Peugeot 400V Variable Speed Scroll Saw

[RonTocknell]

I've just ordered a Peugeot 400V Variable Speed Scroll Saw (yet to arrive). How does this model measure up? I've been using a Hegner Multicut 2 for the past 30 years but it's getting a bit too 'clunky' for me now (I'm getting a little clunky myself) and well due its retirement.

Any cons with the Peugeot I need to be aware of?

[Rolf]

Never heard of it. Where do you live? I can't imagine that it is better than the Hegner.

[sawdust11703]

I never heard of it either. Looking it up online it looks to me you took a HUGE step down in scroll saws. I can't find any reviews on it either. Doesn't appear to be an item most people buy. I would be very wary about this purchase. You might want to reconsider before you use it and do some more research.

[Jim Finn]

One of the things I like about my scroll saws is that neither have variable speed. This is a source for problems and not cheap to fix.

[sawdust11703]

I cannot picture using a saw without variable speed. There are times I cut 3/4" wood and need the speed cranked up. Then there are other times i'm cutting 1/4" or 1/8" and have to slow the saw down. This is especially true if I'm cutting something very intricate. How are you able to do that without having variable speed?

[RonTocknell]

Never heard of it. Where do you live? I can't imagine that it is better than the Hegner.

[RonTocknell]

Just taken delivery and put it through its paces. It doesn't feel like a step-down from the Hegner. Surpassed my expectations. How the hell did I manage with a single speed scroll saw before???!!! It's a joy to use. Thoroughly recommend it.

[RonTocknell]

OOOOKAAAAY.... Before you rush out and buy one on my recommendation... I've had a little more time to evaluate it.

Cutting: Superb! The variable speed allows for precision cutting on thin brass. I'm cutting 1.5mm brass to make hinges. On the Hegner, it was difficult to prevent the saw running away with it but slowing it down allows for absolute precision.

Blade-changing: fiddly and time-consuming. Luckily for me, I'm retired and have all the time in the world (Grim Reaper permitting). But, if you want to do a lot of pierced work and you have a production run, this is not the machine to use! The bottom blade-clamp is all but inaccessible. The machine comes with a panel covering the lower 'arm'. It serves no purpose other than aesthetic so take it off and stash it in case it conks out before the warranty has run out. Under that, there is a metal cowl that covers the lower arm and this has a slot where you push the blade in and a little hole for the allen key. It serves no purpose whatsoever other than to make the lower blade clamp as inaccessible as possible. Take it off! Once the warranty has run out, you can bin these superfluous bits. That helps considerably in that you can actually see where the blade-end is going. The blade clamps have far too much swivel. There need only be a little movement to prevent the blade bending at the clamped ends but these have so much, it makes tightening the clamp unnecessarily difficult. I'm sure I'll get used to it but, at the moment, it is eliciting profanities I've never even heard (I bet I can even print "Fershlugginner!" and get away with it). The good news is that blade breakage is very rare in use so, unless you're doing a lot of pierced work, you shouldn't have to worry about the fershlugginner clamps too much (wash my mouth). Now I've got it and because the cutting performance is so good, I shall work around this problem or devise some Heath Robinson solution. But it's worth knowing for any of you who might think about getting one.