Muzz Posted October 2, 2015 Report Share Posted October 2, 2015 Just had bits fly off my 25 year old Deta Q3, and rather than try and fix it again, because parts have to be sent from the USA and take many weeks, and postage is a joke ($40 postage for a few tiny metal parts), I have decided to bite the bullet and buy a new scrollsaw. The problem is I have my heart set on a Dewalt DW788, and they seem to be not available here in Australia. I have seen a similar looking scrollsaw called the General 21" Variable Speed Scroll Saw, available here in Australia from Carbatec. So Is the Dewalt available in Australia? and if not, is the General any good? Any help you can provide will be most appreciated, an around $1,200 purchase is a lot of money for me, and I would like to have as much info as I can. Muzz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted October 2, 2015 Report Share Posted October 2, 2015 Sorry to hear that Muzz. I'm in NZ so not sure if the DW788 is available in Australia or not but I did find an old post (from 2005) in a woodwork forum that someone had found a couple of DW788's in a Service Centre in Adelaide. (This is a link to the thread). So there may be hope. I think the General 21 is also known as the Excalibur and seems to be very well thought of. There are several owners on the forum who will be able to give you more information I'm sure. Can I ask what broke on your Q3? I have the same saw and would like to know what to keep an eye on. You mentioned you have had to repair it before so anything you can tell me in this regard would be very helpful. Thanks, Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Scroller Posted October 2, 2015 Report Share Posted October 2, 2015 Bite the bullet and buy the Excalibur . Roly amazingkevin and LarryEA 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted October 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2015 Hey Rob, everything associated with the blade holder has broken at one point or another, the spring, the metal de-dent spring, even the bolt that holds it together, also the bellows split so the air wont blow the sawdust away. You also need to keep an eye on the on switch, unbelievably the bottom of it, where the wires connect, is not covered so all the sawdust junk etc gets stuck to it and eventually you have to pull it out to clean the contacts or you scrollsaw wont work. Also had to replace the switch when it went as well. Roly, the General 21 looks like the Excalibur to me, so it looks like I will go with that. Back when I first bought the Q3, about 25 years ago, the scrollsaw I really wanted but couldn't afford was from a company in the UK called Excalibur, for a Scrollsaw called the same, it was pretty much hand assembled and their only product, back then (early 1990's) it cost nearly $3000, in today's money about $4500 or more. They went bust and sold their scrollsaw design. Guess what the new Excalibur is an exact copy of? Phantom Scroller 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWSUDEKUM Posted October 2, 2015 Report Share Posted October 2, 2015 Muzz they are available in Australia. A quick Google search found this link for you http://au.impexron.com/DW788-Australia_Sales_Price-Dewalt-1510408-4228 Hope that helps. DW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrolling Steve Posted October 2, 2015 Report Share Posted October 2, 2015 Muzz , I do not think you can go wrong with the EX21........I love the saw ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amazingkevin Posted October 2, 2015 Report Share Posted October 2, 2015 I missed a ex 30 for $700.used a couple of times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC Scroller Posted October 2, 2015 Report Share Posted October 2, 2015 I own 2 DeWalts. One is over 13 years old with 1,000th of hours on it since I do a few craft shows a year. If I was to buy an new saw today I would buy the Excalibur (EX-21). Do doubt about it. Good luck with your shopping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Scroller Posted October 2, 2015 Report Share Posted October 2, 2015 My EX-21 is better than sex but don't tell the misses or I'm a dead man walking. Roly keefie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodknots Posted October 2, 2015 Report Share Posted October 2, 2015 I wouldn't even look at buying a dewalt unless its a type 1 its the older series. I had the newer one and it was in the shop 3 times less than a year old i got my money back and bought the Excalibur and I've had it 3 years now and had no problems what so ever. So in my opinion don't waste your money on the dewalt. Jim Finn 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryEA Posted October 3, 2015 Report Share Posted October 3, 2015 If you can afford it, if I could, I'd go with the Ex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky2 Posted October 3, 2015 Report Share Posted October 3, 2015 If you enjoy cutting on a Dewalt, you'll love cutting on the General (EX21). Plus, if you do any cutting on an angle, the EX21 is definitely the way to go. The tilting head is what sold me on the machine, it makes it just so much easier to make any cut on an angle. Yes these saws generally cost a bit more than the Dewalt does, but, they seem to be a better built saw. Len Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted October 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 Got my new scrollsaw finally, the General ie Excalibur (EX21). I am loving it so far, cuts so much better than my old scrollsaw. I have never used a footswitch and decided to try one out and surprise surprise, like everything else, not available in Australia, even ebay seems not to have a correct type, and unwired as well, I would rather not wire anything up when I am dealing with 240v. Muzz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC Scroller Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 Muzz do you have a Harbor Freight Tools store or something similar "down under"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 Congratulations, on the new saw. I love my Excalibur. I'm sure you will also. Hope you can find a foot switch for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ike Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 try amazon they have several Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Finn Posted October 13, 2015 Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 Hegner is made in Germany so it may be available where you are. Not cheap but very durable, especially for cutting thicker material (3/4") Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky2 Posted October 13, 2015 Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 You'll love the EX21, it doesn't take much to get used to using it. Len Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoth28 Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 I dunno... where's Marg!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom J Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 I found this foot switch in Australia that may be what you want http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Foot-Switch-10A-240V-AC-Nonslip-Momentary-Contact-Footswitch-Control-Pedal-NC-NO-/131520419068 Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted October 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 Thanks Tom, but most if not all ebay footswitches do not have the power plug on the end for a start, but the real problem is they have no "output socket", ie power from wall to footswitch, footswitch to scrollsaw. Hope that explains the problem. There is one on amazon, but they dont ship to Australia, and the plug at the end would need to be replaced as well. Muzz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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