Hitachi CW 40 for $50 in So. Cal.

[OCtoolguy]

I know that I have heard of at least a couple of you folks who have this saw and spoke highly of it. Here is one that looks pretty clean with the exception of surface rust on the table.

Ray

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/tls/d/scroll-saw/6573014181.html

 

[SCROLLSAW703]

For $50, I'd own it in a heartbeat if it was closer. They are an excellent saw, imo. They do have one downfall, & that's the circuit board in the back of the saw. Some were havin issues with burnin up the circuit boards, but there are replacements online available now. I've never had any issues with mine that I couldn't fix myself. And it's not an 18" saw. Its a 16". It does use plain or pin type blades. The saw deck is cast iron, so cleanin' off the rust would not be an issue.

[OCtoolguy]

24 minutes ago, SCROLLSAW703 said:

For $50, I'd own it in a heartbeat if it was closer. They are an excellent saw, imo. They do have one downfall, & that's the circuit board in the back of the saw. Some were havin issues with burnin up the circuit boards, but there are replacements online available now. I've never had any issues with mine that I couldn't fix myself. And it's not an 18" saw. Its a 16". It does use plain or pin type blades. The saw deck is cast iron, so cleanin' off the rust would not be an issue.

I thought I recalled you having one Brad.

 

[SCROLLSAW703]

Yes Sir Mr. Ray, I do! It was the first saw I bought brand new. And shortly after we bought it, Hitachi decided they weren't goin' to make that saw any longer. But, most all the parts for them are available on Hitachi's website & ereplacementparts.com. I've had to replace the VS switch & power switch on mine, & finally the air pump in it. Not bad for 22 years of service, & I've spent a lot of hours at that saw! I wouldn't trade it for anything but a newer one!;) I'd like to have another one just like it, but out here in the middle of nowhere, most folks don't even know what a scroll saw is, much less to own one! That's another reason I went to Hawk saws. They are made about 5 hours drive from me, & I can get parts for them, & trade. And they are a top of the line saw.

If that one you showed is as advertised, & the motor is ok, that's a steal! It would make an excellent back up saw, or full use saw. But I'd have to test drive it & listen to it, spend a little time with it before I took it just to make sure of it. How far from you is it, Ray?

[OCtoolguy]

1 hour ago, SCROLLSAW703 said:

Yes Sir Mr. Ray, I do! It was the first saw I bought brand new. And shortly after we bought it, Hitachi decided they weren't goin' to make that saw any longer. But, most all the parts for them are available on Hitachi's website & ereplacementparts.com. I've had to replace the VS switch & power switch on mine, & finally the air pump in it. Not bad for 22 years of service, & I've spent a lot of hours at that saw! I wouldn't trade it for anything but a newer one!;) I'd like to have another one just like it, but out here in the middle of nowhere, most folks don't even know what a scroll saw is, much less to own one! That's another reason I went to Hawk saws. They are made about 5 hours drive from me, & I can get parts for them, & trade. And they are a top of the line saw.

If that one you showed is as advertised, & the motor is ok, that's a steal! It would make an excellent back up saw, or full use saw. But I'd have to test drive it & listen to it, spend a little time with it before I took it just to make sure of it. How far from you is it, Ray?

Too far to make it cost effective. I'm going to sell my Hegner and wait patiently for an EX21. I have the Heg tuned and working great. I just don't like the action of it. It's too much different from my Dewalt. I think I would be happier with either an EX or a Seyco. I've not heard or read one negative about the Excalibur. If a good used one doesn't come along, I'll buy a new King. But, I want to give them a length of time to see how they are going to work out.

R

[kmmcrafts]

13 minutes ago, octoolguy said:

Too far to make it cost effective. I'm going to sell my Hegner and wait patiently for an EX21. I have the Heg tuned and working great. I just don't like the action of it. It's too much different from my Dewalt. I think I would be happier with either an EX or a Seyco. I've not heard or read one negative about the Excalibur. If a good used one doesn't come along, I'll buy a new King. But, I want to give them a length of time to see how they are going to work out.

R

Yeah the action of the long arm saw is a lot different than that of a short link arm like the DeWalt, EX, Jet type saws.. I imagine the Hegner would cut much like the Hawks do... 

I can give a couple negatives on a EX type saw.. My biggest complaint on my EX-21 is the blade is too close to the front of the table.. and the upper arm doesn't go up on it's own.. ( DeWalt does with easy lift attachment) .. but that is minor to me compared to the blade being so close to the front edge of the table.. Sawing small stuff isn't much of an issue but I wouldn't like sawing anything larger than 8-10 inch square on it.. unless maybe using a spiral blade. 

Large stuff hanging out front of the table making me need longer arms... I don't have a big belly or anything be spinning a board around on the EX make everything hang out toward the front of the saw farther than  any other saw I've used.. and is my biggest annoyance about the EX saws... Love the saw otherwise.. cuts much like the DeWalt but you can adjust the blade aggressiveness which is real nice.. 

The way the blade / table orientation is.. I wouldn't cut big stuff on it .. so a EX - 16 would be all I'd need.. though I have the 21 and got a deal on it.. If I was to buy a "NEW" saw.. and keep the DeWalt or Hawk as a backup.. I'd go with the 16" for my needs.. just because I don't like the blade being only a few inch from the tables edge.. 

[amazingkevin]

Always  have  a back up saw on hand,This will work

[OCtoolguy]

20 hours ago, amazingkevin said:

Always  have  a back up saw on hand,This will work

Thanks Kevin. I know how you feel about the Dewalts and I pretty much feel the same way. Who knows, maybe I'll do as you have done and just collect a fw of them and forget the others. I have my Dewalt tuned up so that it is a pleasure to drive. I was really looking forward to having a Hegner because I had always heard they were the Cadillac. Maybe if I had started with one it would be different but I'm just not sure about the learning curve for them. And, for some reason, that "slow start" hesitation is just not for me. I guess that's why Baskin Robbins is so successful. A flavor for everybody.

R