Messages

1

Ask Steve a question. / stacked jewelry trays

« on: February 11, 2020, 02:52:28 pm »

I am confused by the plans for the stacked jewelry trays. First I cut out all the pieces. That went fine. Now how do I measure the dowels? are they supposed to be flush with the hole in the box sides? Why are there two different size holes for the boxes and the bottoms. How do the boxes stack? I know there is something simple hear that I am not seeing. Is there anybody  who can describe how these to together?
thanks
Terry

2

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Comparison of Pegas to Flying Dutchman blades

« on: January 19, 2018, 10:08:23 am »

I prefer topflite golf balls too. It's cheaper to put three of those into the water or woods than one Titelist!

3

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Something Stinks in Canada and Taiwan

« on: December 22, 2017, 11:08:18 am »

You all seem to be missing my point.  While shipping charges are a huge pain in the neck (or lower) the real problem for me is what is going on with these Excalibur scroll saws. General stops making them and all of a sudden all these knock offs start showing up and are coming from the same factory in Taiwan that General was using. I'm a little upset, I guess, because this is the second time I bought a scroll saw that was discontinued right after I bought it. I have a Delta Q3 sitting here in my basement that I really liked but can no longer get parts for it because it is obsolete. Can't find the quick set blade clamps anywhere. I have heard that General is a reputable company and I did get replacement parts from them but at that huge shipping cost. Can probably get them from Seyco but when I have talked to them direct they don't seem to want to help me very much because I did not buy the saw from them. OK I understand that. So they come out with an Excalibur type saw with just a few minor differences and tack on a few hundred more dollars for it. Then King (another Canadian company) comes out with an Excalibur style saw manufactured at the same factory in Taiwan where the Ex21 was made only they are not selling the 21 inch model. So why is that? Is it because General has a load of EX21's left to get rid of or what? That is my issue.

4

Ask Steve a question. / Mom's Craft Room patterrn

« on: December 17, 2017, 05:51:27 pm »

Steve, What font did you use for Mom's Craft room pattern?  Want to change Mom's to Pam's Craft room.

Regards,
Terry

5

General Scroll Saw Talk / Something Stinks in Canada and Taiwan

« on: December 05, 2017, 01:32:57 pm »

Two years ago I purchased an Excalibur ex-21 here in Michigan. it was from a company with a generic sounding name General. I was excited to have it as everyone seemed to be recommending it. Two weeks later rumors began to fly about manufacturing problems in Taiwan and in another two weeks it was announced that General would no longer be producing and selling the saw! Then Seyco  comes out with exact same saw only with a bigger table. Now I see on today's scroll saw workshop another Canadian company called King is now manufacturing the same saw at the same plant in Taiwan that General was using. In the immortal words of coach Vince Lombardi "What the Hell's goin on out here!"I am concerned about the availabiility of parts for my saw. Recently I replaced the slide bracket and thumb screw on the upper blade clamp bracket. I did not see the slide bracket listed on Seyco's sight so I called general and ordered it from them. The parts were less than $20 and weighed less than six ounces and they charged me $32 for shipping. Is this what I can expect from now on if I need to replace parts. Are the King scroll saw parts interchangeable with the ex-21? Oh, I almost forgot, according to Steve's story on his blog this morning. King made an agreement to sell only the 16 and 31 inch saws. Thought General was a reputable company. Now I really regret buying this saw even though it has served me well for the past two years, but I not ready to jump to another saw just yet. Anybody have any thoughts or information/
Regards,
Terry

6

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Replacement parts for Excalibur

« on: March 31, 2017, 08:43:25 am »

I am with you Billy. Wanted and EX for a long time and finally bought one. Not even a month later I started hearing about trouble with the manufacturer in Taiwan. I knew then i was in trouble and sure enough the next thing i hear is they were gone. Somewhere at General Industries in Canada a sales rep is laughing and saying "gotcha Yank!" I'm really disgusted with that company but have managed to get use out of it after replacing the lower blade clamp assembly. Like most people, I over tightened the blade when it wouldn't hold so that was on me. Seyco came through for me with a replacement part. I know that damn salesman from General Knew these were going to be discontinued when I bought it.
Eventually replacement parts are going to run out and they won't be replaced and I'll be stuck with a boat anchor. Caveat Emptor.
Regards
Terry

7

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Family Tree

« on: December 15, 2016, 09:47:17 am »

Try Steve Good's site. In his pattern catalogue there is a pattern we used for our daughter's wedding. It is a big tree with leafs that the guests are supposed to sign. I think it could be easily modified to a "family tree". Hope this helps.

