New Member - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

JTee · 07-31-2008, 10:15 PM

Hi Everyone;

I am a new member to the message board and would like to say hello!!

I am retired and recently started woodworking and became interested again in Scroll Sawing. I had purchased a very inexpensive saw at Costco's some years ago and tried making a few simple things for xmas gifts. They turned out ok, I think for a beginner. I would like to do more, but of course I need to become more skillful using the saw. I am considering buying a better saw and have been reading about the Dewalt 788. Most of the comments on this board have been positive.
However reading some of the reviews at other sites that sell the saw indicate that from about mid 2007 to present that the saw has experienced a lot of problems and failures. According to the reviewers the saw prior to that date was made by a firm in Canada, and now it is made in Taiwan.

I would appreciate any comments regarding the NEW 788.

Thanks in advance JTee

minowevie · 07-31-2008, 10:30 PM

Hi there JTee. welcome to the group. I am glad you found us. and are back doing some scrolling. what kind of saw do you already own? as far as the Dewalt. that is Dales expertise. I have a Hegner. and love it to death. personaly, I think you can do most anything with most of the saws outthere. some are just smouther, and quieter than others. less vibration, and less maintanace. glad your hear. your new friend Evie

greatdane2 · 07-31-2008, 10:30 PM

After several years and several thousand hours on my Dewalt scrall saw it just got sloppy. I bought a new one a couple of months ago and am having no problems. To me they are the same saw as far as use goes. As I change the speed and tension as I saw the Dewalt is purfect for me. I have been doing a lot of compound cutting on the new saw. The wood has been up to 2`thick and again no complaints. You can look at my Danedeer post to see what I have been using this saw for.
The only bich I have is the first Dewalt cost me over $900.00 am glad the newer ones are half that. If you have any questions just let me know and I will try and help you.

Oh, and welcome to this site, I have recieved so much help here from all around the world. A lot of us just bought a saw and started cutting so belive me there are no stupid questions. You might get a stupid answer but that is a different story.

Alan.

Dragon · 07-31-2008, 11:50 PM

I have a DeWalt from Taiwan and love it. Can't compare to the first ones but I can say that it is great. I had a cheap one when I started and quickly got rid of it. Not sorry for my choice.
Diane

JTee · 08-01-2008, 02:28 AM

Thanks Evie, Alan, and Dragon. I've always been leery of reviews where you couldn't communicate with the individual. Dragon said that her 788 was made in Taiwan, Alan was your saw also made there? How long have you had the saw Dragon and Alan? Would it be possible to let me know where you bought yours?

Evie the saw that I have is a 16" Pro-Tech.

It is obvious that I have a lot to learn and a lot of practice sawing in order to become proficant.

Thanks again JTee

greatdane2 · 08-01-2008, 02:59 AM

Its been about 3 months with the newer one, and 50-60 hours of use. I have cut some 1/4" ply for the sleigh. the Dane bodies were up to 2 1/8" thick Western Red Cedar. the antlers are cut from 1 1/4" hemlock which was a medium hard wood. and the tails were cut from 1" maple. If you look at my thread about the Danedeer Project you will see what I am yapping about. And what you see is the end result, I went through a lot of pieces that I broke etc. so multiply the end result by at leaste 3 for each part and 4 for the antlers.
I have also been fooling around cutting a lot of pine,spruce and cedar all 1" thick getting back to cutting on the line etc. I did not do anywork for nearlly a year after my first Dewalt just got to sloppy to do proper cutting.
I started out with a $350 saw and after a month gave up and bought a Dewalt for nearly $900. the rest was history. The Dewalt has dropped in price the last couple of years, but to me it seems to be the same as the first one.
I had saved up and bought a 30" excalibur saw which was my dream saw. I did not like it for a number of reasons and took it back and got the Dewalt I have now. No regrets at all. I bought mine at House of Tools ( House of Fools) and they like most good tool shops will take any tool back for a full refund within 30 days. Dewalt also has that policy so anywhere you buy one has to take it back for any reason. Sort of fool proof.
Another option is to buy a factory refurbished saw.
When a saw comes back to a store they can not sell it as new. It should be sent to a repair center and checked out. It is then resold for quite a bit less. Just not around here. I buy all my tools in person, and if there is a problem I can go back and see them.
Anyway hope that answers some of your questions.

Alan.

Dragon · 08-01-2008, 03:35 AM

Have had this saw going on two years and bought it when they had a special at Home Hardware. $440 for the saw with the stand and light.
Best investment yet.

Ramjet · 08-01-2008, 03:58 AM

Here's athought . It seems new operators are quick to blame the equipment . Sure there are Lemons out there too. It is too bad that the store selling the tool
isn't required to demo or offer a mini course in it's use . .I have worked around tools for a few years and thought that taking the saw home ( Dewalt ) and setting it up would be a no brainer . I had trouble with the first one and exchanged it . I also have an old Sears 20". Both saws have different operating techniques .
The reason I'm mentioning this is that I am learning that it isn't always the saw's fault when a problem arises . Most tools have a learning cuve and it is an on going lesson .
Some time ago there was mention of there being a difference in Dewalt saws. Those with a 1 in the number and were in Canada and were said to be a better saw. I boght mine at Home Depot . There is also a thread showing which saws are used most . It will give you an idea of what is out there .Cheers.
Roger

f250 · 08-01-2008, 04:24 AM

Well I started with a 2 speed Delta 16" that I got used from a friend. I did some really nice work with it. In my gallery you'll see the fret fish, the train and the loon. I moved up in the world with a Hawk G4 and I am so glad that I did, it is a much nicer saw.

Well I gave the Delta to my brother in law and here I sit on his couch typing this. I tried the Delta again tonight for the 1st time in a couple years I guess. I totally messed up the piece I was trying to cut. Thank goodness the only time I had in that piece was drilling the holes. I might try it again tomorrow, we will see...

So Ramjet is right on, the technique is different for each saw and once you get used to it, you are in the money

Tom