Excalibur EX-21

table is 13.5" x 23.5 "

Motor is 120V 1.3 A  direct drive

Dust Collection it has an under the table dust collection port.

2 year warrenty

Again a straight armed saw ,the vibration must be there then? IDK?

On the EX-21 the arm lifts up and stays up if for any reason it doesn't then there's a black nut and screw at the back of the arm loosen the nut then tighten the screw re-tighten the nut then the adjustment is done. so easy to change the blades.

table is 13.5" x 23.5 "

 

Motor is 120V 1.3 A  direct drive

 

Dust Collection it has an under the table dust collection port.

 

2 year warrenty

Updated.  Thanks!  

Good saw and I enjoy using it.  I rank it higher than the DW788 (which I also have) and for the additional cost it should be a better saw.  However, I am not impressed at all with the dust collection.  A little ingenuity and some PVC can provide a better dust collection system.  If worth noting, the table is rectangular which I prefer to the teardrop tables.

This is my first scroll saw so I have nothing to compare it with. However talking with others I think I made a good choice.

Have had no problem up till now. Easy blade change, arm stays up when required and variable speed is nice to have.

Look to have this saw for a long time. 

I have used this saw for a couple hours finally. The saw cuts great. Easy blade change, I like how the arm stays up. no need for a block of wood or aftermarket arm lift(like dewalt). very little vibration and it is quiet. I'm happy I went with the ex21.

The only thing I didn't like was the clear dust collection thing on the bottom of the table, tiny pieces get stuck in it.

I removed the dust port and that plastic after a couple hours work with my EX.

the only scroll saw i have.i had it for 3 years now and i am very pleased with it.

Simply love it, the foot controller whilst an optional extra is worth the $

I'm thinking about getting one of these myself.

I have an EX30 - I'm a total beginner but read loads of reviews and finally went with the Excaliber and I am absolutely delighted with it. Low vibration - easy blade change - tensioning etc.

If I have a small gripe I would have liked a rounded blade change nut rather than the plastic wingnut type but I guess you could change this fairly easily. I find that with prolonged use my fingers get a bit sore locking and unlocking the blade. I find the tilting head excellent and the angle guage pretty accurate as well.

I am still learning how to get the best out of this machine but so far I do not regret getting this one bit and have already turned out some great stuff with it.

Would advise getting a footpedal and the stand to go with this - its a very heavy piece of kit if moving it around a bench etc. 5 stars from me !!

Pros (not in any order)

1.  Large Table

2.  Quiet/Smooth (Wife says is sounds like a sewing machine)

3.  Head tilts instead of table making it ideal for Bowls, inlay, or any angle cutting

4.  Saw is build solid, and the tilt mechanism is very accurate and smooth.

5.  Easy blade changes without tools

6.  Top feeder and Bottom feeder

7.  Blade Travel can be adjusted for more aggression/less aggression by turning motor.

8.  Stand height can be adjusted.

9.  Seyco is very EX focused and very capable in providing support

10.  Sealed/Protected Power switch (Though most users use the foot switch)

11.  Quick Tensioner is right up front, easy to access, and very fast to use.

Cons

1.  Clamps are Aluminum.  This means your are always trying to be careful "not to strip the threads".  Even still, I stripped the threads on the bottom clamp and had to re-order from Seyo.  These should be Hard Steel.

2.  More complex mechanics make repairs more difficult

3.  In a well adjusted saw, there is still more blade travel than Hegner/Hawk.  If I need less blade travel, I use my Hegner.

4.  No repair centers within easy reach of most of it's users

5.  It may be half the price of Hegner, but it is still quite expensive.

6.  Adjusting arm height with back knob changes blade travel, and on a tuned saw, always for the worse.

I've been using this saw for years, and every time I sit down to it, I'm still impressed.

------Randy

Randy,

What do you mean by "blade travel"?

I make puzzles and need a table to blade angle exactly at 90 degrees. Is there a fine adjustment to achieve this?

Also, I need quite a bit of tension on the blade to get perfect cuts so the puzzle pieces go in and out.

