Hegner questions.

[martinka]

What is the zero clearance insert exactly? I can't find a pic anywhere. The insert in mine was home made from a piece of plastic and falling apart, so I made one from aluminium with a slot in it same width as the one in the table.

How good is the quick clamp? Has anyone got photos of the bits? I wondered if it was possible to make one. I did try a handle on my top clamp like the one sold by Mike, but it threw the balance out a lot and the vibration was really bad.

I read that there's two blade stroke lengths. How do you change it. (Forget this, I just found a PDF manual for the saw.) Which do users think is the best stroke to use? Short or long? I imagine the longer stroke will give more vibration.

I was going to fasten a magnifying lamp to the hold down arm, but it vibrates too much. Anyone else noticed the arm vibrating? I'm hoping bolting the saw to the bench will cure that, although I have a way to fasten the lamp to the bench too.

Thanks for any replies.

Martin.

(Thinking to myself - I wonder if I can make the variable speed motor from my Jet saw fit the Hegner?)

 

[Gary Morris]

Hi Martin,
I made a zero clearance insert for my diamond saw, it's just an insert with as small a hole as you can use the saw with, my table is wooden so I just drilled a 1/16" dia hole in a piece of hardwood and shaped it to fit the pre existing hole. I'm not familiar with other makes of saw, so unable to help with the quick release bit. Re the vibrating, I think it's down to weight, as you say, you've a sand bag underneath, can you increase it?

Gary

 

[Chippygeoff]

Hi Martin. I cant help you with the zero clearance, I had my table changed for a cast iron one with a slot in it rather that an inseert. I really can't understand why manufactuirers put in insert plates, some will say that it is needed when the table is tilted but I have not found this to be the case with several different saws I have used. My Hegner has the quick clamp and it runs like a sewing machine. It is essential that the saw is bolted down. Some of the holes are really awkward to get the bolt in. I have mine bolted down at 3 points and to make it easier I took the side plate off for one of the bolts. I also put rubber washers on as well.

I use the longer stroke, it makes cutting a lot quicker I have found and I don't think you will experience any more vibration than the shorter stroke. I have 2 lighjts on my scroll saw and one of them is a magnifyer. Room was tight so I joined another piece of wood to my bench for the light and it works a treat and again, there is no vibration. I feel it is important to have a really solid bench. Mine has a framework of 4 x 2 and then 2 layers of 18mm MDF on top. I think changing the motor from the jet to the hegner soinds a bit dicey to me. Chris in the tecnical department at Hegner is a very helpful guy and he could possibly advise.

 

[martinka]

Thanks for your replies.

I'll most likely buy a quick clamp, but I'd love to see the parts to see if I could make one. I have a metal lathe and a mill, although I don't have the facilities for case hardening anymore. But having a spare clamp, "just in case", is always a good idea.

I did wonder if the fancy named "zero clearance insert" is the same as what any other manufacturer would simply call an insert. I just tried angling the table but it will only move 3.5 degrees either way with the insert in place.

I've just checked both motors and I can easily make the Jet variable motor fit, though I am unlikely (hopefully) to ever need to. The reason I wondered if it was possible is because of the price of a motor for the Hegner. Roughly £200 for a single speed and £400 for a variable speed; I only paid £260 for the saw! Now I know it is possible to use the Jet motor, I will keep the saw, which cost £85, and have a spare saw and possible spare motor.

After taking the Hegner off its table, I noticed the three bolt holes are tapped 8mm, so I can drill 3 holes in my bench and fasten it from underneath. There's also a couple of holes that will do for locating dowels. Maybe that's what they were actually put there for. Another thought I just had, I have some steel plate I could bolt permanently to the Hegner which would make it matter of a minute or so to swap it between the bench and the Hegner table whilst also adding weight to the table.

With these mods I have planned, I wonder if I will ever have time for using the saw for scrolling. :roll: It'll give me something to do for the next couple of days, I'm too busy panicking about the garage roof in this wind to concentrate on scrolling.

Thanks again.

Martin.

 

[redmoorphil]

Hi Martin,
I would say just bite the bullet and get the hegner quick clamp.
It has a bearing inside, which allows the blade to rotate when its clamped down, and the quick clamp can therefore be clamped down by the top knurled knob on the arm and left like that.
I made the mistake of buying the lever from mikes workshop before I got a quick clamp and it has a problem - because there is no bearing the blade holder has to be free to move in the top assembly. This means that you have to use the top knob to clamp the holder down before using the lever, which sort of defeats the object of it being quick, and is really only useful if your fingers can't turn the quick clamp knob, but then they would have to be able to turn the top knob!
I just didn't see the point in it and it sits in my drawer unused.
The purpose of the zero clearance insert as i understand it is to support very small workpieces. For example, if you we cutting something like a small earring then the saw blade could just snap it on the downstroke or it could disappear down the hole around the blade. Only having a hole slightly bigger than the blade stops this happening.
Regards,
Phil.

 

[martinka]

Couple more things I just noticed, the top and bottom clamps are different sizes. Buying the quick clamp for the top will give me two size clamps for the bottom.

I just bolted the saw back onto its table using 8mm bolts from underneath, obviously as it should be - it was bolted down with 6mm coach bolts through the holes - and it feels like it lessened the vibration a touch, but I am sure more weight will help. No doubt Hegner have to come to a compromise when it comes to weight.

I noticed a label on the mains cable saying it was tested from July 2012 to July 2013. Nice to know. But, a couple of inches from the label are two cuts that go right through the insulation and you can see the wire in the earth and live. LOL

I just tried to order a quick clamp and they don't have any in stock.

Martin.

 

[ChrisR]

For general work with the Hegner use the long stroke, the shorter stroke is mainly for cutting thin material (ie veneer).
Hope this is of help.

Take care.

Chris R.

 

[martinka]

Thanks, Chris, the saw was already set to the longest stroke.