Excalibur vs. Jet?

[RabidAlien]

I'm looking at upgrading my old Dremel 57-2...been a good saw, and I've definitely gotten my $25 out of it (yay yard-sales!), but it needs to be upgraded.  Those 3" pin-end blades are too big to do some of the detailed cuts I'd like to be doing.  So I was looking at the DeWalt 788, and while I like my DeWalt drill, it seems like there's enough down-sides that making the leap to an Excalibur would be the way to go.  I hate having to upgrade every two or three years, I want to buy something and not have to worry about it.  Then I read where Excalibur went through some rough times, and just recently started making saws again and the quality may or may not still be there.  And someone in an Amazon review mentioned Jet.  There's not a lot of reviews on the Jets, but they're comparably priced to the Excaliburs and the reviews are, by and large, all 5-stars with the one oddball 1-star review that may or may not have been user error or someone mad at Amazon for something unrelated to the saw.  So....off to the experts (y'all)!  Would there be anything that makes the Excalibur stand out over the Jet, or vice -versa?  Or should I stop overthinking this and just buy one as they're both top-quality?

 

Sorry if I don't make sense....Mountain Dew hasn't kicked in yet, and I woke up with a screaming headache that makes me want to take up heavy drinking so that I have an excuse for waking up with these screaming headaches. 

[fredfret]

Longlasting saws tend to be expensive new. Hagner and hawk are prime examples. Both can be had for well below retail on the used market and are solid machines. New prices are 1200 and more. Not saying other Sawa won't last but I hear of them being 15 or 20 years old and still working.  Check out Craigslist, eBay and local auctions. Let us know.

[rjweb]

I have had my jet for almost 2 years, really love the saw, and have not had any problems with it. I like the top clamp deal where it clamps the blade and sets the tension all in one step, RJ 

[Scrappile]

You also leave out a few in the price range of the Jet, there is the King saw in 16" or 30", the Excalibur and the Seyco, that you might look into.  The Jet is not a favorite of some because the bottom clamp is removed to change blades and bottom feed only.. the same as a Hegner and older Hawks.  I have a Hegner, love it and prefer the clamp setup.  Once you get use to it putting in new blades or changing blades becomes second nature.  Seyco has what some would consider short comings, the head doesn't tilt as far as the Ex or King, but it has a largest table of the saws although there is a rectangle hole in it behind the blade.  It doesn't impact the table as far as usability.  The table is meant to be covered with their magnetic cover.

If you are going to really think it, I would build myself a list of the available saws and list the pros and cons of each.  One may stand out even though they are all very similar.  Some worry about the quality of the new Ex. I think a little different.  The company the saw is being built for writes the specs, and is responsible for seeing that they are met, no matter where the saw is made.  So to me it relies more on the company, not where they have their product manufactured.  I would look harder at the reputation of the company.  Just my opinion. 

Good luck, it is a difficult decision but all said and done, it is personal choice and what you do with the saw once you get it.

Edited September 3, 2018 by Scrappile

[Travis]

I ran into this very dilemma..Excalibur vs Jet.  Spoiler alert; I went with Excalibur.  Here's what went into my thinking:

Jet is made by the same manufacturer the OLD Excalibur was.  So I think it's safe to say build quality is good and uses many of the same design components as the old Excalibur.  Jet makes great tools and I'd be happy with them, for sure.

I think there is a bit of bad blood (for those in the know) for how Excalibur disappeared without word, then appears without much of a mention at a new manufacturing facility, acting as if nothing has changed (bad PR in my opinion).  So I think people are a little unwary and suspicious about the build quality.  The bad reviews I've read, it sounds like their customer service is pretty bad...mostly at getting tech support.  I'm not sure if that's because of the company, or because Ray at Seyco has been so good at support and that has reflected back to Excalibur.  Anyway, I hope Excalibur steps up their game.  

But as @Scrappile mentioned, it's still the same design, just a different factory.  They've switched factories before without issue (Canada to Taiwan), so I'm guessing (& hoping) that it will be a superb saw still.  Unfortunately, the new saw hasn't been on the market long enough for any track record.  So time will tell.

