BluesMatt

Hello everyone. Matt here, still a newbie. My question is about the stands or tables you use for your scroll saws. When I first (re)started using the Harbor Freight scroll saw, for convenience I clamped it loosely to an old kitchen table in my garage. The table is fairly heavy with a thick wood top. As I was using the saw, I was surprised about how little vibration there was. Then I started rearranging my shop and placed the saw on a much smaller (and lighter) wood table I had made from 2x4s and 3/4" plywood. When I turned on the saw, there was a lot for vibration especially at a mid-speed setting. So it seems to me that the table or stand needs to be heavy and rigid. Agreed? I'm already thinking about my next saw which might be the Porter Cable ($200). It comes with a stand but I can't imagine it is very heavy or rigid. Anyone have any experience with that saw? I think I might go back to the kitchen table and maybe even add some more weight to it (concrete blocks). Looking forward to your insights.

Thanks for the replies. I'm a little smarter now thanks to you guys.

Hello everyone, Matt here, a newbie. I have 2 scroll saws; a Central Machinery (Harbor Freight) 16" and a used Hawk. So far, I have replaced the blade clamps on the HF saw so I can use flat end (pinless) blades and they seem to work very well. These clamps seem to grip a large portion of the blade end (the clamp is what grips the blade, not the screw). On the older Hawk, both the upper and lower blade clamps work by using the end of the screw to press against the blade end. When I slowly move the arm of each saw, it looks like the downstroke pushes the blade into the workpiece a small amount while the up stroke moves the blade away from the wood. At first I thought this was a good thing since the blade cuts (mostly) on the downstroke and moving the wood away from the blade on the upstroke might lessen the tendency for the wood to jump. My question is, should the blade move perfectly vertical or is it supposed to move slightly into and then away from the wood being cut. thanks

It looks like that swivel stool has a very thick seat cushion. Does it?

I'm tempted to try the swivel, height adjustable shop stool sold at Harbor Freight and at Lowes (about $70). Anyone try either of these?

Does anyone use a swiveling bar stool? I'm thinking that maybe a tall stool could allow me to sit sometimes and stand others.

Hello everyone. Matt here, a newbie scroller. I'm wondering if you stand, use a chair, or use a stool when you scroll for long periods of time. If you use a chair or stool, which one do you use and is it comfortable for long scrolling sessions? thanks