kmmcrafts

Seen this saw on craiglist last night.. been talking to the guy and it looks as though we have made a deal... Just in case he takes this down.. its a new in sealed box EX-21 for $360.. Now.. if anyone local on here might be interested in a Hawk or Two let me know.. I don't need all these saws.. and it's time I unload some.. Hate to send my 226 ultra down the road but.. I have run a EX on a test run years ago and it cut just like my DeWalt does.. maybe a little smoother... been a while.. anyway I feel the EX will be able to cut as aggressive and work much like my 788 does.. My Hawks are both awesome working saws.. they just don't cut as fast as my 788.. and I'm thinkin I'll like/use the EX more than that of the Hawks.. https://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/tls/d/new-excalibur-120-volt-21-in/6376740275.html

If you have a bandsaw you could buy a 3/4 - 1" board and resaw it.. then you have a book matched piece of lumber.. I guessing you don't have a bandsaw or a planner though.. If you do end up doing a glue up.. just a word of caution.. the glue line will cut different than the rest of the board.. and it happens a bit before the glue line where it soaks into the wood.. it cuts fine.. just different.. so just be aware of that while cutting.. at least that has been my experience.. I haven't cut too many glue ups but was something I did notice when I did cut one..

I rarely see any woodwork at shows in my area.. most of what I see is jewelry, sewn items, usually a guy selling honey and maple syrup.. the rest are pampered chief avon and the like things.. which.. in my opinion have no business selling at a craft fair.. what part of Avon and those others have to do with crafts.. who let them in? Maybe because they have a hard time filling up the venue.. or just poorly managed.. We do have two nice shows a year that is typically really handmade stuff.. but then.. one time I was there a fella had all kinds of laser made wood ornaments and that sort of stuff.. at china made prices.. haven't seen him since either.. so either he didn't do well or they found out it wasn't handmade?

Well since you brought this up.. maybe i should start a new topic in the business forum.. but anyhow.. a couple years ago etsy switch their payment system so they themselves can accept the payment processing rather than Paypal.. There are many people who do not like PayPal.. Then there are those that would rather pay through PayPal.. but at any rate.. my sales jumped quite a lot once I changed and started accepting etsy's checkout.. so far I'd say around 95% of my sales go through the etsy checkout.. probably in part because it is streamlined with etsy.. if you pay with PayPal you have to be directed to PayPal site..log in and checkout.. where as etys is all right on the shopping cart streamline.. Most of the other sites I sell on only do the PayPal thing.. One has recently gave out another option but as a seller I have to set it up and make an account with their new processor. I need to do it.. as I imagine that would help sales there as well since it is more streamlined.. Another fast growing trend is mobile shoppers.. ie people shopping and making purchases with their cell phones and tablets etc.. and the web site you set up and sell on needs to be mobile optimized.. or you'll be missing out on sales from those that shop with their phones.. Right now it's about 30% of my shoppers checking out on a mobile device.. and that trend is growing tremendously..

I played around with selling my scroll work back in Sept. 2010.. but I was only playing around testing the waters and whatnot from 2010 until 2015.. 2015 is when I decided to give it a "Real" go and work at it.. In 2015 my sales count in my etsy shop was 30.. yeah.. only 30 in 2015.. But I was selling on another site for a year or so before that.. that site offered classes for online selling.. classes included shop critiques etc.. where a trained person would offer advice on anything from your pictures to better ways to describe items for better SEO.. etc.. classes was free at the time and I took advantage of all of it I could.. Unfortunately that site ran into many issues and forced many sellers packing there shops up and moving to etsy or?.. I had nearly 130 sales on that site within one year.. The fellow doing those classes no longer works for that web site and they no longer do those classes.. On a side note.. I've been considering starting up a blog site and apply much of the stuff I learned for others that would like to start up a online store.. Of coarse.. this won't happen until after the holidays.. The blog site would consist of some info and resources for shipping, photographing your products, building a photo booth tips etc etc.. would cover many things pertaining to online selling... Whether I actually do it is another story.. seems I've always got great ideas that never get done, LOL.. in the mean time.. there are some books one could buy and read.. I bought one that is titled something like " Selling your crafts online " and they cover selling on many different selling platforms.. good read but coverage of actual selling tips is limited.. which many of these books are.. There is a ton of info online.. however sorting through the good / bad stuff is a pain to do..

