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Pattern Requests. / safe box
« Last post by Ionescu on April 12, 2024, 10:52:54 pm »combination lock plans
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.
Recent Posts
2
Introduce Yourself. / DeWalt scroll saw returned twice-It was no longer a bargan at $399
« Last post by Greg B on April 03, 2024, 09:24:39 am »The 2nd saw worked fine at first, but after a few days it started making overly aggressive cuts. It was impossible to make tight turns no matter what wood or blade I used. I returned it to Amazon and it took three weeks to get a refund. I've taken my old saw to the DeWalt Service Center in Charlotte to see if they can get it to work properly. The maximum they will charge is $299 which includes shipping it back. I have a 90 day period with DeWalt where I can return it for additional repairs if they don't get it right the first time. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
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The Coffee Shop / Re: printer
« Last post by termite on March 28, 2024, 05:11:36 pm »thanks for your help. i'll remember this the next time i need one. thanks
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The Coffee Shop / Re: printer
« Last post by spirithorse on March 26, 2024, 07:40:38 pm »Greetings, I realize this is an old post but, I do not log in very often now due to eye surgery and eye strain.
These printers advertise that they will enlarge and reduce as you wanted.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/searchpage.jsp?_dyncharset=UTF-8&browsedCategory=abcat0511002&id=pcat17071&iht=n&ks=960&list=y&qp=features_facet%3DFeatures~Auto%20Reduction%2FEnlargement&sc=Global&st=categoryid%24abcat0511002&type=page&usc=All%20Categories
Most people on the scrollsaw sites that I view all recommend a free program called Rapid Resizer
Good luck and God Bless! Spirithorse
These printers advertise that they will enlarge and reduce as you wanted.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/searchpage.jsp?_dyncharset=UTF-8&browsedCategory=abcat0511002&id=pcat17071&iht=n&ks=960&list=y&qp=features_facet%3DFeatures~Auto%20Reduction%2FEnlargement&sc=Global&st=categoryid%24abcat0511002&type=page&usc=All%20Categories
Most people on the scrollsaw sites that I view all recommend a free program called Rapid Resizer
Good luck and God Bless! Spirithorse
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Intarsia / free wood scraps
« Last post by ARVY1956 on March 18, 2024, 12:35:20 pm »I've collected a box (3-4 pounds) of assorted scraps from other projects that I deemed were too large to throw away, but too small for most scroll projects. It's mostly 1/4" - walnut, cherry, maple, poplar, basswood, oak. Also are some 3/4" pieces of mostly oak and poplar. I don't do intarsia, but I think these pieces could be useful to someone so-inclined to pursue intarsia. I'm in Temple, Tx - pick it up or pay the postage and it's all yours ... the price is right!
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Introduce Yourself. / DeWalt Scroll Saw Blade Distance too far-Bought replacement on Amazon for $399
« Last post by Greg B on March 13, 2024, 05:19:36 am »The new discounted DeWalt scroll saw was delivered yesterday. The blades were a bit closer together than the first saw. It was hard to hold the camera phone and the measuring tape at the same time, but it looks like the blade distance is about 4 1/2 to 4 5/8. It's workable, but the blade distance is much greater than my old DeWalt. I'm going to keep it.
Here's the old post on this issues on scrollsaws.com
Problems with the blade distance being too long
Dear Rick:
There is a minor problem with the newest crop of DW788 Scroll Saws. The spread between the blade holders has lengthened slightly due to a manufacturing problem with the wedge. The result is difficulty inserting the blade into the blade holders because there is only about 1/8" above and below the holders.
Just wanted you to be in the loop so here is a cc of the most recent email.
Ron
From: Ronald G. Brown [mailto:ronbrown@coolhammers.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2006 1:33 PM
To: 'scrollsawer@att.net'
Subject: RE: DeWalt Scroll Saw Help #2
Tony:
Spoke with Larry today. He is not a direct line manager, but rather a 1-800 phone specialist. He has had conversations with the engineers and discovered that the DeWalt Plant Engineers believe the current crop of wedges were cut out of spec. The engineer actually had one machined to the correct spec and sent it over to the plant in Taiwan. Has no idea when the systemic problem will be solved.
Meanwhile, I guess the fix is to machine the wedge down some to achieve the 4-1/8" on center for the blade holders. I would not be afraid to do that in my own shop, but I can not recommend that you do it.
An alternative might be to ask Larry to have an engineering drawing/diagram of the wedge emailed to you and you could take it to a machine shop for the rework.
Good Luck and keep me posted.
Ron
From: scrollsawer@att.net [mailto:scrollsawer@att.net]
Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2006 9:20 PM
To: ronbrown@coolhammers.com
Subject: DeWalt Scroll Saw Help #2
Ron,
Just a follow-up note on our conversation yesterday w/re to the distance between the saw arms that only allow a five inch blade to fit into the blade screw-holders spaced 4 3/4" apart (1/8" protrusions at each end of thumb-screw clamps).
Larry Wagner, DeWalt Product Manager (1.800.433.9258) called me today to discuss my situation of having received three new #788 saws all with the same problem over the last three months which have had to be replaced under factory warranty.
He told me that he had been receiving other complaints recently about this situation as well. And, that he agreed that the top and bottom blade protrusions should be about 1/4" above and below the aluminum cast blade holder and not just the threaded thumb-screw clamp hole.
So there you have it. Three 'Type 1' saws (a fellow sawer friend of mine, yours and Mr. Wagners') that DO NOT exhibit this problem and, three, 'Type 2' machines that I have received from DeWalt since November that do have this problem. At this point I am compelled to believe that ALL 'Type 2' saws have this type of a problem.
