Anyone recommend a good scroll saw

I have been trawling the net which has only added to my confusion

Some have lights, blowers. One has a flexidrive attached

The blades seem to vary either with or without pins

variable speed is another option

Dont need to spend a fortune, something basic to start

A lot of what you plan to do with a scroll saw should drive your purchase. If you are going to get serious with it, avoid things like the Dremel, or really anything with a pinned blade. A pinless blade will allow a much higher tension, which decreases blade drift. Also pinned blades are VERY limited in terms of width, as there needs to be enough meat in the blade to hold the pin.

The best saw out there, for the most reasonable price is the DeWalt. It was designed by a company called Excalibur, who makes VERY high end scroll saws. The Dewalt runs smoothly enough that you can place a coin on edge, turn the saw on, and the coin will not fall over. It has a good throat at 24", and the table is large enough to support a good sized project. The table also tilts both ways. There is a built in dust blower, which is a very nice feature. A light is available as an accessory.

HTH!

Mark (who works in a woodworking tool retail store)