Harbor Freight Central Machinery 16 inch Scroll Saw Setup and Review

[@cabman86]

I bought mine in 1994 and am still using it. Still going strong.

[@snapwholeharborfreightreviews]

I compared the design to the dremel I bought in the 1990s and its almost an exact copy, I use mine alot and I've not had a problem with it - and the pinless adapters really increases the usefulness, just like they did on the dremel - thanks for subscribing!

[@Blah-blah-sure]

Considering buying 1. But I'm new. How's yours holding up. And maybe compared to the Dewalt. Other than the price difference?

[@courtn3949]

I finally tried mine out today after having it since May. Your video helped to make me feel more confident in trying it out. Thank you!!!

[@snapwholeharborfreightreviews]

I have a video on installing pin-less blade adapters that come with it - worth the effort if you have not done it, much tighter curves are possible - thanks for subscribing!

[@segraves138]

Just got one for Xmas. I’m really excited to play around with it.

[@snapwholeharborfreightreviews]

this is a nice scrollsaw, I use it a lot, works great, adding the pinless blade adapters makes it even more versatile - I have a video on install in them - kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5uTpmOrgbODhqc - thanks for subscribing!

[@cactuskid1950]

I have the same exact saw and I like it. I have it mounted on a square piece of plywood, so there's no vibration at all. I was running it yesterday for a couple of small projects and it did well. The wife says it's really quiet and sounds like a sewing machine so it's not noisey at all. She's not intimidated by it for her uses. The bellows dust blower is my only complaint, but that's not a deal breaker for me. It's only for hobby use, so I'm sure it'll last as long as me. Thanks for the video. It'll help me to break it down if ever need be for cleaning & lubing.

[@snapwholeharborfreightreviews]

I mounted mine to a sink cutout, and counter tops are good for this, unless you get them wet, I salvaged an air pump from a breathing machine and it works great for blowing the dust out of the way - thanks for subscribing!

[@rhondaadams4013]

Very good video. Very informative. Someone gave me one of these one to two years ago and I just pulled it out for use. Don't know how old it is but after seeing this video I think I'd like to take a bit of it apart to look around the motor, under the plate, to see its condition. Thanks!

[@snapwholeharborfreightreviews]

Watch for a new video on installing the pinless hinges this weekend worth effort - they cost less and much much tighter turns - Thanks for subscribing!

[@ToddB987]

Got one yesterday to use for EVA foam for costumes.

[@snapwholeharborfreightreviews]

I like to hear of different uses for tools, helps people realize tools can be used for any job where they get the job done - thanks for subscribing!

[@keithdavison5578]

Snapwhole harbor freight I don't know but the machine that I have is identical to your machine and I was wondering how to do just what you have done, it was a great review and shown me just what to do that's brilliant I'm in England so don't know that brand but i do love my scroll Saw off hand 🖐 I can't think what brand it is but like yours it's a cheap one but i have had a lot of fun with it because a cheap one will do exactly what an expensive one will do maybe better so thanks again mate looking forward to more of your videos ❤

[@snapwholeharborfreightreviews]

I think this is a good scroll saw, especially with the pinless blade modification - it is a basic copy of the dremel scrollsaw from the 1990s - thanks for subscribing!

[@sma11caliber]

@@snapwholeharborfreightreviews how does it do on hardwoods?

[@juliedeane9541]

This was very informative thank you so much. I just purchased one of these. It’s still in the box. Im not sure if I want to keep it, or get the Wen for $20 more. Will this one take round blades?

[@snapwholeharborfreightreviews]

answered in another question but - check out this video - the adapters come with the scroll saw, but they are not installed - I have them on my HF scroll saw and I bought a set for my dremel scroll saw, which the HF is a somewhat close copy of - also available on amazon for about $10 - the ones on amazon are made by vermont american - thanks for subscribing! - kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5uTpmOrgbODhqc

[@oKnASty10]

Great video! Just opened one of these today. My only complaint is the table shakes a ton. Any ideas on how to reduce this?

[@snapwholeharborfreightreviews]

look at the attachment point of the motor the the u-frame - its loose, or assembled wrong, make note of how its assembled, sometimes the spacers are installed backwards, and tension of the screw is finicky, you need to tighten it until its too tight for the arm to move, then back it off 1/4 turn, there is also 2 bushings the U frame pivots on, these need greased - but 99% of the vibration is that motor attachment, I have a dremel scroll saw and this scroll saw, and both have zero vibration - I have another video on converting this to pinless blades, kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5uTpmOrgbODhqc - Thanks for subscribing!

[@gammarotor]

Would wheel bearing grease work for the upper and lower pins? Would it be advisable to reinforce the table underneath by putting a cut out of plywood in the recess?

