Oldmansbike Posted June 27, 2020 Report Share Posted June 27, 2020 I found this slightly used 10 year old 220vs Ultra on Facebook market place about 1 1/2 hours from me. Went and looked at it today and it followed me home. Got it for 300 dollars. Will post pictures when I get it cleaned up. It was really dirty from sitting but everything worked fine. Got about 10 dozen blades too. RabidAlien and OCtoolguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockytime Posted June 27, 2020 Report Share Posted June 27, 2020 You will LOVE your Hawk! I had the same saw which was AWESOME! OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmmcrafts Posted June 28, 2020 Report Share Posted June 28, 2020 Congrats on the new to you Hawk.. I sure like the Ultra model Hawks.. I've been watching one that is local to me waiting it out to see if it sells or not.. I might message them if it's still for sale in a few weeks to see if I can strike a deal.. I really don't need 4 Hawks though.. But if I land a deal I'll sell my old round barrel clamp style one and the Ex - 21 is probably going to be finding a new home soon to.. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldmansbike Posted June 28, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2020 I already have a 226 ultra my wife wants to learn so I bought this 220 for her kmmcrafts and OCtoolguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolf Posted June 28, 2020 Report Share Posted June 28, 2020 Nice find and a very good deal.! OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldmansbike Posted June 28, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2020 Heres a couple of pictures all cleaned up. It's not an RBI Hawk it just says Hawk on it so I'm assuming its it's not that old. Serial number 36774. I did some cutting on it and it is very smooth throughout the speed range once I got everything tightened up and level. It came with a foot switch so I thought I would try it. It will take some getting use too but I kinda liked it. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmmcrafts Posted June 28, 2020 Report Share Posted June 28, 2020 41 minutes ago, Oldmansbike said: Heres a couple of pictures all cleaned up. It's not an RBI Hawk it just says Hawk on it so I'm assuming its it's not that old. Serial number 36774. I did some cutting on it and it is very smooth throughout the speed range once I got everything tightened up and level. It came with a foot switch so I thought I would try it. It will take some getting use too but I kinda liked it. Yeah the logo on the back uprights is the newer style logo.. I'm not sure when they started using this logo.. but I know it's newer than my 1998.. I'm thinking this logo style came around 2003 ish.. Looks like you got a decent deal for sure.. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolf Posted June 29, 2020 Report Share Posted June 29, 2020 Is the lower clamp the barrel style? OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozzyoz Posted June 29, 2020 Report Share Posted June 29, 2020 Great find, what blades did you get with it OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldmansbike Posted June 29, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2020 7 hours ago, Rolf said: Is the lower clamp the barrel style? No it's the square style blade holders. All size blades from #2 To 12 I emailed Bushton with the serial number and they got right back to me. It was made in 1999 so it was older than I thought. I don't think it has had much use though. OCtoolguy and kmmcrafts 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmmcrafts Posted June 29, 2020 Report Share Posted June 29, 2020 Yeah it is older than I thought it was.. Only a year newer than my 226 Ultra.. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted June 30, 2020 Report Share Posted June 30, 2020 That's weird. I just sold my 226VS Ultra, serial number 15763. It was made in 2000-1. The serial on yours is much higher than mine so it must mean that serial numbers really don't mean much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldmansbike Posted June 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2020 I would assume the 226 and 220 had different serial number ranges. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmmcrafts Posted June 30, 2020 Report Share Posted June 30, 2020 44 minutes ago, Oldmansbike said: I would assume the 226 and 220 had different serial number ranges. Yes they do.. I think they base the numbers on the model of saw.. I sort of wonder what kind of order they do those in.. I have the old round barrel clamp style saw with quite a high number.. and I've seen some not too far off from the number mine is that are Ultras.. My saw is a 1993 220VS but just a few numbers more they turn into Ultras.. The oldest Ultra I've seen so far is a 1996 My 226 Ultra is a 1998 the sales receipt that was in the box when i got the saw shows it was purchased in Dec. of 1998 I bought it for $400 still in the box unassembled in 2016-17ish.. I gave $100 for my old 220VS but it needed some parts.. I put another $150 or so into it as it needed a new tension cam.. I upgraded to the new style.. then bought a upgraded flex air hose and some new barrel clamps .. great saw now.. Put a lot of hours on it.. and just replaced the bearings in the pitman arm the other day.. They've sure paid for themselves.. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldmansbike Posted June 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2020 I bought my 226 ultra in July of 1996 brand new and its serial number is 5???. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmmcrafts Posted June 30, 2020 Report Share Posted June 30, 2020 My 1998 226 Ultra is 10290 I think... My old 220VS is like 355** or something like that.. and has the round clamps.. Not sure the number of the BM-26.. I haven't memorized it because I haven't needed any parts.. or had to call and ask about the year etc.. LOL.. