I was looking to replace my old Dewalt 20" scrollsaw. I had lost it several years ago and couldn't afford another, so I had been making do with various cheaper16" saws. None came close to the quality and ease of use of the Dewalt, so, when I came into the money, I came to Amazon for a replacement. This Delta saw was right next to the Dewalt and the price is $80 lower, so I took a look at it. The first thing I determined was that it is a parallel link design. I have vowed that I will never buy another parallel arm saw. What's the difference between parallel link and parallel arm? It's complicated, but parallel link has less vibration, all controls are right in front, and blades are easier and much quicker to move from hole to hole. Several commenters said that it was the same saw as the Dewalt, just with a different label, paint, and a lower price, so I thought I'd give it a try. It arrived yesterday.
When I opened the box and read the instructions, they said that the saw was fully assembled, except for the table. This was not true. The bevel guide and knob assembly was not attached, but packed separately, and there were no instructions as to how they went together. After reading other reviews where the writers complained that their knobs arrived broken., and remembering that my old Dewalt had also arrived with a broken knob (which the company quickly replaced) I realized that somebody must have decided that the knob was subject to damage in transit if it was attached before shipping, so they have taken to packing it unattached. It was a bit of a hassle figuring how to assemble, but there were only four parts to figure out, so it didn't take long. Better to take a bit longer to assemble than to have to wait a week for a replacement knob. Attaching table was easy, just slide it into place and fasten two bolts.
Once assembled, I could see that the Delta saw was not the same machine as the Dewalt. It is very similar, but there are some differences. First the table is round and wider than the Dewalt. The blade holders are almost identical and hold the blades quite firmly. One big difference is that there is a locking pin that holds the upper arm raised when moving or changing the blade. On my Dewalt, I had to either pay extra for a device to hold up the arm, or make some kind of block to hold up. The Delta also has a covered compartment for storing extra blades. What it looks like to me is that someone at Delta looked at the sales Dewalt was getting for their saw and said, " Okay, we can make one just as good, but with a few improvements, and sell it cheaper."
After one session using the Delta, I have to say that, so far, it is just as good as the Dewalt. If the prices were the same, I would have a hard time choosing between the two. Both machines are top of the line in the mid price range. I haven't used any of the thousand dollar price range machines, so I can't say anything about their quality, but, if you have been using an inexpensive 16" saw and are thinking of upgrading to something bigger, this would be an excellent choice. You will be amazed at how much easier this saw is to use.
| Brand | Delta Power Tools |
|---|---|
| Color | Multicolor |
| Blade Material | High Speed Steel |
| Surface Recommendation | Wood |
| Power Source | Electrical cable |
| Special Feature | Brake |
| Included Components | Variable Speed Scroll Saw,20" |
| Product Dimensions | 30"L x 20"W x 13"H |
| Item Weight | 60 Pounds |
| Blade Length | 20 Inches |
| Number of Teeth | 24 |
| Number of Batteries | 1 Unknown batteries required. |
| Cutting Angle | 90 Degrees |
| Current Rating | 1.3 Amps |
| Manufacturer | Delta Power Tools |
| Part Number | 40-694 |
| Item Weight | 60 pounds |
| Item model number | 40-694 |
| Batteries | 1 Unknown batteries required. |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Style | Without light and stand |
| Pattern | Saw |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Number of Handles | 2 |
| Special Features | Brake |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
| Warranty Description | 5 Year Limited Warranty |