Here were my deciding factors:

• The blade on the Jet sits forward further than the Excalibur.  Which means there is less surface area in front of the blade to control your work piece.  This could be good on your neck/shoulders, but maybe not so good for controlling larger pieces.
• I don't like the clamping system on the Jet.  The top clamp is pretty slick, but I don't like the bottom clamping system.  You need to use a removable chuck for the bottom.  It can be tricky to slide into place.  It can be difficult to set the blade properly since there is no back stop to position the blade.  And it's not good for top feeders.  With that said, it probably won't take long to get used to it.
  • If I decided to go with Jet, I'd buy the Pegas replacement jaws for the bottom, and maybe top holders.
• The Jet is a bit more expensive, especially if I'd replace the clamping mechanism to get the saw where I want it.
• Excalibur supposedly has poor tech support, now.  I'm hoping I won't need it.  I've been around the saws long enough, I don't think I'll need it.  But if I get stuck, the fine folks at SSV know a lot more than me and always willing to help. 
• Excalibur is sold by Home Depot.  So if it's terrible, they have a good return policy.  Just return it and buy a Jet (which they also sell).  LOL

 

I did buy the Excalibur from Home Depot.  It's currently on the truck now, and I'll get it in a week or two (sooo slow...I've been spoiled by Amazon).  So I can't say anything about build quality.  But I'm hopeful.  And it'll be a great upgrade from my Craftsman 16".

[rdatelle]

I have an ex cal 21 inch and love it. I keep my DeWalt 788 as a spare. Two years now and no problems.

[OCtoolguy]

I have bought 3 used saws on C/L. I have the Dewalt, the EX21 and a Hegner 18" as shown in my signature below. I first started with the Dewalt because I knew nothing about the others. I love it as well as the EX. The Hegner is a different animal. I will learn to love it in time. Because the Dewalt and the EX are so similar in design I'll probably sell the Dewalt. I don't need 3 saws. Anyway, with all that said, and also being somewhat of a novice if I were you, I'd first do a lot of reading here on SSV and then try to find folks who have the different saws you are thinking of. Give them a try if possible. Right now, if I had to make a choice between my 3 saws, I'd keep the EX for sure. I love it. I'm probably going to upgrade the clamps with the new Pegas offering. I hope this doesn't confuse you. I'd for sure start watching Craigslist in your area. There are a ton of good used saws near me but I live in a very crowded area. Not sure how your area is. Good luck to you no matter what you go with. Just take your time. Don't jump into anything because it's truly a thing where each individual prefers a different saw.

 

[Roberta Moreton]

I love my Excalibur. I also did not want to mess with having the bottom clamp like the Jet   Just me.

[RabidAlien]

Thanks, all!  Still looking into it, but still leaning towards the Excaliburs.

[Roberta Moreton]

Be aware, I did add the Pegas upgrade to my EX

[kmmcrafts]

I also love my Excalibur.. but not so much until I upgraded to the Pegas blade chucks... though many people mentioned they thought I must have had a defective upper chuck.. which I sort of think so myself too...

 

[Clay Burnett]

I’ve had my Ex 21 for couple years and hate it!  Every 10 seconds, no matter what I do, I have to stop as the blades either get stretched(?) or loosen up and the cut is bowed.  I’ve changed the blade clamps and the thumb screws but nothing works.   I’ve researched it as much as I can, re-read the manuals, changed blades…..

Anyone else have this problem?

[don in brooklin on]

I think if you got your EX-21 at Home Depot it was made in China.  For what I have read the quality control is not the same as the machines coming from Taiwan. 

The King is made to the same specs in Taiwan and gets good reviews. 

If you are close to the border it is the same price in Canada and the USA and get your 20% discount on the $

I have had my EX-21 for over 10 years and love it.  

[OCtoolguy]

4 hours ago, Clay Burnett said:

I’ve had my Ex 21 for couple years and hate it!  Every 10 seconds, no matter what I do, I have to stop as the blades either get stretched(?) or loosen up and the cut is bowed.  I’ve changed the blade clamps and the thumb screws but nothing works.   I’ve researched it as much as I can, re-read the manuals, changed blades…..

Anyone else have this problem?

Is it a Chinese Excalibur? If yes, that's the problem. If not, call Ray at Seyco.

[Roberta Moreton]

On 11/19/2021 at 11:55 AM, Clay Burnett said:

I’ve had my Ex 21 for couple years and hate it!  Every 10 seconds, no matter what I do, I have to stop as the blades either get stretched(?) or loosen up and the cut is bowed.  I’ve changed the blade clamps and the thumb screws but nothing works.   I’ve researched it as much as I can, re-read the manuals, changed blades…..

Anyone else have this problem?

I do.  I have the Taiwan machine, Pegas clamps.  Redo the clamp inserts, dress ends etc. The tension does not maintain.  I love the no vibration. I love the table tilt mechanism.  The size of the table etc.  I also do not have to fiddle with the extra bottom clamp thing. 

[OCtoolguy]

1 hour ago, Roberta Moreton said:

I do.  I have the Taiwan machine, Pegas clamps.  Redo the clamp inserts, dress ends etc. The tension does not maintain.  I love the no vibration. I love the table tilt mechanism.  The size of the table etc.  I also do not have to fiddle with the extra bottom clamp thing. 

