Archer

I've found construction grade plywood in general works just fine for backer boards, not glamorous but necessary on a lot of projects. Hope this helps

I can always move it back, but I do think it could run smoother. But it runs nice enough now anyway. And just in time too, I got a time sensitive commission for a dozen alpaca magnets yesterday.

I think I've solved all the problems. Adjusting the arm stopped the lower clamp hitting the table. I had to shift the motor as far as the cord would let me and it could probably be turned further if I could but its running smoother now. The tensioning issue is just me and something I'll get used to in time. Thanks to everyone for the help, and if anyone knows how to move the motor further please let me know.

Thank you, unfortunately I live in Australia so calling Ray is not really an option for me.

As some of you know I bought a new scroll saw a couple of days ago. Its a like-new Taiwanese made Excalibur and I'm having some problems with it. As shown in the first picture the upper and lower blade arms\clamps are not aligned so the blade does not run square. As shown in the second picture the lower blade clamp hits the bottom of the table when the saw is running. I'm also having some problems tightening the tension lever but that may just be me I'm not very strong. Any information you all can share is welcome. Please help. Edit: since posting the above I discovered the top arm was not pushed down all the way. I pushed it down and that seemed to stop the lower blade clamp hitting the table. The rest of the problems are still there though.

Thank you. I haven't used it much yet but I actually like the clamps. They are an order of magnitude easier to use than the worn-out clamps on the Delta 40-540 I've been using. It runs smoother, too.

I'm very excited and wanted to share. I found this lovely saw on marketplace and took a ten-and-a-half hour round trip to pick it up. It's almost unused despite being about 15-20 years old and was stored in a dry shed so its in perfect working order despite its age. Its an original Taiwanese-made Excalibur, originally sold on the Australian market by Carba-Tec. I paid $600 Australian Dollars for it, roughly $412 US or 358 Euros at time of posting. I think I got a good deal, but please tell me your opinions.

I cut a lot of Steve Good patterns. The top photo is what I'm currently working on, I believe the pattern is called Triptych Horses or something similar. I am cutting it from silky oak. The other two photos are magnets I made a while ago, using Steve Good designs as a base. RIP Steve.

Answering your query on it not been user friendly - I suspect it is worn. The lever falls out every time I open it and most often the wire tensioner does too. I have to loosen the screw almost every time to remove the blade and then the clamp plates twist. Taking the blade in or out can take several minutes, although I'm getting a little faster when it cooperates. Sometimes it takes several tries to seat the blade properly but that may be inexperience - I've only used the saw about two months. If the clamp set-up did not fall apart every time I use it I would keep it, especially since the saw doesn't actually belong to me - it belongs to the local Men's Shed. My Shed mates are okay with changing the saw to be more user-friendly, though. The bottom clamp also works fine - the only issue I had was the blade popped out once, which I think was user error. Thank you for your comment and help.

I can get the Niqua blades from online supplier The Wood Works.com here in Australia. They cost approx. $1.00 each not counting postage if I buy them in bulk. They work just fine. Thanks for your comment.

I recently started using a Delta 16in saw. It cuts clean and straight and I like it but the blade clamp assembly is horrible. even after several months of using it the blade is still a nightmare to change. There is nothing wrong with the blade clamp itself but it is not user friendly. I know some people have swapped blade clamps on other saws. My question is, does anyone know if changing the blade clamp on my Delta is possible/a good idea, and if so, what should I replace it with? Thank you,

I use glue sticks too but I don't bother with tape. Here in Australia where I live the heat melts the tape adhesive into the wood fibres and clogs up the sanders. Glue sticks sand off easy and leave no residue. I used to use spray adhesive but glue sticks sand off easier and peel away less when cutting.

Magnets are what I make most. Of the thirty-some things I've made so far magnets make up twenty-some. The picture is a bunch of half-done magnets I'm making for commissions. Cut on a Delta 16in with Niqua reverse-tooth #5 blades. Woods used are bamboo, pine and silky-oak.

Yes. And I have some pinless blades that came with the saw, too. I'm talking about long term when I say I need a source of pinless blades. good thought, though.

Hello everyone, I recently obtained a second hand delta scroll saw. It is a good saw and I like it a lot. However, it uses pinless blades and I can't find anywhere local to me that sells pinless blades. My question is, where do my fellow Aussie scroll saw users get their blades? What brand is best? I'm looking for a reputable online retailer but I haven't been able to find anything yet. Any help will be appreciated. Archer.

