EX21 bent blade end

[maritimer]

When I was using my Dewalt I never had a problem with a bent blade end....had slippage and that was solved by sanding the end.  Now I have an EX21 and having problems with bent blade ends.  Today, was a real bad day for blades....not only were they bending but also breaking....a little piece at a time.  You can see the thumbscrew catching the blade and bringing it over to secure.  It looks like it's bending the blade but when tension is applied it straightens out....or so you think....take the blade out and it's bent.  I've tried not putting so much blade in and I've tried more blade but it doesn't matter...still bending.  And as I said today the tips kept breaking off.  I've used olsen and FD and one is no better than another.  When I first got my saw in November /11 there wasn't any problems, this started I'd say within the last month or so.

Is anyone else having this problem with their EX and what's the solution?  I'm getting a little frustrated and the Dewalt almost came back out!

Appreciate any and all feedback.

Donna

[Keefie]

I had that problem when I first got my EX16, I asked the shop about it and they said just nip the screw when tightening it, don't overtighten the screw or the blade will bend. after that I have had no problem, hopefully yours is same problem.

[BigPete]

Also check that the grub screw has not moved ! I had to lock mine in position after it moved and started bending the blades . I removed both grub screws and used a little locktite glue. Before reinserting them i used a knife and inserted it where the blade would go and tightened the thumbscrew against it, this would mean that when reinserting the grub screw it could only go as far as the knife blade . Hope this helps ...Pete

[maritimer]

Thanks for your help guys.  The screw on the left (is that the grub screw?) was loose....once tightened, no more bent blades!  I never realized that this would come loose.  I'll keep an eye on that. So now that is working fine but the blades are now slipping.  This is something new with this saw.  I thought maybe I had batch of blades with more oil on than the others but it doesn't matter which size I used they all slipped....sanded the end and it stopped.  Seems strange that it would start now as it was fine since I got the saw.....ummm. 

Did you ever have one of those days when nothing was going right and maybe you shouldn't be in the shop...that was pretty much my weekend.  Then to top it off I ran out of 1/16" bits.  So many plans and not much accomplished....

[BigPete]

Yes that is the grub screw on the left ! You can gently rub both the grub screw and the thumbscrew with fine sandpaper and that should give you a better grip...Pete

[jimbo]

Thumbs has  an article on slipping blade clamps, I did as suggested and it has cured the bent blade ends as well as the slipping blades, worth a try
Jimbo

[oohlookitsarabbit]

The left grub screw on my EX21 constantly needs resetting. I don't do a huge amount of sawing and I need to fix it probably every couple of weeks. Hubby keeps saying he'll get around to putting locktite on it, but I'll probably be dead before he gets around to it! I've also noticed that once I move it back to center the blade, I need to loosen up on the tension on the back a tiny bit or I'll snap the blades. All in all, I have been very disappointed with the blade holders and tension on this saw. I find it very hard to get the blade straight up and down.

[jimbo]

I use cheap super glue foe the grub screws and they never move
Jimbo

[Danny]

Hey Donna.... Nice to meet ya's....  I experimented the same frustrations that you have described with my Hegner a few months ago.  After calling the customer rep. and getting their advice it turned out to be the problem of the grub screw needing adjusting.  Also I was tightening the the right thumb screw way, way to tight which put a bind on the side of the blade which in the short run of things weakened that part of the blade.  I have finally learned the correct tensioning and the amount of tightening needed to succussefully cut a project.  It has been months now and I have not had any problems.  Danny  :+}

[maritimer]

Hey Dan.  Once I tightened the grub screw that solved the problem with the bent blades but now it's the slipping that's bugging (being polite!) me. 

Thanks to everyone for their input.

[Danny]

Well honestly I can say that blade slippage has never been a problem.  Have read where sanding the ends a bit helps this.  And then I have to say the Flying Dutchman brand blades are just the Greatest of any brand.  Danny  :+}

[bubbaloo158]

@maritimer...

I know exactly what you mean about knowing right off the bat that it is going to be a bad day.  Unfortunately, I learned the hard way a few years ago when my day started off with me dropping things, losing things, making wrong cuts and not measuring correctly.  The final straw that got me to stop working that day?  I almost lost my right index finger while using the joiner.  Another fraction of an inch and the top of the finger would have been gone.  As it turned out I just lost the nail.  It took me a couple of months before I could work up the courage to go back into the shop and start using the machines again.  Even today I get a little scared when using the table saw.  I guess this could serve as a lesson to all of us.  When the day starts off badly, get out of the shop and find something else to do because fingers don't grow back.

--Bobby

[maritimer]

Gee Bobby that sure was a bad day for you.  The table saw is one saw that scares me and I won't touch it....I've seen to many people missing fingers. My husband does any cutting I need.  But you're right...when things aren't going right, get out of the shop.