Messages

16

Ask Steve a question. / Foot speed controller

« on: June 13, 2015, 04:26:52 pm »

Hi Steve,

A few days ago I upgraded to the Excalibur Ex-16 machine from a Scheppach machine which was great except that after two years of use the thermal overload/reset switch burnt out with a replacement costing over ?50 here in the UK.  Subsequently that burnt out and the root cause was found to be the speed controller - cost of replacement over ?90 and a total cost of nearly half of a new machine.  I thus cut my losses and upgraded.

Now, I feel sure that I've heard you refer to a foot operated speed controller for your Excalibur and other machines.  Please correct me if I'm wrong.  Over here in the UK the suppliers of Excaliburs have not heard of foot operated speed controllers.  As I said please correct me if I'm wrong but, if not, could you please give me a hint as to what to look for.  I realise I can't import from the US because of the differrent mains voltage.

Thanky you for any help.

Tony Smith

17

Introduce Yourself. / Re: Introductions

« on: August 31, 2013, 01:32:14 pm »

Thanks to all of you for your warm welcome and helpful suggestions.  I suspect I'll be a fairly frequent visitor to this site particularly if I need help.

Once again many thanks.

Tony

18

Introduce Yourself. / Re: Introductions

« on: August 28, 2013, 05:25:18 pm »

G'day Tony, and welcome to the madness and addiction from South Dakota, USA. 

If I am interpreting your question correctly, you are gluing a photo to your wood to cut a portrait or other cutting?  Why? 

I believe most of us glue patterns to the plywood, but I have not known of anyone that glue photographs.  There are several folks here that will take a photo you upload, or send to them, and produce a pattern which is printed off on paper and then applied to the wood, plywood or whatever you are using.  This way you do not damage a photograph, and have a nice clear set of lines to cut with. Yeah, I know, the ole eyes aren't what they used to be.

If I am not making sense here, or I managed to misunderstand your query, let us know, I am sure someone here will have better information that I have provided.

Again, Welcome Aboard, and let us see some of your work.

Hi Al

Perhaps I'm not making myself clear.  I've made jigsaw puzzles using Steve's patterns of family photographs which have been very well received.  I do them as Steve does in his demo video ie put glue on the plywood and on the back of the photograph. It's the placing of the photograph on the plywood that I find really messy and not easy to do without getting glue on the front of the photographs.

Tony

19

Introduce Yourself. / Introductions

« on: August 28, 2013, 01:35:54 pm »

Hello all,

I'm another new member from the UK - Wirral on Merseyside.

I'm 69 and have been woodturning and cabinet making for over 40 years.  About 2 years ago I was asked to do a series of jobs which needed a scrollsaw.  I was uncertain at first whether to invest so bought a cheap JET machine.  Over the last 2 years tendons in my wrists have become sore and caused me to curtail my woodturning activities.  I was happy to find that scrolling hardly affects them so I was able to continue with working in wood.  I'm finding I really do enjoy this, new to me, woodworking activity.

Recently I got really frustrated with the JET machine because of two reasons.  The air blower was next to useless and recently gave up altogether and the blade clamps were of a very poor design.  I was able to partially correct the clamps but in the end I became frustrated.  I decided I wished to carry on with scrollsawing but what machine to get?  I didn't wish to pay out for the excaliber type machine.  It was also bigger than I needed.  I wanted something in the region ?200 to ?300 -  I guess about $300 to $450 approximately.  I found there weren't many to choose from but settled on the Scheppach Deco 405.  It arrived a few days ago and I think I made a good choice.

I've been aware of this site  for over a year and have downloaded several of Steve's designs.  I also purchase his jigsaw pattern book - twice actually because I accidentally deleted the first.  I also made a donation some months back but never got an acknowledgement.  I wasn't upset because I realise people are busy.

I have one question for now.  How the heck do you good people glue photographs to plywood before cutting a jigsaw WITHOUT GETTING GLUE ON THE PHOTOGRAPH?  It's ok for 6 x 4s but 10 x 8s I find quite tricky.  Perhaps it's just practice but I hate having to waste photographic paper.

Regards

Tony Smith