Topics

1

General Scroll Saw Talk / Can you transport a scrollsaw laying on it's side?

« on: April 19, 2019, 05:51:58 pm »

I need to take my Jet saw to a woodworking show for a 2 day demo and don't really want to have to take it off the stand.  Does anyone know if it can be safely transported laying on it's side?  The left side, since the motor is on the right side.  I'd have it blocked up so it doesn't move, and some tension on the blade to keep the arm still.   Maybe it would just be easier to take it off, but then I have to re-assemble it there, and repeat the whole process to bring it home.

Just wondering if anyone has tried this.  I actually tried to call Ray at Seyco, but just got the machine.  If no one here has any thoughts that will help, I may try Ray again later, as the show isn't until next weekend.
Thanks a bunch,
Nancy

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General Scroll Saw Talk / Blade clamp replacements

« on: April 08, 2019, 07:30:06 pm »

In Steve's newsletter today he compared prices for blade clamp replacements, and shipping, from a few sources.  Many of you know, but some may not, that the set screw and the removable tip in the clamps can be purchased from Seyco for $6.30 for a set of 2 of each.  You usually don't need to replace the whole clamp, just these two parts that actually contact the blade.

The ones for the Seyco and Excalibur saws work just fine with the DeWalt, so probably would also with the Delta.  Not sure about any of the others, as I don't know if they have the thumb screw with a removable tip. Hope this might help someone.

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General Scroll Saw Talk / Foot switch

« on: May 28, 2018, 09:03:32 pm »

A few days ago Steve posted that he always uses a foot switch with the scroll saw, which I think a lot of us do.  However, he said we need to use the deadman type, instead of the other kind.  That kind stays on when you step on it, and only goes off when you step on it again.  It's nice to be able to put your foot flat on the floor and stay more balanced, especially when you are making a long cut, such as the outside  cut of a large, elaborate fretwork cross, which can take a long time to cut.

I know 5 other scrollers, and between the 6 of us, only 2 prefer the deadman.  We've all tried both type.  I don't have a problem with Steve saying that he likes one better than the other, but it seems a bit dictatorial to state that we "don't want the other kind".

Just my 2 cents, which may not even be worth that!

4

General Scroll Saw Talk / New Jet scroll saw

« on: July 04, 2016, 01:36:22 pm »

Has anyone had a chance to actually see and try out the new saw?  I called Woodcraft right after Steve posted the video a few weeks ago, and they said the last week of June they'd have it.  Their site says it ships directly from the manufacturer, so guess they'll just have one to show and demo on. 

I'm not thrilled with having to feed the blade up from the bottom, but for my wine glass caddies and ornaments it shouldn't be much of a problem, since they're small.  For larger projects, I'd probably use a Dewalt.  I plan to sell both of my excaliburs and 2 or 3 of the Dewalts.  It's kind of crowded in here with 7 saws! 

I'd love to hear some feedback from anyone after they see and try the saw.
Nancy

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General Scroll Saw Talk / New scroll saw magazine

« on: November 23, 2015, 02:35:16 pm »

I'm a bit surprised that no one has mentioned the new scrolling magazine coming out.  Steve told about it in his Nov 21 post.  It's called Scrollers Choice & Woodworking Arts magazine.  The first issue can be pre-ordered now and will be sent out Dec 3.  I've ordered mine and can't wait to get it.  Their website shows pics of some of the holiday patterns.  Price says 6.95 per issue, plus postage and it's apparently not a subscription, just available for purchase by the issue.

Always excited to see something new coming out, although in today's market, seems like it would be an e-magazine, but it's not.  I'm hoping lots of people order so they can continue.
Nancy from Washington state

6

General Scroll Saw Talk / Rusty blades

« on: October 10, 2015, 10:43:50 pm »

Sometimes it takes a non-scroller to come up with a simple solution to a problem we've probably all faced.  Even when I change out the 2 parts on the blade clamps that actually touch the blades, I still sometimes have trouble with the blade pulling out of the clamp.  On the De Walt, it was the bottom clamp, and the Excaliburs it's the top.  That's because on one I fed from the top down, and the other from the bottom up, so whichever clamp gets the most use, is the one that's going to fail.

