Thread: New scroll saw needed

I must say the Excalibur saws look really smart. The large one is on sale for $200 less which is a bonus. Somehow you just know they are more expensive for a reason. There are always somethings that CT one doesn't have or not as good at. Excalibur gets my vote.

Thats a good saving. Its not showing up in the Melbourne online store though, maybe they dont have it.

I prob couldnt really afford the extra $100 anyway

Hi John,
It really depends on what your budget is, both of these are good saws and a big improvement over your current GMC saw.

Im currently using a WMS saw which is the same as the Carba-Tec 18", both of these are modelled off the Hegner scroll saw. I have no problems with this saw and have been using it for a few years now with no break downs. It cuts fine and handles well, even on the faster speeds. I do however recommend getting the Hegner clamps for it, you will just need a plain clamp for the bottom and recommend getting the quick release one for the top, and you will need the clamp key also. The clamps that come with it are similar but work with an allen key if I recall correctly and were quite fiddly.
You can get them at Carrolls.

As for the Excalibur I have heard mixed reviews, but mostly positive ones. I havent used this saw yet but had a look at it when I was last in Carba-Tec and it looks real nice and I liked how the blade tilts rather than the table, would be a lot easier doing the angle cuts that way.

Although I am quite happy with my current saw, I do have the Excalibur on my wish list and hoping to get it in the next few months.

Excalibur is certainly a good saw, but the particular one sold by Carbatec is a question mark, after reading this https://www.woodworkforums.com/f19/ex...r-saws-134233/

Hopefully things have changed since he got his saw 4+ years ago, thanks for the information anyway. When it comes to getting it I will see if they let you open it up and have a look over it before you part with the cash.

Im going to go down and have a play around with the scroll saws this weekend. If I end up going down the carbatec route over the EX21 i will be getting a 12" sander too. Does carbatec give much in the way of discounts with multiple purchases?

I will also put the clamps on from carrols if I go that way.

Thank you all for the replies, now happy shopping I hope

Wanted to go down to Carbatec on the weekend and rang them just to see if they actually had it in stock, which they dont Will be there this week sometime though so will have to go down this weekend.

Doing some scrounging around at work and found an older scroll saw sitting in the back shed. My bosses love going to Auctions and just buy a heap of crap they never need or use. They have an older model Hyco cast iron scroll saw that I am welcome to, just thought I would ask some opinions on these machines?

Done some searching and cant really dig up anything on them, but I did find one for sale on the net:

Used Scroll Saw for sale - Scroll saw, 29639

The one at work looks exactly the same and is a bloody heavy old thing. Will this type of thing be too big for general hobby work? I mean the price is great at only a carton, but if I cant fit standard blades into it or the clamps are just a pain to use then I would rather get the Carbatec/EX21 over it for simple ease of use.

Cheers,
John

Just bite the bullet and get a Hegner. It is made to last.....15 hard years and just replace a $5 bearing from a local bearing place ...no special bits needed
Pete

Hard to tell from the pics whether it takes standard plain end blades or not, the blade in the saw in the pics looks pretty big.

It looks like a mini bandsaw.

do not buy this Excalibur EX-21 Excalibur™ Scroll Saws : CARBA-TEC

Care to share some more information as to why? Have you had problems with this machine?

EDIT: Pulled out the big scroll saw at work and its defiantly not anything to get excited about, as mentioned, it pretty much is a bandsaw. The blade is massive, good build quality though. Runs super smooth. Im not sure what you would use this saw for, but I reckon it would be great at doing it.

Originally Posted by guerd87

Care to share some more information as to why? Have you had problems with this machine?

Follow this Patch3198's link https://www.woodworkforums.com/f19/ex...r-saws-134233/ then you'll know why.

have had many problems along with others that bought them from Carba-tech

here is a video I have been working on it's not the best but it gives you an idea [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfEg7uL2SVM"]‪excalibur rec‬‏ - YouTube[/ame]