Topics

16

General Scroll Saw Talk / Scroll Saw Popularity....

« on: January 25, 2017, 09:32:42 am »

Hello all,   I have been looking around to find another scroll saw ( I have a DeWalt 788 and Excalibur EX-21) and when I go to Ray's site at Seyco, every saw they handle is out of stock, including the new Jet 21. Is there something I have missed while in the Scroll Troll Cave or has scrolling become so popular every saw being made is sold? Just kind of curious.....

Jeff

17

Ask Steve a question. / 3D keyring

« on: January 22, 2017, 05:38:27 pm »

Is there a program that you use that would enable me to make custom 3D key rings? Ii'm not sure if there is something special you have to do or if the normal keyring holder would work by placing the names above each other and folding them over.....  Thanks, and I have started using the ReSizer program. Really a great feature you have provided for us, I especially like being able to remove the "gray" tint area to save ink..... Thanks again....

18

Ask Steve a question. / Subjective "JET" review....

« on: January 21, 2017, 08:52:28 pm »

Hi Steve,
I watched your review of the new Jet scroll saw and have a couple of questions. When you reviewed the Excalibur a few years ago, you were concerned about the small amount of area ahead of the blade. When you looked at the Jet, this wasn't even mentioned. I was told it was a "tool less" blade change, but then it is mentioned there is a built in tool slot on the saw. Can you just reach under the table without looking and remove the blade for "top feeding"? I cannot imagine having to slide my stool back over 150 times in a pattern to feed the blade through the bottom trying to find that little hole. While it is nice that there is an extra blade holder, in an intricate pattern, you may go through 20 blades. That seems like an awful lot of time having to stop sawing to remount blades when the Excalibur and DeWalt allow it from sitting on the stool blindfolded. Do you honestly think this saw is a MAJOR IMPROVEMENT over the saws that are out there? By the way, I asked the manager of the local WoodCraft store when they would be getting the JET in and his replay was "hopefully never". "When we looked at them at the dealer trade show, the distributer couldn't get it to load blades right and he was continually crawling under the table to change blades". Anyhow, thought I'd ask you what you really thought about the JET. Thanks for the help and all of the plans. Your YOUTUBE videos and plans are the best thing that has ever happened to scrolling... THANK YOU!!!

19

Introduce Yourself. / Hello to all....

« on: February 05, 2016, 05:21:36 pm »

Just a quickie to say hello and introduce myself. The name is Jeff and I live in the portage lakes area just south of Akron, Ohio. I have been scrolling since 1976, having started with a Craftsman vibrator saw. It practically shook the whole house when running. I have progressed through several incarnations and various saws my most recent a DeWalt 788 which I just sold. I received my new Excalibur EX-21 this afternoon and am looking forward to getting it up and running. I'll let you know my first impressions. I am also a Ham radio operator, the call being K8INA (the wife is KA8INA), and teach the motorcycle safety class for the State of Ohio. I am a retired Police Motor Officer, having retired in 2003. I currently drive a school bus, which is probably one of the best kept secrets in the occupational world. So there you have it, drop me a line if you're in the area.... Dr. Jeff Popa

20

Ask Steve a question. / Angle cutting with spiral blade

« on: January 22, 2016, 05:45:53 pm »

I recently tried to make a sign by tilting the table of my DeWalt a few degrees. Using a #2 blade, I cut a few letters and they moved out about a quarter of an inch, which is what I wanted. Then I thought I'd try using a spiral blade. Leaving the table at the same angle, I cut out the same letters. To my surprise, the letters fell out as though the table were set at 90'. Can anyone explain why this happened? I am so confused......

21

Pattern Requests. / Excalibur

« on: June 16, 2015, 02:11:10 pm »

Hi Steve,

Love the DeWalt pattern. I also have an Excalibur EX-21.... any chance of a pattern for this is in the works??? Thanks so much, Dr. Jeff Popa

22

Ask Steve a question. / JigSaw Puzzles

« on: November 19, 2013, 11:06:04 am »

HiSteve,

I trying to make a few JigSaw puzzles for Christmas gifts and have a couple of questions.

1. I'm using hardwood, either poplar or oak. I tried using a #5 blade but the gaps are too big for what I want. I switched to a #2 and the gap is perfect but the wood burns. Should I be trying a faster speed or slower? I haven't encountered an article that explains at what speed different blades work best at so I am at a loss. Larger blades faster? Slower? Doesn't matter?

2. Once I mount a picture on the selected wood, what is a good way to transfer the pattern to the picture in a way that won't mar the picture? How do you do it?

Thanks so much...

Dr J Popa