded.
After cutting the puzzle remove the paper. as soon as possible. Any sticky areas then wiped clean using Clean Spirit. This spirit is odourless and is derived from plant extracts. It replaces white spirit. Milford Supplies sell it and it's a little less cost than white one, too. Use it for cleaning paint brushes.