Creative Woodworks & crafts-111-2005-Holiday, страница 43

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IIG HEAD SCROLL SAW

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Scroll saw artists Dirk Boelman and Wayne Fowler were among the first to have put this new machine to the test, and here are some of their comments about the EX-21:

"This is truly a revolutionary machine that is going to. add a whole new 'twist' to the world of scroll sawing. The mechanism tilts for bevel sawing while the saw table remains stationary. An ingenious concept that totally separates this saw from all others."

"This is a 'dream machine' for bevel sawing. The table is larger than many other saws, and because the wood is laying flat, there's no effort required to prevent the wood from sliding into the blade while sawing, like it does on a slanted/tilted table, or from falling off the edge. This makes it much easier to follow a cutting line on a pattern and virtually eliminates having to compensate for the wood being at an awkward angle to handle. The machine tilts left or right and features an easy guide to reset it straight up and down. With this new design, Excalibur has taken a leap forward...I'm sure that we will see lots of exciting new scroll saw projects developed with interesting bevels, twists, and turns as soon as the pattern designers get their hands on one of these saws."

"Beyond bevel sawing, the EX-21 is a smooth-running machine, sturdily built, with ample throat depth and convenient up-front-mounted tension and speed controls. The blade is held straight and true, with little to no 'play' to the sides or back as the wood is fed into the blade. Blade threading can be done from above or below the workpiece, and a beefy dust-blowing system keeps the fine dust away from the cutting line."

Dirk Boelman

- "The EX-21 is mounted on a central 'axle,' with a crank on the front for tilting

it in either direction. There is a dial for selecting the angle of tilt and a plunge mechanism to ensure that the saw has been returned to 90°. Both are very useful features. The method of placing the saw at 90°, using the spring plunger and hole behind the dial is very precise. I used the saw to cut a tiger head on 1/2"-thick l mulberry and was quite pleased with the outcome. The design has a lot of Jr^^ fine-line detail, and the many close cuts were all handled well by the saw."

"Whenever anyone asks me what scroll saw to buy, I always suggest that Wayne Fowler they have the salesperson show them how to change the blades, then imagine doing that 20,000 times! I was pleased that the EX-21 has a blade holding system similar to the EX-30 that I cut on, although I found the EX-21 mount a little easier to use. The clamp mechanism is the same, but there is a wider, longer slot for the blade to go into so it is easier to find when you are not looking."

"I find it rs a very handy saw for fretwork. One big improvement is that the arm can remain elevated by itself. Due to this feature, I could use both hands to position the wood and thread the blade into the hole without using my wrist to keep the arm raised."

"The angle mechanism for tilting the saw is very precise, so if you need to be 2° right or left of true, it is very easy to set the saw for that angle. I cut two very small burl castles at the show and was able to make accurate adjustments, down to fractions of a degree, as I cut smaller and smaller layers. I was also able to cut very thin walls, mainly because the cutting surface and plate remain parallel to the ground as the saw tilts."

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