New Saw, 788!!! - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

Little flower · 06-26-2007, 03:28 AM

There has been quite a story to me getting a new saw.
I have a variable speed Delta (50-450) and find it a good saw but having felt the difference in cutting on a Delta P20, Dewalt, Hegner and Diamond and seeing some benefits of the lifting head on some of those I decided it would be great to go that next step - especially as hubby was prepared to go buy me one!!

So I researched the models and decided I'd like the P20. Only trouble was our importer says he can't get anymore here. Can still get the lower models though. First choice - no deal!

Then I searched some more and found I could buy a dewalt 788 in NZ. Great! But before doing so I searched out dewalt on this forum and got put off aftewr reading all the past posts detailling problems. Second choice - no deal!

A diamond??? No, no way do I have those dollars - just as well they are not available here. Definitely - no deal!

Now the Hegner wis a lovely machine. Pricey, but lovely. Not available in NZ but I was directed as to how I could get one from Aussie. Great! Deal done and money paid in Jan 07!!! It was on the way for me to expect it in 3-4weeks! Oops! Problems, problems, problems. I won't go into those details, but it is suffice to say that I finally got my money returned in June.

But I was still dreaming of a new saw - that dewalt option was still available.... Are those problems really that bad, I thought? To Rick Hutcheson's site I decided to go and showed his dewalt problem solving solutions to my hubby as he is a fitter, turner, machinist by trade. No problem, he said. If those things happen I can sort them out. FANTASTIC! Deal set up! Two weeks ago, with credit card in the back in the pocket, we went off to visit the importer to check one out. Well he unpacked and set it all up for us to have a look and see it running. DEAL DONE!

Saved me several hundreds of dollars buying this way. Its still got a full 12 month guarantee. And the verdict?? It’s a DREAM! It is just so many levels above the delta variable speed I already have. It is heaps and heaps better than that! I LOVE IT!

One draw back is that it is a 110v and we use 230v but came with a good converter for the 240v, so no real problem and I use a foot switch to take any stress off the on/off switch that people talk about. I don’t have an easi-lift yet (block of wood works ok) but I have convinced the importer to bring several in and make them a standard extra on all the machines he sells and I directed him to a site where he can get them from.

My little memory pieces in my post titled "Memory pieces' are the first things I have cut on it.

I'm very, very, happy!!!

Dragon · 06-26-2007, 04:00 AM

I have a DeWalt 788 and love it. It is a dream machine. Congrats on the new purchase.
Diane

bearfretworks · 06-26-2007, 04:05 AM

CONGRATS "Kiwi T"!

I hope you get many years of great use out of that yellow machine!

morsewk · 06-26-2007, 04:34 AM

I've used mine for 7 years without a problem and love it.

north wood clocks · 06-26-2007, 05:39 AM

Hello
Congratulations on your purchase, I am sure you will enjoy scrolling with it.
I have had mine for years, my first suggestion is to learn to top-thread, and vacume the dust rather than use the air hose. It is healthier for you and for your saw. You should be off to a great start. There is no project you shouldn't be able to make with that saw.
north wood clocks

Hobbyhorse · 06-26-2007, 07:40 AM

Teresa,
Very pleased to hear that you have finally got your upgrade.

Rhys

Gill · 06-26-2007, 09:33 AM

They're very nice saws, aren't they? I hope yours gives you years of pleasurable cutting.

Gill

Forester21 · 06-26-2007, 11:48 AM

Congratulations on your new saw!
And to think all I had to do was drive 20 miles to find my Dewalt. I did take a piece of wood with me and convinced the salesman to let me try it out right there on the sales floor.

Theresa

Cutting Cathy · 06-26-2007, 01:22 PM

Congrats on the new saw Teresa!!! It's so exciting to get a new toy and doubly nice that you are so happy with it!!!

