Customer Reviews

Dremel 1800-01 18-Inch Benchtop Variable Speed Scroll Saw

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I purchased this scrollsaw at Home Depot some weeks ago, even after reading the previous less-than-stellar reviews. I purchased this one after returning a Craftsman so-called "Professional" scrollsaw that could only utilize pin-type saw blades. Unbelievable!

I think a previous reviewer's comments about vibration may have applied to a badly-made saw, for vibration has not been a problem. Of course, I've got it bolted to a heavy-duty workbench that's attached to both the floor and wall of my attic. In addition, I have had no trouble positioning and repositioning the included work lamp. I really love that it uses a bright LED instead of a conventional bulb. It will likely not need replacement for the life of the saw. Also, the controls are all up front, very smooth, and well-protected from all the sawdust that's sure to follow.

Blades, whether pin- or plain-type, are very easy to change, as the plated lower blade clamp really helps you see the blade during blade changes, as well.

The saw's 18" throat capacity and its 90-degree rotating blade have already allowed me to do much larger pieces than any of the 16" saws the competition offers. However, what makes this saw REALLY shine is the included 5" sanding disk. It rotates very true, has adequate torque for larger sanding jobs (provided the speed control is adjusted properly), and takes readily-available 5" adhesive disks to keep operational costs low. For a small attic-sized shop space like mine, it's nice to be able to have two capable tools using a single bench footprint and only one outlet! What's more, being able to immediately sand a piece that's just been cut is a REAL time saver. However, for intricate work, I highly recommend swapping the included 80-grit disk for a 120-grit disk, so it's not quite as aggressive.

One caveat, though: I DO NOT recommend the optional 225-01 flex-shaft attachment, as mine came with a stuck collet lock button, so the first time I hooked it up, it coiled up like a snake and destroyed itself. Also, you have to make a choice BETWEEN the sanding wheel OR the handpiece, and the wheel, due its solid design, is quite difficult to remove before installing the handpiece. Since I already had a Dremel Moto-Tool, I decided to hang it up and purchase a handpiece for it, as they are IMMENSELY better designed than the "$20 special" that must be used with this saw. Besides, anyone who enjoys doing fretwork as I do knows how important it is to be able to drill the fine starter holes necessary to do inside cutting work.

The only thing I can't speak of is its dust collection abilities, as I use my wet-dry vac after I complete each job, and have yet to hook it up. All in all, this saw comes highly recommended to all but the most seasoned professional scrollsawyers, as it it is a time and space saver, comes with a two-year warranty, and will smoothly cut hardwood, softwood, and plywood up to 1-3/4" thick with no problem. Just take the time to set the saw up well, and don't hesitate to return a saw that runs rough, as clearly there ARE some lemons out there. But mine's a goodie, and the more I use it, the more I LOVE it! Hope this helps...

Blades change easily. Both Pin and non-pin are simple to change. The LED work light is a great idea, but it doesn't stay put. Every 60 seconds it must be readjusted. The blower is a better but also requires fequent adjument. Table is nice an spacious. I am going to try CA glue on the LED flexible shaft to see if it will stay in place.

The workpiece foot is a big disappoinment. For the price, I would have expected a foot that was better. Also when then foot is lowered to hold 3/4" stock tightly, the foot holder gets in the way of the workpiece. I had to remove the workpiece foot and place in vise to bend it, to function better. I expected better.

After "fixing" small problems the saw cuts nice, and allmost no vibration. I noticed that the things that I was disappointed with LED light, work piece holder seem to be new to this model. Maybe the next version will do better out of the box.

FIT AND FINISH

I find this saw to be fairly good in this area the casting is reasonably good and the painted finish is very good. I guess my
only complaint it that the sanding disc table is a little cheesy. So fit and finish VERY GOOD

CONTROLS

The controls are very well placed and easy to operate handles both kinds of blades pin and straight and are easy as pie to change. Everything is right up in front of you where you need it
to be. Controls EXCELLENT

VIBRATION

Every scroll saw vibrates to some degree by the very nature of it's design. I find the Dremel 1800 has very low vibration, of
course it is worse at higer speeds but still very acceptable. I have a Delta that could dance it's way out of the country in a
short period of time if given long enough cord.
Vibration. VERY GOOD

PRICE

I got mine at Home Depot at a great price ($119.00)
Price. EXCELLENT

OVERALL

All things considered I would give this tool 5 S T A R S

Too many people knock this scroll saw for mostly reasons that are silly and lacking in basic mechanical knowledge. This saw will perform as well or better than saws costing three or four times as much. In particular, squawks about vibration are easily cured by bolting the machine to a firm foundation. If one will take the time and check everything, coming out of the box, tighten all fittings and set the proper alignments, they will enjoy many happy hours producing fine projects. The sanding wheel, the tool attachment, the placement of controls and the ease of operation make this a helluva bang for the buck. Pay more and you get less!

