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15th November 2012, 07:37 AM #1New Member
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SCHEPPACH ScrollSaw Deco Flex 16 inch
hello!
Well as a newbie to scroll sawing - what a disaster so far! .. we purchased a JET 16" from carbatec on Tuesday this week - and only opened it late yesterday to give it a go ... nothing went right ... the blade was too thick that came installed in the machine (but hang on they aren't supposed to come installed are they? - hmmm good point!) .. ok where's the manual - what manual? there's no manual in the box .. grrrrrrrrrrrrr ... 1st phone call to carbatec "blah blah blah - there's no manual" - guy from carbatec "well there should be a manual, what's your email address and we'll send you one straight away" ...
we go the manual - and tried exactly what it said to do - but to no avail - after 1/2 an hour of loosening nuts, pulling, pushing and trying 2nd phone call to carbatec - "hang on i'll have to look at the machine we've only started selling jet - ok madam you do this, then this, than that" .. "well hello we've tried that and nothing is happening the blades don't even reach from the top to the bottom arm there is a HUGE gap and we can't bring them closer we've tried everything" .. he then told us to bring it back because is sounds faulty.
So we're off this morning back to carbatec with the Jett and I'm going to demand a refund and go look at machines4u at a scheppach scroll saw deco flex 16 inch - does anyone have 1 and what are they like? are the blades easy to change? any other advice, notes or information you could give us would be great
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15th November 2012, 11:02 PM #2Senior Member
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I bought a Scheppach DecoFlex from Hare and Forbes a couple of weeks ago. Works well and is very easy to change and tension blades. It takes the pinned blades, but also comes with a pair of small clamp adaptors for pinless blades.
I'm pretty happy with it.
Having said this, if the problems can be sorted out, the Jet should be a far better machine. Might be worth persevering a bit longer with Carbatec and the Jet.
Edit: I just checked out the DecoFlex at machines4u. It's actually the Hare and Forbes one, but if you buy direct from Hare and Forbes before this Sunday, (18.11.2012), it's only $149 instead of $176. Here: https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/W348
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16th November 2012, 06:25 AM #3New Member
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thanks humphrey9999
We took the 'jet' back to carbatec and the guys there were shocked! even they said it had definitely been used before we had purchased it - you couldn't push the arm down to the change the blade or nothing - it was all marked etc .. they gladly gave us our money back .. from there we went to Hare and Forbes at Coopers Plains (brisbane) and looked at the scheppach - wow what a difference! the blades are so easy to change and love that it comes with a light and damn i can't think of the name of it but a flexable arm so that you can drill and sand without having extra machines around ....
we purchased some round plain end blades and zoomed around the 12mm MDF - we're still learning - we're going back to today to buy some finer pin end blades to see if that makes it easier to cut out words/letters etc ...
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16th November 2012, 09:09 AM #4Senior Member
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It takes a little getting used to, but once you get the feel of it it's surprising how tightly the saw will turn corners. It's worth taking the time to watch a vid or two on YouTube to improve your technique on tight corners. There's a knack to it. You can allow the blade to twist a lot. Also, ensure that the blade is tensioned nice and tight to make cornering easier.
I bought some 9TPI blades for thicker material, 15TPI for general use and 18TPI for thinner material/tighter cuts, all pinned blades for easy blade changes. I still need to get some pinless blades for those smaller inside cuts. I thought about buying some spiral blades, but apparently they're harder to control in a straight line, so I stuck with the flat ones.
After a couple of days practice with the scroll saw, it's even improved my bandsaw curves as well using the same technique as with the scroll saw.
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16th November 2012, 01:36 PM #5New Member
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we picked up some 10tpi from hare and forbes this morning 10pk for just over $11 - cheap as chips! .. lol .. haven't tried today cause it's too damn hot to be outside! .. the blade looks really thick tho? with the jet that we took back - we got 18 spare blades for free in a pack - and some of the blades in there were so fine if you dropped them you couldn't see them! lol ...
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16th November 2012, 01:56 PM #6Senior Member
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Yeah, the spare that came with the DecoFlex was really narrow, an 18TPI. Generally, the higher the TPI the narrower the blade is. I bought some more 18TPI, but they're not quite as narrow as the supplied one.
Still, once you get the feel of the saw, you'll find that you can even do some pretty tight corners with a standard width 15TPI.
The best of the lot are PGT, (Precision Ground Teeth), blades. More expensive, but cleaner cutting and they cut straight, unlike the pressed blades that tend to cut to the side.
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19th November 2012, 06:32 AM #7New Member
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thanks! ... we went and purchased some 10tpi pinned blades (that's all the store had left) and we're still practising - not doing too bad if i don't say myself! .... just gotta get used of going around right corners - but i'm slowly getting there - first off i was going really really slow - and now as i get to a corner i just spin the MDF and i seem to be doing ok ..
how do you attach your patterns to the MDF? .. i used clear packing tape yesterday (watched steve good on youtube that's what he did) but as I got further and further into the cutting the pattern was jumping all over the place (which is understandable) .. i noticed he used a spray on adhesive also - but only sprayed the pattern not the MDF - and when he was finished it pulled off with ease ..
another question is - the dust! oh my lord the dust! ... we tried wearing masks yesterday but i couldn't stand it - and so many video's we've watched have said you must wear a mask cause MDF is poisonous .. do we need a dust extractor? or what else can we use ......
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19th November 2012, 09:15 AM #8Senior Member
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I use spray adhesive mostly, but also have some Avery A4 removable labels. They work just like the spray adhesive, but without the overspray mess. Works out at a little over $1 per sheet. They're available here: LABEL AVERY LASER L7167REV 1L-25SH REMOVABLE
As you say, the spray adhesive works fine, provided only one side is sprayed. Spraying both surfaces makes the bond permanent.
another question is - the dust! oh my lord the dust! ... we tried wearing masks yesterday but i couldn't stand it - and so many video's we've watched have said you must wear a mask cause MDF is poisonous .. do we need a dust extractor? or what else can we use ......
Edit: I meant to mention - I've been buying my blades from eBay, here: BILLS BARGAINS ONLINE items - Get great deals on items on eBay Stores!
He has a decent range, good prices and fast delivery. ($7.50 for a pack of 6, with free delivery.)
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19th November 2012, 05:51 PM #9
OUCH!!
Helen Harris sells best quality blades for approx $4.50 per dozen!
See this thread post #7John
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19th November 2012, 07:06 PM #10Senior Member
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30th August 2013, 01:56 PM #11SENIOR MEMBER
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I know I am late in finding this thread but I want to thank all who contributed to it. I think it a great thread, very informative.
I hope the first poster is happy with the saw now as I have one, too, and am very satisfied.
Many thanks again.
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30th August 2013, 09:07 PM #12
G'day Old farmer. Mine does everything it's supposed to, but after 7 months of light use the tensioner died of a stripped thread internally. Hopefully mine was an odd one out in this regard.
H&F were fantastic about it and replaced it with a new one - definitely no complaints in that respect.
I also have a Jet 16". In use, they're very similar and of a similar quality, but it has a quick release tensioner that appealed to me. (The adjustment can be done with the tension released which puts less strain on the thread.)
Good luck with your's and don't be concerned, I haven't heard of another one failing from a similar problem, but just thought I should mention it.... Steve
-- Monkey see, monkey do --
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31st August 2013, 11:07 AM #13SENIOR MEMBER
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Thank you, Hermit, for your response. I shall remember what you said about the tensioner, hope I escape similar trouble.
I am glad H&F helped you in good spirit. We began buying from them in the 1970s whilst on the farm.
Bill.
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