Excalibur EX 21 - New Design - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

mazu · 07-31-2008, 02:41 PM

I just received my new Excalibur EX 21 and noticed it is designed like the the EX30 with the tension know on the back of the saw. The owners manual doesn't even reflect these changes. Anyone have any knowledge of this and why? Thanks, Mark

mazu · 07-31-2008, 04:09 PM

I posted this in another category but didn't know who might have any information on a design change with the EX21. I just received my new EX21 and it has the blade tension knob on the back of the saw like the EX30. All the pictures, reviews and even the owners manual show the handle on the front of the saw. Any one have any info on this change, and why? Just want to make sure this is an upgrade, not an older model. thanks, mark

Pajaro · 07-31-2008, 05:21 PM

My EX-21 has the tension on the front. Mine is a year old. Ray from SEYCO may be able to shed some light on that. He sells Excalibur saws

greatdane2 · 07-31-2008, 05:32 PM

It is a new model. I had one of the 30's and sent it back. I did not like the new set up. As has been said in the other post try Seyco and see what they say. I did not go that route I just got fed up and bought another Dewalt. It still has the old style controls.

Alan.

Jediscroller · 07-31-2008, 05:32 PM

Mark,
It is the latest version. This is actually the original design of the saw that they went back to after a lot of feedback from users. Just to clarify, it is an adjustment to ensure the arms are parallel. Once the arms are parallel to each other there is no need to adjust it again. I've had my EX-30 for nearly 4 years now and it sees very heavy use and I've never had to touch the rear knob. I've used everything from 2/0 up to #12's without any problems.

Mark,
I went ahead and merged your 2 threads together here so you could see all of the responses in one location.

Alan,
Our posts were at the exact same time, hehehehe.

mazu · 07-31-2008, 05:44 PM

Thanks for all the replys. But I don't really understand when you say this is to make sure the arms are parallel. What arms? So this doesn't really control the tension at all? I have a Craftsman and it has a round knob on the back and this is how the tension is controlled. So you only tension the blade with the flip lever on the front of the saw? Like I said before, the manual does not mention this round knob on the back at all. Would you recommend this saw with the changes? Thanks again, mark

greatdane2 · 07-31-2008, 05:55 PM

The only tension control is with that plastic leaver on the front. Which they say is all you need. The Dewalt has a lever on the front of the saw and as others have also said, I adjust the blade while cutting all the time. I think all the Dewalt and Excalibur saws come out of the the same Chinese factory. I am tempted to buy another Dewalt as a spare in case they screw it up as well.

Alan.

Jediscroller · 07-31-2008, 06:54 PM

There are 2 arms on the saw, upper and lower. These need to be parallel to each other. If you measure the distance between them, it should be the same at both the front and back of the saw. I too went from a Craftsman to this saw and to answer your question I would not hesitate recommending this saw to anyone. As I said earlier, I've had mine for close to 4 years, I use it 30 - 40 hours a week and have never had any kind of problem with it. I never have had to adjust the tension for any reason. New blades tend to slip sometimes and prior to knowing that this was the cause I used to tweak the tension on the Craftsman thinking it was the blade "stretching" which is a mechanical impossibility for a scrollsaw to do.
I don't think the Dewalt is made in the same factory though as IIRC General International has their own factories that they deal with in Taiwan and are not tied to Black and Decker (Dewalt's parent company). The Dewalt and the original Excalibur were designed by the same company (Somerville Mfg.) but Dewalt moved them overseas a few years ago where GI purchased Somerville last year and moved the production overseas since.

mazu · 07-31-2008, 09:27 PM

Thanks again for all the great info. I was able to download an updated owners manual from the GI website. It does explain that the back knob is to adjust the arm up and down. I can't wait to get it set up and get to cutting. This saw was always my "dream" saw.

ABlade · 08-02-2008, 04:31 AM

Mazu. I got the EX21 at the TX picnic and have been sawing on it for 2 months. I think the saw is just great. Wait until you do some bevel cuts. Then you will really appreciate the saw. I had to adjust the rear knob one time because there was too much distance between the blade holders and had trouble holding the blade. That was probably two weeks ago. Up to then I had not touched the rear knob. I pulled out the maual and found out that the rear knob moves the upper arm up and down. All I did was move the upper arm down just a little and haven't had problem since.
You made the right decision by getting the EX21

Norm