This one has to be my favourite. Steve Good design cut in pine with a black painted backerboard. The frame is made of paddle-pop \ popsicle sticks.

That is gorgeous.

Thank you for the pattern. The finished ones look really good.

Hi Marg. Good to see a fellow Aussie. To my knowledge none of the mills local to me sell retail. I know the people who own them and purchase offcuts and scrap as a private sale. Sorry I can't be of more help.

Thanks Scrappile! Yes, they are a lot of fun.

Hello everyone, I'm Archer, from Australia. I actually joined back in August but I only recently actually looked at the forums. I was - and am - more interested in the patterns then the social aspect. But I thought I should say hello and tell a little about myself. Sorry in advance if I ramble on a bit. I live in rural Northern New South Wales, Australia. The climate varies between sub-tropical and warm-temperate, depending on the year. The rainfall varies so much we don't have a consistent average, but overall is fairly dry, except when its not. Temperatures range from +40 degrees Celsius in summer to -5 degrees Celsius in winter. All this means that wood can be hard to work with because of its tendency to warp and swell and shrink and crack with weather changes. The area I live in is semi-forested so there is plenty of wood available. Local hardwoods can be bought straight from the sawmills. Most Australian hardwoods are very hard. They blunt blades and wear out sandpaper very quickly. On the other hand, it is easy to burnish them because they are so hard. I don't usually cut the hardest woods on the scroll saw. It is possible but it takes time and many blades. My favourite wood to cut on the scroll saw is silky oak, Grevillea Robusta. Silky oak is a popular hardwood timber in Australia due to its beauty and workability. It is softer then many hardwoods but resistant to rot and pests. It has a beautiful wavy even grain and varies in colour from pale yellowish to pinkish to reddish. It cuts like butter and sands easily to a smooth finish. It also weighs less then some of the denser timbers, so its good for ornaments and other hanging things. Other woods I've cut with the scroll saw include Peach, which finishes beautifully but is hard to cut, Pine, common but not a favourite due to its resinous and pithy nature, and bamboo, which is not something I've seen other people use.. I get the bamboo by buying bamboo cutting boards which can be expensive but not if I buy them on sale. Bamboo is my second favourite timber to cut on the scroll saw. It cuts even easier then silky oak but is more prone to breaking and tear-out. I don't actually own a scroll saw, yet. If anyone has advice on scroll saws available in Australia I will welcome it. I am fortunate to live near a local Men's Shed which has a collection of woodworking machines and tools and knowledgeable people to show me how to use them. Those tools do include a Ryobi brand scroll saw. It is a smooth and accurate saw but uses pinned blades, which is annoying since the blade needs a 6mm hole at minimum. This does limit the patterns I can use, but I just have to get creative. The Australian Men's Shed Association is an Australia-wide non-profit association which focuses on men's mental health and the betterment of their communities. Most sheds have tools for things like woodwork or metalwork but this is not a requirement. For anyone wanting more information googling "Australian Men's Shed Association" will show you their website. I dabble in a variety of other creative pursuits including, but not limited to, - Pyrography, Pottery, Rag Mat Weaving with old, worn out clothes and bedlinen, various other woodworks, various paper crafts and leatherwork, and many others. I love animals and my family have many on our property, including sheep, miniature ponies, ducks, chooks {chickens for those of you who aren't Aussie}, cats and dogs. I'm including a photo of my dog, Dusty, who is as I write this, lying on my bed. Sorry for the poor quality photo, my camera doesn't take good indoor photos. Animals feature strongly in most of my crafts and scroll sawing is no exception. I think I've rambled long enough. Congratulations if you read all of it. I hope I didn't go off on to many tangents. Thank you for reading, and happy scrolling, Archer.

Thank you Charlie E. You are so right about more cuttings to come, I have so many patterns just waiting to be cut. I'm currently cutting my nineteenth pattern, which is a pattern very similar to this one, from the same Steve Good file. I'm cutting it in silky oak.

I never actually noticed the grain. The wood was a scrap offcut and that was the only way the pattern fit. You're right though. Thanks for pointing that out. I like it even more now, lol.

I should note that this isn't my first project, it is my third. I'm posted the first ones in my Gallery. Thank you all for for the kind words.