Sorry to hear you had a bad sales weekend.. I think the post from the other day ( Believe JT started ) hit the nail on the head with the fact that.. these online venues are taking away from the craft shows.. and the show organizers from what I've seen have been having a hard time getting crafters to sign up to sell at their events.. In my area.. there are always ads looking for vendors.. I half wonder if this is why they let in all the flea market type stuff.. Myself crafts shows just don't work with having to run my kids to their school sporting events etc.. I can't plan out a few weeks from now let along months.. too hard to commit to a show.. and most of the shows are like you stated... full of cheap flea market junk.. for these reasons is why I turned to online selling.. by no means bragging or rubbing this in.. but my weekend has turned out $700 in sales so far ( days not over yet )..while I've been sitting here watching movies etc with the family.. while everyone is gone during the week.. I'll be packing up orders and making the custom orders..

Rubber stamp is a neat idea.. I had never thought of that.. I've been using a fine point Sharpe marker to brand my items.. However I do not brand my ornaments.. but would like to.. I often wondered if it'd be worth putting a small heavy paper tag on the hanger..

Took My Hawk 226 apart last Thursday evening so I could clean up and check bearings.. Those shielded thrust bearings was a little gritty.. so glad I went ahead and did this.. I ended up spraying them down good with break parts cleaner and re-greased them with synthetic grease.. They work real smooth now.. I don't know if any of you remember me mentioning the connecting rod bearing being dry and gritty or not.. this was a few weeks back when I broke the variable speed unit.. I still need to replace these bearings.. tried cleaning them up but I couldn't get them to spin freely so I need to get some new ones.. Thankfully I have my old faithful 788 or the other Hawk to cut on because I have several orders come in over this weekend to make.. Sure is nice to have a couple back-up saws.. However I could put this Hawk back together in about 10 minutes and run it.. This would be at least an hour job if I had my 788 apart this far, LOL

He gave me many tips for doing puzzles back when I first started scrolling.. He sure will be missed.. Prayers to his family

I agree with Ray.. Unless your saw is making some very loud noises.. I'd just take it apart and grease it up.. I run my saw a lot.. and I have the original bearings in the back end of the saw.. When the saw was about 2-3 years old I started getting a slight noise from it and was getting some blade vibration.. I watch the said videos. took my saw completely apart.. while I did have some minor wear on the back bigger bearing & bushing.. I just cleaned it up and added the synthetic grease.. that was back in 2012.. back part of the saw has not been touched since.. I did end up needing new bearings and sleeves on the front portion of the saw.. while only two of the bearings and bushings was really the only bad ones with a couple others with minor wear.. I just replaced them all since I had to take the bearings to the local bearing shop so I could match them up.. I have all the pieces needed to do a full rebuild this time.. as it needs it now.. but this is a 2008 saw.. I had it apart on 2012.. and just now getting noisy again.. ( mostly from the back of the saw ) where there was some minor wear.. had I had the parts on hand back when i had the back of the saw opened up.. I'd have replaced those.. but I needed to use it asap.. so I just cleaned it up and greased it.. been running since.. I'm thinking when I take mine apart after the holidays.. I'll only need to replace the back portion of the saw and just clean / grease the front.. noise is coming from the back..

Maybe you two should talk with the stores about the concerns of the service and parts for the King scroll saws.. from reading these forums.. I gather that there would be quite an interest for the King scroll saw but many have concerns about service / parts.. I'd like to see these saws be a good hit for both our scrolling community and for the sales of the saws.. Hate to see a good saw die out just because of worries of parts and service.. i think woodcraft could sell a fair amount of these saws.. if they offered some security in service and or at least parts.. Just My Two Cents Worth..

It's sad but finding people to work in a store that knows the equipment inside and out and willing to answer any questions one might have is really about impossible to find.... not to mention finding one that is passionate about their job and what they do.. so yeah, I suspect this happens to many tool selling outlets.. which is what makes places like Hawk, Hegner, PSwood and Seyco stand out.. because they do know the machines.. I don't know if I've ever met the perfect salesman.. either they are greeting you almost before you walk in the door and follow you around.. or.. you can't find one to save your life.. then when you do find one.. they really don't want to be bothered.. LOL

Glad to hear you got it running good!!

I do exactly the same JT.. I made a couple of puzzles.. then thought about the liability that could go wrong if it got into the hands of the wrong child.. Made candle trays.. never sold one.. they sit here in my house.. Only way I might consider doing these type of lights.. is if I was using LED strip lights.. probably the safest light available.. not really any heat off them.. for a fire hazard etc....

