G4

[BobD]

I finally had time this weekend to spend some quality time with the Hawk G4. It is a nice machine (but I can see potential problems with those fingers you've mentioned Jeff).

I am cutting a lot of fretwork right now (ornaments, etc.) and I was excited to try out the top-feeding abilities of the G4. It works well, once I got used to it, but I have trouble getting the bottom blade situated properly.

Correct me (please) if I'm wrong, but most of the other saws set up to top feed (Delta, Dewalt, Excalibur), the bottom clamp has a slot the blade fits into. The G4 has a hole you need to get the blade into. Then you have to dodge the tightening screw, get the blade fully seated, and then clamp it tight.

Does it make sense to anyone else that the bottom blade clamp should have a slot instead of a hole?

Or have you fretters that have a G4 gotten used to the hole???

Bob

[Jediscroller]

Bob,
I can confirm that the EX has a slot in the bottom holder. Feeding into a hole has got to be tough.

[BobD]

Looking at the Hawk site, it looks like they have an optional bottom clamp that is slotted rather than a hole...I may have to request one of them...

Bob

Originally Posted by BobD

Looking at the Hawk site, it looks like they have an optional bottom clamp that is slotted rather than a hole...I may have to request one of them...

Bob

Bob,

I've had a G4 for about 3 years now and they've had problems with their holders... I called them a few months ago about it and the sent me out 3 free 'slotted' holders, and have fould them to be great! I love being able to top feed over the bottom feed.

[Rolf]

Hi Bob,
I have also had my G4 for about 2.5 years, absolutly love it.
My original blade clamps were a multi piece assembly that had 2 small hardened blocks inside. The opening is sloted.
They (RBI) sent me a few "new" clamps that squeeze the blade between a set screw and the thumb screw. I preffer the older design.
I posted pictures of the different clamps. The G4 is the one I like (the one with the dark background). Grizz which one are you calling the slotted one?
But with either one it takes a bit of practice to do the top feed.
I sometimes pop the bottom blade holder free and then clamp the blade. I find it easier to clamp that way and keep the blade centered in the clamp..

[BobD]

I just e-mailed my contact requesting the G4 clamp (the first one Rolf posted). I'll see how that works.

Bob

[Rolf]

One note of caution with the G4 clamp. I am a bit heavy handed so tend to overtighten the clamps. I stripped out the 2 small allen screws that hold the clamp assembly together. To solve the problem I put heli coils in the clamp with good quality allen screws, The clamps are now bullet proof.

[gmackay]

I didn't know that they had slotted blade holders for the G4. That's what makes this forum GREAT!!!!!!

I use the G4 quite a bit, but, not for fretwork.. I can bottom feed with the G4 quite quickly now, less than 10 seconds... I still like my DW788 the best and it sits right beside the G4... I will have to request some slotted clamps for the G4.

G4 & DW788

[workin for wood]

I wasn't aware of the slotted holders otherwise. I'm also sure that if your doing fretwork and usig small blades, those fingers are not likely to ever break because the tension has to be alot lower for smaller blades. I'm cutting thick woods with big blades that require quite a bit more tension, and the dense wood also adds extra force against those fingers on the downstroke...of course my great grandchildren will be 6 feet under before hawk realizes this.

On the odd time of doing a puzzle or something with a small blade, I have a hard time centering the blade in that big round holder, and find if you crank too hard on the knob the blade breaks...hard not to overtighten because larger blades are what I'm used to. And I can't top feed too well on my G4...so I guess I'm a bottom feeder

Originally Posted by Rolf

Grizz which one are you calling the slotted one?

Neither... the one to the right is what I got originally, then I got the one to the left.. (had problems with both after a while), now they have a newer version that has a slot in it.... you would know if you had one.

Grizz