New hawk keeps breaking spiral blades! - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

haze59 · 11-18-2006, 04:27 AM

Recently got a used Hawk220VS from a retiring scroller. Ive had a Dremel 1680 the last 4 years. I use 2/0 spiral blades mostly, with no problems. The Hawk cuts great for about 45 seconds then BANG! Very frustrated. Tension seems good, I tried less, more, and yelling. Anyone have an idea? Thanks. Haze

Buzz · 11-18-2006, 07:15 AM

Haze59. I don't have a clue, but it may possibly be a bad bearing which may be hard to detect. You could try calling Hawk at 800-487-2623. The few times I have had to call them, they were most helpful.
Buzz

PeteB · 11-18-2006, 12:12 PM

There's an adjustment on the Hawk, for slack in the quick-release tensioner (the small lever near the top of the blade), that may eliminate some variation in tension that could be causing your blades to pop. It's the brass Allen screw under the lever.

Dummy me, though, I don't remember exactly how to do it, and I don't think it's in the manual, which I've misplaced at the moment, along with the Allen wrench I'd use to test it. Guess whose shop needs a cleaning.

I think you simply release the main tension lever at the back of the saw. then snug the Allen screw, not tightly but enough to eliminate play.

Pete

haze59 · 11-18-2006, 01:14 PM

I called Hawk, told me about set screw adjustment. It did need a little adjusting but still breaking spiral blades. I put in a reverse tooth and didnt have any problem. I just cant figure this out. Thanks for your input though. I'm new to this computer stuff, being able to talk to other scrollers is pretty cool. Haze.

Daryl185 · 11-18-2006, 01:15 PM

Haze here is a link to Hawks forum hope I am not over stepping by posting this
http://cybermessageboard.fatcow.com/...ools/index.php

Marsha · 11-18-2006, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haze59

Recently got a used Hawk220VS from a retiring scroller. Ive had a Dremel 1680 the last 4 years. I use 2/0 spiral blades mostly, with no problems. The Hawk cuts great for about 45 seconds then BANG! Very frustrated. Tension seems good, I tried less, more, and yelling. Anyone have an idea? Thanks. Haze

A very big sledge hammer might work.

Marsha

haze59 · 11-18-2006, 01:18 PM

Thanks, I'll check it out.

workin for wood · 11-18-2006, 02:53 PM

Once in a while I think about the sledge to my Hawk. It breaks something almost once a month. pretty dissapointing for a touted industrial grade machine. The people in service are great for getting me parts, but how about fixing the root of the problem. I have enough free warranty Hawk parts lying around to have payed half the cost of the machine. I wonder if deep down they are owned by Hyundai.

Rolf · 11-18-2006, 03:11 PM

Hyundai is sneeking up the quality list.Who would have expected that.
I have the G4 and have not had any problems with blade breakage.
I tension my 2/0 spirals at the same tension as the 2/0 flat blades.
If the blade adjustment on the 220 is the same as on my G4 I have the Cam lever at the back pointing straight up before tensioning a 2/0.
Does your blade holder move up and down when you flip the front tensioner?
I ask this because a friend of mine has a G4 and his cam assembly had come apart and he didn't realize it. The front tensioning lever had no affect. I took it all apart and repaired it with. He has had no problems since.

earlinjax · 11-19-2006, 04:08 AM

I had a similar problem. Lately, it has not been as bad. What I did was: Slow down the speed of the saw; switched to FD "new" spirals. Saw speed is probably the worst culprit. Rememeber, you are using a 2/0 blade.

Sometimes I can cut until the blade dulls and sometimes only a few minutes. There may be a variance between blades but I suspect it is cutting technique. Also, with the Hawk you have to bottom feed and it is easy to get a kink in the blade. There probably is a formula involving saw speed, kink, material = heat = broken blade.

When putting the blade in the blade holders, try to keep the blade as vertical as possible, Especially, in the top holder. If not put in straight the top of the blade will bend and not only does that make it difficult to feed through the start holes it also breaks the blade fast. As you continue to remove and insert the blade from cut to cut I find some times the blade stretches and the longer blade is harder to get it straigth in the top holder. I have nipped off a little of the blade at times to solve that problem.

Hope it gets better. I prefer mostly flat blades but some cuts are a heck of a lot easier with a spiral.

