Makita SJ401 16-Inch Variable Speed Scroll Saw

by Makita

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Cut a wide variety of materials with this 16-inch, 1.2 amp electronic variable-speed scroll saw. The parallel-arm mechanism provides efficiency and accuracy while the cast-iron base gives you stability and vibration-free cutting. You can change blades easily with the tool-free blade change system and quickly adjust blade tension with a handy lever. Your scroll saw purchase includes a saw blade and two hex wrenches.

Product Details

Product Manual [1.74mb PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 36 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B0000223J7
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: SJ401
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #757,816 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, February 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Makita SJ401 16-Inch Variable Speed Scroll Saw (Tools & Home Improvement)

On the positive side, it's fairly quiet with minimum vibration. Negatively I wasn't impressed with the overall quality of the product. To be specific, the spring arm that presses down against the board isn't level causing it to bind as I go into the work. Who knows maybe I got one that slipped past quality assurance. It's out of the ordinary for a Makita and in retrospect I'd go with the Delta.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Prefer it to the Delta, January 27, 2007

By 

TZ "Armchair Critic" (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Makita SJ401 16-Inch Variable Speed Scroll Saw (Tools & Home Improvement)

I bought a Delta for a high school wood shop that I run, and I have not been impressed. It vibrates, and the quick release for the blade is tricky, and not user friendly. I bought the Makita for myself, and it's not quick release, so it takes a few minutes to change the blade, but there is much less vibration, and it's easy to do very precise work with this saw. I have not experienced the binding that an earlier review mentioned. My only complaint is that the opening in the arbor is too big, so the cut is not as clean as it could be. I made a plywood bed that fits over the aluminum bed, with a very narrow slit for the blade, and now I get a really clean cut, on both sides of my wood.

4 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Compare Saws, February 29, 2000

By 

Clifford Nelson (Arizona USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Makita SJ401 16-Inch Variable Speed Scroll Saw (Tools & Home Improvement)

I have a Delta scollsaw now which I have useded for 5 years. I have trouble with the vibration I am looking to buy another saw in the near future and am wondering if the Makita would be a better buy. I am concerned with the weight. 38 lbs is not very heavy to hold it steady. Please let me know if someone else has compared the 2 saws Thank you