It would be interesting for you to discuss this matter at your monthly scroll saw club meeting this weekend to gather a consensus of other DeWalt #788 scroll saw users w/re to this situation. Please ask them to call Larry Wagner to voice their concerns and complaints if they too are experiencing this particular problem.
Thank you again for your help.
Tony Kolodziej
Here's the old post on this issues on scrollsaws.com
Problems with the blade distance being too long
Dear Rick:
There is a minor problem with the newest crop of DW788 Scroll Saws. The spread between the blade holders has lengthened slightly due to a manufacturing problem with the wedge. The result is difficulty inserting the blade into the blade holders because there is only about 1/8" above and below the holders.
Just wanted you to be in the loop so here is a cc of the most recent email.
Ron
From: Ronald G. Brown [mailto:ronbrown@coolhammers.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2006 1:33 PM
To: 'scrollsawer@att.net'
Subject: RE: DeWalt Scroll Saw Help #2
Tony:
Spoke with Larry today. He is not a direct line manager, but rather a 1-800 phone specialist. He has had conversations with the engineers and discovered that the DeWalt Plant Engineers believe the current crop of wedges were cut out of spec. The engineer actually had one machined to the correct spec and sent it over to the plant in Taiwan. Has no idea when the systemic problem will be solved.
Meanwhile, I guess the fix is to machine the wedge down some to achieve the 4-1/8" on center for the blade holders. I would not be afraid to do that in my own shop, but I can not recommend that you do it.
An alternative might be to ask Larry to have an engineering drawing/diagram of the wedge emailed to you and you could take it to a machine shop for the rework.
Good Luck and keep me posted.
Ron
From: scrollsawer@att.net [mailto:scrollsawer@att.net]
Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2006 9:20 PM
To: ronbrown@coolhammers.com
Subject: DeWalt Scroll Saw Help #2
Ron,
Just a follow-up note on our conversation yesterday w/re to the distance between the saw arms that only allow a five inch blade to fit into the blade screw-holders spaced 4 3/4" apart (1/8" protrusions at each end of thumb-screw clamps).
Larry Wagner, DeWalt Product Manager (1.800.433.9258) called me today to discuss my situation of having received three new #788 saws all with the same problem over the last three months which have had to be replaced under factory warranty.
He told me that he had been receiving other complaints recently about this situation as well. And, that he agreed that the top and bottom blade protrusions should be about 1/4" above and below the aluminum cast blade holder and not just the threaded thumb-screw clamp hole.
So there you have it. Three 'Type 1' saws (a fellow sawer friend of mine, yours and Mr. Wagners') that DO NOT exhibit this problem and, three, 'Type 2' machines that I have received from DeWalt since November that do have this problem. At this point I am compelled to believe that ALL 'Type 2' saws have this type of a problem.
It would be interesting for you to discuss this matter at your monthly scroll saw club meeting this weekend to gather a consensus of other DeWalt #788 scroll saw users w/re to this situation. Please ask them to call Larry Wagner to voice their concerns and complaints if they too are experiencing this particular problem.
Thank you again for your help.
Tony Kolodziej
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Ask Steve a question. / Excalibur scroll saws.
« Last post by Greg B on March 12, 2024, 07:45:04 am »From what I've read, the short answer is no. There's a post that goes into detail in Scroll Saw Village https://www.scrollsawvillage.com/articles/resources/excalibur-scroll-saw-what-happened-r101/
Reconditioned Excaliburs appear on the web but may be Taiwan knockouts.
Pegas, Jet,and Seco saws are in the same price range as Excalibur used to be. There are many reviews of each of them on the web. By now, you may have figured all of that out, if not, happy hunting!
Reconditioned Excaliburs appear on the web but may be Taiwan knockouts.
Pegas, Jet,and Seco saws are in the same price range as Excalibur used to be. There are many reviews of each of them on the web. By now, you may have figured all of that out, if not, happy hunting!
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General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: dewalt 788
« Last post by Greg B on March 09, 2024, 06:52:27 am »The on/off switch can collect dust over time and fail and you said that it's the original if I'm reading your post right. I had to replace one a few years back. There's a video on testing the switch and replacing it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QihaA3zx5Ks. Good luck!
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Introduce Yourself. / Re: DeWalt Scroll Saw Blade Distance too far-Bought replacement on Amazon for $399
« Last post by Greg B on March 09, 2024, 06:33:28 am »The tension was set all the way down and the blade clamps were in the right places. I used a couple of different blades to make sure it wasn't a blade that was too short. I really didn't want to send it back because when I was successful in getting a blade to hold it was wonderful to use a new saw after using a used one for 10 years. I learned a lot from the videos. The first disassembly of the old saw was a lesson in humility, but after having made all possible mistakes, the second time around the videos made much more sense. I was able to run the saw with the bottom cover off so that I could see and hear what was causing the racket. All of the noise and vibration was coming from the area of the lower rocker. I'm having a new one shipped, but there are other things that could be the cause. So, we'll see. Thanks for the suggestions!
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Introduce Yourself. / Re: DeWalt Scroll Saw Blade Distance too far-Bought replacement on Amazon for $399
« Last post by ddockstader on March 08, 2024, 06:44:10 pm »Have you checked a couple of things, like is the tension all the way up to 5 or above? That tries to raise the upper arm to increase tension and without a blade it can increase the separation. That being said, I have experienced this one other time. I put the blade clamps in upside down. Not upside down on the arms but upside down as in putting the upper clamp on the lower blade and vice versa. This was when I was installing new Pegas blade clamps and I couldn't understand why the Pegas clamps required a 7" blade. When all else fails, I revert back to the primary directive I received in 20 years in the Air Force - RTFM!!! I've worked on lots of DeWalts over the years and I'm betting something isn't set up correctly. Also, Gwinnett Woodworkers have some FANTASTIC YouTube videos on maintaining the 788 from the ground up. Highly recommended.
