Travis Posted August 15, 2018 Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 Howdy All. I'm dangerously close to retiring my 16" Craftsman scroll saw and buying a new scroll saw. Fairly recently, Excalibur re-emerged on the market. Other than it being made in a different factory, has anybody had any experience or heard of anything worth noting on the new saw? OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted August 15, 2018 Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 No, but here looks to be a good deal on a Hawk in my area.. You buy it, I could pick it up and deliver it to you next time I go to Portland.... In the mean time, I could try it out and keep it warm for you...... https://kpr.craigslist.org/tls/d/rbi-hawk-20-scroll-saw/6642687280.html WayneMahler, amazingkevin, meflick and 4 others 1 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgiro Posted August 15, 2018 Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 I was on the Woodcraft.com site the other day and noted that they had both the new King 16-inch and the older Excalibur 21-inch saws for sale. I think they are both discounted. I believe they are still being made by the same company as when GI sold them. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted August 15, 2018 Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 Travis, it's too bad you are so far north of me. There are two very good deals right now down here on both a Hawk and a like new EX 21 with stand and floor switch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted August 15, 2018 Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 @tgiro is correct looks like Woodcraft has a few GI Excaliburs left. $799 + $35 shipping. Doesn't appear to me to include a stand. I checked Woodcrafts in Portland area, not available. They are not that close to you anyway. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hineps Posted August 16, 2018 Report Share Posted August 16, 2018 My wife got me a 16" King saw this past Christmas. I really like it. Cuts well and vibration free compared to my old 20 inch Craftsman. I like being able to top feed. Phil OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Pellow Posted August 16, 2018 Report Share Posted August 16, 2018 17 hours ago, Travis said: Howdy All. I'm dangerously close to retiring my 16" Craftsman scroll saw and buying a new scroll saw. Fairly recently, Excalibur re-emerged on the market. Other than it being made in a different factory, has anybody had any experience or heard of anything worth noting on the new saw? I'm fairly sure that they are being made in the same factory that the old General International Excalibur saws were made in. They are certainly being made to (almost) the same specs. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotshot Posted August 16, 2018 Report Share Posted August 16, 2018 2 hours ago, Frank Pellow said: I'm fairly sure that they are being made in the same factory that the old General International Excalibur saws were made in. They are certainly being made to (almost) the same specs. King is from same Taiwan factory, but Excalibur had to move their production to a factory in China. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Pellow Posted August 16, 2018 Report Share Posted August 16, 2018 (edited) 17 minutes ago, hotshot said: King is from same Taiwan factory, but Excalibur had to move their production to a factory in China. Thanks for clearing this up. I should add that, as things stand right now, I trust products marketed by King Canada a LOT more than those marked by the remnants of the General Canada company. Edited August 16, 2018 by Frank Pellow OCtoolguy and amazingkevin 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travis Posted August 16, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2018 I'm looking to buy new. I'm looking for the 21". I'd prefer to buy King, but they don't sell the 21" in the US. It sounds like they'll have one out shortly, though. I have an email out to Peter at King Industrial to find the timeline. Home Depot sells Excalibur 21", which is why I'm leaning that way. I can have it shipped to the store to pick up with free shipping. Plus, it's a pretty good price at $799 that includes foot pedal and stand. But since they disappeared for while without word and re-negotiated manufacturing facilities, I'm a bit hesitant. That's why I decided to ask if anybody has heard anything good or bad about the new set of Excalibur saws. I had another brainstorm on my way in to work today. I like Jet tools, but I'm not too fond of the blade changing system on their scroll saw. But, what if I buy the Jet and replace the head with the Pegas clamp? What are your thoughts on that? OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmmcrafts Posted August 16, 2018 Report Share Posted August 16, 2018 I'd consider going with the Jet.. I believe it has a slightly larger work table too.. I may be wrong but I thought the table looked bigger on the Jet when i was looking at them in the showroom floor.. I actually like the blade chuck on the Jet.. but it's the same set up as with my Hawk for the bottom clamp and i like the self clamp / tension in one step.. I see that as an advantage for fretwork like I do.. Jet seems to be close to the $1000 mark and would be with the Pegas upgrade.. OCtoolguy and amazingkevin 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted August 16, 2018 Report Share Posted August 16, 2018 What's wrong with a Seyco? Same mechanism and very well liked. I've never heard anything negative about them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted August 16, 2018 Report Share Posted August 16, 2018 (edited) I have a Seyco that I am very satisfied with. They are a little harder to assemble that the King or Excalibur, but if you watch Steve Good's video on assembly, it really helps. Even I could accomplish it!! The only negatives about them that I know of are: one, there