Roberta Moreton Posted March 16, 2025 Posted March 16, 2025 My EX had that tension thing on the back. Honestly, I hated that saw. The new Harbor Freight clone doesn’t even release the arm raise easily! went back to a Dewalt. I’m good. OCtoolguy 1 Quote
BadBob Posted March 17, 2025 Posted March 17, 2025 17 hours ago, Roberta Moreton said: My EX had that tension thing on the back. That is set and forget unless it somehow gets out of adjustment. You align the upper arm parallel to the table. I assume that is the same for all of these saw styles. I have an EX-21 and a Pegas, and it is the same for both of these. OCtoolguy 1 Quote
Bill WIlson Posted March 17, 2025 Posted March 17, 2025 I never touched the rear knob on my EX-21 until I had to disassemble it to replace the linkage back in 2023. Mine has never worked loose or otherwise gotten out of adjustment. I've owned it since 2016. I now have both an EX-21 and a Dewalt. I had a Dewalt before the EX and sold it when I got the EX. When the EX broke down a year ago, I picked up a Dewalt as a back-up. I had forgotten how much more aggressive the Dewalt was. I'm glad I can tune the EX. I use it for most things, but the Dewalt is great for thick stock like compound cutting and stand-up puzzles. OCtoolguy 1 Quote
Roberta Moreton Posted March 17, 2025 Posted March 17, 2025 I understand, mine would not stay. I reset it multiple times. I just had a bad experience. I’m not sure I want to try another. OCtoolguy 1 Quote
OCtoolguy Posted March 17, 2025 Posted March 17, 2025 I just did the rubber band trick and have no problems with either of my EX's. NC Scroller 1 Quote
GreggA Posted March 18, 2025 Posted March 18, 2025 On 11/21/2024 at 4:48 AM, timelett said: Not to cause a stir but when have you been to a power tool store that allows you or me to fiddle with the heavy power tools? I'm happy with mine but I am not running a business with it. And I am still using the clamps that came with the saw. I want to give it a fair chance to prove itself along with the saw before a honest report. I have always had a good experience with the Harbor freight staff and tools. I agree timelett. Some people are just negative and think more money is always better. If your happy with tools you have and the end result is your satisfaction that's all that matters. OCtoolguy and Scrappile 1 1 Quote
Tony333 Posted October 9, 2025 Posted October 9, 2025 Please elaborate on the upgrade blade holders, I have this saw and completely confused as to why HF dies not carry the blades designed for it. OCtoolguy 1 Quote
kmmcrafts Posted October 10, 2025 Posted October 10, 2025 On 10/9/2025 at 2:54 PM, Tony333 said: Please elaborate on the upgrade blade holders, I have this saw and completely confused as to why HF dies not carry the blades designed for it. Which saw do you have? There are different saws they made over the years and the upgraded blade holders are specific to the model saw you have.. Pegas blade holders for their 22" saw if you have the older saws then there is another place to get adapters for the blades.. so it makes a difference on what saw you have. OCtoolguy 1 Quote
OCtoolguy Posted October 11, 2025 Posted October 11, 2025 It's probably something installed wrong or out of adjustment but I'd probably return it if you can't figure it out. Quote
kmmcrafts Posted October 11, 2025 Posted October 11, 2025 On 10/9/2025 at 2:54 PM, Tony333 said: Please elaborate on the upgrade blade holders, I have this saw and completely confused as to why HF dies not carry the blades designed for it. BTW, IF harbor Frieght did carry the blades they'd probably be the crappy blades that all the hardware stores etc. have on their display racks.. Most blades you can buy at your local box stores are junk.. You need to buy one of three of these brands, Flying Dutchman, Olsen, or Pegas.. each brand has good blades but slightly different blade configurations and you have folks that are diehard brand loyal that will swear about the blades their brand offers.. I personally use all three brands for certain projects and I don't feel there is any certain brand that is "Best" just depends on the type of project and material and also your style of comfort level of cutting etc.. Best thing is to buy many samples from each brand and find what you like.. what you like today might change as you advance in your scrolling ability OCtoolguy and Hawk 2 Quote
Wichman Posted October 29, 2025 Posted October 29, 2025 On 10/11/2025 at 8:01 AM, kmmcrafts said: BTW, IF harbor Frieght did carry the blades they'd probably be the crappy blades that all the hardware stores etc. have on their display racks.. Most blades you can buy at your local box stores are junk.. You need to buy one of three of these brands, Flying Dutchman, Olsen, or Pegas.. each brand has good blades but slightly different blade configurations and you have folks that are diehard brand loyal that will swear about the blades their brand offers.. I personally use all three brands for certain projects and I don't feel there is any certain brand that is "Best" just depends on the type of project and material and also your style of comfort level of cutting etc.. Best thing is to buy many samples from each brand and find what you like.. what you like today might change as you advance in your scrolling ability It's funny but I bought some of the HF pinned blades for a test I was running (interrupted due to stuff) and they were better than the same size/style of Olson blades, go figure. kmmcrafts and OCtoolguy 1 1 Quote
OCtoolguy Posted October 30, 2025 Posted October 30, 2025 On 11/11/2024 at 7:48 AM, Scrappile said: I came across this the other day when cleaning. This is what I used for a long time. Made for my DeWalt saw but still used it on the following Excalibur and Sako. The last two did not need it, but I liked the feeling of extra security that the arm was not going to come down. No, I will not sell it, nor do I have a pattern! Paul, I'm toying with building one of these, Can you tell me what finish you used to get that patina? I really love it. Scrappile 1 Quote