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldmansbike Posted June 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2020 4 hours ago, kmmcrafts said: My 1998 226 Ultra is 10290 I think... My old 220VS is like 355** or something like that.. and has the round clamps.. Not sure the number of the BM-26.. I haven't memorized it because I haven't needed any parts.. or had to call and ask about the year etc.. LOL.. How do you like the BM 226 by now? OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmmcrafts Posted June 30, 2020 Report Share Posted June 30, 2020 37 minutes ago, Oldmansbike said: How do you like the BM 226 by now? Honestly there's not much difference in cutting experience between it and the Ultra.. Other than you can adjust the blade movement and I did make it so it's slightly more aggressive than the Ultra.. but it's not worth going out to buy one just for that reason.. The older Hawks have a "soft start" where they sort of ramp up to speed and the BM as soon as you hit the foot switch it's on and full speed.. I like the soft start better.. but it's not a hate it type thing and I have gotten used to it now some.. I guess if I was going to buy another saw I would buy a used Ultra and save the extra cash for something else.. IF I was a top feeder that would be a bonus for the BM.. but I'm not.. Just not much difference and there is plenty of deals on used Ultras that'd save money.. Glad I have it and don't regret getting it.. just not all the hype I thought it might be.. Would be nice if they'd have thrown in some extra lower blade clamps.. I like to pre-load all my clamps and got used to doing that with the other saws.. I need to bite the bullet and buy a few of them.. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldmansbike Posted July 1, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2020 Thanks for your opinion on the saw Kevin. kmmcrafts and OCtoolguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben2008 Posted July 2, 2020 Report Share Posted July 2, 2020 I still use my 1993 RBI Hawk. Yep, the ones with the brass barrels for holding the lower saw blade. Haha. I still love it and it still works great. I also have an Excalibur. I actually prefer my Hawk for Intarsia. Anyway, good find at a great price. You will learn to love the Hawk and It's made in America too! Have fun, Ben OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmmcrafts Posted July 2, 2020 Report Share Posted July 2, 2020 8 minutes ago, ben2008 said: I still use my 1993 RBI Hawk. Yep, the ones with the brass barrels for holding the lower saw blade. Haha. I still love it and it still works great. I also have an Excalibur. I actually prefer my Hawk for Intarsia. Anyway, good find at a great price. You will learn to love the Hawk and It's made in America too! Have fun, Ben Put about 60 hours on my old 1993 Hawk the last 2 weeks.. That old saw kicks butt.. Just installed the hour meter on it that I bought for it over a year ago.. I quit using it and moved over to the newer Hawks for the last year because I was having blade breakage on it.. I finally investigated a couple weeks ago and found the front tension cam was out of adjustment.. Couple turns on the set screw to adjust it and no more issues.. After using it the last few weeks.. I'm not sure if I like it better than the newer ones, LOL They are all great.. and yes Made In The USA.. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben2008 Posted July 2, 2020 Report Share Posted July 2, 2020 2 hours ago, kmmcrafts said: Put about 60 hours on my old 1993 Hawk the last 2 weeks.. That old saw kicks butt.. Just installed the hour meter on it that I bought for it over a year ago.. I quit using it and moved over to the newer Hawks for the last year because I was having blade breakage on it.. I finally investigated a couple weeks ago and found the front tension cam was out of adjustment.. Couple turns on the set screw to adjust it and no more issues.. After using it the last few weeks.. I'm not sure if I like it better than the newer ones, LOL They are all great.. and yes Made In The USA.. I don't have a newer Hawk to compare it to, However, I do have a newer Excalibur. When I bought the Excalibur about 7/8 years ago I didn't think RBI was still in business. Honestly, I prefer my old Hawk to the Excalibur. Probably because I have had it for 27 years and have never had to do one thing to it. I'm just used to it and it's like an old friend. It still powers through hardwood with my #5 or 7 PGT blades. I do about 75% Intarsia now and use a lot of different tropical hardwoods. When I go lower than the #5 blade I use the Excalibur for the smaller Intarsia pieces. Like eyes etc. OCtoolguy and kmmcrafts 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmmcrafts Posted July 2, 2020 Report Share Posted July 2, 2020 1 hour ago, ben2008 said: I don't have a newer Hawk to compare it to, However, I do have a newer Excalibur. When I bought the Excalibur about 7/8 years ago I didn't think RBI was still in business. Honestly, I prefer my old Hawk to the Excalibur. Probably because I have had it for 27 years and have never had to do one thing to it. I'm just used to it and it's like an old friend. It still powers through hardwood with my #5 or 7 PGT blades. I do about 75% Intarsia now and use a lot of different tropical hardwoods. When I go lower than the #5 blade I use the Excalibur for the smaller Intarsia pieces. Like eyes etc. I also have a Excalibur.. and also prefer to run the Hawk's over the Excalibur.. But I do use the Excalibur for certain projects and it also cuts slightly more aggressive or faster.. so on orders that I'm rushed on.. then many times I use the Excalibur to knock them out.. Mostly during the holiday sales rush.. After about 400 hours on the EX- it's time for new bearings etc... I put about that many on the old Hawk before I realized you're supposed to put a drop of oil on the pivot points and that back wedge, LOL.. still not really any wear on the thing, OCtoolguy and ben2008 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted July 3, 2020 Report Share Posted July 3, 2020 3 hours ago, kmmcrafts said: I also have a Excalibur.. and also prefer to run the Hawk's over the Excalibur.. But I do use the Excalibur for certain projects and it also cuts slightly more aggressive or faster.. so on orders that I'm rushed on.. then many times I use the Excalibur to knock them out.. Mostly during the holiday sales rush.. After about 400 hours on the EX- it's time for new bearings etc... I put about that many on the old Hawk before I realized you're supposed to put a drop of oil on the pivot points and that back wedge, LOL.. still not really any wear on the thing, There is definitely a need for both saws. At some point, I may look around for a small Hawk but it'll be after our move, If that happens. Still up in the air. For the foreseeable future we are sort of grounded until this stupid covid thing is over. I suspect that after the election, it will disappear as fast as it appeared. JMHO. kmmcrafts and DME72 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockytime Posted July 4, 2020 Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 Having two saws is a blessing. Often I'm cutting fret work when another project come up that needs my attention. I don't interrupt what was going on with the fret project and just move to the other saw. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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