is a hole in the table about midway back. It allows for clearance for some part of the swivel mechanism.... or something and it can protrude above the table just high enough to mark the magnetic cover. Too fix it thin washers can be put between the table top and the body of the saw,,very easy. The second con for some is the head will only tilt 30degrees or so... some people require up to 45 degrees of tilt. I did not care for the magnetic top cover so I gave it to Heppnerguy to play with.. But to me it is not a pro or con, just personal preference. Thought of one other thing,,, the Excalibur has a knob you turn to tilt the head,,, Seyco you push it. I do not know if good or bad, I haven't tilted the head on my Seyco yet, but it seems to me the knob turning would be better for ease of adjusting,,,, maybe, maybe not. Edited August 16, 2018 by Scrappile OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Pellow Posted August 16, 2018 Report Share Posted August 16, 2018 (edited) 3 hours ago, Travis said: I'm looking to buy new. I'm looking for the 21". I'd prefer to buy King, but they don't sell the 21" in the US. It sounds like they'll have one out shortly, though. I have an email out to Peter at King Industrial to find the timeline. Home Depot sells Excalibur 21", which is why I'm leaning that way. I can have it shipped to the store to pick up with free shipping. Plus, it's a pretty good price at $799 that includes foot pedal and stand. But since they disappeared for while without word and re-negotiated manufacturing facilities, I'm a bit hesitant. That's why I decided to ask if anybody has heard anything good or bad about the new set of Excalibur saws. I had another brainstorm on my way in to work today. I like Jet tools, but I'm not too fond of the blade changing system on their scroll saw. But, what if I buy the Jet and replace the head with the Pegas clamp? What are your thoughts on that? Travis, I have seen the King Canada Excelsior 21 inch saw at a local dealer and, to me, it looks just like the old General International Excalibur 21 inch saw. So, it does exist if you can wait. Having said that, if I were in the market for a new saw and lived in the USA, I would probably buy a Seyco. Edited August 16, 2018 by Frank Pellow OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted August 16, 2018 Report Share Posted August 16, 2018 Travis, get hold of this guy. Maybe you can work out some kind of a shipping deal. This saw is like new. https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/tls/d/excalibur-ex-21-scroll-saw/6654197146.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayneMahler Posted August 17, 2018 Report Share Posted August 17, 2018 I read this earlier in email. Was doing a show today. First thought was a Seyco. Great reviews to a company them. Ray is great to deal with OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amazingkevin Posted August 17, 2018 Report Share Posted August 17, 2018 I wish for the biggest scroll saw i could get,31"-32". OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meflick Posted August 17, 2018 Report Share Posted August 17, 2018 I have a Seyco and an older Excalibur that I purchased use from Ray at Seyco. Have always been happy with both and the service I have gotten. Travis, if you reach out to Ray at Seyco, explain to him who you are in regards to running this forum, perhaps he could cut you a "deal". Like Paul, I do recommend anyone getting a Seyco watch Steve Good's video about putting it together and adding the thin washers to lift up the magnetic table top for better clearance as noted. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travis Posted August 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2018 Awesome. I'll take another look at the Seyco. I think I'm about a month out from buying a saw, so I have time to read reviews and decide. Thanks all! OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjweb Posted August 17, 2018 Report Share Posted August 17, 2018 I have the jet saw, and very happy with it. As far as the barrel clamp for the bottom and just flip the tension for top is like second nature to me, I am thinking of changing the bottom clamp to the pegas set up, but not the top clamp, I like the ease of that. Also jet has sales a few times a year with 10% off, RJ OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travis Posted August 30, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2018 Well, I waffled back and forth, but I finally took the plunge. I ordered the Excalibur from Home Depot. HD has a pretty good return policy, so if it's really bad, I can return it. Plus, it's on Sale for $799, which is helpful to my wallet. No matter what, it'll be an upgrade from my 16" Craftsman scroll saw I bought nearly 10 years ago...LOL. OCtoolguy and meflick 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted August 30, 2018 Report Share Posted August 30, 2018 Congratulations! If the Excaliburs of today, are as good as past you will be very pleased. Of the saws I have owned the Excalibur was my second favorite. Second only because me and my Hegner are getting along so well now, and I don't have an Excalibur anymore. I think you made a great choice. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meflick Posted August 30, 2018 Report Share Posted August 30, 2018 Glad to hear you are getting a new saw Travis - I know you will enjoy it and I know you deserve it! OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC Scroller Posted August 31, 2018 Report Share Posted August 31, 2018 Congrats. Love mine. With the money you saved but the Pagas clamps. You will love it even more. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GPscroller Posted August 31, 2018 Report Share Posted August 31, 2018 Congrats Travis, have had my Ex-21 for four years now and love it. Jeff OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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