Regards,
Terry

8

Ask Steve a question. / Re: Corel Draw and Windows 10

« on: May 11, 2016, 10:06:51 am »

Thank you Judy, That is a sweet offer. I have pretty much decided to upgrade to Corel Draw 7 which, I believe works with Windows 10 (codb...cost of doing business). I do so appreciate your offer of help though.

Terry
aka Spartan Scroller

9

Ask Steve a question. / Corel Draw and Windows 10

« on: May 10, 2016, 12:09:28 pm »

Hi Steve:
I am in urgent need of help.  I had been using Corel Draw X5 on a computer with windows 7. That computer has crashed and died. I tried loading Corel 5x on a computer with Widows 10 and it will not work. My question is: Is Corel Draw X7 compatible with windows 10. Need to know ASAP as I have outstanding orders for "name ornaments".  Thank you so much for all your support of us scrollers out here.

Terry
Aka Spartan Scroller

10

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Help needed installing blades on Excalibur

« on: December 17, 2015, 08:58:19 am »

Well Diane you have touched a nerve with me. I purchased an Excalibur 21 at a woodworking show and have never been so disappointed with a product in my life. I too removed the dust collection and had many problems with setting the blade in the clamps. Took it back to the store and they agreed to help me with it and showed me how to adjust the set screw in the top clamp. They told be the screw has to just barely protrude into the inside of the clamp assembly. Tried some test cuts and it worked fine so I took it back home and set it up in my shop. After a few hours of cutting the blade clamps absolutely refused to hold. After taking two and a half hours to finish an ornament that usually takes less than an hour, I removed the saw from my shop and set up my old faithful Dewalt 788 type two. I am very frustrated and disappointed after all the hype and great things I have heard about the Excalibur I feel like I got an $850 education. Don't know where to go from here but feel the factory adjustments on these saws are not done properly. So what is your natural instincts when the clams don't hold? Even though you know better, you over tighten them. They still slip and my top clamp holder is just about stripped out. I'll never recommend Excalibur to anyone.

Regards,
Terry

11

Brag Forum / Re: New Scroll Saw Ornament Book

« on: October 15, 2015, 02:14:52 pm »

OOOPS! Just tried your link Michel and was able to order right from there. Thanks for the great book. Can't wait to get it.

Terry

12

Brag Forum / Re: New Scroll Saw Ornament Book

« on: October 15, 2015, 02:06:38 pm »

Just tried to order from Amazon. They said it was not available. Out of print! I would like to get this book right away. Where else can I order it.
Regards,
Terry

13

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Ex-21 clamping adjustments

« on: September 30, 2015, 03:03:11 pm »

Thank you all very much for your help. I am taking the saw back to where I bought it Friday. 100 mile trek but they offered me a full refund.
Despite everything I tried nothing seemed to work. The top blade clamp assembly is still impossible to deal with as far as seating the blade. When I finally do get it seated the clamp doesn't hold. I've already stripped out the threads on the clamp assembly trying to get it to hold and I did not even twist it down very hard. I am very disappointed. I was looking forward to using and loving this saw for many years to come. Now I am very glad I did not get rid of ole yeller. I am going back to the old friend that has served me faithfully for so many years.

Regards,
Terry

14

General Scroll Saw Talk / Ex-21 clamping adjustments

« on: September 21, 2015, 11:55:34 am »

Ahoy scroll saw gurus. I need your help.  Finally took the plunge and bought a new Excalibur 21 inch scroll saw at a woodworking expo here in Michigan. Got it set up. Retired the Dewalt 788 type 2 and began using the new one. My impressions are that it is a good quality made saw. Very quiet and vibrations are minimal. Cuts are smooth. Miss my mounted light on the side though. Two big disappointments so far. One was the words "Made in Taiwan" on the box and the other is the blade clamping system. The slot is so deep that I cannot see the set screw and thumb screw so I am having a terrible time loading the blade into the top clamp. I am able to load the bottom clamp just fine but after a few minutes the bottom of the blade begins to bend and it makes it hard to get the blade though a 16th inch hole. What is causing this and how do I solve it. I want to love this saw. I have heard so many good things about it but so far these blade clamping problems are daunting. Also what is the going price on a good used DW788 type 2 these days.

Regards
Terry