what is magnetic safety control?

[pmpagano]

Looking into buying a Delta used. The current owner says he added "magnetic safety control" for about 130 dollars. What does that mean?

[Frenchy2]

It is a special switch that allows the saw to be started only when the "on" button is pressed. With an ordinary switch if you have a power failure while you are using the saw, the saw will start up when the power is restored (unless you have the presence of mind to flip the switch off when the power failed). With a magnetic contactor (another name for the same thing) the saw will not start until the on button is manually depressed. Good safety device although I have read of some people having problems with them shutting off the machine unnecessarily.

[wood-n-things]

Never heard the term. Thanks for the info Frenchy.

[3_M]

I never heard of it either. I would not pay extra. There is no warrenty anymore on that saw. I would buy a new saw.
FD Mike

[pmpagano]

Thanks for the input. It is a delta p-20 for 180 bucks in good condition. I don't want my first machine to be 500 bucks, so I thought this might be a good start. Any other suggestions for about 200 bucks to get started?

[Hawaiilad]

Most folks will head over to the Big Box stores and purchase one or the scroll saws they have there...and yes they are starter saws. If you are not going to use it often, this might be the right saw for you. But once you use a step up saw, you will NOT go back to the starter saw!! So, if you have $200 to spend and can find a good condition step up saw for that price or less, I would say that is what you should buy. So many times, people will buy the starter saw and find it is not fun for them, and will just stop learning. I think with a better saw, you just might find you like this hobby so many of us have. I know the P-20 is out of date, but it was a good step-up saw when it came out. I use Hegners and if you can find one for $200 Run, don't walk to buy it...

[ASDLF22]

My ex picked up an old scroll saw at a yard sale ($40) a few yews ago for me - I was hooked right away, used it for a few weeks. Went to the store and bought one that was a little bit better ($120?), that lasted about a couple months, went a got one a little better ($250?), that lasted a few months, bought the 788 ($600) and used it for about 18 months (had some warranty issues with it), last time the 788 was in the shop I found a good deal on a used Hegner ($500). Fell in love with the Hegner.

Moral of the story - I spent more on starter saws than had I just gone out and bought a new Hegner. I have a brand new 788 in the box (warranty replacement / spare if I ever need work on the Hegner) and a $120 saw that has about $5 use on it collecting dust. Do yourself a favor and buy the best saw you can possibly afford, the 788 or the Delta 40-690 is at the lower end, cost-wise, of good saws out there. It is doubtful you'll be happy with anything less, the other saws are for occasional use at best. Look online for used saws in your area, there is a link for classifieds on the homepage of this site, and look for scroll saw clubs near you as well - there may be people in there who have updated their equipment and are willing to part with older saws. Another good thing about the clubs is that you may have the opportunity to use or try out several different saws - letting you get a feel for one that may be right for you.

The Fall 2010 issue of Scroll Saw Magazine has a pretty in-depth buyer's guide on scroll saws. If you absolutely have to stay in the $200 range and can't find a good used one, the magazine article lists a Porter Cable 16" at $180 as the best entry-level saw.

Good luck and I hope whatever saw you get works well for you.

[Frenchy2]

I never imagined the magnetic starter on a scrollsaw! In the original post when you said a Delta saw I pictured a table saw (like a Unisaw or contractors saw) On one of these machines the magnetic starter makes a lot of sense (picture a power failure in the middle of a cut, then the power comes back on with the wood left where it was at power failure - I sure wouldn't want to be in the same room! With a scroll saw the worst that would happen is a broken blade.

I would not pay extra for a scroll saw with a magnetic contactor unless I had another use for the mag.

Good luck with whatever you decide,

[loftyhermes]

Over here in the UK those switches are known as NVR's No Volt Release switches and are fitted to nearly all machines sold over here, it requires the ON button to be pressed before the machine will start up after the power has been disconnected, like a power cut etc. My Delta 40-560 type 2 had one on it when I bought it new in 1995.

happy scrolling
Steve