[@snapwholeharborfreightreviews]

wheel bearing grease will work ok, I've never had any problems with flex in the table, or any issues that made me think it needed a more substantial table, the dremel model this was copied from used an aluminum table that is a little thicker, but I think this table will work with no issues, although you could add wood somewhat easily, I would want to use counter sunk screws to get the wood firmly attached to the table and try that out good before gluing the wood on, there might be clearance issues that need fixed - thanks for subscribing!

[@20111111jorg]

Great rational review.

[@snapwholeharborfreightreviews]

Thanks for the positive comment, glad you liked the review - thanks for subscribing!

[@juliedeane9541]

I will be watching your other videos. Is there a way to use round blades in this?

[@snapwholeharborfreightreviews]

check out this video - the adapters come with the scroll saw, but they are not installed - I have them on my HF scroll saw and I bought a set for my dremel scroll saw, which the HF is a somewhat close copy of - also available on amazon for about $10 - the ones on amazon are made by vermont american - thanks for subscribing! - kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5uTpmOrgbODhqc

[@MrMaddawgg]

Does anyone know what size vac hose you need with this saw?

[@snapwholeharborfreightreviews]

to find the correct size, you need the external diameter of the dust port, and then find a hose that has the same size internal diameter - I measured external diameter of the dust port at 1 5/8 or 41.5 mm, I have a video I'm editing now on making a custom dust port adapter from a plastic bottle - should have it up by next weekend - thanks for subscribing!

[@ericbartu3274]

Try a aquarium air pump small and cheap

[@snapwholeharborfreightreviews]

the pump provides just enough air to clear the chips, this saw is a copy of the dremel saw back from about 20 years go, the saw price plus the aquarium pump = the price of a dremel...... Thanks for subscribing!

[@juliedeane9541]

Our Harbor Freight sells these for $99 I’ve not seen them for less than that.

[@snapwholeharborfreightreviews]

I bought that before covid and during covid HF increased their prices by about 50%, this will be discontinued soon and a warrior model will come out at about 2x the price with a new paint job - going by my shop in the photo, I'm thinking I bought it at least a year before covid screwed up the world...... and I got it on a very good sale, hard to find those very good sales lately......in the video I detailed everything I found that was not perfect, none of which was a concern to me, the only real differences between this saw and the dremel is dremel used a cast and machined aluminum top and a swing arm access door to get at the motor, instead of a bolted on door, I set the two side by side and went over everything on both, the wren is almost identical to this scroll saw, except for the air generator, it will also take the pinless adapters, which ever one you get, take it apart and grease the pivot points, it will make it work better and more importantly, make it quieter - thanks for subscribing!

[@30guarino]

I’m at Harbor freight now with one staring at me at open box for $45… I’m going to buy this

[@sma11caliber]

Does anybody know how this does on hardwoods?

[@snapwholeharborfreightreviews]

this is a copy of the dremel scrollsaw from the early 2000s, and has the same power, you might find more reviews/info on the dremel, but it good on hardwood for me, I always make sure I have a new pinless blade on, and adjust my feed rate based on how the blade is cutting, that will also vary with thickness, but I rarely cut really thick material with a scroll saw - thanks for subscribing!

[@jimihendrix4376]

52 dollars yea maybe but $109.99 probably have to think on it, and sure as heck not overhauling it at this price (109.99) ether!

[@snapwholeharborfreightreviews]

if you pay shelf price at harbor freight, you are paying too much, they no longer have $20 off coupons, but they do have regular sales and ITC offers discounts, I see no reason to give them extra money, watch my video on installing pinless adapter(that come with the saw), I use this all the time, and it a virtual copy of my dremel scroll saw

[@30guarino]

$45!now at Harbor freight open box… buying it!

[@colemahaney4208]

I always look at the recycle number

[@snapwholeharborfreightreviews]

I always recycle when possible, I'm not sure it is worth it on some items, but it seems better to make the effort - thanks for subscribing!

[@nathanlamberson1256]

how much does this thing weigh? looking to get one

[@snapwholeharborfreightreviews]

everything but the motor - 2 lb max, the motor - about 3 lbs - its an almost exact copy of the dremel scrollsaw from the 1990s (might still be the same design.....) the only real difference is the say the blade attaches, the dremel has a 2 piece blade mount, to make it easy to convert to pinless, I converted this to pinless and it works great - kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5uTpmOrgbODhqc - thanks for subscribing!

[@HighTone45]

This scroll saw iOS 1.2 amps correct

[@snapwholeharborfreightreviews]

this saw is rated for 1.2 A correct, in the video I compared it to a dremel scroll saw, it is an almost exact copy of the dremel, only difference is table, details in the video, motor is the same as the dremel too - thanks for subsccribing!