New Info - Excalibur Saws

[raymondb]

This morning, the following email was received in our club's mailbox (Woodworkers of Central New York) about the Excalibur saw.  Quite interesting.  I felt everyone should be aware.   Barbara

I wanted to reach out to you and your club as your name came up as I searched for Scroll Saw Clubs in the USA. 

Let me introduce myself first. I recently took the position of Vice President of Sales and Marketing for DMT Holdings.  DMT purchased the General, General International and Excalibur brands about 5 years ago and I have been hired to re-build the brands and dramatically expand our distribution channels.  My background has always been in the Woodworking and Power Tool industries.  I have owned my own consulting business helping inventors and smaller companies get their products manufactured and into the marketplace, I was the VP of Wholesale and Global Sourcing for Rockler Companies for 5 years and Senior Manager at WMH Tool Group managing the growth of the JET and Powermatic woodworking brands for 15 years.

I am writing you and your club today to see if you and your members have an interest in a promotion on the popular 21” Excalibur Scroll Saw that has been rated as one of the best in the industry.  This saw typically sells in the market for $899.99 everyday.  We will be promoting the saw in January for $599.99.  If you can order a quantity of 6 (1 Pallet) shipping to a single location we will offer your club $50 off each unit and include the stand FREE. 

This offer is valid thru January 21, 2020 or while supplies last .  If you have any questions about this promotion and Club offer please email me here or call my cell number below.

DMT Holdings, Inc./General International

John Otto: Vice President of Sales and Marketing

33400 9th. Ave South STE 104

Federal Way  WA 98003 USA 

US Cell: 630-715-7235;US

Office: 253-754-6072

Fax: 1-800-491-5250

Email: jotto@dmtholdings.com

www.gipowerproducts.com 

www.general.ca

http://www.excaliburpowertool.com/

[JimErn]

really good price, wonder how wide spread it will be.  IMO unless they do something to compete with the pegas clamps they are fighting an uphill battle

[Denny Knappen]

In addition to the clamps, my concern is where will they be in the long term.  It looks like they had the brand for 5 years and still no Excalibur in the US.

[JimErn]

9 minutes ago, Denny Knappen said:

In addition to the clamps, my concern is where will they be in the long term.  It looks like they had the brand for 5 years and still no Excalibur in the US.

Maybe they took those 5 years to make some improvements - one can hope

pegas clamps, a decent hook up for both upper and lower vacuum, built in magnifier light or at least the post/tube that they stick in, failing a better vacuum hook up, at least one that does not get fretwork stuck in it, and stronger blower

[Woodrush]

ive heard some horror stories on these saws since they moved the manufacturing to china. my next saw will be the seyco

[Denny Knappen]

52 minutes ago, Woodrush said:

ive heard some horror stories on these saws since they moved the manufacturing to china. my next saw will be the seyco

Actually, the Pegas Scroll Saw is made in Taiwan.  I am sure some of the others are too.

[Denny Knappen]

55 minutes ago, JimErn said:

Maybe they took those 5 years to make some improvements - one can hope

pegas clamps, a decent hook up for both upper and lower vacuum, built in magnifier light or at least the post/tube that they stick in, failing a better vacuum hook up, at least one that does not get fretwork stuck in it, and stronger blower

Wow, Jim that is a great list.

[kmmcrafts]

Also keep in mind these would be the China made saws.. and the pricing is about what you can get them for on many websites now..  Though the whole skid of them would save some money.. I have a China made saw... probably about the first one to come to the USA.. since I got it before they actually started selling them here...  Over all it's been a decent saw... after the Pegas clamp upgrade and after messing with it for a good amount of time.. I can't say I've had a "major " problem with it.. It's definitely made with what I would say.. "Cheaper parts" The nuts and bolts have sloppy threads and will loosen up by themselves. Loctite was my friend for that one.. Had bearing issues.. but the bearings are the typical thing they use in the DW machines soooo. and I had guessing around 200 + or - a few hours on it.. probably typical for when a DW starts having issues..  While the bearings might be cheap China made bearings... I think the real issue is lack of quality grease.. The grease in mine was dried right out.. I couldn't find a source for the sleeves so I cleaned everything up and added a good grease.. it runs quite well now.. 

I'd be curious what bearings are put into the Pegas and like saws...  I read in another post where Bob Duncan said the Pegas has sealed bearings.. ( I highly doubt it) I don't think they'd redesign the whole saw to be able to use a sealed bearing in all those bearings.. It you tell half the truth.. all saws I've had apart had a couple sealed bearings so it's not a whole lie but only a half lie.. LOL..  Honestly don't think a un-sealed bearing is any worst or better design... adding a good grease to un-sealed bearings will make one think they are sealed bearings as it seems grease quality / quantity is where the bigger issue is.. My DW did the famous chattering after about 2 years use.. rebuild with good quality grease and I got about 6 years of pretty heavy use before the issues came back.. Had I did a take down and clean / re- grease before it got to that point... pretty certain I could have gone another 5-6 years on the same bearings..

 

With all that said.. Maybe Pegas and the others request a better rated bearing.. with a higher quality grease.. Time will tell for sure as the Pegas is still too new to have bearing issues.. Give it a few more years.. I've seen where the old EX's had the same bearing issues as the DW... ( all saws will over time ) I think it's more about how many hours you are running on a saw a year.. .. I put about 600 hours on a saw per year.. maybe more than that.. I put hour meters on all my saws back in March 2019.. so far I'm just over 300 hours total.. and I didn't saw quite as much this year..  

