Waiting for ph call

[king310]

I bought my first scroll saw a few months back.16" PORTER CABLE SCROLL SAW  Model #:PCB370SS. I used it for about a month and a half when I notice play in the arms and I thought it was just me not being able to cut straight. Well some of it was. I checked the rubber plugs to see if I could adjust this out of the saw and found iron fillings. . Lowes was very accommodating and exchanged the saw with no problems.

Today I started a new project which requires 12 scrolled pieces. I am cutting ? inch material and the work will be doweled and glued together. Scrolled quilt rake.

Half way through the first board bang I break a blade. Ok this is going to be a project that will cost me blades Oh Well. After I put the new blade in and start scrolling again and a few minutes later BANG, CLATTER, CLATTER. I thought I broke another blade. WRONG!!! Broke the tension rod. 
 
Back to Lowes and the exchanged the saw no problem. Back home I go with the new saw under my arm smiling and glad they are nice to me. Get the new saw all setup and back to the piece I started at 8:30 am this morning. Cutting along and all of sudden the control head falls onto my work. Who ever assembled this saw over tightened the screws and broke the plastic tabs. Back to Lowes I go?. They exchange the saw again. We check the saw just like we did the last 3 to make sure it had no defects. Well by the time I got back home and setup again. Now it is 12:45 and no lunch and wore out setting up saws. Tested the new saw and it runs, so i made a short cut on the piece I was working on and quit. I picked up my phone and called Porter Cable and explained my dissatisfaction with their products. She started to tell me that I need to deal with the store. I then proceeded to tell her that I would not be buying another product built by them. She asked me to hold for a minute. When she came back on she said I will be getting a call from the VP of product quality control. She said I would hear from him in 48 hours.
 
Oh yeah I forgot to tell you I bought a PORTER-CABLE 0.8 HP 6-Gallon 150 PSI Electric Air Compressor 2 weeks ago and the regulator knob was stripped out. Yup took it back and bought something different.
Never did finish that 1st piece 

[scrollgirl]

Quality control is just pitiful for these types of things!  So sad to hear you having to go through all of that. You know, you would think that if they took the time and paid employees enough so that they would CARE about what they did and how their products are assembled, they would be ahead in the long run instead of having product after product returned and losing customer confidence.  Even someone not so good with math should be able to see how this would benefit the company.  What a disgrace!

They should be ashamed of themselves. 

My advice - save up and get a saw from a company who stands behind their products. It may cost a bit more, but it will be worth it in the long run and you will get much more pleasure from cutting.

Hope all goes well from now on. 

Sheila

[king310]

What you are saying is very true, but when you have your products built in china it is cheaper to keep replacing them. If this one fails I will be making an upgrade to a different saw built in  the USA.
Oh I tolde her that I was thinking about a Delta since they were also listed on the pre-screening but I was rethinking that. She informed me that they sold the Delta company.Now I wonder who bought them?

[yyyyyguy]

talk about "not built like they used to be", I have a Craftsman table saw (35 yrs), router (40 yrs) lathe (40 yrs.) drill press (35 yrs)and band saw  (bought used 45 yrs. ago by my father) and all are craftsmen and just fine.  I'm on my 3rd drill driver in 15 yrs. had a Dremel scroll saw for 2 yrs. replaced with a DeWalt that I had to return  (got a new one and am happy so far) a friend has had 3 Craftsmen scroll saws in 6 yrs. Problem is to buy quality pieces anymore is beyond the financial limits of many of us.

Pete

[Billy in Va]

I am on my third Porter Cable Scroll Saw  'cept the third one is yellow and says DEWALT. I didn't give them three strikes

[dirtrider73068]

I started with a skil scroll saw 6 projects it looked like I had it 20 years, took back to lowes, they gave me my money back, went to sears got a craftsman and like it alot better, though I did find that the arm bushings/bearing were pretty dry, took them out, slabbed some grease on them stuck them back in and the arms move very very easy. Might be something to check out on your next saw you get, be sure the arm bearings or bushings are lubed good.

[Mainewoods]

I don't mean this as sarcasm, but are ANY company's scroll saws actually built here in the USA anymore? I can't think of any...... maybe RBI?  I don't know.   

[Shogun]

I feel your pain king 310. I have a Delta that I have had to repair 4 times in as many months. When I do replace it I don't think I'll be buying another one. Would love to hear about that discussion withthe Quality Controll VP.

[jim stiek]

the hawk woodworking tools including thier scroll saws are built in Bushton kansas a very good product.
jim

[UHMNL]

Eclipse is made in the USA.
FD Mike

[king310]

As in those immortal words of Wimpy ?I?ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a scroll saw today"
The only problem in selecting my next Scroll saw is getting difficult.
1: Limited funds (sort of)
2: finding one that has not had major problems
3: Company that will stand behind product
4: Saw that is made of quality.
5: did I mention money ....oh yeah!

I have read in this blog that just about every saw has had some type of problem. If I could take a feature from all of the saws and place them in one I wonder if I just might have a saw that was indestructible.

I wonder just what would that saw look like!.... .what color would it be.......... ...........What would the speed range be.........

Just a thought!!!!

[dirtrider73068]

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-16inch-variable-speed-scroll-saw-21602/p-00921602000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

This is one I got, paid 129 for it. If you get this one first thing I would do is take out the arm bushings and grease them up. I tweaked mine some after some use, but so far love it.