I retired 3 years ago and my son bought me a craftsman 18" scroll saw that looked like it had been left in the weather for a while. I knew nothing of scrolling. Spent a day cleaning the saw table from rust and stepped back when I turned it on. To my surprise it ran well so off to school I went (youtube). My first project was done with a spiral blade and it was a snowman. Turned out well. It was latter I learned spirals were not the go to blade but being new and unknowing that is what I learned with. Bought a excalibur and got to use it a week. My wife tried it and liked it so much I am still using the craftsman lol.