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Everything posted by kmmcrafts
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Most things ship within 2-3 weeks for most of the world. I'd loose about 20% of my business if I was to drop international shipping. That's the difference between eating steaks or rice and beans for the year. Click n ship is the only way to go with shipping in my opinion.. and it fills out the customs form for you somewhat. Though I do usually change that to say one or two words to describe it.. (ie farm tractor ornament.. I just put ornament, as they don't care if it's a tractor or not LOL ). It is more work to keep up with the rules etc.. But that is a part of business and the shipping cost. High priced shipping? don't like it? they don't have to buy it.. That's for them to decide not me. Not all international customers know about the VAT tax.. so don't assume that.. I have a blurb about that in my policies and also the automated message to them when placing the order. Many times a customer will message after 3 weeks saying they didn't get the package.. I Don't bother asking the P/O here to look into it because they only enter the tracking number that you give to the same location as you would online.. They don't know that you can look up the main mail system at the destination country on their website enter the tracking and there it is.. setting in customs waiting for VAT tax to be paid.. some other countries are not very good at contacting the customer to let them know it's sitting there waiting for tax payment, and searching on our mail system tracking doesn't show anything once it has processed through our customs sorting facility. I get this a lot from the UK. so I look on "Royal Mail" website for tracking and it'll tell you about as good of tracking as domestic mail does here.. and will say something about VAT tax and or "tried to deliver but nobody answered" and if it's not in customs waiting for tax payment.. many times it was tried to delivered but nobody home etc and it is setting at their local mailing office waiting to be picked up or reschedule delivery.. That all said, I really have not had any more issues than I would with domestic mail.. so I'll continue with international mailing.. as I do like a steak every now and then.
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If you're on instagram the village is also on there too..
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Amazing What People Ask For ( Custom Car Puzzle )
kmmcrafts replied to kmmcrafts's topic in Bragging Rights
Friend had one that he put over 300,000 miles on it.. and yes good mileage, he got 54mpg on a road trip up north once.. most times he was getting 45mpg. They really wasn't a bad car so long as you maintained them good. -
Hawk 226 Ultra Is Back Up And Running
kmmcrafts replied to kmmcrafts's topic in General Scroll Sawing
Yeah for sure, That is probably my biggest peeve with the new Hawk I bought.. seems to be fine with most of the blades I use.. but does make me wonder if it's going to cause some sort of issue with the saw itself at some point, the other thing I dislike is the blade clamps are out in front of the angle adjuster which is convenient for blade changes but also drops the sawdust in your lap.. if you set close anyway, LOL The older saws you had to reach around behind to access the blade.. and the sawdust would pile up on the stand / base of the saw.. But that's the way most newer saws are anyway.. Excalibur, Pegas and DeWalts are that way anyway.. not sure about some of the others.. Hegners like that to probably? A lot of people hated how the Hawk you had to reach around behind that angle adjustment mechanism.. But I find that not to be an issue for me.. Rather be that way than have the sawdust pile in my lap and on the floor etc.. -
Hawk 226 Ultra Is Back Up And Running
kmmcrafts replied to kmmcrafts's topic in General Scroll Sawing
Yeah that is one issue with the EX and Pegas type saws.. for those wanting to use the smaller blades.. Also be warned about those small blades with the NEW Hawks.. The older Hawks have a "soft start motor" they slow start and slowly ramp up to the speed you have set on the VS dial.. The new Hawks lack that feature and as soon as you hit the switch it's instantly at speed.. That sudden jolt can break those small blades.. I use 2/0 spirals in my new Hawk with no issue but can't really go any smaller than that without breaking a few now and then.. Just a heads up as I seen in another post you had talked to Bushton about the new saws.. They'd be perfect saw in my opinion if they brought back the slow start motor.. If I ever see a deal on a used Pegas or Hegner I'll buy one.. Already know the Pegas as it's basically the same as my Excalibur but never sat at a Hegner and they are good saws.. Could be my next new favorite saw when I wear out these three Hawks -
