Jet Blade Clamp

[apopj]

Hello all,

 

Yesterday, I went to Hartville Hardware to watch a demo of the new Jet scroll saw. The gentleman doing the demonstration attempted to clamp a blade in the new quick release clamp. After several tries and not being able to get it clamped, he took it apart and found that the blade holder had broken at the top of the clamp where it is cut out for the blade. Going to the storeroom, he grabbed a new clamp from another machine, put it in place and tried again. Same results. The clamp broke in almost the same place. He tried a third time with the same results. It seems that if you put too much tension on the top cam clamp, or don't have the set screws set just right, it puts a strain on the clamp causing it to break.

 

So, be sure to read the instructions fully. Make sure you know how to set the proper tensions and that the screws are set correctly. Also, it might not be a bad idea to order a spare clamp, just in case. This is not meant to be a condemnation of the saw, simply to give fellow scrollers a heads up.  Also, as a top feeder, this saw is NOT tool less concerning the bottom clamp. You cannot simply release the blade from the bottom and then reinsert in. This is indeed a deal breaker for me, as with large projects with hundreds of piercing cuts, I would get dizzy trying to look under the project trying to feed a blade through a small hole somewhere about a foot away from me, a hundred times. 

 

I'm sure many many people will love the Jet as many of us do the Excalibur and DeWalt. It just depends on what you want and what concessions you are willing to make......

 

Dr Jeff Popa

[MTCowpoke22]

Thanks for the info. I've had the Jet for about a month now. Haven't used it a ton, but haven't had that problem, yet. I didn't have to adjust the upper clamp at all. Worked great straight out of the box. Only issue I have is if I get in a big hurry, I've had the blade out of proper alignment with the clamp and it doesn't catch it. But like I said, that's only if I'm not paying proper attention. And I would agree that this saw is NOT for the top feeding crowd. I don't do that, so upper clamp has really impressed me with how it clamps and tensions the blade all at once. My old Delta sure didn't do that. So far I'm really enjoying the JET.

[UncleApple]

Great to know, thanks!  I own a DW788, but the feedback fellow users post is VERY helpful for those of us that are new to the craft.

[Denny Knappen]

I also top feed, so it would not work for me.  I have a DeWalt 788 and EX21, both in good condition.  If I look at something new, maybe the new Seyco.  SWWC will have a review in the next issue.

[hawkeye10]

Hello all,

 

Yesterday, I went to Hartville Hardware to watch a demo of the new Jet scroll saw. The gentleman doing the demonstration attempted to clamp a blade in the new quick release clamp. After several tries and not being able to get it clamped, he took it apart and found that the blade holder had broken at the top of the clamp where it is cut out for the blade. Going to the storeroom, he grabbed a new clamp from another machine, put it in place and tried again. Same results. The clamp broke in almost the same place. He tried a third time with the same results. It seems that if you put too much tension on the top cam clamp, or don't have the set screws set just right, it puts a strain on the clamp causing it to break.

 

So, be sure to read the instructions fully. Make sure you know how to set the proper tensions and that the screws are set correctly. Also, it might not be a bad idea to order a spare clamp, just in case. This is not meant to be a condemnation of the saw, simply to give fellow scrollers a heads up.  Also, as a top feeder, this saw is NOT tool less concerning the bottom clamp. You cannot simply release the blade from the bottom and then reinsert in. This is indeed a deal breaker for me, as with large projects with hundreds of piercing cuts, I would get dizzy trying to look under the project trying to feed a blade through a small hole somewhere about a foot away from me, a hundred times. 

 

I'm sure many many people will love the Jet as many of us do the Excalibur and DeWalt. It just depends on what you want and what concessions you are willing to make......

 

Dr Jeff Popa

Welcome Dr. Jeff. Show us some of your work when you complete it.

[amazingkevin]

Hello all,

 

Yesterday, I went to Hartville Hardware to watch a demo of the new Jet scroll saw. The gentleman doing the demonstration attempted to clamp a blade in the new quick release clamp. After several tries and not being able to get it clamped, he took it apart and found that the blade holder had broken at the top of the clamp where it is cut out for the blade. Going to the storeroom, he grabbed a new clamp from another machine, put it in place and tried again. Same results. The clamp broke in almost the same place. He tried a third time with the same results. It seems that if you put too much tension on the top cam clamp, or don't have the set screws set just right, it puts a strain on the clamp causing it to break.

 

So, be sure to read the instructions fully. Make sure you know how to set the proper tensions and that the screws are set correctly. Also, it might not be a bad idea to order a spare clamp, just in case. This is not meant to be a condemnation of the saw, simply to give fellow scrollers a heads up.  Also, as a top feeder, this saw is NOT tool less concerning the bottom clamp. You cannot simply release the blade from the bottom and then reinsert in. This is indeed a deal breaker for me, as with large projects with hundreds of piercing cuts, I would get dizzy trying to look under the project trying to feed a blade through a small hole somewhere about a foot away from me, a hundred times. 

 

I'm sure many many people will love the Jet as many of us do the Excalibur and DeWalt. It just depends on what you want and what concessions you are willing to make......

 

Dr Jeff Popa

Maybe someday i'll get to try one .i'll never forget the memorable occasion of going from years of Chinese saws to a dewalt.What a difference.

[kmmcrafts]

I go once in a while to the local woodcraft store that has one of the new jet saws on the showroom floor.. Once I walked past and seen the blade was loose from the upper clamp.. I played around with it for a minute and couldn't get it to grab.. next time I went (a few weeks later) that saw set out in a out building where they work / repar items it's a lumber building. Anyway they had a different one on the floor.. next time I went they had them both out there and non on the floor, LOL... last time they had one on the floor and it was clamped.. I unclamped the blade and guess what... LOL.. I couldn't get it to grab the blade.. and it seemed like the clamp was sticking on one side or the other.. I really kind of question the overall durability of that upper clamp.. Seems like an awesome well built saw..and I have contemplated buying one..just not to sure of that upper clamp.. 

 

Kevin

[Rolf]

I look forward to trying one. But not being able to top feed is a major deal breaker for me. I am a firm believer in "KISS" and will stick to my simple Hawk no brainer, no fiddling clamps. Although I did replace my top clamp with the old delta cam clamp. People used to destroy the old Delta clamps all the time because of over tensioning the cam, I am sure that is what is happening to the new Jet.