I ended up getting a variable speed Ryobi off of FB for $10. It checked out fine in the seller's garage with a couple of test cuts. I've since cleaned it up and squared everything up. As of today, I have more invested in blades than the saw.
Hello, I'm a former structural engineer living in Boulder, Colorado. More of a woodcarver, but I just purchased a used scroll saw to help cut out patterns. I'm glad I ran across this site as it has been very helpful in getting started. Looking forward to learning more.