Excalibur EX-21 vs EX-30

[Dchatley]

Is there any difference between the two saws other than table size?

I'm wanting to get one or the other in the near future and trying to determine if a larger table is worth the extra money. Has any one used both?

I still have my Dewalt type 1 and will probably sell it once I get a replacement.

Thanks,

Dan

[greatdane2]

They have changed the tension system on the EX-30. there is a cam lever above the blade, and more on the back of the unit. I am still waiting for mine to get here and will post my thoughts when it does.

[ajay]

Actually, they have changed the blade adjustment lever on both machines to a vertical flip lever at the top of both the EX-21 and EX-30. While I don't have an EX-30, I am led to believe the only differences in the 2 models are throat size and cost.

FWIW, here are pdf files on both machines:

http://www.general.ca/manuel/EX-21EN.pdf
http://www.general.ca/manuel/EX-30EN.pdf

[lucky788scroller]

For the extra $'s, if you can afford it, go for the bigger one, you never know when you might need it! Dale

[Jediscroller]

That's the same design blade release as on my older EX-30, did they change it and change it back?

[ajay]

Kevin, I'm not sure if you are directing that question to me. I haven't been around long enough to know the answer, but I do know the blade release has been recently changed from a design much like that on the DeWalt 788 to the one shown in the pdf files above. My new EX-21 has the nylon vertical flip tensioner and the latest promotional material on the Excalibur shows that the change has been incorporated into the EX-30 as well. If you're saying your older EX-30 had a similar mechanism, then it appears they went back to that design. I know I was surprised to see the change in my saw and I thought maybe I had received an older (non updated) model. But it's the latest iteration.

[ajay]

There is some confusion over the "new" adjustment knob on the rear of the saw. One part of the manual refers to it as an upper arm tensioner. It's not really that at all. Another part of the manual states the following: This saw has an adjustment knob in the rear that can raise the blade mount
up to 1”. This allows you to reposition the saw blade at a
point where you can use a different part of the blade in the cutting area. This
also allows you to use a piece of band saw blade cut to a length of 5”- 6”
in your saw and gives you up to 3 inch cutting capacity when
needed.

[greatdane2]

One thing I notice with the EX 30 that might be a problem for some people. My Dewalt saw sat on a long counter, it was around 30" deep. with the Excalibur the tension adjuster/ upper arm adjustment knob is at the back and will be hard to reach if you are standing in front of your saw. I am in the process of making an adjustable cabinet for my new saw and will come back to this issue when I know more. The 30 has an adjustment lever on the front so for normal use the rear knob might not have to be moved that much. But on my Dewalt I was allways changing the tension on the blade.
Alan

[Jediscroller]

Ajay,
Yep, that's what's on mine as well (the nylon vertical flip). They've been that way for years, I had never seen a different mechanism. I haven't used a Dewalt so I'm not familiar with the blade clamps on those, from photos they do look different than what I'm used to though.
As far as the knob on the back of the saw, that is to adjust the arms' parallelism. I set mine 3 years ago and haven't touched it since and have had no problems. Of course, my EX-30 is a little different from the new ones so I'm not positive that it's the same. The linkages in the pdf's look to be the same set-up as the original EX-30's.

[greatdane2]

The EX 21 they had in the store here had the same adjuster as my dewalt.
If you don't adjust the tension with the rear knob on your EX 21, how do you set different blade tensions. I have not played with mine yet. trying to make a stand that I can raise and lower with a jack to give me more choices in hight, and also a tilting table for the saw. Driving me nuts.