I had mine now for good month and I been working with it quite a bit. I find the vibration at higher speed to be so much so that it will be impossible to do any delicate work.

I bought mine at Home Depot and I am going to return it tommorow, this saw is a disappointment for a name brand saw.

Like the person before me, I received my saw via shipping and it arrived with a good size hole in the bottom of the box and some minor parts missing. (Mine didn't come from Amazon.Com) I was still able to use it until the other parts arrived, but it would have been nice not to have gone through the hastle.

The design of this saw is well thought out. Everything is easy to get too and simple to operate. The little sanding disk on the side is nice for finishing the edges of scroll work. The light is bright but mine is a little finicky about staying where I want it. The flex shaft the light is on is kind of stiff, and wants to straighten out. The blower stays on target and puffs plenty enough air to keep the dust well out of the way.

The table is a little rough, but some fine sandpaper followed by car wax did the trick for me.

Haven't got to use the hold down yet. The screw that holds it in was one of the missing parts and hasn't come in yet.

The only real problem I have is the vibration. I too have had delta and a craftsman scroll saws, but the Dremel out vibrates them by a longshot. It's enough vibration that the light shakes on the work piece enough to throw shadows back and forth and tire your eyes out. Mine is bolted to a 4 X 4 & 2 X 6 constructed work bench which is built into the wall and is sturdy enough to have a 4' lathe, and radial arm saw mounted to it, and you can just barely feel them running, so I know it's solid. I put a piece of that stiff 1/2 inch foam padding used for sleeping bag padding under it, which did cut the noise down quite a bit, but the vibration didn't seem to get any better. At full speed, it makes quite a bit of noise, and the vibration while not worse, is just faster. Kind of disappointing for Dremel, but I guess there experience is in going "round and round" not "up and down". Hope they get it fixed. My other Dremel tools are terrific and perform very well, which is why I bought Dremel saw.

I was kind of thrown by the ability to turn the blade 90 degrees. It is a neat idea, but it's not real convenient like changing blades. You have to dissamble the blade holders (2 screws), remove the blade holder from the square mounts, then put them back in at the 90 degree turn, put the screws back in, then put the blade in and go. (At least that's the way I did it, if there's another way let me know) While I can certainly see some applications for this feature such as rocking chair rockers, or long window boxes, it doesn't really help doing inside cuts on large pieces very much.

Overall for the price I'm pleased and can do most of what I want to do in the two or three speeds I've found where the vibration is not too bad.

I was trying to upgrade from my 16" Craftsman and I am afraid I made a big mistake. I could not control the vibration on this machine no matter how I bolted it down. I tried the suggested carpet pad but to no avail. I have sent this back for a refund, thank goodness that Amazon allows me to do this. I will try to save my pennies and go for the DeWalt or perhaps save even more for a HAWK. I am extremely happy with all other products I have from Dremmel but this was a disappointment. I also had problems with the light and the hold downs as was stated in another review. This is certainly not the scroll saw I was hoping for.
D. Allen

I got one of these saws that had been refurbished from Ebay. I believe it was the best buy I could have made with the money I had. I had used the scroll saw DeWalt makes(roughly $400) before. Amazingly, this Dremel compares beautifully, with only slightly more vibration. Blade changes are quick and easy, with simple thumb screws. The saw comes with a vacuum port, light, and blower, none of which the higher priced DeWalt had.
The light and power switches are both very convenient and upfront.
Also, the 5 inch sanding disc is handy for small jobs.
One disadvantage is that while moving a piece on the sanding disc table, the table may leave a black mark on your work. The mark is easily sanded off, but it is still somewhat annoying.

Overall, the saw is an excellent one, especially considering the price. I give it 4.5 stars.

Am very pleased with this product.
Good and fast delivery; easy to set-up and start cutting; really easy and fast blade changes; good professional customer service representatives when called in for additional assembly question;love that side sander--never thought it could be so handy and give such good results to finish projects!!!

My wife and I made our Christmas gifts this year in the form of turned ink pens each with a home made gift box. Each gift box had an emblem glued to the top. These emblems were all made using this scroll saw. The saw did an excellent job with one exception. We had to fight a lot with the foot. Either it was too tight and the work piece wouldn't move smoothly or it was too loose and it bounced. I spent a lot of time bending and shaping the foot so that it was functional enough to work with. I am going to get my machinest brother to build me a better foot and then I will have no complaints.
The light is ok but I think I preferred the incandescent light bulb of the older model better. We did a large number of items in a few months time using this saw and the saw performed very well indeed. I used the sander several times to help shape the edges of the final project and since I used the disk that came with the saw I had to use extreme care as it is a 60 grit disk. I plan to change it to a 120 to make it more user friendly :)