Hapless Posted May 18, 2015 Report Share Posted May 18, 2015 Hi All, My name is Mark - originally from England and have just settled down in Germany - retired due to an injury whilst serving as a Police officer in UK I decided I needed a hobby that I could easily cope with and found that scollsaw work was just the ticket so I went out and researched the net for advice. Eventually settled on an Excaliber EX30 which I am very very pleased with. I have turned out some reasonable items so far and have loads of patterns still to do. I do have a problem sourcing wood boards here for a decent price so all my stuff at the moment is done with plywood. I have done a few chess pieces with compound cutting and they turned out great even though they were only in pine scraps that I had left over from a project. I am so glad that I found this forum - it is packed with great things and I am still searching about the various areas. A couple things I would like to ask is 1. Does anyone know where I can get Flying Dutchman blades here in Germany 2. Why do I keep breaking so many spiral blades - normally when applying tension to the smaller ones even thought the tension adjuster is just about off on the saw!! Any tips appreciated!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryEA Posted May 18, 2015 Report Share Posted May 18, 2015 Mark, Glad to have you here. Sounds like you are an accomplished scroller. We like 'PICTURES'. Show us some of your work. I don't use spirals. As for breaking blades, I would guess you are pushing too hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryEA Posted May 18, 2015 Report Share Posted May 18, 2015 Go to "General Scrollsawing" Upper right is "Search" search for "Blades Break" Lots of posts and info on this subject. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lawson56 Posted May 18, 2015 Report Share Posted May 18, 2015 A Big Welcome from Southern Tenn,Glad ya found us.Looking forward to seeing your work.Wish I could help ya out.I don't use Spirals myself.But ya got some good advise up above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrolling Steve Posted May 18, 2015 Report Share Posted May 18, 2015 Welcome to the Village Mark!....We are glad to have you join us in Scrolling Heaven!.......Please show us some of your work when you can. I have the EX21 and use a lot of 3/0 and 2/0 spiral blades but dot not have a problem with breakage. I do recommend the Flying Dutchman blades and buy mine from Mikes Workshop!......Again Welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrylee Posted May 19, 2015 Report Share Posted May 19, 2015 Welcome Mark to the village Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgman Posted May 19, 2015 Report Share Posted May 19, 2015 Welcome to the Village Mark! You should be able to order Flying Dutchman blades from http://www.mikesworkshop.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordster Posted May 19, 2015 Report Share Posted May 19, 2015 Hi Mark, welcome aboard, you will enjoy it here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Multifasited Posted May 19, 2015 Report Share Posted May 19, 2015 Mark. spirals need as much tension as they can stand ,saw's differ in tension control ,my 788 dewalt is used to a steady diet of them. Being round the have no backbone to reenforce the teeth ,slower steady smooth speed and approach allowing time for the saw dust to evacuate the kerf mandatory for life and smooth cutting the finer the blade the more critical those become . My vac system also helps pull that out instantly, may account for my having less problems with them allowing the blade to keep cutting the ultra fine dust fills the tiny gullets and turns it into a rough wire for all intense and purposes if not allowed to evacuate the kerf Dust! The larger the blade helps with all issues except finnish left by the blade . Then you have sanding issues on boxes ,lanterns etc! Welcome to the site ,Explore it you will find many things of interest ! Pictures of work is the greatest interest of all here! Welcome again Carl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heppnerguy Posted May 19, 2015 Report Share Posted May 19, 2015 I am afraid that I can not help you with your problems as I neither have experience with your saw, nor do I use spiral blades, but I am here to welcome you to The Village. Larry EA probably has given you a good source to explore, first. I have heard that wood sources can be a problem in some parts of the world, I also know that we have some member on The Village that also live in Germany and If you see one of their posts, you might want to instant message them for advice on a wood source, if you do not hear of something here. I am a little bit of a curious person and I am wondering, just where you live in Germany, as I have several friends in Germany too. I hope you continue to log on here so we can get to know you and you us. this is a wonderful world wide family of people that have some of the same interests as you and I have. The sooner you get to know people here the more you will want to stay in touch with us. Search The Village for all the vast information that is here for your use. Welcome aboard Dick heppnerguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Curtis Posted May 19, 2015 Report Share Posted May 19, 2015 Hello and welcome!! Can't wait to see some of your work. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombatie Posted May 19, 2015 Report Share Posted May 19, 2015 Hi Mark, welcome to the Village. I'm Marg from Australia. Pull up a seat and make yourself at home. Do yourself a favor and take dgman's advice and get your blades from mikesworkshop. Can't really help you with spiral blades because I don't use them in fact I hate them. Has for your EX, try taking the tension right off, insert your blade and put the tension back on slowly, a bit at a time until you get it just right. Maybe that will work. I must ask, Why did you choose Germany? Most Brits choose Spain, Canada, Australia ( like we did ). Do you speak German? Sorry just wondering thats all. I am a very inquisitive person, some say just plain nosey. Marg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobscroll Posted May 19, 2015 Report Share Posted May 19, 2015 Hello Mark and welcome to the village, Thanks for the intro, I'm sure you will get plenty of help here! See you around, Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Scroller Posted May 19, 2015 Report Share Posted May 19, 2015 Hi Mark. a big WELCOME from me. Roly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hapless Posted May 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2015 