Hubby suggested that if I soaked the ends -just the ends - of the blades in water until they start to rust, there would be a rougher surface and the clamp would hold better.  Sounded kind of crazy, but I gave it a try and IT WORKS!  Now I have a set of 50 colored test tubes in a holder so I can organize 10 different types and sizes of blades into 5 catagories each.  The top one is new, the next down is soaking the tops, the next is soaking the bottoms, next is a blade that I've used just a bit but still has some life in it, and the bottom tube is rusted & ready to cut.

The test tubes and holder is available on ebay or Amazon.  I actually ordered a set of 40 from Amazon, but twice they sent a set of 50, so I figured a use for the extras.  It's actually nice to have a place to put a used but still good blade.  I'm sure we've all tried a blade and realized it wasn't quite right for the job, but hate to put it back with new, sharp blades.

Hope this helps someone else out there.
Nancy

7

General Scroll Saw Talk / Adventures with a new saw!

« on: August 11, 2015, 03:56:36 pm »

Once upon a time, a little girl (65 years old) ordered a new Excalibur-21 scroll saw. It arrived last week and it's been quite an adventure getting things ready to cut.  It's all going to work out, just a lot of work to get there.  I thought all there was to do was take the DeWalt off the desk and replace it with the new saw.  Not so!  It's a different height and shape than the old one, so my custom designed dust control system had to be re-worked.  Also, more vibration that I was used to, so I bolted it to the desk....that made things much worse.  This desk in 6 feet on each side, built into a corner.  Made of 2X6's with plywood over the top to make it all smooth.  Love my desk!  The larger saw goes in the corner, and the Ex-16 on the right end.

This desk is bolted to a plywood floor - in the garage - so it stays warmer for me to work.  Unfortunately, the stringers for the floor aren't bolted into the concrete, so it sort of turned it into a trampoline!  Next step was trying to put the saw on it's stand to see if that would isolate the motion. The inside corner of my wonderful desk now needed to be cut out so the stand would slide back into place.  Next problem was the height of the stand....it adjusts from what they call normal chair height to full standing height.  Maybe you can sit and saw if you're 6 feet tall, but at short of 5' 4", it was WAY to high.  Next fun step was to cut 4 holes in the floor and drop it down right on the concrete.  But that was 5", so now too short!  Actually it wasn't bad as far as cutting, but my knees hit right on the cross bar of the stand.  SO, next step, tomorrow when I get up the nerve to ask Hubby for help - AGAIN - is to pull it out of the holes and raise the stand to the next holes, which will be 2" and should be just great.

The saw itself is working out fine.  Some of the concerns I had with the Ex-16 was the slow speed, and this one is faster...1550 SPM instead of 1400.  Also, the table of the smaller saw has several spots around the edges that were high and the wood would drag on them.  The new table seems to be nice and flat.  The vibration is much better.  Actually if I put my hand on the table, I don't feel hardly anything, but while sawing, it's like maybe there's more of a pulling up motion of the blade, making it so I have to hold the workpiece down harder.  Noticed that with the smaller one also, so maybe something about the angle of the blade.

Anyway,  soon everything will be back to normal, and the little girl can live happily ever after.

8

General Scroll Saw Talk / Abandoning my beloved DeWalt 788's

« on: August 03, 2015, 02:18:53 pm »

Can't even believe I'm having to do this, but DeWalt has forced me to be an Excalibur gal. After 3 tries in their own repair shops,  the old saw has not been fixed.  There's 2 old Type 2 saws, one is 7-8 years old, and the other 10-12 years, both needing repair work by now.  I know tools need repair from time to time, but DeWalt is either unable or unwilling to fix the problems.  They did say they would help me order parts if I wanted to fix them myself!

I had heard about problems with the newer Type 2, but decided to give them a try.  Bought one in May, returned it in June for another, and July for another.  Today that 3rd one is going back too, and I officially give up.  For someone who uses the saw on an occasional basis, these last 3 saws  probably would have been fine, but I put LOTS of hours on my saws, and these were just rattling themselves apart in this short time.

