Hawk scrollsaw problem

Eddie Byrd · 05-23-2008, 12:31 AM

I bought a used Hawk scrollsaw (220-3) last Sunday for $275. It is in very good condition and works well EXCEPT

the upper arm is not square to the side mounting plates. This results in the top of the blade being offset almost exactly a quarter inch (0.23") to the left, so the blade is not oriented in the vertical plane in which it travels. This leaves a rather wide kerf, especially in soft wood. The bearings and bushings are tight and the saw does not show much wear.

My simplistic urge is to put a bow (probably with a large vise) in the upper arm to get it directly over the lower arm, but I don't think Tech Support would suggest that. Unfortunately, RBI is apparently moving to different quarters, and my phone calls and emails have gone unanswered all week.

I have been looking for a better scrollsaw than my $99 Delta ($47 on clearance) for several months. The Hawk is certainly smoother & quieter, but the Delta blade's vertical alignment is virtually perfect, so I don't want to step back in that area of accuracy.

Can anyone offer any advice, consolation, or other positive commentary? Or an $offer$?

cskipper · 05-23-2008, 05:20 AM

WoodGuy1975 (a member of this group) is the only person I know that has one of the Hawk's. Send him a pm asking him this question. Can you tell it it looks square where the arm connects to the body of the saw? I would hesitate in bowing the arm. Send me a pm.

Tarhead · 05-23-2008, 08:45 AM

Eddie,

Sorry to hear about your problem. I have the 226. I'm not sure about the 220-3 but my top arm is aluminum and I could guess that yours has taken a hit at some point to cause the bend. Can you adjust the table to make the blade square to the wood? You should be able to tilt it.

RBI is very responsive to questions and I imagine after Memorial day they will be available. There may be some improvements since yours was built so definitely give them a call (and have the serial number at hand). Mine was upgraded by its previous owner and I think that it included a new top arm.

You may be able to pull the top arm off and take it to someone with a large press and get it straight but I would wait and talk with them. Definitely don't try to staighten it out on the saw.
Patience Grasshopper

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Eddie Byrd · 05-23-2008, 11:56 AM

The upper arm is straight as the proverbial arrow, but does not align itself parallel to (between) the side plates, resulting in the significant offset at the blade end. The bearings and bushings are tight, and the hardware is the same on the upper and lower arms (just a bushing in the arm against a bearing in the plate, bolt, head washer & nut with locking nylon insert).

The arms travel in a plane precisely perpendicular to the table, but the blade moves sideways through the stroke (from a stationary perspective), since it is not perpendicular to the table. When the table is tilted to be perpendicular to the blade, the blade still travels sideways in relation to the table because the stroke is then not perpendicular to the table (it took me a a while to compose all of this).

Am I making sense, or am I mired in confusion?

Douglas Robinson · 05-23-2008, 01:51 PM

Sawduster also has a Hawk. Maybe he has advice as well.

Doug

NC Scroller · 05-23-2008, 01:59 PM

Eddie I do not own a Hawk but I do know they cut on an angle but that is front to back. If helps with the removal of sawdust. There is an other website where you might get help. Check this one:

http://www.scrollsawer.com/forum/

woodguy1975 · 05-23-2008, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by Eddie Byrd

I bought a used Hawk scrollsaw (220-3) last Sunday for $275. It is in very good condition and works well EXCEPT the upper arm is not square to the side mounting plates. This results in the top of the blade being offset almost exactly a quarter inch (0.23") to the left, so the blade is not oriented in the vertical plane in which it travels. This leaves a rather wide kerf, especially in soft wood. The bearings and bushings are tight and the saw does not show much wear.

My simplistic urge is to put a bow (probably with a large vise) in the upper arm to get it directly over the lower arm, but I don't think Tech Support would suggest that. Unfortunately, RBI is apparently moving to different quarters, and my phone calls and emails have gone unanswered all week.

I have been looking for a better scrollsaw than my $99 Delta ($47 on clearance) for several months. The Hawk is certainly smoother & quieter, but the Delta blade's vertical alignment is virtually perfect, so I don't want to step back in that area of accuracy.

Can anyone offer any advice, consolation, or other positive commentary? Or an $offer$?

Could you post some pictures. We can probably come up with a good solution. I have the new G4 model which is different than the one you probably have, but may be able to look at the issue and help. I'm also a mechanical engineer too.

Good Luck,

John

Eddie Byrd · 05-23-2008, 05:06 PM

Wow! Thanks for all the great help, everyone - I will try to get some pictures up ASAP.

An RBI rep finally emailed me an hour ago, so I sent them the particulars. I will keep everyone updated as we go along...

Eddie Byrd · 05-23-2008, 08:08 PM

I have posted some pics (6000 words worth) in an album called "Hawk scroll saw" (link below) that illustrates the problem with the upper arm - hopefully, these will clarify what I have been trying to verbalize...

http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showgallery.php?cat=1210

Eddie Byrd · 05-23-2008, 09:11 PM

THE HAWK IS SOARING (straight)!!! After taking the pictures and studying them over and over

, another solution occurred to me - shim up the back of the left side plate, which moved the mounting hole for the upper arm forward, placing it PERFECTLY (after some experimenting with shim thickness - 0.065" required) over the lower. Everything is now perfectly aligned (as best my eyes can tell) and the blade only moves up & down - no lateral motion AT ALL.

Sorry about all of the caps, but I am thrilled and relieved that I now have a high-end scroll saw that is working so very well.

I have lost a lot of sleep and shop-time this week fooling with this. I extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed, keeping me on track and talking me out of warping that arm.

Thanks to all!

sawduster · 05-24-2008, 10:38 AM

Sorry I didn't see this sooner . Not sure how I could have helped other than looking at my own saw, but I am glad you got it resolved. I like my 226v quite a bit and use it along with my Dewalt 788
I had to move my accessory arm to the other side as I am used to the blower tube being on the left . I also shortened the tube and put a segmented end on it to raise it out of my line of site
Happy scrolling

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