Draper 22791 Variable Speed Fretsaw with Flexible Shaft and Worklight, 405mm, 90W, 230V

Having used the saw intermittently for about a month now, I am happy to say that I prefer it to the Sheppach 402 I previously used. Draper's has the ability to use blades without pins - and I now mostly use these blades as a much smaller holes are needed to feed the blades through. The light and flexi-shaft drive are also most useful additions to the basic saw. I like the variable speed because I can run it at whatever I find best for the blade/material combination I'm cutting. Dust extractor at the front couples up to a old 'Henry' via 32mm standard push on plastic pipe connector - does a great job.Downsides? - can't stop the flexi shaft rotating except by removing it. Light not separately switched - so it's only on when saw is running! Dust port is, like most machines, at the front - would be better for me at the side or back. Would also have liked to such what little dust is blown forward from the blade. These are very minor grumps.

This is the first fret machine I've ever owned, although I've been doing fretwork for a large number of years, it's quite a big machine and quite heavy, it cuts nicely, whether thin or thick (48mm hardwood) the dust blower is very effective and the light is invaluable, but the flexible drive has proved so far to be next door to useless as is soon as you put it under load (as in drilling a 3mm hole in hard wood) the inner cable disconnects from the chuck meaning you have to take the flexible drive off and re-connect both inner and outer again. I contacted the seller but all they said was they don't have the knowledge to deal with the problem and referred me to Draper, on contacting Draper the chap said he had never heard of this happening before, but asked me to send it to them for replacement which I did and I expect to hear from them next week with any luck, but as for the machine, well as another reviewer has said, the light and flexible drive both come on when you switch on the saw and go off when you switch off the saw, it would make a huge difference if they were switched independent of the saw, and also as he said the ability to use pin less blades does seem to have been added as an afterthought on Drapers part as once again as the way they are fitted negates the purpose of using pin less, and in the supplied very sparse instructions it actually says it only uses pinned blades hmmm, so 4 stars because other than the aforementioned problems, its a nice machine and cuts nicely.

I purchased this particular model as Draper state it can use both Pin End Blades and Plain Flat End Blades. I never use the pin type, there is a far greater choice of blade with flat ends. Also blades with pins require a larger hole to be drilled for pierced fretwork.It is the flat blade clamps supplied that has let the machine down. They are badly engineered and clearly an afterthought in order to say it takes both type of blade!For correct alignment and accuracy of cut the clamps are a critical item!All four threads that hold the grub screws were sloppy, so when these are tightened the blade can easily become misaligned at each end. The threads are so bad you can move the grub screws in and out and up and down.If you intend to do pierced work, also bear in mind when using this machine one can be unclamping and clamping the blade every two minutes or so, fiddling with these truly awful clamps would drive anyone to distraction!However it is a low cost saw, it cuts wood, but don’t expect quality results when using the clamps supplied!

This item arrived with a broken flexi shaft attachment and the motor stopped working after about 20 mins use. Its on it way back to Amazon. The breakage on the flexi shaft may have caused soemthing to jam in the motor but tbh I cant be bothered to find out when its already damaged.Now, look very carefully at the image of this scroll saw and memorise it. Now look at the Sealey, Clarke and Record machines on sale for the same price...yes, it really is a spookily similar saw for all models (look at the chassis / base and the working surface as slight differences exist aroudn the saw blade).This means that Draper probably don't make this, they only brand it. That's not necessarily an issue (who doesnt sub-contract these days?) but it will narrow your options once you realise this. The Axminster model (not avaialble on this site) also uses the same chassis and it appears that the best way to identify this is via the chassis / stand.I've done my research and for the sub-£200 mark, for me, the Dremel Moto-Saw wins. Its not as powerful - and probably only good for 15mm wood - but its much, much neater and I imagine there will be a little more pride in its construction (or perhaps care while packaging) than this.If you are serious the advice seems to point to the Hegner range or the Excaliburs - but be prepared to pay £400.To be even handed, I should probably say that while the motor was working the saw performed well although the foot used to hold down the wood as it goes into the blade was lopsided and prone to 'give'. This caused the wood to either vibrate unless i pished down on it or constantly reseat the foot.I'm giving it two stars for because I was probably unlucky and also because Amazon make it easy(ish) to return items.

Had good fun with this for a few hours (over 3 months), right up until the blade tensioner stopped working. This is the reason for only awarding the 3 stars. An experienced user will have a better feel for the blade tension, where as a beginner wouldn't. The tensioner failed or is too easily stripped/broken when tensioning.Caveat, this is the only Scroll Saw I have used so I have nothing to compare.Amazon has sent a replacement, no questions asked, and that is working okay so far.

Very happy with this product. More for my money than I could source in local shops. Variable speed is very convenient. Light is very useful for detail.

Best tool i've ever bought, was using a jigsaw and a coping saw before this to cut out curves and small intricate shapes, and excellent price, wish id bought it years ago!!