Okay.. My gloat (Hegner Polymax-3) is now confirmed. After the
complete assessment of the saw and obtaining parts from the US
Distributor, Advanced Machinery (whose customer service is as fine as
the saw), I installed them and put the saw through some paces today.
My Polymax now is upgraded beyond even what the new one fresh from the
factory is in that I installed the upgrade quick-release tension rod and
the Quick Release upper blade clamp.
The blade clamp supports, which the previous owner had FUBAR'd since he
didn't have blade clamps and wanted to "try" to use pinned blades, were
replaced by the new version from Hegner. The new version allows for the
use of either pinned or pinless (using the blade clamps).
The difference between it and my old Craftsman 23" parallel arm 2-speed
scroll saw is like night and day which comes as no surprise. Vibration
even without the saw stand (OEM) anchored to the floor. On that score I
am debating possibly mounting the stand to a mobile base and then
placing within the base, one of ~ 50 or 60lb flooring weights I have
laying about. If not, I may just build a plywood shelf and set the
weight on that, removing it when I want to manhandle the saw to a
different spot in the shop for whatever reason.
Bottom line is that the $500 total investment has netted me a $3,000
plus scroll saw. My next best score has to be the comple
te set of Stanley No. 55 plane blades, in original wooden cases, unused,
that I scored at an estate sale for $3.00 to complement the No. 55 I
picked up with a half dozen blade at a flea market for $35.
When I suck, I suck big time. <g>
Now to sell off the Craftsman and recoup a bit of my investment.
On 1/19/2013 5:32 PM, Sonny wrote:
> I was wondering how much it would take to repair it.
If I'd taken my time, I undoubtedly could have done it for a bit less.
The blade clamp holders are pretty dear... ~$39 each. I'm not into
metal fabrication, but I probably could have cobbled together a working
replacement since I had the battered remnants of the real deal still
attached. I did attempt to pound them back into shape but they were too
far gone.
As some indication of just how pricey the replacement parts are (and
it's hardly limited to Hegner), they have apparently upgraded to a
studded, adjustable handle to loosen the motor mount for speed
adjustment. I'd already had the brain storm to replace the 8mm-20
socket cap screw with an adjustable handle.
The price through Hegner's distributor? ~$21, ordered through Jergen's
it was $4.53. Neither did I necessarily need to buy all three sized
blade clamps for the pinless blades but... why not do it all at once?
Those were $22 a set.
Asa a practical matter, I could have had the saw up and running like a
champ, equipped for pinned blades only for a total investment of $310,
all I really HAD to have to make it workable was the upper and lower
blade clamp holders.
On 1/19/2013 5:46 PM, Unquestionably Confused wrote:
> Okay.. My gloat (Hegner Polymax-3) is now confirmed. After the
> complete assessment of the saw and obtaining parts from the US
> Distributor, Advanced Machinery (whose customer service is as fine as
> the saw), I installed them and put the saw through some paces today.
>
> My Polymax now is upgraded beyond even what the new one fresh from the
> factory is in that I installed the upgrade quick-release tension rod and
> the Quick Release upper blade clamp.
>
> The blade clamp supports, which the previous owner had FUBAR'd since he
> didn't have blade clamps and wanted to "try" to use pinned blades, were
> replaced by the new version from Hegner. The new version allows for the
> use of either pinned or pinless (using the blade clamps).
>
> The difference between it and my old Craftsman 23" parallel arm 2-speed
> scroll saw is like night and day which comes as no surprise. Vibration
> even without the saw stand (OEM) anchored to the floor. On that score I
> am debating possibly mounting the stand to a mobile base and then
> placing within the base, one of ~ 50 or 60lb flooring weights I have
> laying about. If not, I may just build a plywood shelf and set the
> weight on that, removing it when I want to manhandle the saw to a
> different spot in the shop for whatever reason.
>
> Bottom line is that the $500 total investment has netted me a $3,000
> plus scroll saw. My next best score has to be the comple
>
> te set of Stanley No. 55 plane blades, in original wooden cases, unused,
> that I scored at an estate sale for $3.00 to complement the No. 55 I
> picked up with a half dozen blade at a flea market for $35.
>
> When I suck, I suck big time. <g>
>
> Now to sell off the Craftsman and recoup a bit of my investment.
>
wow on the 55 too. You suck.
--
Jeff