Hawk 226 Ultra Is Back Up And Running
kmmcrafts replied to kmmcrafts's topic in General Scroll Sawing
You will need to use a pin punch.. https://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece-punch-set-93424.html and firm but not too hard hits to push the pin out.. I actually soaked mine for a couple days with some PB blaster.. Hardest part is getting it to break loose from its spot.. once it moves it should go fairly easy. Then just kind of reverse the steps in putting it back in.. The pin should slide in with little effort.. but watch it to have the hole lined up as it pushes through when pushing the pin back in place. I'm not to sure on the 26" saw.. I suppose it would depend exactly what style saw it is.. and what motor the saw has.. If the motor is a big bulky looking motor I'd pass it up.. If the motor is close to the diameter of the Pegas motor then I'd get it if you can justify the road trip etc.. The Hawks do cut nice and if I could only have one saw that'd be my choice.. Do like my Excalibur too.. just cut on the Hawks more but now and then I gotta change it up a bit and move to the Excalibur for a while.. Did that today actually.. I put about 2 hours on the Hawk and then switched over and did an hour on the Excalibur.. Sure like to have a Pegas.. They look cooler with the color scheme than my Excalibur, LOL -
Official Time Test - Hawk -vs- DeWalt
kmmcrafts replied to Iguanadon's topic in General Scroll Sawing
Time Machine But typically I always thought they went into the future.. But the title of the movie makes me think I'm wrong because it's "Back to the future".. so apparently they went back in time then came back to the future? I'm confused now.. Headed to bed as my head hurts -
Official Time Test - Hawk -vs- DeWalt
kmmcrafts replied to Iguanadon's topic in General Scroll Sawing
Should be able to adjust the EX to cut aggressive like the DW.. but then the EX has a top blade speed of 1500 and the DW top speed is 1700.. so there is that factor too. I'd rather have that big rounded table of the DW than the EX and the DW stand is hands down way better in my opinion.. -
Hawk 226 Ultra Is Back Up And Running
kmmcrafts replied to kmmcrafts's topic in General Scroll Sawing
This post is 3 years old.. The saw was brand new still in the box Hawk that I bought in 2014-15? .. but the saw is actually a 1998.. sitting all those years the grease dried up in the two bearings the saw has that are greased bearings.. Replaced the bearings and 600 hours later still going strong.. Not bad for a $350 saw and $12 in bearings.. Produced around $60,000 - 70,000 in products with that saw. -
Hawk 226 Ultra Is Back Up And Running
kmmcrafts replied to kmmcrafts's topic in General Scroll Sawing
Hawk says to oil that wedge thing.. but I've read where someone said Hegner says not to.. I never could understand that theory but whatever.. Hawk doesn't have the brass bushings and there is no oil needed for the bearings in the arms at the pivot points.. so there is only oil on the cam lever area where you tension the blade at the front and that wedge at the rear of the saw.. I wish saw manufactures would put hour meters on the saws.. based on the amount of hours I run my saws since installing hour meters on them.. I'd say I have around 400 hours on the oldest 1993 Hawk I have.. it was well used and needed some parts when I first got it.. I have about $200 into that saw ( $100 I paid for the saw and $100 in parts ).. The Ultra was new when I got it in 2014 but it's a 1998 saw.. It needed two bearings shortly after I got it.. the grease dried up.. Anyway I'd say that saw has 600 hours by now.. other than those two bearings I've done nothing to it.. Newest Hawk had just turned 200 hours today.. The EX I'm guessing around 500 hours and about 300 hours is when I took it apart and cleaned / greased the bearings ( after it was too late LOL ) but I did manage to get another 100 hours before I had to buy new parts last summer and do that rebuild.. I just rolled the hours another 100 hours since that rebuild on it last week. so the saw has a total of 500 hours.. I've not had to do any