Scrappile Posted October 30, 2025 Posted October 30, 2025 1 hour ago, OCtoolguy said: Paul, I'm toying with building one of these, Can you tell me what finish you used to get that patina? I really love it. I use a finish called 'long-time-exposure-to-the-sun'. Wichman and OCtoolguy 2 Quote
Denny Knappen Posted October 31, 2025 Posted October 31, 2025 Just a note. I have a customer with the Bauer and he will be putting the Pegas Chuck Head Set on it. He will let me know how it works. OCtoolguy 1 Quote
philipcollier Posted January 10 Posted January 10 I have a 22" Bauer. Added a Arm release, but more importantly to me I added a dust collection system under the table. Connected it to a shop vacuum out the back. It doesn't get in the way of me top feeding the blade and working the lower clamp and doesn't catch everything but does catch most. It might get in the tilting the arm but I rarely do that. It is siliconed in place. Aaron K5ATG and OCtoolguy 1 1 Quote
OCtoolguy Posted January 10 Posted January 10 17 hours ago, philipcollier said: I have a 22" Bauer. Added a Arm release, but more importantly to me I added a dust collection system under the table. Connected it to a shop vacuum out the back. It doesn't get in the way of me top feeding the blade and working the lower clamp and doesn't catch everything but does catch most. It might get in the tilting the arm but I rarely do that. It is siliconed in place. Where did you get it? Quote
rjweb Posted January 11 Posted January 11 Is the arm release something you made or did you purchase, RJ Quote
philipcollier Posted January 11 Posted January 11 9 hours ago, OCtoolguy said: Where did you get it? I 3d printed it. Found a pre-made design that is supposed to be for drilling drywall and catching the dust. OCtoolguy 1 Quote
philipcollier Posted January 11 Posted January 11 3 hours ago, rjweb said: Is the arm release something you made or did you purchase, RJ I made the arm. I still need to add a spring to it to keep it from moving a little bit but it works great. OCtoolguy 1 Quote
Aaron K5ATG Posted April 29 Posted April 29 On 1/10/2026 at 9:49 PM, philipcollier said: I 3d printed it. Found a pre-made design that is supposed to be for drilling drywall and catching the dust. Does anyone happen to have the fille to this or something similer so that I can have it printed? OCtoolguy 1 Quote
fuzzyscroller Posted August 13 Posted August 13 On 11/11/2024 at 7:47 PM, kmmcrafts said: I just went to the website and added it to my cart and then hitting the checkout button screen it gives me the option of 1 year for 49.99 or two years for 59.99.. For someone like me that scrolls a lot and burns through a DeWalt in one to one and a half years that might be a good deal since I can't even source the bearings to rebuild one that cheap.. I believe it cost me around $180 way back in 2014 which was the last time I rebuilt the Dewalt I had and then I sold it in 2017. The EX-21 parts cost me nearly $200 or maybe a little more than $200 back in 2020 when I rebuilt that.. I have about 550 hours run time on the hour meter on the EX-21 and have rebuilt it twice now.. and it's getting there for a third time.. Oddly enough.. 550 hours on the new Hawk I bought.. still kickin up dust like it was new.. no parts has been needed yet. The first Dewalt i had I used for several years it never gave me any trouble. I did buy in 1999, I think the newer ones are less reliable for long time use. I have noticed that most of the new saws event he entry levels , such as the Bauer, are all designed the same which is exactly how the first Dewalt I bought was designed. So, knowing this I am steering away from the newer models of the DW788. The one i have now, its DeWalt 18" #DXVS4502?; but it feels and operates like the older Delta's. That was the first actual scroll saw I ever purchased. I know they are both owned by the same mother company. Just my two cents on what I have noticed lately. Quote
kmmcrafts Posted August 13 Posted August 13 20 minutes ago, fuzzyscroller said: The first Dewalt i had I used for several years it never gave me any trouble. I did buy in 1999, I think the newer ones are less reliable for long time use. I have noticed that most of the new saws event he entry levels , such as the Bauer, are all designed the same which is exactly how the first Dewalt I bought was designed. So, knowing this I am steering away from the newer models of the DW788. The one i have now, its DeWalt 18" #DXVS4502?; but it feels and operates like the older Delta's. That was the first actual scroll saw I ever purchased. I know they are both owned by the same mother company. Just my two cents on what I have noticed lately. I didn't even know this saw existed.. searched your model number and sure enough 18" scroll saw by DeWalt. According to google it was released in June of 2025. I'm going to have to go look at it at Lowes next time I'm there. OCtoolguy 1 Quote
JTTHECLOCKMAN Posted August 14 Posted August 14 (edited) I had no idea they made this either. Here is a link. https://toolguyd.com/dewalt-scroll-saw-lowes-dxvs4502-launch/ Also https://www.lowes.com/pd/DEWALT-18-in-1-6-Amp-Variable-Speed-Corded-Scroll-Saw/5015869287 Interesting. $300 too. Edited August 14 by JTTHECLOCKMAN Quote
Bill WIlson Posted August 14 Posted August 14 Dewalt doesn't even list the 18" saw on their website. Must be some exclusive deal with Lowes or something. Interesting. I'd like to get a closer look at one, but I know my local Lowes doesn't have it. I was just in there yesterday. Quote
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