EX 21 Users.

[wombatie]

I would like to know from the EX 21 users, do you use the hold down foot or have you taken it off.  My reason for asking is that I have not used a hold down in years and I know I've only had my EX 21 for a few weeks, but it seems to bounce the wood around an awful lot without the help of the hold down.  To me hold downs get in the way and its time consuming.  Help please.

Marg

[jimbo]

First thing I did was take off the hold down they are a pain in the but, if you are getting bounce it may be because you are using reverse tooth blades
Jimbo 

[wombatie]

No Jimbo I'm using crown tooth at the moment and I have never experienced any bounce when I've used them on my DeWalt.

Marg

[Leldon]

Hi Marg,

IT could be the ex moves along a lot faster than the DeWalt.  More power! You may have to retrain yourself to use a little more pressure than you were used to.  I came from a DeWalt to the Excalibur, but I don't remember experiencing any extra bounce.  But it was almost 7 years ago that I got my excal!

Leldon

[julief]

I tried it both ways and tossed my hold down foot.  You shouldn't experience any more chatter with the EX than the Dewalt.  The crown tooth and reverse tooth both will cause a little lift because they both have teeth in the upstroke directions.  It may be just getting used to the pressure you use to hold down your project.  The difference, in my opinion, is the fact that the blade is farther forward on the table on the EX so you have to get used to working a little closer to you.  You are closer and more over the top of your cut.

[dgman]

Hi Marg,

IT could be the ex moves along a lot faster than the DeWalt.  More power! You may have to retrain yourself to use a little more pressure than you were used to.  I came from a DeWalt to the Excalibur, but I don't remember experiencing any extra bounce.  But it was almost 7 years ago that I got my excal!

Leldon

I do not have an EX21, but I do know that the motor on the EX21 has the same HP as the DeWalt and it actually runs slower than the DeWalt.
Check the back to front movement of the blade. It may be off more than your DeWalt was. Use a small square or a credit card. There is an adjustment for this.

[Crabbyboater]

First thing I've done with my EX-21 (and ANY) of my scroll saws is to get rid of the hold down.  It just gets in the way.  I use FD Ultra Reverse and do get some bounce, but it hasn't been a real problem for me.

[wombatie]

Thanks guys, I guess I will just have to practice more.

Marg

[tux_linux]

You need to train your "pushing-down-skills"!

I was making some wood puzzles on the weekend and have had much less bouncing when applying tape to the bottom side of the wood. Might help you too.

[spiderman]

I would like to know from the EX 21 users, do you use the hold down foot or have you taken it off.  My reason for asking is that I have not used a hold down in years and I know I've only had my EX 21 for a few weeks, but it seems to bounce the wood around an awful lot without the help of the hold down.  To me hold downs get in the way and its time consuming.  Help please.

Marg

No I don't use my hold down foot on my ex-21 nor my dw788 dewalt scroll saw..  I hate them.  But in your case you should use it until you get used to your scroll saw you could cut something off that you love so much never mine a finger or two..

[spiderman]

Hi Marg,

IT could be the ex moves along a lot faster than the DeWalt.  More power! You may have to retrain yourself to use a little more pressure than you were used to.  I came from a DeWalt to the Excalibur, but I don't remember experiencing any extra bounce.  But it was almost 7 years ago that I got my excal!

Leldon

NO! NO! NO! the dwalt scroll saw is faster then the ex-21 scroll saw

[geoff3]

Hi Marge, yes the first thing I did was remove the hold down.
The second thing I did was put it back.
the reason I  felt lost not knowing were to hold the top arm when lifting it, so I replaced the hold down but keep it up on its slider and I think it give me  anice handle to hold when moving the arm.   just one of my many daft ideas......Geoff3

[GrayBeard]

HOORAY! Somebody done found a use fer that pesky 'holder-downer' thingy!

~~~GB~~~

[jimbo]

I'll see if I can find mine and try the handle thing, Marg. crown tooth blades are 1 up 1 down and cause the wood to lift, I've tried them and don't like them
Jimbo