Cloned EX's from China

[Rolf]

When did these crap clones first appear in the US? 

I have a friend with broken EX-21 that I will repairing for her. She has had it for probably 5 years. 

I just hope it is not one those as she just ordered repair parts for it from Ray.

[WayneMahler]

I'm guessing right about the time she purchased hers. There was about a year when they were not available. Kevin has one and just replaced the complete arm assembly. He ordered the parts from Ray at Seyco. Haven't heard anything about the fit etc. I may have had one of the of the ones made in Taiwan under General International's contract . It's been holding up great. Let us know about how things go please. 

[Bill WIlson]

I bought my EX-21 from Seyco and got it in February of 2016.  I think it was shortly thereafter that the Taiwan made saws were suddenly no longer available.  It took a while before Chinese made saws started showing up.  If she's had it 5 years, I suspect it wasn't a Chinese made saw.

[NC Scroller]

I  think I got me EX-21 in early 2017.  Like January. On the motor there is a tag/label that should say where made and a serial.  Mine was made in Taiwan.  Also on the unit itself there is a tag/label that says: General International.  The first batch of clones did not say General International.

Edited August 13, 2020 by NC Scroller

[kmmcrafts]

I got mine in 2017 and it was before anyone even knew of the China version.. I thought I was getting the real deal.. Mine was Nov, 2017.. But.. I also bought it second hand new in sealed box.. so I don't know.. You also have to consider the stock that the stores may have had on the original saws.. I bought my parts from Ray.. everything fit fine except the front rocker assemblies.. you can see my story in the link.. Any questions feel free to post or send me a message..

 

[Fedido]

Thank you all for sharing this. It helps us less knowledgeable. 

[Woodrush]

I got my King excelsior new in the box and it said 2016 Taiwan on the plate. No issues so far with about 100 hours on it other than the fact that every now and then the arm sticks when trying to raise it. A little tap on the the foot pedal usually fixes it but sometimes I have to run it for a couple seconds. 

[ben2008]

If I was looking to purchase a new scroll saw I would look at the Hawk or the Hegner. My Hawk is 27 years old and still humming along.  I know people who have both and they are old just like mine and still going strong.

I also have an Excalibur that is about 8 years old. I would not buy another one.

Yes, they are expensive,  either one is worth it. I would say, just save up until you can afford one or the other.

Just my 2C worth.

[kmmcrafts]

9 hours ago, ben2008 said:

If I was looking to purchase a new scroll saw I would look at the Hawk or the Hegner. My Hawk is 27 years old and still humming along.  I know people who have both and they are old just like mine and still going strong.

I also have an Excalibur that is about 8 years old. I would not buy another one.

Yes, they are expensive,  either one is worth it. I would say, just save up until you can afford one or the other.

Just my 2C worth.

Honestly can't agree more with this statement... And as for the Hawk.. ( Made In The USA! )... BUT.. that said... they both have a different style of cutting and the ergonomics of each saw is different... not everyone likes the long arm saws.. I have 3 Hawks and a Excalibur.. Most my cutting is done on the Hawks.. I put about 500 - 600 hours on a saw per year.. The Hawk saws are expensive but in comparison they really aren't too bad priced.. I mean... a new Pegas will run you $800 - 875 shipped and add about $100ish for a stand.. A Hawk 20" saw will run you $1300 -1350.. with stand.. So yes $200 - 300 more.. but in the end.. less.. I can get about a year or so on a DeWalt - Ex type of saw.. if I only had one saw I'm rebuilding / replacing once a year.. Why I have so many saws.. LOL .. I've got probably around 900 hours on my oldest Hawk since I bought it.. I did basically rebuild the whole saw as it was really worn when i first got it. BUT maintaining it I see very little wear.. I'm thinking that saw would most likely outlast me with proper maintenance. I bought the saw well worn for $100 and put an additional $200 into replacement parts / upgrades.. some was just luxury upgrades like the flex air hose.. This is why when I was looking to buy a NEW saw.. I didn't have to really "LOOK" because  knew what I wanted and bought the new BM226 Hawk.. The three Hawks will last me through my life.. I'll never "need" another saw.. Want and Need is two different things though...  

