Craftsman 18 inch variable

[scrollpup]

Well since I'm new at this I'll "bite the bullet" here and ask- Out of all the posts I've seen no one uses this saw...Is there problems with how long it will last? Mine seems fine to me except for the tensioner knobs that rubbed all the hide off my fingers (no pain no gain).I just replaced those with bolts (so I could use a ratchet) and a wing nut ((much better)).

I have been drooling over the Excaliber series because I like the tilting arm instead of the table, but a thousand bucks is kind of hard to swallow.

And while I'm asking newbie questions, about what speed do ya'll cut at?On 1/4 board I usually run about 750 rpm's without bad vibration.Do the higher priced saws do better than this?

Any info would shore be a help and thanks in advance.

Jerry

[paul44224]

The 788 DeWalt seems to be the big choice here. I have a newer Craftsman that I use. It is exactly like a saw at Lowes. Can't think of the brand there. They are in the $160 range. But sales all the time. I will eventually go to the 788.

On my saw, I have the speed up to about 1/3 of the adj. range. I do portraits mostly.

Paul

[scrollpup]

Hey thanks for a quick reply! I thought I was the night owl out tonight.I like my saw but not having used any other brands has me wondering...

I have only done three cuts (the second one was the leopard out of this months issue) and I had over twenty hours in second one.The third one was for a friend and it only took three hours to finish.

I think I'm hooked on this stuff.I think I'll start on the grist mill in that same issue tomorrow.
But you don't seem to have any problems with your saw then? I like mine,but it just seems that everyone else has some other brand on here.Just kind of makes me wonder.Craftsman is'nt the quality it used to be (IMO).

Thanks again, Jerry.

[paul44224]

Hey Jerry, you have a pm.

Paul

[Terry Murphy]

I also have the same saw.
It seems to make a lot of saw dust pretty good, but my fingers are also sore.
I have a small pair of channel locks I use for blade changes.
If I did frett work, I would have to get another saw, otherwise it works!

Terry

[Don R]

I have used my 18" Craftsman for the last two years and really like it. I have used it mostly for making cut outs for wood carving but recently am getting more into portraits and today I took the leap into Intarsia. The only drawback is the sore fingers.

[will8989]

I'm glad you guys like yours because I hated mine!! Finally sold it at a yard sale about 8 years ago to a plumber, and got my Hegner and never looked back!!

Betty

[scrollpup]

Well I went to the hardware store today and replaced those instruments of torture (the knobs) with two metric screws and a wing nut.I just use a nut driver to tighten the screws and the wing nut doesn't hurt at all.

I scrolled a coyote pattern out of Gary Brownings Wild West book (a little over thirty frets) just to see how my new set-up worked. I still have skin on my thumb and index fingers!

Here are the sizes: Tension knob---wing nut 6MM-1.00
clamp screws------(two of them)(( hex heads)) 16 MM 3/4 inches long.


If you go this route just remember not to over torque the screws with the driver.

Jerry.

[Terry Murphy]

Good info Jerry.
Thank you

[tugbtr]

i really like my new dremel its not the most expensive out there b ut it comes with a good rep i had the craftsman and brought it back it was seizing up then i checked out the reviews on the craftsman wich were not very good ones at all
marc