repairs to the Hawks other than that one bearing in the ultra.. and the worn parts on the first Hawk but I bought that knowing it needed work. I'd say most of the DW - EX type saws should run 400 - 600 hours if they are not the China made ones.. But I really would be curious how many hours a Pegas etc type saw would run before needing bearings etc. since I had the China made saw I'm curious if one of the other better made ones would run longer without taking them apart for grease etc.. JT claimed ( and a few others on FB ) that they've never oiled the Hawk saw.. I know JT used to pump out a lot of work on his saws.. I bet they have over 2000 - 3000 hours.. Only thing he talked of having to replace was the tension cam mechanism a couple times.. That's really impressive to me.. considering never being oiled. I'm in no way trying to say Hawk is better than the other saws.. I'm basically stating my experience with Hawk and EX type saws based on my production cutting with each saw.. Not every saw in the same brand is going to be a great saw.. every brand has a lemon and I realize my EX was probably a lemon.. -
I've really been looking at the Hegners.. I don't want to buy a new one for my first one anyway.. but want one with the up front tension lever etc.. I'd like to send the Excalibur to a new home.. nice saw.. just don't want to hassles of rebuilding it again etc.. you have to pull the whole saw apart to grease the bearings etc.. as much as I saw these days I don't want to take the time every year to do that.. about a half day job buy the time you tune the saw back up and everything.. I just performed maintenance on my Hawk tonight.. drop of oil on the tension cam and a drop on each side of the wedge piece at the back of the saw.. Took a whole maybe 5 minutes.. probably 3 of them was looking for my oil can.. LOL
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I agree with Ray, especially because of the saws age.. Grease can dry out over time.. Back in 2015 I bought a new still boxed Hawk 226 Ultra scroll saw cheap.. but after a short time of running it ( maybe 150 hours ) the saw developed some vibration and noise. Turned out to be faulty bearings.. but what I seen inside them after pulling the seals off them was dried up grease.. Just because something is old but never used doesn't always mean it's like it was when actually new.. seals dry rot grease dries out etc etc..
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You make one and willing to ship it, I might actually buy it, LOL The excalibur stand is about the poorest designed stand I've ever sat at.. Not to be offensive to those that like them.. but there is the cross braces etc on the front and the stand has a wide stance.. Nowhere for your legs / feet to go.. I know you hated the Hawk stand because of the height but at least it's not so wide that you cannot sort of straddle the stand.. The best stand I ever had so far was the DeWalt stand and the old style Delta triangle shaped stands from the 90's.. Excalibur and like saws seemed to build a nice saw but they really missed it with their stands.. JMO Someone needs to get the word out to Pegas.. maybe they'll look into designing a better stand.. they seemed to be onto improving the saws and saw tables etc.. But they still have that bulky stand. I am intrigued by the Hegner stands.. Never sat at one.. But I can't wait to find that perfect deal on a Hegner to try one out.. I almost just ordered a new one around last Christmas.. I've heard the stands design is less room in the shop etc.. I can see that both the Hawk and Excalibur stands do take up a fair amount of space.. But one can also build shelves into the stands.. Something I've been wanting to do to my Hawk stands.. my oldest hawk 220 came with a custom shelve built into the stand.. Very useful
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I see it Ray.. I'm not sure if I see it the same way you do though Let me try a shot at this.. In the diagram after you scroll down slightly shows numbered pieces of the weight / scroll saw bench. I think you are saying to mount the saw on the #5 and you would sit on #6 but add a backrest to #6 and modify #5's height but also have it so it could be adjustable tilt.. Kinda cool idea really.. I like my factory stands best but then again.. I've never used a custom made stand.. probably cause I can't build anything and have it come out right.. besides cars and things like that.. I literally suck and building things with wood for some reason..
