allpurpose

I don't have this particular model, but do have an older 2 speed dremel. It's ok, but did require several modifications to just get it to cut a straight line . I managed to get it so I can change blades without tools and it'll cut well,but blade changes is still time consuming and tedious. No light and I use a aquarium pump to blow dust. All in all not the worst piece of equipment I own, but far from the best. I have no other scroll saw to compare it with.

Thanks folks..as far as taking it apart periodically my old 2 speed might as well be a FORD, Fix Or Repair Daily..lol The motor is fine still and vibration isn't really an issue, but the clamps...they are the biggest reason I'll put off doing anything that requires me to drill a hole and thread the blade through.. It has more than enough power, but since I no longer have the patience to fiddle around with tiny parts and I have the shakes from time to time it's just not a fun machine to deal with. I've considered completely disassembling it to use the parts for a different machine altogether..

I have to admit that I hated sales when I did it for a living and still hate it today, but do occasionally get the fantasy that my stuff will just magically sell itself.. Poof! seems to be lacking in my business model..lol I guess there's a reason they call it old and retired. I don't mind the work involved in making things, but selling? Uhhg!

So I'm considering one of the two, a 1680 or 1800 and other than one being 16" or 18" and the 1800 has the side disc sander is there a great deal of difference between the two? I'm certainly not bent on Dremel as a brand, but I've seen both for sale (used of course) far cheaper than many others on the market. I like the idea of what appears to be quick blade change at least on the 1800, not sure about the 1680.. I haven't read too many negative comments about the 1800, but have seen a few negatives about the 1680.. My current scroll saw is an old 2 speed Dremel I'm forever having to modify and blade changing is a regular PITA.. I can no longer tighten the bottom clamp sufficiently without the risk of snapping an allen wrench. I've broken two already . So how does the 1800 fare compared with the 1680? Thanks

Ha! I too have an old clunker. Mine is the 'wonderful' 2 speed Dremel. By practice do you mean to practice NOT throwing it across the shop? I have that down to an art form, but my patience do have limits.. I suppose I really ought to start stashing my pennies away for an eventual new (used) saw.. The problem is I've gotten so used to this old clunker being what it is my head might explode if I had an actual convenient saw. Even though my saw reaches new heights of pain-in-the-patooty I still managed to cut out this nifty S in maple for my sister Soozy.. (not the real spelling)

Yup..a bandsaw would be pretty spiffy and I really should get one one of these days or build one from scratch. I've got a pretty good selection of blades for various reasons. Some drift a lot and some not much at all. Selecting them isn't easy with my old eyeballs and organization was never my strong suit, but I'm slowly getting better at it

Just wondering..I'm far from being an electrician and I'm not in love with the notion of burning the house down so.. is it feasible to convert my 2 speed Dremel to a variable speed without swapping out too many parts?

Ehh.. I'll toy around with when I find the time. I had it fairly close awhile back. As I mentioned before in another post I mostly use the scroll saw for making small parts for larger projects. I get artistic once in awhile, but I'm not real good at it..

I used to have several of these round wood tops to fit over the aluminum top of my saw. I had them nice and polished so things were smooth and so on, but the moisture and general carelessness did them in so they ended up in the trash heap. http://i1160.photobucket.com/albums/q490/atheola/20170111_063915_1.jpg Now one had a small rip fence I fashioned to it and it worked for a while, but that was before I figured out how to get the saw to cut straight without wandering. So now I'm wondering if anyone else has figured out how to use a rip fence for the sroll saw. Yeah, I know..learn how to cut straight to begin with and so on, but there are times when the table saw is just too big and I want a small piece cut as close to straight as I can get with the scroll saw.. so anyways..has anyone else found a need for any sort of ripping fence? I might just play around with this idea again and make some new tops with better material than cheapo luan and/or thin plywood. I have some nice, thin maple and walnut I might fiddle around with to see if I can get this to work the way I sort of had it working once upon a time..

This is something I will play around with and see if it changes how I make turns. Usually I just kind of nibble away on the waste side till I get the turn, but there are occasions when that's impractical.

I don't have the $350, but did live in Moraine for about 3 years way back when the Fridgidaire plant was still in operation. We were the "rich kids" or so it was perceived back then when Miami Shores was basically swamp land. We lived up on the hill in 'German Village' when living in any sort of new house was thought of as rich and the mayor ran the gas station across from city hall.. Ahh..the good old days.

Here's the bench if anyone is interested. It's based on Paul Sellers design. Very sturdy and heavy and quite a bit more filthy now then when the picture was taken.. http://i1160.photobucket.com/albums/q490/atheola/IMG_20160618_202630.jpg

Here's the bench if anyone is interested. It's based on Paul Sellers design. Very sturdy and heavy and quite a bit more filthy now then when the picture was taken.. http://i1160.photobucket.com/albums/q490/atheola/IMG_20160618_202630.jpg

I don't have a picture of it, but one of my favorite things I've made with the scroll saw was a small wooden clip to fasten a jewelers loup to my dad's glasses when he lost the sight in one eye and the other he can barely see from. I don't have a lot of pictures of things I've made with the scroll saw as most are small parts that fit other things, but as a consolation prize here's the saw, stand and some of the modifications I guess. The stand is made from legs that were intended for my workbench, but they didn't quite fit so I remade them and saved them which became the scroll saw stand legs..tenon and mortises and all.. http://i1160.photobucket.com/albums/q490/atheola/IMG_20160701_074042_1.jpg

Nice work..very well done. Funny I have probably 20 clocks around the house and I usually could care less about what time it is. I just like the looks of different types of clocks.