Cathy in NE

lucky788scroller · 06-27-2007, 03:25 AM

Ahhh Kiwi T!!! You love that yella beast already huh? congrats, you really do deserve it!!! Dale

06-26-2007, 03:28 AM	#1
Little flower aka, Kiwi T Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Palmerston North New Zealand Posts: 359	New Saw, 788!!! There has been quite a story to me getting a new saw. I have a variable speed Delta (50-450) and find it a good saw but having felt the difference in cutting on a Delta P20, Dewalt, Hegner and Diamond and seeing some benefits of the lifting head on some of those I decided it would be great to go that next step - especially as hubby was prepared to go buy me one!! So I researched the models and decided I'd like the P20. Only trouble was our importer says he can't get anymore here. Can still get the lower models though. First choice - no deal! Then I searched some more and found I could buy a dewalt 788 in NZ. Great! But before doing so I searched out dewalt on this forum and got put off aftewr reading all the past posts detailling problems. Second choice - no deal! A diamond??? No, no way do I have those dollars - just as well they are not available here. Definitely - no deal! Now the Hegner wis a lovely machine. Pricey, but lovely. Not available in NZ but I was directed as to how I could get one from Aussie. Great! Deal done and money paid in Jan 07!!! It was on the way for me to expect it in 3-4weeks! Oops! Problems, problems, problems. I won't go into those details, but it is suffice to say that I finally got my money returned in June. But I was still dreaming of a new saw - that dewalt option was still available.... Are those problems really that bad, I thought? To Rick Hutcheson's site I decided to go and showed his dewalt problem solving solutions to my hubby as he is a fitter, turner, machinist by trade. No problem, he said. If those things happen I can sort them out. FANTASTIC! Deal set up! Two weeks ago, with credit card in the back in the pocket, we went off to visit the importer to check one out. Well he unpacked and set it all up for us to have a look and see it running. DEAL DONE! Saved me several hundreds of dollars buying this way. Its still got a full 12 month guarantee. And the verdict?? It’s a DREAM! It is just so many levels above the delta variable speed I already have. It is heaps and heaps better than that! I LOVE IT! One draw back is that it is a 110v and we use 230v but came with a good converter for the 240v, so no real problem and I use a foot switch to take any stress off the on/off switch that people talk about. I don’t have an easi-lift yet (block of wood works ok) but I have convinced the importer to bring several in and make them a standard extra on all the machines he sells and I directed him to a site where he can get them from. My little memory pieces in my post titled "Memory pieces' are the first things I have cut on it. I'm very, very, happy!!! __________________ Cheers. Teresa . www.mwg.org.nz

06-26-2007, 04:00 AM	#2
Dragon scroller and moderator Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chertsey, Quebec, Canada Posts: 2,421	I have a DeWalt 788 and love it. It is a dream machine. Congrats on the new purchase. Diane __________________ Dragon Owner of a Dewalt 788 PuffityDragon on AFSP

06-26-2007, 04:05 AM	#3
bearfretworks Retired Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Buse Township, MN Posts: 1,367	CONGRATS "Kiwi T"! I hope you get many years of great use out of that yellow machine! __________________ I love the smell of burnt gunpowder.....it reminds me of a full freezer

06-26-2007, 07:40 AM	#6
Hobbyhorse Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 294	Teresa, Very pleased to hear that you have finally got your upgrade. Rhys Last edited by Hobbyhorse; 06-27-2007 at 04:23 AM.

06-26-2007, 09:33 AM	#7
Gill Fallen Angel Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,625	They're very nice saws, aren't they? I hope yours gives you years of pleasurable cutting. Gill __________________ There is no opinion, however absurd, which men will not readily embrace as soon as they can be brought to the conviction that it is readily adopted. (Schopenhauer, Die Kunst Recht zu Behalten)

06-26-2007, 04:34 AM	#4
morsewk Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Crete, Illinois Posts: 41	I've used mine for 7 years without a problem and love it.

06-26-2007, 05:39 AM	#5
north wood clocks Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Saskatchewan Canada Posts: 108	Hello Congratulations on your purchase, I am sure you will enjoy scrolling with it. I have had mine for years, my first suggestion is to learn to top-thread, and vacume the dust rather than use the air hose. It is healthier for you and for your saw. You should be off to a great start. There is no project you shouldn't be able to make with that saw. north wood clocks

06-26-2007, 11:48 AM	#8
Forester21 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,282	Congratulations on your new saw! And to think all I had to do was drive 20 miles to find my Dewalt. I did take a piece of wood with me and convinced the salesman to let me try it out right there on the sales floor. Theresa __________________ Theresa http://WoodNGoods.etsy.com http://woodngoods.blogspot.com

06-26-2007, 01:22 PM	#9
Cutting Cathy Proud Grandma Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 565	Congrats on the new saw Teresa!!! It's so exciting to get a new toy and doubly nice that you are so happy with it!!! Cathy in NE

06-27-2007, 03:25 AM	#10
lucky788scroller Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: wisconsin Posts: 6,261	Ahhh Kiwi T!!! You love that yella beast already huh? congrats, you really do deserve it!!! Dale

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