 

[Woodrush]

2 hours ago, Denny Knappen said:

Actually, the Pegas Scroll Saw is made in Taiwan.  I am sure some of the others are too.

Different factory I believe

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

 for 5 years and Senior Manager at WMH Tool Group managing the growth of the JET and Powermatic woodworking brands for 15 years

Not too sure I would be bragging about this. Jet and Powermatic have fallen on some bad times with product being less quality than it was years ago. They have been surpassed by a few brands . They too have gone the China way. 

[OCtoolguy]

I'm still waiting to find out who is going to be the replacement parts source for both the old and the new saws. The subject has recently come up regarding the bearings and sleeves for the green version of saws but nobody has any definitive info on that subject. I did email Ray at Seyco and got an email back to check in again after the holidays so I have to think they are closed for the next few days.

 

[kmmcrafts]

25 minutes ago, octoolguy said:

I'm still waiting to find out who is going to be the replacement parts source for both the old and the new saws. The subject has recently come up regarding the bearings and sleeves for the green version of saws but nobody has any definitive info on that subject. I did email Ray at Seyco and got an email back to check in again after the holidays so I have to think they are closed for the next few days.

 

$275 you can replace the whole assembly, basically replacing the whole inside including the front rockers with clamps and tension levers.. They do not sell just bearings / sleeves from my research.. DeWalt doesn't either.. but you can buy just the sleeves but for bearings through DeWalt you buy the whole arm assemblies or rocker assemblies.. which is pricey.. .. but then.. it's pricey for the EX too.. I know I can get the bearings.. but the sleeves are an oddball size.. and the bearing supply place has told me they must machine their own sleeves to prevent one from just buying the bearings and sleeves through someone else..

Edit to add: When the King first came out the question was asked about where to get parts.. Woodcraft claimed you could order parts through them.. Maybe check with them also..

Edited December 18, 2019 by kmmcrafts

[Davevand]

Our club received the same email, kind of skeptical myself.

[Ron Johnson]

I would be skeptical as well. Seems like they’re trying to generate sales. No mention of service. Just my opinion. 

[rash_powder]

22 hours ago, kmmcrafts said:

$275 you can replace the whole assembly, basically replacing the whole inside including the front rockers with clamps and tension levers.. They do not sell just bearings / sleeves from my research.. DeWalt doesn't either.. but you can buy just the sleeves but for bearings through DeWalt you buy the whole arm assemblies or rocker assemblies.. which is pricey.. .. but then.. it's pricey for the EX too.. I know I can get the bearings.. but the sleeves are an oddball size.. and the bearing supply place has told me they must machine their own sleeves to prevent one from just buying the bearings and sleeves through someone else..

Edit to add: When the King first came out the question was asked about where to get parts.. Woodcraft claimed you could order parts through them.. Maybe check with them also..

I am quite certain you could source the bearings at any good machine shop.  It simply does not make sense for any manufacturer to spec a non-standard bearing.  They may be an odd size but there should be a ready supply of them.  You would just need the outside, inside, and length measurements for plain and ball-bearings.

Honda M77 assembly lube is about the best grease I can think of for lubing parts.  A tiny dab will do and when it dries out it is still a lubricant.  

[JimErn]

Well I get really suspicious of companies that have a web site with errors.  I mean if you can't review your own web site for errors, I have to wonder about any product QAQC. The web site in the letter, 

http://www.excaliburpowertool.com

in the slide show
first graphic is for the ex-16, the write up says, "discover the capacity of hegner scrollsaws"
second graphic - same statement
this graphic is for a CNC machine, but says "smooth and accurate 16"

[kmmcrafts]

55 minutes ago, rash_powder said:

I am quite certain you could source the bearings at any good machine shop.  It simply does not make sense for any manufacturer to spec a non-standard bearing.  They may be an odd size but there should be a ready supply of them.  You would just need the outside, inside, and length measurements for plain and ball-bearings.

Honda M77 assembly lube is about the best grease I can think of for lubing parts.  A tiny dab will do and when it dries out it is still a lubricant.  

I took my bearings to a bearing shop.. They are well known for getting oddball stuff.. Bearings was the easy part.. but the sleeves are oddball.. I took my old sleeves in to them.. They measured and are the ones that said they must custom make the sleeves themselves because there is no available source where they can get them for me.. I can get them made by my neighbor as he is a machinist.. if I have to.. I hate asking him to make things and rather research a source.. if possible..

[Rockytime]

On 12/19/2019 at 3:20 PM, JimErn said:

Well I get really suspicious of companies that have a web site with errors.  I mean if you can't review your own web site for errors, I have to wonder about any product QAQC. The web site in the letter, 

http://www.excaliburpowertool.com

in the slide show
first graphic is for the ex-16, the write up says, "discover the capacity of hegner scrollsaws"
second graphic - same statement
this graphic is for a CNC machine, but says "smooth and accurate 16"

Kinda makes one question the company for sure!

[marter1229]

They said while supply lasts.   Then what?

[kmmcrafts]

Pretty sure it's a scammer.. They are getting really slick with their work... to bad they don't do "Legit" work legally, LOL.. 

I get these idiots quite often messaging me on my websites etc..