EarlinJax

11-18-2006, 04:27 AM	#1
haze59 Scroller Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: PA Posts: 5	New hawk keeps breaking spiral blades! Recently got a used Hawk220VS from a retiring scroller. Ive had a Dremel 1680 the last 4 years. I use 2/0 spiral blades mostly, with no problems. The Hawk cuts great for about 45 seconds then BANG! Very frustrated. Tension seems good, I tried less, more, and yelling. Anyone have an idea? Thanks. Haze

11-18-2006, 07:15 AM	#2
Buzz Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Racine, WI Posts: 314	Breaking Blades Haze59. I don't have a clue, but it may possibly be a bad bearing which may be hard to detect. You could try calling Hawk at 800-487-2623. The few times I have had to call them, they were most helpful. Buzz

11-18-2006, 12:12 PM	#3
PeteB Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 428	There's an adjustment on the Hawk, for slack in the quick-release tensioner (the small lever near the top of the blade), that may eliminate some variation in tension that could be causing your blades to pop. It's the brass Allen screw under the lever. Dummy me, though, I don't remember exactly how to do it, and I don't think it's in the manual, which I've misplaced at the moment, along with the Allen wrench I'd use to test it. Guess whose shop needs a cleaning. I think you simply release the main tension lever at the back of the saw. then snug the Allen screw, not tightly but enough to eliminate play. Pete Last edited by PeteB; 11-18-2006 at 01:12 PM.

11-18-2006, 02:53 PM	#8
workin for wood Master Scroller Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Eaton Rapids Michigan Posts: 2,474	Once in a while I think about the sledge to my Hawk. It breaks something almost once a month. pretty dissapointing for a touted industrial grade machine. The people in service are great for getting me parts, but how about fixing the root of the problem. I have enough free warranty Hawk parts lying around to have payed half the cost of the machine. I wonder if deep down they are owned by Hyundai. __________________ Jeff Powell

11-18-2006, 03:11 PM	#9
Rolf Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bellport, LI New York Posts: 2,808	Hyundai is sneeking up the quality list.Who would have expected that. I have the G4 and have not had any problems with blade breakage. I tension my 2/0 spirals at the same tension as the 2/0 flat blades. If the blade adjustment on the 220 is the same as on my G4 I have the Cam lever at the back pointing straight up before tensioning a 2/0. Does your blade holder move up and down when you flip the front tensioner? I ask this because a friend of mine has a G4 and his cam assembly had come apart and he didn't realize it. The front tensioning lever had no affect. I took it all apart and repaired it with. He has had no problems since. __________________ Rolf RBI G4 Hawk, Delta SS350 Philosophy "I don't know that I can't, therefore I can"

11-18-2006, 01:14 PM	#4
haze59 Scroller Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: PA Posts: 5	I called Hawk, told me about set screw adjustment. It did need a little adjusting but still breaking spiral blades. I put in a reverse tooth and didnt have any problem. I just cant figure this out. Thanks for your input though. I'm new to this computer stuff, being able to talk to other scrollers is pretty cool. Haze.

11-18-2006, 01:15 PM	#5
Daryl185 Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Lakewood Ranch Florida Posts: 1,162	Haze here is a link to Hawks forum hope I am not over stepping by posting this http://cybermessageboard.fatcow.com/...ools/index.php

11-18-2006, 01:18 PM	#7
haze59 Scroller Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: PA Posts: 5	Thanks, I'll check it out.

11-19-2006, 04:08 AM	#10
earlinjax Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 558	I had a similar problem. Lately, it has not been as bad. What I did was: Slow down the speed of the saw; switched to FD "new" spirals. Saw speed is probably the worst culprit. Rememeber, you are using a 2/0 blade. Sometimes I can cut until the blade dulls and sometimes only a few minutes. There may be a variance between blades but I suspect it is cutting technique. Also, with the Hawk you have to bottom feed and it is easy to get a kink in the blade. There probably is a formula involving saw speed, kink, material = heat = broken blade. When putting the blade in the blade holders, try to keep the blade as vertical as possible, Especially, in the top holder. If not put in straight the top of the blade will bend and not only does that make it difficult to feed through the start holes it also breaks the blade fast. As you continue to remove and insert the blade from cut to cut I find some times the blade stretches and the longer blade is harder to get it straigth in the top holder. I have nipped off a little of the blade at times to solve that problem. Hope it gets better. I prefer mostly flat blades but some cuts are a heck of a lot easier with a spiral. EarlinJax

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