Blade slipping - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

Scrolling Jim · 11-23-2007, 04:49 PM

I have a Dewalt 788 at school that the students use a lot. Over time the blade has started slipping and needs to be retghtened during the cut. To explain in more detail, when the blade is first tightened the tension would be say on 3, after cutting 2 or 3 inches the blade would come lose and need to move tension to 4 or 4.5. This happens on about every cut. I have tried to fix the problem but nothing helps. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Jim

beemerbob · 11-23-2007, 04:55 PM

Clean the holder with alcohol. Then if the blade still slips, some light pass with sandpaper will get rid of the glaze on the holder

GrayBeard Phil · 11-23-2007, 05:12 PM

Jim:

What Bob said---
but don't forget you could also try an "Orange Stick" the laddies use on their finger nails. Just cut the stick width wise as you need to.

Phil

Neal Moore · 11-23-2007, 05:14 PM

The top and/or bottom clamping screws may have become beveled on the ends. It's a fairly common problem with that saw for some reason. A clue as to if that's the problem is that the blade often bends at an angle on the top or bottom, at the clamping point, when doing lots of pierced cuts. Easy to fix. Just remove the screws, file the ends flat and reinstall them. Be careful not to strip the threads in the clamp. The screw is steel and it threads into an aluminum clamp block. I always spray a little WD40 on it first and then work it back and forth a little at a time until it's removed. Sawdust accumulates in the threads and tends to make the screw bind in them when you remove it completely. You don't notice that when installing blades because the screw tends to keep the threads clean in the little area it takes just to clamp and unclamp a blade. Hope this helps!!

Scrolling Jim · 11-23-2007, 06:05 PM

Thanks everyone will do as you suggest.

Janette · 11-30-2007, 07:16 PM

I've been having the same problem too. I took out the screws yesterday, wiped them with alcohol and slightly sanded them. I was afraid to sand too much. It helped some but they're still popping out (at the most inopportune times, I might add!). I was going to just order new parts. Went to the DeWalt site and although the 2 parts are about $8 - the shipping was almost $9 !!! Forget that! I'll try sanding a little bit more and see what happens. It is aggrivating - makes you jump every time!

Marsha · 11-30-2007, 09:39 PM

Perhaps you should take a look at this thread. I've had no problems, none whatsoever, with tension, or blades slipping, after taking care of this problem.
DW788 Woes
Marsha

11-23-2007, 04:49 PM	#1
Scrolling Jim Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 10	Blade slipping I have a Dewalt 788 at school that the students use a lot. Over time the blade has started slipping and needs to be retghtened during the cut. To explain in more detail, when the blade is first tightened the tension would be say on 3, after cutting 2 or 3 inches the blade would come lose and need to move tension to 4 or 4.5. This happens on about every cut. I have tried to fix the problem but nothing helps. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Jim

11-23-2007, 04:55 PM	#2
beemerbob Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Shalimar, Fl Posts: 44	Clean the holder with alcohol. Then if the blade still slips, some light pass with sandpaper will get rid of the glaze on the holder __________________ Bob from Northwest Florida Delta P20

11-23-2007, 05:14 PM	#4
Neal Moore Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cottageville, West Virginia Posts: 1,085	The top and/or bottom clamping screws may have become beveled on the ends. It's a fairly common problem with that saw for some reason. A clue as to if that's the problem is that the blade often bends at an angle on the top or bottom, at the clamping point, when doing lots of pierced cuts. Easy to fix. Just remove the screws, file the ends flat and reinstall them. Be careful not to strip the threads in the clamp. The screw is steel and it threads into an aluminum clamp block. I always spray a little WD40 on it first and then work it back and forth a little at a time until it's removed. Sawdust accumulates in the threads and tends to make the screw bind in them when you remove it completely. You don't notice that when installing blades because the screw tends to keep the threads clean in the little area it takes just to clamp and unclamp a blade. Hope this helps!! __________________ If it don't fit, don't force it....get a bigger hammer!! Last edited by Neal Moore; 11-23-2007 at 05:21 PM.

11-30-2007, 07:16 PM	#6
Janette Intarsia Moderator Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Eugene, Oregon Posts: 2,110 Blog Entries: 4	I've been having the same problem too. I took out the screws yesterday, wiped them with alcohol and slightly sanded them. I was afraid to sand too much. It helped some but they're still popping out (at the most inopportune times, I might add!). I was going to just order new parts. Went to the DeWalt site and although the 2 parts are about $8 - the shipping was almost $9 !!! Forget that! I'll try sanding a little bit more and see what happens. It is aggrivating - makes you jump every time! __________________ Janette www.square-designs.com

11-30-2007, 09:39 PM	#7
Marsha Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Hamilton Ontario Posts: 1,225	Perhaps you should take a look at this thread. I've had no problems, none whatsoever, with tension, or blades slipping, after taking care of this problem. DW788 Woes Marsha __________________ LIFE'S SHORT, USE IT WELL

11-23-2007, 05:12 PM	#3
GrayBeard Phil Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Near Detroit, Michigan Posts: 1,156	Jim: What Bob said--- but don't forget you could also try an "Orange Stick" the laddies use on their finger nails. Just cut the stick width wise as you need to. Phil

11-23-2007, 06:05 PM	#5
Scrolling Jim Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 10	Thanks everyone will do as you suggest.

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