This is what got me into selling my work.. I quit my day job to be a stay at home dad.. that was 18 years ago.. BEST thing I ever did.. and best thing for my kids / family.. once the kids was bigger I started messing around with my dads old scroll saw.. took off from there.. Living on one income.. as a mid 20 year old and just starting what I call "life" you sure learn what is a necessary purchase and one that is just a want / luxury.. did without on a lot of things for several years.. and still do.. trying to help my daughter through college and get my youngest a car to drive in a couple years..

I also read that quite some time ago.. but I still haven't seen anything.. I would think the only thing they need is the paint color and the stickers.. not like they need to redesign the wheel.. LOL..

$500? Did you click to convert to USA $$.. because I got a price of $1017 well that was with stand and switch.. but still.. at that price I'd go to woodcraft and get the King version in a 30" saw for about the same money

The ( as we knew it ) Excalibur is sold under many different names now.. Not too long ago Hotshot posted a photo of several Ex saws with different names on them.. Was posted in another topic but.. anyway.. I think there was about 7-8 different colors and names.. So yes from what I can see.. it's just a Ex with a different name..

Not this one, LOL I've only got one DeWalt and two Hawks, My thought was AmazingKevin.. but then he mentioned Georgia.. and I think AmazingKevin lives in Florida.. so not too sure who we are talking about..

First and foremost I'd check the bearing to be sure it spins smooth and doesn't sound dry.. Maybe you already have.. But if the bearing is bad it can get hot and expand enough on that soft aluminum to create the issue you have.. classic sign of a failing bearing is doing exactly what you have going on.. Many times I take a real small tool like a dentist would use to scrape teeth.. I pick at the edge of the seal on the outer part of the bearing ( larger diameter part ) and pick / pry out the seal.. carefully as it bends easy.. anyway you can pick the seal off the bearings and add grease to them.. Truth be told though.. If I had this issue I'd probably opt for the whole assembly with new bearings.. because you are probably going to experience more issues with it before too long anyway.. and while the saw is apart.. Maybe time isn't an issue for you.. but for me I need to have my saw running in top shape if at all possible.. Only way I'd do these suggestions is if I was in a pinch to get orders out while my new part is being shipped to me..

Don't know how comfortable you are with repairing things.. but rather than using paper.. you could try taking the part off the saw.. lay it onto a bench and use a punch and hammer.. you might try what I call pinging the metal in a couple spots to hold the bearing in place.. In other words you punch the metal ( in this case I think aluminum ) right near the bearing just enough to expand it outward toward the bearing.. just one or two spots of doing this would tighten up that bearing and keep it in place.. I'd do that before using paper.. should the bearing fail with paper in there it could set the paper on fire, LOL..

I just did a google search for "Metal tea light inserts" and found these as well as other sites that had them.. not sure about finding them in a local box store.. but anyway I think these are what they are.. http://katescornerstone.com/two-inserts-for-glass-candle-holders-and-tea-lights?language=en&currency=USD&gclid=CjwKCAjwj8bPBRBiEiwASlFLFcA-kq_44I9a9WE_LPsCUrJfpBIrckqbbQha4AhxKUPYV8t0luz8zhoC3xUQAvD_BwE

Believe the bearing is a pressed in bearing.. Also about that rod.. I think I've read somewhere about that and they mentioned to just turn the rod inward a turn or two.. Don't quote me on that though.. maybe totally different issue.. but I do remember reading about turning that rod in a couple turns to stop the thing from rattling... Think I read this on Rick Hutchins web site.. I found it years ago searching for "dewalt scroll saw tune up" Edit to add link to the site.. http://www.scrollsaws.com/SawReviews/DewltTuneUp.htm

Sounds like overall you are happy with your purchase.. I'd like to try one of the Hegners one day.. they really seem to be built really heavy duty.. . I just read a lot about them not being that user friendly for fret work style cutting.. but.. that might be coming from the mouth of a top feeder, LOL.. I'm a bottom feeder so that isn't an issue for me, LOL.. as for the table.. I think one could make a table of their own if the table size was an issue to their type of work.. I personally don't cut a lot of larger stuff.. Mostly ornaments and small desk clocks.. imagine that table is big enough for those.. I didn't even know you had placed an order for one.. Last I'd seen you went to Bushton and looked at the Hawk.. Either way.. glad you was able to get a higher end saw that should meet your needs for many years..

That might depend upon how long you've been doing it.. I first seen these about 2-3 years ago.. Your design is different in that you put the text on the outside of the state.. ones I seen was cut out if the shape, LOL and then they put a heart in the location the customer needed.. LOL