Doug

Dan I started with a DW788 and when it was in the shop I went into immediate depression and got an EX21 for recovery purposes. The DW788 is home but I prefer the EX21 and just have the DW788 as backup. The blade clamps are essentially the same on both and the thumb screws are interchangeable. I like the EX21 tension adjustment better than the DW788 but both are fine. Both are variable speed and on both you take off and throw away or put away the hold down and below table blade guard. If you go for the EX21 I recommend that being in the states you get it from Ray at Seyco. I did not but I understand he does final adjusting before it leaves his shop and can and willingly will discuss and diagnosis any problems long distance. I did not get mine from Ray but have just heard he provides remarkable service. Also, if you need to talk to someone at General International about warranty or parts, they are easy to talk to and communicate with - if you do the EX21 and want General International contact information let me know and I will give it to you. I actually am on my second EX21 as I did have some problems during warranty period which were fixed free for me and when the problem recurred General International just replaced the machine. I bought mine from a local hardwood store I frequent (Midwest Woodworkers) in Omaha as I wanted to support a local store I had confidence in. They gave me the name of a local shop they used for equipment repairs and since General International had no local authorized repair shops they agreed to let me use the local shop and all of the coordination was just great. If you do not buy from Seyco, I suggest you ask whatever vendor you are buying from where you can obtain local authorized warranty repair and then confirm it with General International - packing up and sending a scroll saw in is not something I want to do and there are of lot of places that have never worked on a scroll saw. On my DeWalt when it needed repairs I took it to a local DeWalt authorized service center and it took them over a month before they could finally tell me they knew absolutely nothing about repairing scroll saws and they had to ship it to Kansas City for repairs. That is when I decided I would never be without a backup and My DeWalt serves that purpose well. I actually think both machines are good machines but I do give a good edge to the EX21 which is what I would want if I could have only one of the two machines. Having said that, my second EX21 is the black (first was green) machine with the dust collection attached to the table. I think their attempt at dust collection is a joke and I would remove it but you should probably try it first to see if you agree. I prefer my Rube Goldberg dust collection. I did not have to remove mine as I had a machinest friend do a new table top for my old EX21 so when I got the new one I just took off the table top and put my custom made table top on it. If you can get someone to do it, I think you would love a larger table top - mine is two inches wider on each side and 4 inches longer in front. I even preferred the old table top to the DeWalt tear drop table top. I am attaching a picture of the table top I had made for my EX21 with the old one sitting on top for comparison. As a dreamer I always have considered what my next scroll saw would be if I wanted to upgrade and were willing to spend twice as much money for a scroll saw. My final dreams turned into a Hegner vs a Hawk and if I were to make that type of change from everything I have read I am almost certain I would go with the Hawk by Bushton Manufacturing in Kansas. Until one of those dreams turns into a wet dream, I do not anticipate any changes in scroll saws. If it matters, there is both a General and a General International and General International means the building of the equipment is outsourced to Asia - both are Canadian companies. DeWalt is also outsourced. Hegner is German and Hawk is good old USA built in middle America. I actually at one time wanted an Eclipse and actually tried to order one but that is another story and they are not being made now. Probably more information than you needed or wanted but I was not sure where you are in your process and how much information you already had.

Amen brother - nothing better than putting a smile on someone's face and even better when it is because of something you have created for them.

Dan - I think your brand is just "dan"dy. As I noted before my brand just reads Done by Doug Live Long & Prosper

It took a combination of you and my daughter to make it possible - my part was easy. Thanks again for the pattern. Not to diminish your contribution but Asher was 9 pounds 10 ounces with 38 hours of hard labor so my daughter probably worked harder than you; she and Asher earned having your great pattern cut for them..

Danny We must have been typing at the same time - it just took me longer to get the links and click on "post".

This link is to the manufacturer of what Larry took you to on Amazon http://www.modularhose.com/Loc-Line-14-System and if you ever get frustrated enough with trying to assemble two pieces of Loc-Line, get their special tool - it avoids much frustration and language you do not what your grandchildren to hear http://www.modularhose.com/Loc-Line-14-System/14-miscellaneous If you ever need to hook the Loc-Line to the metal under the upper arm where the bellows is, take the metal piece off the upper arm to use the Loc-line tool. You do not want to know how long it took me to find a simple way to do this or why I even needed to do this.

Thanks for all of the kind comments. Kevin - there is no competition. You win hands down on quality and quantity. Larry - I did not out do Kevin, I just took his words and did them a little differently so no one could do a direct comparison. I also left the word "Be" off in front of "Back Soon" so I only stole 80% of his words but I used 89% of his letters. That may still constitute plagerism so Kevin, forgive me. Bobby - another one I will be doing is "I may be wrong, but I doubt it" To all of you, I apologize that I do not do more "likes" and make more comments on all of your work. I am actually in awe of what all of you do and the talent you display and the talent you share; especially the pattern makers sharing and sharing so quickly. You who cut portraits and do intrasia do things in which I have no interest and the lack of interest is probably because of the lack of talent and patience but I nevertheless am constantly amazed by what you all do. I am so delighted to be part of this wonderful group of people and regret that I tend more toward feeble attempts at humor than truly recognizing each of you for your skill. Please understand I probably will not change the nature and amount of my posting but I love all of you.

