My first scroll saw was a Craftsman bench top cheapie that took pin end blades. I bought it to make a clock that looked like a very rare, antique gasoline engine I once owned. I didn't know anything about scrolling, saws, patterns, or anything else connected with scroll sawing--I made furniture, built farm structures, remodeled, etc. The clock turned out well,and I enjoyed making it from my own design. It was an experience I would have missed if I had to wait until I could buy "proper" equipment. The DW788 was a machine I got when I bought my brothers woodworking equipment, and only started to use when I decided to cut a few small clocks to give as Christmas gifts. The addiction began! If you feel you can't make anything worthwhile without having an expensive tool, you will miss out on a very rewarding and enjoyable hobby. Scrolling started with a hand held fretsaw, or a coping saw. Many, many very beautiful items were, and still are, made by those folks who can't afford a powered scroll saw. Don't believe you can't enjoy or not make something nice unless you spend a lot of money. Buy what your budget will allow and begin enjoying the wonderful and rewarding world of scrol sawing. One word of advice about the saw--make sure it uses plain end blades, not pin end blades. The entry hole needed for pin end blades makes doing small interior cuts impossible. HAPPY SAWDUSTING!