Roberta, there is an easy fix for the tension knob turning and losing tension. Wrap a rubber band around the threaded shaft that the knob attaches to. Yhen twist it a couple of times and stretch it down and hook it to one of the screws that are there on the right side. You'll have to replace it every once in a while but it keeps the tension knob from turning on it's own. I've had to do it to my "green" Canadian EX21.

[Roberta Moreton]

31 minutes ago, OCtoolguy said:

Roberta, there is an easy fix for the tension knob turning and losing tension. Wrap a rubber band around the threaded shaft that the knob attaches to. Yhen twist it a couple of times and stretch it down and hook it to one of the screws that are there on the right side. You'll have to replace it every once in a while but it keeps the tension knob from turning on it's own. I've had to do it to my "green" Canadian EX21.

Did that. Added a second one! Still moves. 

[munzieb]

In 2015 I bought a EX 16 from my local Woodcraft store. I had it shipped to them for free and picked it up. I had an old Craftsman and it was like going from the stone age to the Jet (Excalibur) age. It has given me good service but I have done some few changes. I bought the Pegas clamps from Denny and they work great. The old ones just wear out. Steel thumb screws and aluminum housings. I mounted the lower thumb screw on the left so I can mount the blade with my right hand. I filled in the downdraft vent holes with apoxy because I top feed and was always going in the wrong holes and scratching the top. The top deck gets worn and found some white magnet sheet material (cheap) I cut to size and has been working very well. It's a black Excalibur General International unit. Not sure where it was made but it works well and keeps making saw dust. 

 

Edited November 24, 2021 by munzieb
Update info.

[OCtoolguy]

39 minutes ago, munzieb said:

In 2015 I bought a EX 16 from my local Woodcraft store. I had it shipped to them for free and picked it up. I had an old Craftsman and it was like going from the stone age to the Jet (Excalibur) age. It has given me good service but I have done some few changes. I bought the Pegas clamps from Denny and they work great. The old ones just wear out. Steel thumb screws and aluminum housings. I mounted the lower thumb screw on the left so I can mount the blade with my right hand. I filled in the downdraft vent holes with apoxy because I top feed and was always going in the wrong holes and scratching the top. The top deck gets worn and found some white magnet sheet material (cheap) I cut to size and has been working very well. It's a black Excalibur General International unit. Not sure where it was made but it works well and keeps making saw dust. 

 

Your saw should be from Taiwan. Only the later version of the EX21 comes from China as far as I know.

 

[OCtoolguy]

1 hour ago, Roberta Moreton said:

Did that. Added a second one! Still moves. 

That's very strange. I did it to mine and also added a white tape line on the knob so I could check it at a glance. Mine is old enough that it doesn't have the white line from the factory. I recall when Kevin was having this problem with his Chinese EX and did the rubber band trick so I did it and it has worked for me. He eventually had to take his saw all apart and while it was apart he did something to the threaded plate that the tension rod screws into. I don't recall what he did. Maybe just some blue LocTite or something like that to tighten up the threads. Are you having trouble keeping the upper arm from "falling"? Maybe tighten up the adjusting screw on the left side to help keep it up. I'm sure you've already tried that too but I'm just brainstorming here.

[kmmcrafts]

6 hours ago, OCtoolguy said:

Roberta, there is an easy fix for the tension knob turning and losing tension. Wrap a rubber band around the threaded shaft that the knob attaches to. Yhen twist it a couple of times and stretch it down and hook it to one of the screws that are there on the right side. You'll have to replace it every once in a while but it keeps the tension knob from turning on it's own. I've had to do it to my "green" Canadian EX21.

Yeah, I also had the issues with that back knob adjusting itself while sawing.. I was so frustrated with it I was ready to set it parallels to the table and get my welder out and weld that stupid thing to the saw frame, LOL I had to cool off and stay away from that saw for a couple weeks.. then finally took it all apart and used blue loctite on the threads of that shaft.. Not had a problem with it for a long time.. BUT, that said.. I should have applied more when I had it apart for rebuild last year... in the past month or so the saw started cutting weird and not working like it should.. Finally the other day I noticed it seemed like my blades was longer than normal.. Got the tape measure out and found that the knob had turned on its own and the cutting issues etc. was because it had adjusted itself out of alignment again. Set it back and have cut a few hours on it without issue.. so at least it's not completely out of alignment just doing one small cut like it was when I first discovered it doing this.. I used to have to adjust it after each cutout it was so bad..  

[Woodrush]

On 11/24/2021 at 3:39 PM, OCtoolguy said:

Your saw should be from Taiwan. Only the later version of the EX21 comes from China as far as I know.

 

My Excelsior that I bought as a floor model was manufactured in 2016. That was the first year for the Canadian king I believe, so I assume the Chinese ex was later than that