NEW Buck Tools 18 Inch Scroll Saw Review (Video)

[artisanpirate]

Hey Crew! In this fun video, we look at the NEW Buck Tool SSA18V 18 Inch Variable Speed Scroll Saw! This new tool is packed with a lot of features and would be a great scroll saw for interested in jumping into the scrolling hobby! Hope you all like this review and I hope you all like the video!

#ArtisanPirate

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

Saws  like these are for the rare use users. They are cheap for a reason. This saw reminds me of the first scrollsaw I started with which was a 2 speed Dremel 16" saw. Basic as they come. if you like the buck line of tools I suggest step up to the 22" and get better saw. That saw mimics the Harbor Freight saw. I bet same line in factory but different color. If you are just buying a saw to see if you like the hobby, I always said that saws like this I bet discourage more people than encourage them. The different method that blades are mounted and tension can be a downer in so many ways. But for about $150 or $100 for their 16" saw I guess there is a market. But if doing any kind of fret work please look at a better saw. You will not be sorry. Bucks $22 is $360. 

[kmmcrafts]

I didn't really watch the video but I have seen the saw online somewhere so not in person. I will give credit to some of these entrée level saws as the design is similar to most of the others on the market and most " if tuned properly " are fairly smooth running saws.. not like the old day entrée level saws where they'd vibrate the whole bench across the shop floor.. and used to have to have a hex wrench to change blades.. so while the user experience is probably better than back in the day saws.. So hopefully a new person to the hobby doesn't have that bad experience that chases them away from the hobby. 

I do for the most part agree with everything JT said though... but on the other hand I get that a newbie doesn't want to go spend several hundred more on what most of us would consider a good starter saw.. I've been there myself.. and for the most part I did give up for several years after my first sawing experience but then tried another saw that was only marginally better, .. But sometimes we have to go through the school of hard knocks to figure it all out.. I'd say most that have started with a cheap old saw from back in the day probably did the same.. Thankfully many of us recognized the tool quality from the get go and found something better so we could improve and enjoy the hobby.  

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

2 hours ago, kmmcrafts said:

I didn't really watch the video but I have seen the saw online somewhere so not in person. I will give credit to some of these entrée level saws as the design is similar to most of the others on the market and most " if tuned properly " are fairly smooth running saws.. not like the old day entrée level saws where they'd vibrate the whole bench across the shop floor.. and used to have to have a hex wrench to change blades.. so while the user experience is probably better than back in the day saws.. So hopefully a new person to the hobby doesn't have that bad experience that chases them away from the hobby. 

I do for the most part agree with everything JT said though... but on the other hand I get that a newbie doesn't want to go spend several hundred more on what most of us would consider a good starter saw.. I've been there myself.. and for the most part I did give up for several years after my first sawing experience but then tried another saw that was only marginally better, .. But sometimes we have to go through the school of hard knocks to figure it all out.. I'd say most that have started with a cheap old saw from back in the day probably did the same.. Thankfully many of us recognized the tool quality from the get go and found something better so we could improve and enjoy the hobby.  

I did watch his review and yes very well done. I agree these lower end saws have come a long way to an extent. This saw is both pin end and flat  blade acceptable. and you do not need a special clamp for pin end like the old dremels were. It does use a allen wrench for lower clamp which is a downer. There is no up front tension lever which he brings up as a negative. It does run smooth from watching the video but is loud. he does not agree because he said it was quiet. I did not think so. Does it fit a market? yes it does as does all the types of scrollsaws. You can make beautiful pieces with this saw. But you can also do that with a handheld coping saw too. Reselling this type saw will be harder to find buyers because the simplicity of the saw. Adding a few more better addons will make scrolling that much more enjoyable and to me make the choice to continue much easier. It does have a 2 year warrenty. How and where that is honored I do not know. Now I tried looking up the price of the saw but not easy to find because so new. I even look on Buck Tool site and it is not listed. I did find it and it matches Amazon prices.  But I did see it on Amazon and can not believe the prices. The 22" which is far better saw is $369 and the 16" and 18" saw are listed for $349. Something is not right. That is freakin rediculous. You would have to be a true novice to buy either the 16 or 18" saw over the 22" saw. 

[kmmcrafts]

5 hours ago, JTTHECLOCKMAN said:

I did watch his review and yes very well done. I agree these lower end saws have come a long way to an extent. This saw is both pin end and flat  blade acceptable. and you do not need a special clamp for pin end like the old dremels were. It does use a allen wrench for lower clamp which is a downer. There is no up front tension lever which he brings up as a negative. It does run smooth from watching the video but is loud. he does not agree because he said it was quiet. I did not think so. Does it fit a market? yes it does as does all the types of scrollsaws. You can make beautiful pieces with this saw. But you can also do that with a handheld coping saw too. Reselling this type saw will be harder to find buyers because the simplicity of the saw. Adding a few more better addons will make scrolling that much more enjoyable and to me make the choice to continue much easier. It does have a 2 year warrenty. How and where that is honored I do not know. Now I tried looking up the price of the saw but not easy to find because so new. I even look on Buck Tool site and it is not listed. I did find it and it matches Amazon prices.  But I did see it on Amazon and can not believe the prices. The 22" which is far better saw is $369 and the 16" and 18" saw are listed for $349. Something is not right. That is freakin rediculous. You would have to be a true novice to buy either the 16 or 18" saw over the 22" saw. 

I didn't know the prices of these but I do agree... way better deal to buy the larger easier to use saw... I'm not sure what the price is on the HF model but I'm thinking it was in that price range and they have always been good at honoring their warranty and returns were always very easy.. at least in my local store.. so I'd think the HF saw would be the better deal .. 

Best bang for your buck saw from a reselling point of view is the DeWalt.. those things seem to bring 80-90% of the price they were when new.. many times you could sell them for only 50 - 100 less than the new one.. I remember paying $350 for mine with stand and light.. sold the light a couple years later as I never put it on the saw and someone local was wanting one, so I sold it for $25.. ran the saw for 8 years and sold it for $300, LOL.. You can't even get close to the new price with a Hawk or Hegner, or most any other saw for that matter.. but those DW's sure bring a good resell value that you just can't beat. That was the deciding factor I had when I pulled the trigger on mine.. I wanted the Delta P20 that big cast iron monster of a saw but honestly glad I never went that route.. great saw but shortly after I made my choice Delta stopped making then and not long after that parts were obsolete..

With all these cheap saws on the market I still say the DeWalt is really the best entree level saw to buy because of the name, resale, and quality is not bad for the money.. yeah bit more than these saws but you always can get most of your money back if you don't like the hobby..