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I do that but not with dyes.. I create a pile of sawdust from different types of wood.. sometimes with I need to use a wood filler so to speak.. I'll take a small amount of whatever wood sawdust and mix it with a small amount of glue to fill in a small void or crack.. I've been known to drill too deep a couple times with my forestner bit for a clock insert.. I have filled the hole on the back side with this mixture a time or two.. it isn't even noticed unless it is a large hole then I don't do that ..
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That's where I get about 90% of my supplies and many tools.. My CNC came from there.. I actually was hired for a job there but I declined as the job was for every FRI,SAT,SUN, MON... I wanted to take it but would never see my family so I declined. Plus.. the pay was less than I make just playing around in my shop.. I mainly was wanting the insurance benefits though so I didn't have to buy my own.. Anyway Yes, They'll work with you and do curbside pick-up.. They also have a store in Indiana but I think that one is farther away and it's more on the western side of IN..
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Very nice shop and selection of tools. Too nice for me to work in, LOL One thing I lack in life is organization skills.. If my shop is organized I can't find anything.. LOL I couldn't view the video on my PC but worked well on my iphone.. BUT.. yes I have slow DSL internet so the phone with 4G is faster than my internet sometimes.. also depends upon how many of my kids are gaming, youtube etc at the same time as to whether I'm allowed online or not, LOL I think a lot has to do with how the site optimizes the video for viewing? I'd love to do more youtube stuff but it takes an hour to load a 10-20 minute video.. I can load the same video on FB or other places in about 3-5 minutes.. My son does youtube stuff but he has a way of optimizing it before he uploads.. I've asked him a few times how he does it.. but he won't set me up with his method.. he just goes and does it for me.. but then when I have a video every couple days for him to do it don't get done.. he needs to teach me not just do it for me, LOL
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Wow! great work on that.
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Amazing What People Ask For ( Custom Car Puzzle )
kmmcrafts replied to kmmcrafts's topic in Bragging Rights
Thank Dan, The person that ordered this has one of these that he fully restored I guess, really nice person to deal with and yeah for whatever reason he said he and his wife have a little running joke about the car and this is what they call it, LOL -
Amazing What People Ask For ( Custom Car Puzzle )
kmmcrafts replied to kmmcrafts's topic in Bragging Rights
Thank you, I ordered the puzzle last fall from Scott, but to my Knowledge Scott is no longer taking custom new designs orders at least for now, as Harvey has been having some health problems, took 2.5 - 3 months for me to get this pattern. I still have 4 others that he is still trying to get done. Thankfully my customers have been real cool and understanding about it. -
Amazing What People Ask For ( Custom Car Puzzle )
kmmcrafts replied to kmmcrafts's topic in Bragging Rights
Thank you -
Amazing What People Ask For ( Custom Car Puzzle )
kmmcrafts replied to kmmcrafts's topic in Bragging Rights
Thank you RJ, I dated a girl that bought a brand new one shortly after we started dating, broke it off after she got that car, Hahahaha I knew I'd be the one making repairs.. -
I had posted some puzzle videos on my TikTok page and got some request for custom cars and names etc.. This particular one kinda struck me funny.. The car is a Geo Spectrum Pattern was done by Harvey,
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I use my Bandsaw way more than I do my table saw.. Probably would help if I had a good table saw though.. Smoked a bearing in my table saw motor about 5 years ago and smoke rolled out of the motor.. I took the motor apart and put a new bearing in it but it doesn't have the power to cut solid lumber like it used to.. Just a cheap Tradesman brand saw that I bought on clearance back in the 90's.. I only use it for breaking down sheets of 1/8 - 1/4 BB ply for the last few years.. I also like the Timberwolf blades.. Last time I ordered woodslicer resaw blade and I like it better yet for resawing purposes.. really nice blades..
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That is my experience with them as well, I cut about 95% of my stuff with a #3 . I used to use a lot of those #5's but you are right.. They did redesign the MG blades back a few years ago and the #5's just aren't what they used to be.. If I need a larger blade for something I usually go to a #5 FD-UR instead of Pegas..