The 16" Excalibur I bought last year hasn't had much use, since I don't care for it as well as the DeWalts...when they work.  But now it's going to get plenty of work, along with the 21" big brother that's due Thursday from Ray at Seyco.

It's a sad day when the saws you've loved for so many years have to be given up, but that was DeWalt's decision, not mine.  Guess it's time to move on.
Nancy

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General Scroll Saw Talk / Using spiral blades

« on: July 18, 2015, 10:57:25 pm »

Decided to try something new tonight, and learned just how much I don't know.  Tried spiral blades for the first time on a trial section of The Last Supper.  The pattern is very intricate, and full size it's just shy of 20 inches, so pretty much would need to use spiral blades.

 I knew starting out that these things take time and practice to master, but my sample looks more like the last massacre than the last supper!  Using 1/4" cherry, with a 2/0 Flying Dutchman spiral reverse, and it's cutting OK, but sure is going to take some re-learning to pull this one off.  Nothing quite as humbling when you think you're a pretty fair scroller, than to turn out a piece of work this ugly.  Well, there's always tomorrow, and I can't help but improve!
Nancy

10

General Scroll Saw Talk / Flying Dutchman blades

« on: June 28, 2015, 06:07:37 pm »

Hi, I'm wondering if I could get some feedback on Flying Dutchman blades.  I've been using Olson Mach blades, 3,5 & 7, but they don't make anything smaller, so thought I'd give the FD blades a try.  I've narrowed it down to the Scroll Reverse or the Ultra Reverse, and would greatly appreciate any thoughts you might have on the difference in performance in these 2 blades.  I know from this blog that lots of you use FD blades, but not sure what kinds.

I'd be using them on wood just over a quarter inch, like walnut, teak, cherry and sapele.  All my other woods are hard enough that the Mach blades work just great, but even slowing the saw down, I'm having trouble controlling my cuts with blades that large.

Also, does anyone know if FD still makes their round blade?  I don't mean spiral...these blades are labeled round, and that's what they are.  I've had them for years, and got them from Mike's workshop.  They might not even make them anymore.

Thanks for any help you can give on these subjects.
Nancy

11

Introduce Yourself. / New member from Washington state

« on: March 21, 2015, 04:33:12 pm »

 :)Hi, I'm Nancy from Blaine, Washington.  I've gotten Steve's newsletter for several years, but never joined the Forum.  I've been scrolling for about a dozen years now and do almost exclusively fretwork...ornaments, wine glass caddies, crosses, shelves and plaques.

My first 2 saws were DeWalts, and I love them except for the threads in the bottom blade holders are getting kind of sloppy.  Can't seem to find replacements or a machine shop to make them from steel. The DeWalt website has had them back ordered for months now. 

 I bought a 16" Excalibur last summer, and I like some things about it, and not others.  The painted on surface of the table is now wearing off and the wood drags on the spots of bare metal. Wax doesn't seem to help much. Also, the cheesy little plastic flip tension part has already needed to be replaced.  It is nice that the replacement parts that actually touch the blade are interchangeable with my DeWalts.

For my real job, I wholesale a wooden wine bottle holder in the shape of a golf club.  It's my Dad's invention, under the name of Duffer Bob's Wine Club, and we've sold over 250,000 of them.

My next project will be a pair of 70" wide door toppers for the exterior of my house...one over the front door, and one over the sliding glass door in the upper porch.  I made one of these for a friend and they look really nice.  It's the top of a really enlarged fretwork picture frame, and of course has to be made in several pieces.  Also made porch brackets for the front.  I love to scroll!

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General Scroll Saw Talk / DeWalt blade holders

« on: March 21, 2015, 02:24:26 pm »

Hi, I'm new to this site, so this has probably been discussed before, but I missed it.  I need help finding a machine shop that can make the blade holders from steel, but both of my local shops say they can't do it.  I know people have, and the part is small enough to send anywhere.

I tried ordering new ones from DeWalt, but they have been back-ordered since at least last August!  Can anyone help?