Thanks for all of the kind comments.

The first one I borrowed the words from a recent cutting posted by Kevin and just altered the presentation. The other two just were something to do. All are 5/8 with Kevin's being Black Walnut, Frequently Wrong is quarter sawn White Oak, and Knowledge is Power is Cherry. All done with No. 1 spiral blades. That cleans my plate for a while so now I will just spend my time looking at the great work the rest of you do and post.

Our new grandson Asher was the inspiration for this. Pattern by Grampa (Paul) and I added the name Asher. 5/8" Teak finished with two coats of natural Danish Oil and cut with 2/0 spiral blades. Mr Spock was the inspiration for these two. 5/8" quarter sawn White Oak finished with two coats of natural Danish Oil and cut with No. 1 Spiral blades.

You and Luis both have some original, imaginative, and different ideas you are showing. I hope if either or both of you are willing to share you will start posting your patterns for the rest of us.

Luis You are forever prohibited from saying you are not a pattern designer! Pattern and cutting is outstanding.

Just Google "Victorian Font" and you should find what you want and find it for free download

That is always a good plan!!

Thomas I agree with all - great cutting. I also agree with Ron. I have a grandson with whom I am currently cutting and building a solid body arch top electric guitar and if you find you can share the pattern I would love to cut that for my grandson; it will be a lot simpler than the one we are building.

The Brits and that Scottish guy are on another roll - waiting for the Aussie lady to chime in.

Ralph I do not really understand where you are headed but here is one I did recently for a twelve year old who had just received his black belt if it gives you any ideas. The one portion in the center is Korean for Taekwondo.

I posted so Roly and all of you would know Roly's sharing of his talent brought a smile to the face of an ill lady in South Africa. But thanks for all of the kind comments. Knowing this group of people I am sure you each have already done the same numerous times or will at some time. We all scroll for our own reasons. I scroll for enjoyment and relaxation and the love of working with wood. I have never sold anything and never will so it is all about finding someone to give something to and hopefully bring a smile to their face no matter how briefly but in the hope they will get some enjoyment from it and know someone cared enough to devote some of their own time and energy to creation of the piece for the recipient. Since I primarily do word art, I leave you with his one

Really looks like a place to spend a lot of time. I have one about 50 miles away which is similar but I do not think of the same size where I spend most of my wooden nickels. http://www.midwestwoodworkers.com/ Also another one less than a mile away but the selection is not as good as the first one http://hardwoodheaven.net/ From what others say, I think I am blessed to have two sources relatively close.

Roly Why I like pigs (other than just for porkchops and bacon) is another story. You did your "Porky" pattern a while back which I immediately printed and cut out but without the name Porky. I called it the Happy Porkchop. My son-in-law's aunt in South Africa is dealing with the end stages of cancer and loves to collect pig things. When he said that, I sent the Happy Porkchop to him to send to his aunt. The response was that she just likes regular pigs, not ones with wings or sitting on words but cut out of a piece of wood rather than in a piece of wood. So I took my "Believe" flying pig and my napkin ring flying pig and took off the word Believe and the wings and sent them to my son-in-law so he could send a regular pig and several napkin rings as well as the Happy Porkchop to his aunt. She was totally delighted and much to the surprise of my son-in-law she liked the Happy Porkchop the best. She also names all of her pigs and without any knowledge that it was anything other than a Happy Porkchop, she named it "Porky." Long story but I did want to share it with you and let you know in addition to a Happy Porkchop at my house in Nebraska, Porky also brought enjoyment to a very ill woman in South Africa who needs all the opportunities to smile she can and its South African name is the same as the name the pattern artist gave it. A big thanks to you Roly.

I bet you prefer hard wood!!

I agree with the comment to not use duct tape or anything with similar sticking/adhesive qualities - you will just never get the release you want when you try to remove it. I started with regular clear package sealing tape placed on the wood, 3M45 spray adhesive, and then place the pattern on. The only change I have made over the years is to switch from clear package sealing tape to blue painters tape. I like the blue painters tape because it adheres good enough but not as hard as clear package sealing tape and thus is easier to remove and if you miss anything when peeling it off the blue is readily visible when I sometimes would not realize there was a bit of clear package sealing tape left until I got to the finish stage. Just my way of doing it and finding my happy place on tape - adhesive - pattern.

I use a sanding mop but I think I will now start first with a stiff bristle brush like Uncle Rob and finish up with a sanding mop.

Hans I have not the interest nor the skill to do the work you do but dang I sure do love to look at your work and what a true scroll saw artist can do.

I use electric and am pleased with it. A lot of folks said I should be signing my work and since I cannot write anything legible and did not want it to be able to be traced back to me I wanted to personalize in a way to protect my identify - part of the requirements of the witness protection program. I did not really like what I was seeing at Rockler and some of the other places and found this web site: http://www.branding-irons.biz/ Terry is great to work with and very accommodating. By the way, my brand says Done by Doug Live Long & Prosper I had to pay homage to my mentor and hero, Mr. Spock