Hi Everyone - and thank you vry much for the welcome. So much good advice already and some questions to answer!! I prefer using normal blades not spirals but got a load with the saw so was going to use them for something. I moved to Germany as my wife is German and I prefer it to Spain or some of the other "brit hotspots" no offence to cousins in Aus etc!! I have various projects on the go but dont get a lot of time just at the moment as I am spending most of my days trying to get my house sorted. I do speak abit of German and its getting better every day - can hold a basic conversation and order beer which is very important. I will post some pics of stuff I am doing/done but I am really interested in clocks and intricate designs including compound cutting (being an ex aircraft engineer in HM Forces I like difficult stuff) I have browsed the patterns directory and couldnt see any compound ones in there?? Maybe I'm going blind as well as infirm. Thanks for the links to purchase blades - I take it they are posted from US - do I have to pay additional taxes on these on arrival - does anyone know? Once again - thanks for the warm welcome. wombatie and Scrolling Steve 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hapless Posted May 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2015 I am afraid that I can not help you with your problems as I neither have experience with your saw, nor do I use spiral blades, but I am here to welcome you to The Village. Larry EA probably has given you a good source to explore, first. I have heard that wood sources can be a problem in some parts of the world, I also know that we have some member on The Village that also live in Germany and If you see one of their posts, you might want to instant message them for advice on a wood source, if you do not hear of something here. I am a little bit of a curious person and I am wondering, just where you live in Germany, as I have several friends in Germany too. I hope you continue to log on here so we can get to know you and you us. this is a wonderful world wide family of people that have some of the same interests as you and I have. The sooner you get to know people here the more you will want to stay in touch with us. Search The Village for all the vast information that is here for your use. Welcome aboard Dick heppnerguy Hi Dick - I live between Hannover and Hildesheim if that helps !! and thanks for the welocme - appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ike Posted May 19, 2015 Report Share Posted May 19, 2015 Welcome to the village. as for your problem with blade breaking if you are using spiral blades I don't use them. I am like marge I hate them. so maybee some one else can help. we like pictures here IKE from Ohio USA Hapless 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amazingkevin Posted May 20, 2015 Report Share Posted May 20, 2015 Welcome friend, My computer died put it's cooking again, I've cut three foot long straight lines in 3/4" white wood with a spiral no problem .I used my finger as a fence guide ,moved slow and steady ,easy as pie!Spirals cut way slower than flat blades and need to be very tight in the holders ,a high ping sound when plucked.Check often when cutting as pushing to fast will loosen them up and break on you .You'll acquire a feel for them just keep at it.Very taunt and move slow ,you'll do fine!Thanks for joining .Hope your going to be a regular here! Hapless 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
courdorygirl Posted May 20, 2015 Report Share Posted May 20, 2015 Hi there and welcome! Granted, I have a different saw than you (I would love an Excalibur, but it may be a while yet), but I use nothing but spirals. I find people either love or hate them, and I'm on the love end. I hate turning wood, and dread having to put my hand behind the blade for anything. Like Kevin said, the tension has to be really tight, so that when you pluck it like a guitar you get a high ping, almost an F. (Instead of the middle C of a flat blade). The best advice I got was from a video, and he said if you can tap your piece next to your spiral blade and it flexes more than about 1/16", it needs to be tightened some more. Also, yes, they have to be blown out fairly often. When I'm cutting a puzzle I stop every ten pieces or so to blow the kerf dust out. I just blow on it, but you could use an air hose instead. And cut fairly slowly. Your wood will chatter if you're going too fast, and that will make your blade break. So will overheating, so you'll have to turn the saw off regularly and let it cool down while using a spiral, if you want it to last a little longer. I hope that's decent advice! I'm fairly new to scrolling, those are just things I've picked up while cutting! Welcome to the Village, there is always someone around to answer questions and give advice and be friends! amazingkevin and Hapless 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hapless Posted May 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2015 Thanks again for all the advice! will certainly try all of the methods given here - oh and I have put some pictures in an album - very amateur work but my first attempts.!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Posted May 20, 2015 Report Share Posted May 20, 2015 Mark Flying Dutchman is merely a trade name. The blades are Niqua blades made in Germany and rebranded as Flying Dutchman when they get to this side of the pond. You might be able to find them under the Niqua name in Germany. Hapless 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proxprof Posted May 22, 2015 Report Share Posted May 22, 2015 (edited) Hello Mark, there is a german website where you can order the blades: www.laubsaegen247.de These are the same blades as Mike used to sell. He gave me this adress. You can send an email to get some information or to order. I ordered there a few times and am pleased with the service. Good luck with it, Richard Edited May 22, 2015 by Proxprof Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hapless Posted May 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2015 Hello Mark, there is a german website where you can order the blades: www.laubsaegen247.de These are the same blades as Mike used to sell. He gave me this adress. You can send an email to get some information or to order. I ordered there a few times and am pleased with the service. Good luck with it, Richard Hi Richard - thats brilliant - thx so much for the info - will get straight on to them !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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