AN OPERATOR’S

REVIEW
OF THE GMC REDEYE®
405mm VARIABLE
SPEED SCROLL SAW
WITH LASER LINE
GENERATOR
by Antonio Alan O. Lopez*

The GMC LSSCR 16-inch

Variable Speed Scroll Saw by
the Global Machinery
Company of Australia is
offered at a low budget price
but has an impressive stance
with all of the worthwhile
features one could wish for in a power tool of its class, and then some.

SOLIDLY BUILT

Like many other popular product brands, GMC has tapped the low
manufacturing costs China (and its immense labor force) has to offer,
including the production of its LSSCR Scroll Saw. Although some
skeptics may doubt the output of such a venture, a careful inspection
of the GMC unit would attest to a rather satisfactory manufacturing
and assembly process made to exacting GMC quality standards.

The adequately sized and

reinforced cast iron table, which
tilts both ways, has an oversized
lock knob up front and has large,
easy to read bevel markings with
detent stops for a spring loaded
metal ball at the 15, 30 and 45
degree scales. Proper calibration
(should it be required) is easily
done by loosening two screws
which hold the magnified scale
pointer and adjusting accordingly.
The heavy base, which houses and protects the variable speed motor,
is also of cast iron construction and has four stable footings equipped
with large mounting holes for securing the saw to a workbench or a
suitable stand with 8mm machine bolts.

A dust extraction port is mounted on the right side for easy connection
to a dust collection system while a storage compartment with built-in
racks for spare blades and an adjusting key tool could be found on the
left of the base.

CONVENIENT CONTROLS

Pulling on the conveniently located, top mounted,

yellow colored, plastic control knob instantly
powers the saw, while turning the same clockwise
increases the blade stroke speed from 400 –
1600, as indicated by printed white numbers
along its collar. Immediately below it are the two
membrane buttons for enabling the articulated
arm mounted, white LED Work Light for better
illumination and the REDEYE® Laser Line
Generator, which projects a strong, bright red
laser line on the workpiece to indicate the blade’s
cutting path.

Another yellow plastic knob, mounted on the

forward end of the upper arm housing, is used for
adjusting laser alignment. The blade tension lever is also located up
front, within easy reach, and is quite simple to operate. Flipping the
wide, black lever up releases blade tension while
rotating it adjusts blade tension accordingly.

The workpiece hold-down keeps the workpiece

from lifting during operation and is adjusted by a
clamp with an oversized black and yellow lock
knob on the left side of the upper arm housing.
The generously sized metal hold-down “foot,”
which also serves to protect the operator’s fingers
from the reciprocating saw blade, could be angled
for beveled cutting by means of an Allen wrench,
which is supplied by GMC with the saw as
standard.
For improved work visibility, a fully articulated
(‘knuckled’) and easily adjusted air hose
promptly keeps the cutting line and its
immediate vicinity clear of sawdust generated
by the cutting of wood, with just enough force
that the sawdust is not sent flying onto the air.

The ‘free swinging’ blade holders accept

standard 127 mm (5 in.) pinned and plain-end
type scroll saw blades using convenient finger
operated clamps without the need for tools,
nor is there a need for adapters or any other adjustments, when
switching between the two blade types.

PERFORMANCE

Equipped with a rather hefty

200 watt 230-240 volt AC
variable speed, electronically
controlled, electric motor and
a very simple, counter-
balanced, power drive link
assembly clamped to the
lower arm, the saw handles
all types of cutting styles it
was designed for with ease,
even when cornering at tight
radius turns and cutting
hardwoods up to 2 inches thick.

Vibration, though, was a bit of an issue at higher blade stroke speeds,

considering the fact that the unit was operated freely perched (with no
mounting bolts nor clamps) atop a concrete patio floor, with only a thin
piece of corrugated cardboard box material placed in between the saw
base and the floor to reduce shaking and prevent unnecessary
movement.

Working on the saw was moderately pleasant, although mounting the

same on a properly designed stand or heavy workbench is expected to
substantially reduce vibrations and improve tool handling.
 Changing blades takes less than half a
minute and is a simple matter of flipping up
the top mounted blade tension release lever
and twisting loose the yellow, plastic finger
operated upper and lower blade clamps to
release the blades from its holders.

Removing the large plastic table insert with

a push of a finger from beneath provides
you with a wide, clear view of the lower
blade clamp while more room could be had,
if desired, to access the latter by tilting the worktable to the right, an
added feature often offered by worktables that tilt both ways.

The generously sized hold-down “foot,” while keeping the workpiece

from lifting with the blade, provides for a good, clear view of the blade
and cutting line when in use but tends to get in the way when working
with very small workpieces and while threading the blade through pilot
holes for interior scroll cuts.

Unlike many others who opted to remove the material hold-downs on

their machines for various reasons, I preferred to retain mine and make
the most out of it, but I must admit that I have also been guilty of
‘swinging out’ and locking the material hold-down fully to the side (and
completely out of the way) of the workpiece at a time or another.

Everything said, it is of my own humble opinion that the GMC LSSCR

Scroll Saw, while having a good number of desirable features and
impressively admirable looks (surprisingly identical to the Clarke
BT1016B unit being sold by USA Tools in the United States and by Boss
Tools of Canada), still has some room for improvement, more
particularly in the area of vibration reduction and dampening, but is
definitely excellent value for its offered price.

*Not so long ago, a specialty magazine about woodcrafts sparked the interest of A. Lo
(antonioalanlopez@yahoo.com) on scrolling and finally began exploring the craft after
acquiring the GMC LSSCR Scroll Saw being offered at a warehouse sale last August,
2008. A native of the Philippines, a small developing nation of 7,107 islands in
Southeast Asia, A. Lo is currently a Creative Imaging Specialist who does graphics,
layout, and legal documentation work.