I agree 100% what Shelia and GrayBeard said and even agree, for the most part, with Roger. Nothing can replace practice, however, I do think a better saw makes cutting more fun and allows you to concentrate on the cutting instead of fighting the saw, therefore, makes you a better scroller in that regard.
I completed my first Segmentation Intarsia using a Dremel vibrating type SS that I had since I was a young kid and I knew, after that, I needed something better if I was to enjoy scroll sawing.
I was able to try the RBI Hawk and the Hegner 22? at the LA Co. Fair in 1991, it was the only two saws there and both saws were a pleasure to use. I choose the Hegner over the Hawk, even though it was considerably more expensive, because it had a quick tension release up front, less vibration and the reputation for quality, according to everything I read.
I used the 22? Multimax for a couple of years and was very satisfied, however that was before I got the opportunity to try a Hegner, 20" Polymax. (The Polymax is Hegner?s Commercial Grade scroll saw and is used in shops where they run 12 hours a day every day and comes with a manufacturer?s seven-year warranty.) After using it, along with my 22? SS for a couple of weeks, I was convinced it was a much better saw and made the trade.
The Polymax was eight years old when I acquired it, but looked like it came straight from the factory and had never been used. I?ve had it Seventeen years and have made over 400 Intarsia?s with it and have never had to replace any parts. I gave up the variable speed motor and the quick-change blade changing mechanism I had on the 22? saw for a heavy duty, quiet and smooth cutting machine.
The Polymax?s mainframe parts are all cast Iron. And, the saw weighs 104 pounds, which deadens almost all vibration. It has two stroke settings, which gives it a total of eight speeds. The long stroke is best for nearly all scroll work and the short stroke provides increased sawing control and smoothness when cutting thin and light materials, such as wood veneer or single layer sheet metal.
Bottom Line, Is there any real advantage in buying an expensive saw for the average scroller?
For the average scroller, that only scrolls occasionally, probably would be happy with a GOOD quality saw, however, I think having a better quality Scrollsaw, that has never needed service, is a real advantage and has made my scrolling much more pleasurable.
That said, I feel the experience I?ve acquired over the past 19 plus years of making Intarsia?s is what gets the credit for the quality of my work.
Would I make the purchase again? You bet, in a minute. I?ve made enough from it to pay for it many times over.
