I got my first scroll saw (cheap skill saw) about 4 yrs ago. I liked to use it but at the same time it was more of a hassle then anything. I always broke 3 or 4 blades every time I used it. I could never get the tension right. My wife got me the Delta 40-690 for Valentine?s Day (got it Friday) and the difference is out of this world. I have not gotten to use it a whole lot yet but so far I have yet to break a blade. I cannot compare it to other saws on the market but I do know if I would have had this saw a few yrs ago what I did every once in a while would have been a real hobby.