DC motor with a powerful 120 V/60 Hz/1.2 A output.
SPM (550 – 1650) at a Variable Spee.
From the manufacturer, a cast iron base provides greater stability.
Fine detail work is made easier with the Rikon 10-600VS variable speed scroll saw, which is a great addition to any shop. The speed of the 5-Inch blade can be adjusted from 550 to 1650 strokes per minute, depending on the application. The cutting height is 2 inches tall, and the throat depth is 15-3/4 inches. The large 10-1/16-inch by 16-1/4-inch table can be tilted from 0 to 45 degrees in any direction. Work lamp and a port for an optional flex shaft are included.
Although this scroll saw had received two negative reviews (at the time of this writing), I took a chance and ordered it anyway, primarily because I had recently purchased a Rikon 10″ bandsaw (model 10-305) and had been extremely pleased with it. I was not disappointed with this scroll saw. The scroll saw arrived quickly and in good condition, having been carefully packaged.
In contrast to another reviewer, I found the owner’s manual to be quite useful, as it contained complete specifications, an exploded assembly drawing with numbered call-outs, and a comprehensive parts list, among other things. The assembly instructions were brief but comprehensive, and the operating instructions were equally succinct but comprehensive. There was no difference in quality between the manual and those for other equipment I’d recently acquired. Even though the reviewer’s poor grammar, spelling, and punctuation may provide a clue, it’s difficult for me to imagine why anyone would call the manual “worthless..
To be completely honest, there were a couple of issues. First and foremost, I was unable to locate the 5mm machine screw required for attaching the safety shield. Even though I looked pretty thoroughly, I couldn’t find it anywhere in the packaging. It could have been hidden somewhere in there. For the second time, as soon as I started using the saw, I noticed that the tensioning screw knob would become loose after a short period of time.
I dialed Rikon’s number and was connected to them almost immediately. The first response came from a lady (who spoke excellent native English!). She was extremely pleasant and showed genuine concern for my well-being. When she became aware of my dissatisfaction, she immediately transferred me to a technical support representative named Rod. Upon hearing about the rotating tension adjustment, he expressed surprise and stated that he had never heard of such a problem previously. He then offered to replace the bandsaw and/or install a new subassembly for the tensioning mechanism if the situation warranted it. However, after taking a moment to consider the situation, he recommended that I first try lubricating the four bearings located on the upper arm beneath rubber inserts. The following day, I lubricated the bearings with a few drops of Tri-Flow. Since then, the tensioning knob has stopped rotating and has remained rock solid. Congratulations to Rikon’s technical support team. Übrigens, several days later, I received a small package in the mail containing an additional set of mounting hardware for the safety shield.
Over the next couple of days, I worked with the saw to cut out some small wooden gears for a project I’m working on at the moment. This product performed exactly as I had hoped for it to do. Even after cutting more than 60 gear teeth and then a base 8″ square from 1/2” plywood, I’m still using the first blade because it hasn’t broken and it’s still cutting cleanly.
Due to the fact that I am retired and rely solely on Social Security, investing in expensive equipment and tools is out of the question. It is my opinion that this saw is an excellent choice if you are in the same boat as I am, or if you are equipping your shop for small-scale woodworking on a tight budget. In addition, the engineering and customer support teams at Rikon deserve high praise. I believe that you could easily spend twice as much money on another brand of scroll saw and not get anything better than what you currently have. It comes highly recommended.
