G4

[BobD (Archive)]

I finally had time this weekend to spend some quality time with the Hawk G4. It is a nice machine (but I can see potential problems with those fingers you've mentioned Jeff).

I am cutting a lot of fretwork right now (ornaments, etc.) and I was excited to try out the top-feeding abilities of the G4. It works well, once I got used to it, but I have trouble getting the bottom blade situated properly.

Correct me (please) if I'm wrong, but most of the other saws set up to top feed (Delta, Dewalt, Excalibur), the bottom clamp has a slot the blade fits into. The G4 has a hole you need to get the blade into. Then you have to dodge the tightening screw, get the blade fully seated, and then clamp it tight.

Does it make sense to anyone else that the bottom blade clamp should have a slot instead of a hole?

Or have you fretters that have a G4 gotten used to the hole???

Bob

[Jediscroller]

Bob,
I can confirm that the EX has a slot in the bottom holder. Feeding into a hole has got to be tough.

[BobD (Archive)]

Looking at the Hawk site, it looks like they have an optional bottom clamp that is slotted rather than a hole...I may have to request one of them...

Bob

[Grizz]

Looking at the Hawk site, it looks like they have an optional bottom clamp that is slotted rather than a hole...I may have to request one of them...

Bob

Bob,

I've had a G4 for about 3 years now and they've had problems with their holders... I called them a few months ago about it and the sent me out 3 free 'slotted' holders, and have fould them to be great! I love being able to top feed over the bottom feed.

[Rolf]

Hi Bob,
I have also had my G4 for about 2.5 years, absolutly love it.
My original blade clamps were a multi piece assembly that had 2 small hardened blocks inside. The opening is sloted.
They (RBI) sent me a few "new" clamps that squeeze the blade between a set screw and the thumb screw. I preffer the older design.
I posted pictures of the different clamps. The G4 is the one I like (the one with the dark background). Grizz which one are you calling the slotted one?
But with either one it takes a bit of practice to do the top feed.
I sometimes pop the bottom blade holder free and then clamp the blade. I find it easier to clamp that way and keep the blade centered in the clamp..

[BobD (Archive)]

I just e-mailed my contact requesting the G4 clamp (the first one Rolf posted). I'll see how that works.

Bob

[Rolf]

One note of caution with the G4 clamp. I am a bit heavy handed so tend to overtighten the clamps. I stripped out the 2 small allen screws that hold the clamp assembly together. To solve the problem I put heli coils in the clamp with good quality allen screws, The clamps are now bullet proof.

[gmackay]

I didn't know that they had slotted blade holders for the G4. That's what makes this forum GREAT!!!!!!

I use the G4 quite a bit, but, not for fretwork.. I can bottom feed with the G4 quite quickly now, less than 10 seconds... I still like my DW788 the best and it sits right beside the G4... I will have to request some slotted clamps for the G4.

G4 & DW788

[workin for wood]

I wasn't aware of the slotted holders otherwise. I'm also sure that if your doing fretwork and usig small blades, those fingers are not likely to ever break because the tension has to be alot lower for smaller blades. I'm cutting thick woods with big blades that require quite a bit more tension, and the dense wood also adds extra force against those fingers on the downstroke...of course my great grandchildren will be 6 feet under before hawk realizes this.

On the odd time of doing a puzzle or something with a small blade, I have a hard time centering the blade in that big round holder, and find if you crank too hard on the knob the blade breaks...hard not to overtighten because larger blades are what I'm used to. And I can't top feed too well on my G4...so I guess I'm a bottom feeder

[Grizz]

Grizz which one are you calling the slotted one?

Neither... the one to the right is what I got originally, then I got the one to the left.. (had problems with both after a while), now they have a newer version that has a slot in it.... you would know if you had one.

Grizz

[William Young (SE BC)]

Hard to imagine trying to feed the bade into a hole in the bottom clamp for top feeding. Glad they are working on a better system. One would think they would have used a better clamp before putting the saw on the market instead of going through three different ones so far .
Yes the P-20 is slotted but not in a way that a thumb screw has to be tightened on the blade and sometimes wants to twist the bottom of it. (at least mine did) . The slot in the Delta P-20 is between two flat plates that squeeze together on the blade when moving a lever to tighten it.
I just can't imagine ever going back to bottom feeding any more.
Some saws top feed easier than others but regardless of that, If anyone ever masters top feeding I'll bet they never go back to bottom feeding. Just a matter of training the little eyes in your finger tips to "see" what you are doing underneath the table of the saw.
W.Y.

[BobD (Archive)]

Spent some more time on it last night...it's getting better. I realized that I've been pushing too hard, and not opening the thumbscrew enough...the blade was getting caught on the threads of the thumbscrew.

I got an e-mail back from Hawk; they are in the process of totally redesigning the clamps and said the ones I have right now are the latest edition...they call it a funnel hole...

With some practice, I've gotten a lot better (Of the 15 holes I cut last night, I didn't get the blade down into the holder on just one).

Bob

[Rolf]

Would someone please post a picture of the new clamp designs.
I have the 2 that I posted. The first is what came as original with the saw.
and that has more of a a slot shape in it..

[BobD (Archive)]

My saw is at home...so I can't right now, but here is a link to the photos...it's upside down, though <GRIN>

Bob

http://www.rbiwoodtools.com/ultrabladeholder.html

[PuzzledMoose]

Some saws top feed easier than others but regardless of that, If anyone ever masters top feeding I'll bet they never go back to bottom feeding.
W.Y.

I'd always bottom fed (on a Dewalt) until a week or so ago - then I decided to try the top feeding - once I got used to not automatically starting to undo the top clamp when I'd finished a cut (!) I realised that it is way easier. No need to prop up the arm of the saw for one thing - just rest it on the back of my wrist .. dunno why I hadn't tried it before ... knowing where the bottom clamp is without seeing it becomes second nature very quickly ...