Do you think the Ex would bee a good saw for my purposes?

I have been using DW788's for 10 years and I also have a Hegner which I find difficult to adjust to the 90 degree angle.

I have never made puzzles, but I have owned a DW 788 and I do own an Ex.  If you liked the DW you will love the Ex.  Least that is how it is for me.  I also have a Hegner, for the type of sawing I like to do, (detailed pictures)  I prefer the Ex.  Just my opinion.

I am cutting puzzles 3/4" out of cherry walnut and other hardwoods. Problem with pieces dropping out. I know this is a line up problem

but after talking to Ray at Seyco I am still unable to correct the problem.  I have been very happy with this saw but where can you go when a problem comes up. Short of sending the saw back to Ray I am at a loss finding someone who works on these saws. Had I

known I would have not purchased this saw. Anyone who might know of a repair shop or someone who could help I am in the Cincinnati OH area.  rbv620@verizon.net  Thanks, Richard 

I am cutting puzzles 3/4" out of cherry walnut and other hardwoods. Problem with pieces dropping out. I know this is a line up problem

but after talking to Ray at Seyco I am still unable to correct the problem.  I have been very happy with this saw but where can you go when a problem comes up. Short of sending the saw back to Ray I am at a loss finding someone who works on these saws. Had I

known I would have not purchased this saw. Anyone who might know of a repair shop or someone who could help I am in the Cincinnati OH area.  rbv620@verizon.net  Thanks, Richard 

Might be better to start this as a new topic in General Scroll Sawing.  

I get roughly 3 years out of rough use of a dewalt788,mostly 3./4" plywood cutting.I've wore out a dozen Chinese saws and 2 Dewalts.I have 2 more new Dewalts to hold me but would like to torture test one of the infamous" EX" saws.The 30 or 31" they have fits my usage better. :zzz:

Kevin, I have a Type I DW and a 21" EX, and the EX is a much better saw than the DW.  I say this because the arm on the EX comes up higher and stays put so I can top feed 1"+ material.  Tension is good, about equal to between 3 and 4 on the DW provided  you lightly press down on the top anr and up un the bottom arm when you clamp the blade.  I found putting the bottom thumb screw in the left side improved clamping.  Having said this, the DW is a fine saw and I am glad I have it.

I'm very had with my excalibur ex21for approx 6 years. This saw is a pleasure to use. Changing blades is a snap. Love the tilting arm allowing the table to remain flat. Even though this a more expensive saw, anyone really hooked on scrollsawing, should consider this saw if possible.

For a review/comparison of the EX 21 and Hawk BM 220 see my discussion under the review topic for the Hawk BM 20.

Got my EX21 last week. I love it.

Some things that I never noticed in the reviews, and which I never had to think about with all my previous saws;

• My lower clamp seems to grip the blade at any depth of the blade shank, whilst the top clamp only worked when the top few millimetres of the shank were fed into the clamp. The blade just never locked in place if I tried to fit too much of the top section into the clamp. Also I knew my reverse tooth blade was not working properly at first. I had the blade set too low so that the reverse teeth were always below the table. I ended up fitting the lower blade first and had the clamp gripping the bottom few millimetres then raised the top arm with the tension knob to suit the blade length. That way the reverse teeth are now back in play and the top clamp just grips the top of the top shank. Changing holes is now a doddle with the blade just slotting right into the top clamp as if on auto. and I have never had to adjust the tension knob unless I change blades.
• I have really only tried bottom feeding so far but the top arm lifting out of the way makes hole changing super easy. I have difficulty with my efforts at top feeding so far. I'll have to find an interesting pattern and force myself to top feed the whole pattern so I'll be well practiced at top feeding.
• Vibration is still an issue. When it arrived vibration was very bad at high speed and  noticeable at lower speeds. I followed the manual {eventually } and adjusted the motor so I moved the vibration levels away from the speed I normally use {about 45% speed} so I'll see how it works when I vary the wood type or the blades.

Bob