Scroll Saw Choice

[MikeyZ]

I own a Dewalt DW788 that needs bearings and bushings. The bearings I can't find anywhere.  Dewalt can't help me nor anywhere else I've tried.  So it's on to a new one.

Any suggestions on which of these three is better over the other.

 Hegner 18", Hawk, or the Excalibur.  I need something that's going to last and parts are available for replacement.

Or something else completely.

Edited March 3, 2020 by MikeyZ
added comment

[kmmcrafts]

First off DeWalt doesn't sell just the bearings.. If you have the tools etc and can do the job yourself then save yourself come money and rebuild your saw.. 

But if that isn't something you want to mess with.. and you just want a new saw.. I might ask.. what types of projects do you intend to make? That would be a deciding factor for me on what saw to buy.. Lot's of people like Hegners.. very well built saws.. but there are also a lot of people that don't like them too.. same with Hawk.. Excalibur isn't the same saw it used to be.. quality of them went way down when they moved the manufacturing to China.. If you're looking for that type and style saw.. I'd go with a Pegas.. they are still made by the old excalibur manufacture where they made a quality saw..

If you're up to the task of rebuilding the DeWalt.. here is a link where you'll find the bearing part numbers to buy.. I'm not sure if the video of the process is mentioned in this link or not.. but there is videos out there to show you step by step on how to take it apart and replace the bearings etc.. I did this to my saw years ago and it lasted about 3-4 times longer than it did originally.. 

 

[JimErn]

Well the three you named all are in way different price points

I would replace the excaliber choice (now made in china with unproven reliability) with the Pegas as a choice

 I would remove the Hawk as a choice, too many people on this site who are having issues with order fulfillment, parts, email response, etc

I use an older excaliber so I am prejudiced, and I would go with the Pegas

[Scrappile]

I have a Hegner and a Seyco, use to have an Excalibur.   The Hegner is by far my favorite saw,,,, but like Kevin stated many like and many don't like therefore I do not recommend them.  I would suggest before investing in one, if possible test run one.  Even that is not full proof, because it took me a while to get use to mine.  I also agree that I would, unless you can find a good used Excalibur, I think I would feel more comfortable with Pegas or Seyco.  Well for that matter, I have read pretty good comments about the King saw.  

[scrollingforsanity]

I agree with Kevin, it depends on what projects you are planning on doing. I have a Excalibur and a Seyco, both have been great saws for me. Price point wise I would look at the Pegas or Seyco. I believe they will have parts and service for you. Or keep checking C/L and find a nice gently used saw. That depends on where you live. They are not too plentiful here in the Northwest area. I have owned a Dewalt and they are good saws also, so if you really like it the rebuild option might be good for you also. Good luck on your choice. 

[Old Joe]

If you are positive that you need to replace the bearings and bushings I seem to remember Steve Good put up a source for them a while back. I took my Dewalt apart, repacked all of the bearings with synthetic grease, put it back together, and it was dramatically quieter, with less vibration than it had when it was brand new. It took me the better part of one day. If I had known what a difference it would make I would’ve done it when I first bought it! There was so little grease in there it was pathetic. Dewalt should be ashamed. One day, $6 worth of grease and it was worth hundreds more. But I recently bought a Pegas, and now I hang my shop apron on the DW788.

 

[OCtoolguy]

Well, everybody pretty well summed it up. I also did the grease job on my old type 1 and it hummed from that point on. If you haven't already, take yours apart and inspect all the bearing sleeves. Unless it has been run for a very long time with no grease, you might be surprised that most parts are not worn as you suspect. I was prepared for the worst and found that there was no need to replace any of the bearings or sleeves. I checked them all, cleaned them as much as possible, applied synthetic grease and reassembled. I did find a loose screw on the main drive link and also I took the ring and seal off of the main drive bearing and packed it with grease. It was a sealed bearing but if you are careful it can be opened. Also, NEVER wash bearings in any kind of cleaning solvent. Grease will not stick to them once you do. Just use clean lint free rags or blue paper towels. I went so far as to buy an arbor press thinking I would be replacing all the bearings. I never used it. Collecting dust now. 

If you like your Dewalt saw, you will be fine with any of the saws mentioned with that type of mechanism. The Hegner is a tank and will last forever. The Hawks are a very good saw but until Bushton fixes their problems with customer service, I don't recommend them. I have one now and pray that I don't need anything for it. I also have 2 Excaliburs of the early vintage prior to their move to mainland China. I'll never part with them.

