Saw preference topics

[jttheclockman]

It just amazes me how this question about which is a better saw keeps coming up and being asked in so many different ways. I would like to propose a solution to this very question and have Bob make a special heading just for this and have all the responses that have been given over and over posted with this and it would be a permanant heading on the top of the scrollsaw page.

What do you think Bob??????

[BobD (Archive)]

John,
I've been kicking that around for a while, but I've come to realize that this sort of question is a great ice-breaker. It gives a new guy an easy way to "get in"...almost like talking about the weather, but more related to scrolling. The analogy relating it to what kind of car you drive is very appropriate...how often are people approached based on what car they drive

It's a way to start a conversation...

Bob

[jttheclockman]

Whatever happen to the phrase: Hello My name is Joe Smith and have taken up the art of scrollsawing and have joined your site to share ideas and will look through the site and probably be back with some questions.

What kind of car do you drive is an ice breaker?? Boy I missed that one. Should have used it on the ladies.

[BobD (Archive)]

I'll be more than happy to bring it up at our next editorial team meeting. I also realized that I had been remiss in my duties, so I moved all the tool-related threads to the appropriate heading.
Bob

[sheltiecarver]

Bob,
I know John has been around longer than I, and I can see that he's fed up to who knows where with all the "which saw should I buy?" questions, but, from my far less experienced position, I am amazed at the variety of directions from which the questions come - what is the best under $xxx, over $xxx, for various applications, in various countries, certain features. I, too, think of those questions as icebreakers, and sometimes welcome the chance to weigh in on the topic. There is even an (outside) chance that something or someone will cause me to change my opinions, or maybe suspend them for special circumstances.
By the way, John, what kind of car do you drive?
Sandy

[Gill]

Hi John

These questions are always valid because technology changes all the time. For example, until recently there was a certain saw being sold in the UK that was a nightmare to use. I would have done anything I could to persuade newbies to avoid it. However, it was made by a company that listens to and acts upon customer feedback promptly. Last weekend I saw the newly upgraded machine in operation and it's undoubtedly now the leading beginners saw on the market and is super value for money.

This principle doesn't just apply to saws, either. Flying Dutchman has recently introduced a new type of spiral blade which appears to have been received very favourably. So if newbies were to search for comparisons between spiral blades on threads that pre-dated the new FD blades, they would be getting obsolete information. Sometimes it can be just as important for us to affirm that our views on a subject have not changed as it can be to report that they have.

Gill (who has taken up the art of scrollsawing and has joined this site to share ideas and has looked through the site and come back with some questions which have been known to receive frosty answers from... can you guess who? )

[CanadianScroller]

The car analogy

I love the car analogy!
It would make a nice thesis

Car and scrollsaw, how the choice of one affects the choice of the other.
or "when I finish my pedal powered saw will I have to ride a bicycle?"

Moon, you speak volumes with your answer. I drive a 1989 Oldsmobile, the first Chev I ever owned and not a bad buy at $900.
My sons, who live at home both drive Porsche.
I drive for dough, they drive for show.
My saw is the same. I don't have lots of money to spend on saws, but I enjoy the ones I have, including my hand frame.
3Ms friends have shown us it is not the saw that makes the art but the person behind it. The saw moves the blade, I move the wood and the wind moves the sawdust, which doesnt move my wife.
But all in all we are one big happy family.

Anyone want to sponsor me in writing a thesis?????????

[jttheclockman]

Bob,
I know John has been around longer than I, and I can see that he's fed up to who knows where with all the "which saw should I buy?" questions, but, from my far less experienced position, I am amazed at the variety of directions from which the questions come - what is the best under $xxx, over $xxx, for various applications, in various countries, certain features. I, too, think of those questions as icebreakers, and sometimes welcome the chance to weigh in on the topic. There is even an (outside) chance that something or someone will cause me to change my opinions, or maybe suspend them for special circumstances.
By the way, John, what kind of car do you drive?
Sandy

Sandy

I drive a 2002 Chevy Silverado Pickup. Now I am not saying there are not changes but come on everyday that question gets asked how much changes can be made in a day?? There has to be other icebreaker comments like how's the weather or here some things I tried scrolling. If these facts were listed on a heading topic board or whatever you call it. It jumps right out at the newbie as soon as he or she logs on. Now if there are major changes as Gil says then add them to the list and make a note if you want in a post. But to beat a dead horse to death, please. Maybe I am being too picky then please forgive me but I guess I can't get past this pet peeve. One of the main reasons is everyone gets on and touts their saw as the best and there is NO such thing as the best. You get what you pay for. There are lemons in all brands such as CARS. As far as saws overseas I am not familar with them because there are quite afew saws on the market that people don't hear about.

I don't know I will just shut up about this and let the chips fall where they will and bear it. Have fun!!

[BobD (Archive)]

I just read back over this post, and I really don't think ANYONE stood up and touted their own favorite saw to the detriment of any other saw. Everyone was very respectful, and simply offered their opinions.

I think its a fair and valid discussion...but if you want, John, I'll e-mail you when a new thread like this is posted, so you can ignore it <grinning>

Bob

[jttheclockman]

This subject knows no bounds! It never ceases to draw comment from all quarters. It is very much like asking which car is best. There is no "best." Only different and we will all defend our choices to the death. Ta da! I, too, started with a Sears saw and moved up to an RBI Hawk 220. I have used the RBI saw for several years and have been truly satisfied, but some folks will argue 'til doomsday that the RBI has poor service (since mine hasn't needed service--isn't that the idea?) but I wouldn't know. My Dad once asked me why I bought foreign cars? Who will fix them when they break? Duh, the idea is that they don't break. As I have said before, all the top line saws are essentially good saws. Bottom feed, top feed, tension here, tension there, table tilt accuracy, table weight, vibration, etc, etc, etc. All these things are really personal choice. I used to bowl with a "house ball" and then I bought and had my own ball drilled for my hand. My score did'nt improve, but I had a better ball.
Moon

Bob if you would do that for me I would appreciate it. In the mean time I think this person summed it up all too well.

[oaklysawyer]

So many blades and saw topics gets rather borriinngg.
More intelligent conversations would be nice for lurkers and learners. Maybe they would strart participating.
Fred

[jttheclockman]

Oh my, well said. I agree 1000000000000000000000000%

[oaklysawyer]

Thank you John. I check here every now and again to find something interesting but when I see blades and blades and more blades mixed in with saws and saws and more saws I go to the other sites that are not full of those two topics. But I always come back a week or two later to see if things have improved. I wonder how many actually come back apart from some of the regulars of course that seem to find those two topics a priority.
I like your new poll on hours of sawing. A refreshing change for occasional scrollers like me.
Fred

[Jediscroller]

ROFL! I just had a thought, ya know, the one thread I haven't seen is which blade works best in which saw! OK, I'm kidding so please don't jump on me. As far as technology changing all the time, unless I missed something, the only saws I've seen introduced have been the G4 from RBI and the tilting head from Excalibur, neither of which are exactly new technology. Craftsman has been selling (or trying to sell I should say) a tilting head scroll saw for a couple of years and the G4 is just an upgrade of the RBI Hawk. It's a scroll saw, the blade goes up and down (hopefully), it cuts wood, how much technology do ya really need? Alas, this seems to happen with all hobbies, one of my hobbies is astronomy, if you go to astro message boards you see tons of discussions on equipment but very little on observing.
Oh well, I'll go back to lurking now.

Kevin

[oaklysawyer]

Well said Kevin and we forgot about those ever so continuous and monotonous what kind of spray or 2 sided tape or whatever to stick patterns on wood topics.
Another good one to put to rest in FAQ section ?
Fred