As I've said though.. they both have a different style of cutting.. provided you tune them to your needs.. you can get them pretty darn close to the same cutting.. and for a hobbyist a EX type saw would probably last them several years.. and maybe a lifetime.. Hawks aren't bullet proof.. they have bearings too.. and yes... I've had to replace the pitman arm bearings on all but the newest Hawk.. which btw only has about 115 hours on the meter so that's probably why I haven't had to do any repairs yet, LOL  

[amazingkevin]

I wore out a truckload of Dewalts and still have them. I dread taking them apart and regressing them. The last one I regreased is holding up strong but now seems to be getting a little loose. I,m thinking that the bad part might be something I could not grease like the connecting rod off the motor. I have a lifetime of Dewalts parts so no biggy.i just need a big stick to move my butt and do it! Would be nice to try a high end saw !!!

[amazingkevin]

My dream would be to have the 31" scroll saw

[OCtoolguy]

On 8/16/2020 at 5:34 AM, amazingkevin said:

I wore out a truckload of Dewalts and still have them. I dread taking them apart and regressing them. The last one I regreased is holding up strong but now seems to be getting a little loose. I,m thinking that the bad part might be something I could not grease like the connecting rod off the motor. I have a lifetime of Dewalts parts so no biggy.i just need a big stick to move my butt and do it! Would be nice to try a high end saw !!!

Too bad we are so far apart. I'd love to dig in and help you make as many good saws as possible out of your junkers. And do all the re-greasing too. It would be fun.

 

[OCtoolguy]

1 hour ago, amazingkevin said:

My dream would be to have the 31" scroll saw

Why? Just asking. I can't imagine making anything that big and flat. Are you going in the sign-making business?

 

[kmmcrafts]

I've had a few projects back when i still had the DeWalt that I had to use the Hawk 226 because the 20" DW was too small.. BUT those projects are far and few 

[amazingkevin]

13 hours ago, octoolguy said:

Why? Just asking. I can't imagine making anything that big and flat. Are you going in the sign-making business?

 

Many times projects are just to big.like Missy the dog of grampa or the gorilla or the Lord's prayer.yes 20" x 40 inch is possible but sitting in a chair my arm are not long enough to do them easy.i actually have to be a contortionists to be able to do them. It,s better to have than have not scrolling.

[kmmcrafts]

22 minutes ago, amazingkevin said:

Many times projects are just to big.like Missy the dog of grampa or the gorilla or the Lord's prayer.yes 20" x 40 inch is possible but sitting in a chair my arm are not long enough to do them easy.i actually have to be a contortionists to be able to do them. It,s better to have than have not scrolling.

While the throat capacity on the EX-30 is larger than your DW788.. You won't like the fact that the distance from the blade to the front edge of the table is only 3 inch.. take a notice of how much distance there is from the blade to the front edge of the table on your DW788..... Imaging cutting off half of that distance and scrolling a large piece.. Going with the a Hawk or a Seyco with the larger table... not only larger table but that distance makes a huge difference when cutting those large projects.. Those folks that say that distance doesn't affect them haven't done too many large projects like this.. If your going to do large stuff.. the only real option is the Hawk.. Even though there is a whopping 8" between the blade and table edge on the Seyco saw.. you still only have a 21" throat.. so that leaves you with a Hawk.. Pegas is no offering a larger table.. and supposedly will fit the EX saws.. so the other option is a EX-30 with a larger Pegas table.. These saw manufactures leave out the guy that does very large projects it seems... But then.. most folks aren't making real large stuff now days.. and it's not real practical to make a 30" saw when you only sell a handful of them a year.. JMO    

[amazingkevin]

1 hour ago, kmmcrafts said:

While the throat capacity on the EX-30 is larger than your DW788.. You won't like the fact that the distance from the blade to the front edge of the table is only 3 inch.. take a notice of how much distance there is from the blade to the front edge of the table on your DW788..... Imaging cutting off half of that distance and scrolling a large piece.. Going with the a Hawk or a Seyco with the larger table... not only larger table but that distance makes a huge difference when cutting those large projects.. Those folks that say that distance doesn't affect them haven't done too many large projects like this.. If your going to do large stuff.. the only real option is the Hawk.. Even though there is a whopping 8" between the blade and table edge on the Seyco saw.. you still only have a 21" throat.. so that leaves you with a Hawk.. Pegas is no offering a larger table.. and supposedly will fit the EX saws.. so the other option is a EX-30 with a larger Pegas table.. These saw manufactures leave out the guy that does very large projects it seems... But then.. most folks aren't making real large stuff now days.. and it's not real practical to make a 30" saw when you only sell a handful of them a year.. JMO    

I missed a brand new 30" for $795.00