Set to buy a Axminster AWFS18

[lukenotts]

[Fretnot]

Hi Luke.I am in the Uk as well. The AWFS is a good machine, it is a clone of the Hegner. There are quite a few people on the UK Workshop site that have them and they are very pleased with them. You may want to change the blade clamp bolts for round ones and there are other modifications that can be made to make life that bit easier. Overall though it is a good machine and wont give you any problems to speak of. It is false policy buying the scroll saws that come from the far east, the people that make them have no idea what scroll sawing is all about and the market is flooded with them. You can see the same saw offered by different companies who change the appearance a little bit and change the colour and some people think they are different machines, basically they are a load of rubbish. Always ask if your not sure Luke before parting with money.

[trifield]

[Geoff3]

Hi Luke,
Yes I would say get yourself a AWFS18.I had one for 2years with no trouble,smooth and quiet,I wish I had never parted with it.
I wanted to top feed, and liked the sound of the Excalibur EX21 with it tilting arm, for bevel cuts,it worked well for 7 months then the rod in the top arm broke, and it went back to Axminster for repair. it came back with three nuts missing and no top blade clamp, and the blade tensioner knob bent,thay said it had bean checked out ok, fitted the missing bits, and it made a hell of a noise like a machine gun at full blast, sent it back for repair, they said some bolts inside were loose, got it back and it did cut wood but was very noisey and vibrated like hell at any speed over 50%,sent it back for the third time they said they will replace it. Iwish I had kept me AWFS18.......Geoff3

[JohnB]

Geoff,
If you are still having trouble with the EX21, email General in Canada direct.
They are excellent and will make sure that your saw is either replaced or repaired correctly.
I had similar problems with Carbetec here in Australia, and after I notified General, they express shipped me a completely new saw. even though the old one was of warranty.
It's a shame that that such a great company is let down by it's agents.

Hi Luke,
Yes I would say get yourself a AWFS18.I had one for 2years with no trouble,smooth and quiet,I wish I had never parted with it.
I wanted to top feed, and liked the sound of the Excalibur EX21 with it tilting arm, for bevel cuts,it worked well for 7 months then the rod in the top arm broke, and it went back to Axminster for repair. it came back with three nuts missing and no top blade clamp, and the blade tensioner knob bent,thay said it had bean checked out ok, fitted the missing bits, and it made a hell of a noise like a machine gun at full blast, sent it back for repair, they said some bolts inside were loose, got it back and it did cut wood but was very noisey and vibrated like hell at any speed over 50%,sent it back for the third time they said they will replace it. Iwish I had kept me AWFS18.......Geoff3

[Geoff3]

JohnB,
Many thanks for the info about General in Canada.
I will wait and see what happens when my replacement arrives.
keeping my fingers crossed,
Am realy fed-up a Month without sawdust its sole destroying,..........Geoff3

[lukenotts1]

Having problems posting or replying, so im sorry for taking so long to say thank you for your advice. Im set to receive the Axminster today! I really wish I had asked before. Like I said... Ive learned the hard way! Thanks for the advice, especially the small modifications which make life easier. I have read that some of the Hegner spares will fit this machine. Is this true, and if so, do you have any idea which model of hegner it is a clone of, or where I can buy these. Is it a case of having them shipped from abroad? Believe it or not, the machine I had was a Scheppach, so German, not far east, yet even this had a fault. This was an issue with the motor, so perhaps I could have been unlucky... however, I think I had my heart set on the Axminster all along, I just wanted to find out the good and bad points about them. Thanks again.

[loftyhermes]

Luke may the force be with you sorry I just can't help myself. I'm sure you'll be very happy with your new saw.

[DaveP]

Congratulations...

You've made a good choice (Its the thinking mans Hegner..lol)

There are a few mods you can do that will make it even better and will even make top feeding possible.

But the first is that the clamps are same as the Hegner and are a PITA.. change at least one of them for the quick release one.. changing both would be even better.

There are other mods but they can keep for a while.

[lukenotts1]

Scroll saw arrived today. Looks very nice and sturdy. The whole mechanical action sounds so solid compared to the other saws. Given some parts, including the table and inserts, a nice wipe with white spirit (mineral spirit) and set up a blade from Mikes Workshop and Im set to go... now to decide what to do on it first. I have spent about a month practicing on the old saws, so have a bit (tiny little bit) of experience. I have mainly been cutting 3/4 - 1 inch pine fairly successfully, making name plaques and animal puzzles. Ive also had a dabble with making a portrait from a photo with moderate success, made from thin cherry veneered chipboard (though it was sold called cherry ply... which I guess it is). So all I need now is to get myself some quick release blade clamps... could someone please give me guidance on which ones I should be looking at, and If I need 1 set or 2. Do they also come in different sizes, for small blades and thick blades? Thanks for the sound advice.