Scroll Saw Old vs New

bhurley · Post by **bhurley** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 8:21 am

Can any of you shed some light on the pros and cons of the scroll saws that are made for the shop smith. I see both styles for sale frequently but only the newer style available from SS. Do the use the same blades? do they require the blade with the pin? do they run smooth without vibration?

Thanks in advance

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 9:42 am

bhurley wrote:Can any of you shed some light on the pros and cons of the scroll saws that are made for the shop smith. I see both styles for sale frequently but only the newer style available from SS. Do the use the same blades? do they require the blade with the pin? do they run smooth without vibration?

Thanks in advance

I have the older model scroll saw but I am unable to confirm what differences (if any) still exist between it and the newer model.

The only changes that I know of have to do with the blade mounting method. Mine has been upgraded to a "quick release" system that makes blade changes a snap. I still am able to use the same blades and they do not have a pin.

I have used others and I find this one to be as smooth and free of vibration as any of them.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 9:57 am

I believe he was referring to the older Jigsaw and the 'newer' scroll saw, not the two versions of the scroll saw.

I cannot answer re scroll saw, but the jig saw does not use the pins. They are however relatively easy to remove.

The jig saw can chuck an object up to 1/4" in diameter. Do not know if that is possible with the scroll saw.

The major difference between the jig saw and the scroll saw is that the scroll saw blade is driven in both up and down direction, whereas the jig saw is powered only on the down stroke and spring returned up. The throat of the scroll saw is deeper, the scroll saw table is larger.

BTW there are two versions of the jig saw. The old Model 10 and the mark 5/V.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 10:41 am

No, just as the title of this thread implies, I was referring to the two models of the Shopsmith Scroll Saw.

tom_k/mo · Post by **tom_k/mo** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 11:20 am

JPG40504 wrote: The jig saw can chuck an object up to 1/4" in diameter. Do not know if that is possible with the scroll saw.

I know that this is not germane to Dusty's request, but FYI, I cut a couple 3/4" thick pen blanks with my scroll saw last week. I know it wasn't the best tool for the job, but it was mounted to the MkV and it was easier to make the cut with that rather than swapping out with the bandsaw for one cut. FWIW, it made the cut fine.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 1:30 pm

dusty wrote:No, just as the title of this thread implies, I was referring to the two models of the Shopsmith Scroll Saw.

Ah Yes, But you assume common understanding of 'old/new'. I have never seen any scroll saw on e-bay referred to as the old or the new version. I have seen both the scroll saw and the older jig saws.. The references to them is not always consistent(correct) with our understanding.

I am guilty of my own assumptions here. Only BHurley knows for sure. I am ignoring the model 10 version(s?).

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 1:36 pm

tom_k/mo wrote:I know that this is not germane to Dusty's request, but FYI, I cut a couple 3/4" thick pen blanks with my scroll saw last week. I know it wasn't the best tool for the job, but it was mounted to the MkV and it was easier to make the cut with that rather than swapping out with the bandsaw for one cut. FWIW, it made the cut fine.

I was referring to the jig saw being able to chuck a 1/4" shank(think file).

The old SS claim was that the jig saw can cut 2x4s! 3/4" is 'easy'!;)

bhurley · Post by **bhurley** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 2:14 pm

I didn't use very good terminology and I'm sorry. I knew what I was asking but nobody else really did. I was asking about the benefits of the scroll saw that is currently being sold by SS versus the jigsaws that I see being sold on ebay. Sorry for the mixup.

Additionally- I frequently see the jigsaws pictured on ebay that don't have the table attached. Can anyone explain?

tryinhard · Post by **tryinhard** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 3:21 pm

Now I am curious. It seems to me that there have been two color schemes to the scroll saws since their introduction. I assumed (I know what that really means!) that the color change was indicative of a major mechanical change as well.

Is there any truth to this recollection, or is the hole in my head just getting bigger?

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 3:59 pm

tryinhard wrote:Now I am curious. It seems to me that there have been two color schemes to the scroll saws since their introduction. I assumed (I know what that really means!) that the color change was indicative of a major mechanical change as well.

Is there any truth to this recollection, or is the hole in my head just getting bigger?

Now, we are talking about the two versions of the Shopsmith scroll saw.

As far as I know, there are only two versions of the Shopsmith Scroll Saw. There might have been some other "minor" changes made to the mechanics but I believe that if so they were minor.

The older scroll saw is gray and the newer one is teal. The teal version was released with a quick release mechanism for blade change.

The older version was rather clumsy, using a screw type fastener for securing the blade. There was an upgrade offered that incorporated the quick release mechanism. I was very quick to purchase that upgrade.

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