Delta 40-695 Scroll Saw
I had a chance to try the new Delta 40-695 Scroll saw at the local Woodcraft store in Ventura California. I was teaching a scroll saw class and had the Delta to use.
The Delta is very similar to the DeWalt DW788. In fact the linkage arms, Blade clamps and thumb screws look identical to the 788, as does the front base and hold down foot. The back base is shaped differently to accommodate the mechanism that holds the upper arm lift lock. There is a button directly behind where the upper arm mounts. You lift up the arm; push the button and the arm locks in the up position. Lift up on the upper arm and the lock disengages and the upper arm lowers on its own. This is a nice feature except the arm does not lock fully in the up position, Rather it locks one to one and a half inches below the full up position. If you feed from the bottom, this will work nicely for you. If you are a top feeder, you will not use it often, but it is there when you need it.
There is a small plastic box on top of the back base to store blades. This is useless!
The controls are up front like the DW 788. The tension lever is identical. The switch is much larger. The air blower is in the same place and works just fine. The hold down foot is identical and just as worthless.
I was unable to measure the front to back blade movement, but the saw ran flawlessly.
The saw runs very smoothly with no vibration even at full speed. In fact is seems to run slower because of the lack of vibration. I ran it at full speed without any vibration and it is very quiet.
I can?t speak for the reliability of the saw or if it will develop the same problems that the DW788 develops, but I like this saw and would recommend it!
It sells for $499 and comes with the stand and light.
