16
General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: How much machinery is too much
« on: November 24, 2014, 04:39:29 pm »
Never give up a good friend or a good tool. Respect them and treat them right and they will both always be there for you.
News: Had a couple issues with the forum today. 1/19/2017. I believe I have them corrected now. Let me know if you have any trouble. Thanks.
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17
General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: excalabur parts
« on: October 20, 2014, 11:28:40 am »Did you contact General International in Montreal?Talk to Mike Duncan if he is still at General International. He is very helpful.
I had an issue with my EX-21 and I called and they shipped the part the same day. I would try an email to them and see if they can put you in contact with the correct person.
http://www.general.ca/contact.html
Don
Mike Duncan
Service client?le(pieces) Customer Service(parts)
T 1-888-949-1161
T 514-326-1161 Ext 236 | F 514-326-5565
www.general.ca
His e-mail is:
Mike Duncan <mike.duncan@general.ca>
18
Brag Forum / Re: Wooden drill press wrench
« on: October 16, 2014, 08:38:06 am »
Steve also has a pattern for such a knob which works for both Dewalt and Excalibur.
http://www.stevedgood.com/dewaltupgrade.pdf
Look at the lower right in the picture and you will see how I keep mine handy using a magnet with a hole in the center and a small bolt through the hole.
http://www.stevedgood.com/dewaltupgrade.pdf
Look at the lower right in the picture and you will see how I keep mine handy using a magnet with a hole in the center and a small bolt through the hole.
19
General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: tis the season
« on: October 03, 2014, 10:45:30 am »
Not from experience but just wondering from the other e-mails - if you need to widen the slot by only a small amount, I would probably be thinking about whether a gentle touch with a 2/0 or 3/0 spiral would work. I work almost exclusively with spirals and they would seem like a good way to gently remove a little wood in a uniform manner.
20
General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: new Exc 21" dust port problems
« on: August 21, 2014, 09:03:21 am »
I agree with Sheila - I have the new EX21 and never used the dust collection because of its poor design. I did not need to remove it as I had a new table top prepared for my old EX21 and just changed the table top out. If I had not had a different table top I would have removed the dust collection apparatus as I much prefer my own Rube Goldberg dust collection which uses PVC running to an Oneida Dust Deputy and then to a vacuum. This captures nearly all of the sawdust falling below the table. I have tried to attach some pictures of what I have. One of them shows my new table top which I had a machinest friend make for me - two inches wider on each side and four inches longer in front and for me a super change.
21
General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Spiral Blades
« on: August 21, 2014, 08:54:54 am »
I almost exclusively use spirals. Nearly all of my work is fret work with a lot of it being word art. They take some getting used to but after my learning curve I love them. My wood is almost exclusively 5/8 inch plus hardwood and for me non spirals are harder to make turns in the thicker wood. If I were doing 1/4 inch wood I likely would have a different view on spirals. I suggest your most used blade with be a No 1 spiral and a 2/0 spiral. I would not use No 3 or No 5 for my initial cut but if I wanted a wider vein but I would probably start with a No 1 and then increase to a No 3 and then if necessary to a No 5. I think the No 3 and No 5 are to aggressive for an original cut. You will also find with spirals that since they really have no gullet they do not clean the sawdust out of the kerf as well as non spirals so you will have more sawdust left in the kerf and on the table than with non spirals.
Although you can do some limited cutting in all directions, I think you will find you prefer to spin the work so you are always going in the same direction into the blade. Admittedly this may not get the best use of all of the burrs on a spiral blade but I think you will find you are breaking fewer blades - I rarely ever break a blade - and that it is a more natural way for you to follow the pattern. This is probably less true if you are using 1/4 inch wood.
Some folks do not like spirals at all but practice with them and give them a fair chance before you give up.
Although you can do some limited cutting in all directions, I think you will find you prefer to spin the work so you are always going in the same direction into the blade. Admittedly this may not get the best use of all of the burrs on a spiral blade but I think you will find you are breaking fewer blades - I rarely ever break a blade - and that it is a more natural way for you to follow the pattern. This is probably less true if you are using 1/4 inch wood.
Some folks do not like spirals at all but practice with them and give them a fair chance before you give up.
22
General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: 21" Ecalibur First Impressions.
« on: August 11, 2014, 09:19:57 am »
Paul
I agree on table top size. If you know a good machine shop you might consider what I did and love. It is two inches wider on each side and four inches longer in front. The EX21 original table top is sitting on my custom made one so you can see the difference. I now have the newer black EX21 but moved the table top to replace the dust collection one. I did not care for the size of dust collection of the new table top and prefer my own Rube Goldberg dust collection.
I agree on table top size. If you know a good machine shop you might consider what I did and love. It is two inches wider on each side and four inches longer in front. The EX21 original table top is sitting on my custom made one so you can see the difference. I now have the newer black EX21 but moved the table top to replace the dust collection one. I did not care for the size of dust collection of the new table top and prefer my own Rube Goldberg dust collection.
23
The Coffee Shop / Re: In my lifetime, I've probably already cured hundreds of people
« on: July 16, 2014, 11:17:59 am »
Good to know. No more Beano and no more going outside for relief - share the joy for everyone's health.
24
Tutorials, Techniques and Tips / Re: cutting a word in wood
« on: July 14, 2014, 07:43:23 pm »
Sharing and helping is what is all about - enjoy your scrolling, it is addictive.
