mikesscrollsaw

I have a 16" craftsman model 21601, not sure how much different it will be than yours but I've used it for the past 5 years. I think it's a great beginner saw. It is much louder than the higher end saws but not ridiculous. Mine has thumb screws for blade change so no tools required. I keep 3, 5, 7 and 12 blades on hand. Flat blades I don't really use spirals, just my preference. Most of them are ultra reverse blades

Very nice!

Great job on the crosses, looking forward to seeing the next one. All I use is painters tape method. Works great. And is simple and fast.

I dont really ever use 2/0, typically the smallest I use is a 3. As for the hole size, I have a separate chuck that goes in my drill press to use those really tiny drill bits. I got it and the bits from mikes work shop.

I use 1/8 inch Baltic birch plywood for portraits. And put a piece of black construction paper as the backer. This will usually fit into a standard picture frame. I don't normally put any finish on the portraits unless for some reason they aren't framed and then just a clear gloss (water based or laquer just depends on my mood) Hope that's helpful Mike

I like it. Looks really good. As for sticking the pattern to the wood dilemma, I use blue painters tape and 3M spray glue. Easy on easy off. Some spray it right on the wood then use mineral spirits to get the glue off but I don't like using chemicals.

Nice they seem to be taking care of it pretty easily but still sucks to be without. Hopefully the new one will have no issues.

That's awesome! Can never have too much wood

I really like that one

Looks really good, great work!

That looks great! I like the stain too

5/8 " thick purple heart. Can't remember where I got the pattern from.

Compound cut keychain (steve good)

This is so cool I had to give it it's own thread! ok so I just used the saw for really the first time. (I had turned it on and cut some lines on a piece of 1/4" plywood but that was it) Steve Good just posted up some racing key chains so I thought what better than to try one out. 3/4 inch piece of poplar I cut out 24 Jeff Gordon. I don't know if it's me or what but this is quite possibly the smoothest running machine I've ever used. It might just be that my craftsman was slowly wearing out and i got used to it, (frog in a pot of boiling water theory) but this thing is super quiet, and cuts so smooth it's crazy. I've tried these compound cuts before with the old saw and they always came out crappy, like the blade was bending so the cut outs wouldn't fall out of the hole. The EX21 cut them perfectly first time. and I didn't even keep the scraps in the holes, I just let them all fall out as I cut. based on my past experience I started with a number 7 blade but after a very short time removed it and went down to a number 5. might have even been able to go smaller. The EX21 is 2 or maybe even 3 times quieter than my craftsman was, and probably half the vibrations. about 80% speed and it's smooth as silk, full speed it does pick up some vibs but not bad. it's one of those situation where once you use it you wonder how in the world you ever got along without it! I can't compare it to the dewalt because I've never used one, but I will say this, if you ever have the opportunity to get an Excalibur scrollsaw, you better get it I promise you won't be sorry. ok back to cutting! see yall in a month!

Sadly I still havnt used it! I might try to do something later tonight or tomorrow. But it does look really nice sitting on the bench!

it arrived today, upacked and set everything up. did a little cutting with it, and i'm pretty happy so far. very quiet and low vibes compared to my craftsman. cuts pretty smooth. I've never used the foot switch before but I think I can get used to that. I like that I don't have to reach all the way to the back of the machine to set the tension.

finescrollsaw.com, He is in spain, and makes all kinds of advanced scroll saw projects.

It's coming tomorrow!

You can do it! It wasn't as bad as you might think. I have to admit I lose interest if a project takes too long but this wasn't bad at all. As a matter of fact I'm going to make another on really soon.

Yes great job!

That's an excellent cutting. Don't sell yourself short. We all make mistakes your artistic ability is how well you hide it! LOL

It is kinda comical isn't it? LOL

This is what I have now

Welcome to the site! I live in Kentucky as well, also grew up in Florida before I joined the Army. Got out after 13 years active was an Apache test pilot for most of that time. Look forward to seeing you work, this is a fun hobby and great site full of information. Mike

here is alink to the "bragging rights" thread for the Train viewtopic.php?f=3&t=5376