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General Category => General Scroll Saw Talk => Topic started by: termite on November 20, 2011, 09:43:58 pm

Title: Excalibur saws
Post by: termite on November 20, 2011, 09:43:58 pm
 why has everyone started saying Excalibur is the saw to have now? they are made in China,probably
the same building as Dewalt, their internal parts are basically the same as Dewalt. has anyone had any problems with knocking or any other stuff in their Excaliburs? thanks for your answers
Title: Re: Excalibur saws
Post by: dgman on November 20, 2011, 10:58:11 pm
It seams everybody is getting tired of their DeWalts. You are right about the EX's being made in China or it might be Taiwan. either way, neither saw is made in North America anymore.
Title: Re: Excalibur saws
Post by: jimbo on November 21, 2011, 01:20:55 am
Taiwan like most things these days, I think the quality is fine but the price is no cheaper than locally made and the other thing when in a small country like NZ the service is lousy and if I had a choice to buy NZ made I would
Jimbo 
Title: Re: Excalibur saws
Post by: tux_linux on November 21, 2011, 03:41:32 am
The Excalibur has another system to move the saw blade. It is said that this one has less vibrations than any other system.

There was a good review somewhere here, I can't find it now. Lots of pictures in it which showed the mechanism that the Excaliburs use.
EDIT: Excalibur EX-21 Review (http://stusshed.wordpress.com/2009/09/22/excalibur-scroll-saw-ex21/) @ stusshed.wordpress.com

Other point is that a lot of our members here have become professional or at least semi-professional over time with the scroll saw stuff, so they need an advanced machine that is designed for "production".
Title: Re: Excalibur saws
Post by: Rapid Roger on November 21, 2011, 11:29:00 am
If it is an American made saw that you are looking for the "Hawk" scroll saw is what your looking for. It is made in America, in Bushton, Kansas, as a matter of fact.
As a former tool salesman (MAC tools) I don't find much wrong with China or Taiwan made tools as far as quality. A company can get the quality they want, high or low, overseas at a far better labor price.
The problem that I have is that it puts allot of American workers and businesses out of a job. You can thank your local Labor Union steward for that.
Also, the average American wants a Cadillac for Volkswagen prices and that just isn't going to happen regardless of where it is made.

Rog
Title: Re: Excalibur saws
Post by: Bill P on November 21, 2011, 12:30:56 pm
Termite, in answer to the last question, about any problems, I've had my EX-30 for about a year, and the only problem I had was some front-to-back movement when I first got it, but was able to fix that by adjusting the motor.

However, the purchase of the EX has caused other problems, such as statements like, "You got the saw of your dreams, now I should get the sewing machine of mine" or "you got a great saw, I should get a great car."  Stuff like that.

Bill
Title: Re: Excalibur saws
Post by: spiderman on November 21, 2011, 12:56:59 pm
I love mine ex-21 over the damn dewalt anyday my dewalt dw788 has a knock and I did took it in to get it service and the guy told me that not what was wrong with it. now its not under warranty going on 2nd year now. 

Title: Re: Excalibur saws
Post by: dgman on November 21, 2011, 01:00:05 pm
If it is an American made saw that you are looking for the "Hawk" scroll saw is what your looking for. It is made in America, in Bushton, Kansas, as a matter of fact.
Rog
The Problem with Hawk is one can not just go out and buy or order one. you have to go to a woodworking show to buy one!
Title: Re: Excalibur saws
Post by: spiderman on November 21, 2011, 02:15:41 pm
if you don't like an ex-21 then you must be dead or not from earth.   If you want to why don't you just build a scroll saw out of wood....   there are plans for one. 

Title: Re: Excalibur saws
Post by: termite on November 21, 2011, 10:49:40 pm
cyberghost, go to Ricks scrollsaw & read what he says about Dewalts problems. there are 4 different
fixes for the knocking problem. i tried all of them before i took mine to a service center. he has a lot of information on scrollsaws.
Title: Re: Excalibur saws
Post by: termite on November 21, 2011, 11:00:34 pm
Torsten if you compare diagrams of both saws you will see that they are basically the same saw. i like my Dewalt & if it doesnt start knocking again i will keep using it
Title: Re: Excalibur saws
Post by: tux_linux on November 22, 2011, 07:11:25 am
Yes, please keep the DeWalt. In fact, most US scrollers have one. It's just sometimes aside of the other saw.

As I said, some need to produce. The 788 is a fine machine, but I doubt it is made for professional use, for running most of the day/all year long.
I have broken a hobby machine before I switched to a decent semi-professional machine(Hegner). Now I can operate the saw all day long and the engine does not heat up even when cutting thick/hard stuff.
Title: Re: Excalibur saws
Post by: jim stiek on November 22, 2011, 08:17:44 am
dgman
you can mail order hawk saws as far as I know and they are still available.
jim
Title: Re: Excalibur saws
Post by: rochar3 on November 22, 2011, 10:17:07 am
If it is an American made saw that you are looking for the "Hawk" scroll saw is what your looking for. It is made in America, in Bushton, Kansas, as a matter of fact.
Rog
The Problem with Hawk is one can not just go out and buy or order one. you have to go to a woodworking show to buy one!

You can go to their website and purchase the Hawk of your dreams. People are very accommodating. I have a G24 and am very happy with the saw and the service.
Title: Re: Excalibur saws
Post by: msdameng on November 22, 2011, 10:40:00 am
I think scrollsawers have a group mentality!! Several people started jumping ship on Dewalt and now a lot more are following!!!  
Title: Re: Excalibur saws
Post by: geneVG on November 22, 2011, 10:59:05 am
I have had a Sears Craftman 18 inch for now about 2 years.  The only problem I have had was vibration.  I fixed that by adding some weight and now you can sit a glass of water on it while runniing.  I think it is what ever a person likes.  This is my 2 cents worth.

gene
Title: Re: Excalibur saws
Post by: termite on November 22, 2011, 11:39:49 am
as i said i like my Dewalt & have no  intention of getting rid of it. i just wish after all these years
that they would have corrected this problem. as thick as this piece is i dont see how it bent just changing from one cut to another. i have a millright friend who thinks it might help if this piece
was made from steel. Dewalt would have to answer this question. as i said i havent had too much luck with tech support. this millright friend said if they have a German saw to buy it, they have the best machinist in the world. i agree with him. i have an RBI 220 vs but i dont like the bottom blade holder. it is a hassle to change blades & switch from one cut to another. i am talking to POZSGAI'S DESIGNS about this. he is going to design one for my saw. what he has wont work on my saw. sorry
to talk so long