25
Tutorials, Techniques and Tips / Re: cutting a word in wood
« on: July 14, 2014, 03:57:47 pm »
Here is another free font to eliminate the necessity of bridges when scrolling words into wood. Scroll down to "WordArt"
http://www.scrollcrafters.com/Pages/FreeStuff.aspx
It is quite similar to Hobo but without the need for the bridges.
http://www.scrollcrafters.com/Pages/FreeStuff.aspx
It is quite similar to Hobo but without the need for the bridges.
26
Brag Forum / Re: Not a scroll saw project - Custom acoustic guitar
« on: July 01, 2014, 08:24:43 am »
Ray
That is totally awesome. My 14 year old grandson asked me to help him build an arch top solid body electric. We are starting from mahogany blanks for the body and neck and maple for the arch top. I am totally intimidated and inspired by what you have done. This will stretch anything I have ever done and will pleased if we are able to be somewhere near the skill and talent which is evident in yours.
That is totally awesome. My 14 year old grandson asked me to help him build an arch top solid body electric. We are starting from mahogany blanks for the body and neck and maple for the arch top. I am totally intimidated and inspired by what you have done. This will stretch anything I have ever done and will pleased if we are able to be somewhere near the skill and talent which is evident in yours.
27
General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: branding irons
« on: June 25, 2014, 12:48:19 pm »
I use an electric iron I ordered from Terry Desilets. You have a lot of ability to customize your message with Terry. I did
Done by Doug
Live Long & Prosper
His web site is:
http://www.branding-irons.biz/
Done by Doug
Live Long & Prosper
His web site is:
http://www.branding-irons.biz/
28
General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: DEWALT 788
« on: June 17, 2014, 10:22:39 am »
Here is the site if you have trouble finding it
http://www.scrollsaws.com/
I also should have mentioned to avoid over tightening the thumb screw. It should be tightened firmly but you do not need to crank down as hard as you can on it. Voice of experience on stripping threads.
http://www.scrollsaws.com/
I also should have mentioned to avoid over tightening the thumb screw. It should be tightened firmly but you do not need to crank down as hard as you can on it. Voice of experience on stripping threads.
29
General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: DEWALT 788
« on: June 17, 2014, 10:02:07 am »
It is hard to guess from your explanation as to where the actual problem may be. One of the more common problems and easiest fixes is blade slippage in the clamps. You might try taking our the set screws and thumb screws on both the upper and lower clamps, clean the ends off with a little rubbing alcohol and then lightly sanding the ends with 220 or higher grit sandpaper. When reinstalling make certain the set screw comes out to be flush with the interior side of the clamp or maybe even a quarter turn past flush - check your manual to see if it has a recommendation. Most blades come with a light coating of oil which can ultimately transfer to the set and thumb screws and cause slippage while sawing. When opening a new set of blades I always dip the ends in rubbing alcohol and towel dry them and then when ready to use have a piece of 220 grit sandpaper I rub across the ends before inserting in the clamps. This is probably the most simple fix if it works. If it does work you might even think about taking out the set screw and putting some blue LocTite on it to avoid the set screw turning.
If that does not help, the next thing to look at would be your clamps and thumb screws to see if by over tightening you may have stripped the threads slightly on either the thumb screw or the thumb screw side of the clamp. If so, you might need a new clamp of clamps or a new thumb screw or thumb screws. If you do fret work the most likely culprit here would be the one you loosen and tighten most depending on whether you top feed or bottom feed.
If the problem is actually in the tension adjustment lever it gets more complicated. You might Google for Rick's Scroll Saw Site (I think that is the name) as it has some good tips on tuning up DW788s and Excalibur Scroll Saws that might apply to your problem.
Hope this helps.
If that does not help, the next thing to look at would be your clamps and thumb screws to see if by over tightening you may have stripped the threads slightly on either the thumb screw or the thumb screw side of the clamp. If so, you might need a new clamp of clamps or a new thumb screw or thumb screws. If you do fret work the most likely culprit here would be the one you loosen and tighten most depending on whether you top feed or bottom feed.
If the problem is actually in the tension adjustment lever it gets more complicated. You might Google for Rick's Scroll Saw Site (I think that is the name) as it has some good tips on tuning up DW788s and Excalibur Scroll Saws that might apply to your problem.
Hope this helps.
30
General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: New Community Forum
« on: May 20, 2014, 08:49:27 pm »
I like the new set up but the default theme and colors do not work well for my old eyes. I started prowling around and found you can change the theme which will give you different colors. If you want to give it a try click on
Profile -- then
Modify Profile -- then
Look and Layout -- then
Themes
and then you can experiment with which of the choices best suits your individual style. The one I have chosen makes the avatars smaller but they are not blurred.
I do find that even though my log in is set at "forever", every time I log out I have to log in the next time I click on my desktop forum. Previously, I did not have to do a new log in unless I actually logged out rather than just closing the site. Anyone else having the problem or have an answer for what I am missing.
Profile -- then
Modify Profile -- then
Look and Layout -- then
Themes
and then you can experiment with which of the choices best suits your individual style. The one I have chosen makes the avatars smaller but they are not blurred.
I do find that even though my log in is set at "forever", every time I log out I have to log in the next time I click on my desktop forum. Previously, I did not have to do a new log in unless I actually logged out rather than just closing the site. Anyone else having the problem or have an answer for what I am missing.