Edited March 3, 2020 by octoolguy

[Denny Knappen]

As a Pegas dealer, I would obviously recommend the Pegas Scroll Saw.  With that said, I have a DeWalt and an EX21.  Both still running fine.  I added the Pegas Chuck Heads to the EX 21.  What an improvement.  The Pegas demo saw is in our store and that has now been my go to saw.

[Puzzleguy]

10 hours ago, MikeyZ said:

I own a Dewalt DW788 that needs bearings and bushings. The bearings I can't find anywhere.  Dewalt can't help me nor anywhere else I've tried.  So it's on to a new one.

Any suggestions on which of these three is better over the other.

 Hegner 18", Hawk, or the Excalibur.  I need something that's going to last and parts are available for replacement.

Or something else completely.

A bushing is simply a metal ring with a specific interior and exterior size and length -which most are available

and pretty much every bearing that has ever been made is still available

-( their are so many different bearing companies in the world )

check with a bearing supply house -they may even be able to get you those bushings -

of course you need the bearing and bushing sizes 

-which dewalt should be able to give you if they no longer carry them.

a local machine shop should be able to direct you to a bearing supplier - if your having a problem .

[OCtoolguy]

1 minute ago, Puzzleguy said:

A bushing is simply a metal ring with a specific interior and exterior size and length -which most are available

and pretty much every bearing that has ever been made is still available

-( their are so many different bearing companies in the world )

check with a bearing supply house -they may even be able to get you those bushings -

of course you need the bearing and bushing sizes 

-which dewalt should be able to give you if they no longer carry them.

a local machine shop should be able to direct you to a bearing supplier - if your having a problem .

Kevin listed above where to buy the bearings. VXB.com. Talk to Vivian. Here is all you need. If you want the list I have of all the bearings and how many, I have it handy. The sleeves have to be purchased either through Dewalt or ereplacementparts.com

 

VXB.com BALL BEARINGS
2165 S Dupont Dr Unit F
Anaheim CA 92806, USA
Tel (714) 442-2740 Dir. (714)385-0022
Fax  (714) 442-9740
http://www.vxb.com/

[ben2008]

On 3/3/2020 at 6:02 AM, MikeyZ said:

I own a Dewalt DW788 that needs bearings and bushings. The bearings I can't find anywhere.  Dewalt can't help me nor anywhere else I've tried.  So it's on to a new one.

Any suggestions on which of these three is better over the other.

 Hegner 18", Hawk, or the Excalibur.  I need something that's going to last and parts are available for replacement.

Or something else completely.

I have an old RBI 20" Hawk that I purchased around 1992 or 93. It still works like a charm. However, I am not on it everyday. Sometimes I go months without using it. But still, it is about 27, 28 years old and still going.

[stevan]

I started out with a 25 year old Hawk and while it was great, I moved onward (and upward) to a Pegas.  I think there is no comparison between the two, the (New) Pegas simply blows away the (25 year old) Hawk.  But as everyone else had pointed out, Your Mileage May Vary.  Good luck!

[amazingkevin]

So you want to scroll, and I bet right now too! Satisfy your itch and find another saw (new or used) but re-greasing your bearings is something you'll do sooner or later. When I was working I'd buy up used Dewalts cheap so i'm stuck with a good machine now till the end. I used car axel grease.tightend up everything and it's hard to make the blade tension tighter than 3/4  that's less than the number one on the tension wheel!!!

Edited March 8, 2020 by amazingkevin

[Rolf]

Love my 2005 Hawk G4-26. And my new used EX 16 with Pegas clamps.  But If I were buying new, it would be the Pegas  for the following reasons.

1. Better clamps than all of the other EX clones. 

2. Tilting arm VS tilting table, if you do any beveled inlays you will really appreciate that . The Hawk and the Hegner have tilting tables, and yes I have cut a lot of bevel's on them both it takes effort to  not push your work down hill. 

3. The arm will tilt a full 45 deg both ways (note the dust port under the table needs to be removed to go the full 45 deg to the left (equivalent to right side table down) 

4. And you can top and bottom feed  without any gimmicks like the Dewalt addons.

So all of the best features in one saw + I love the color.

Edited March 9, 2020 by Rolf