dw 788 problem? - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

southpaw · 05-05-2009, 12:41 PM

Hello everyone, I got a dw788 for xmas and have been using it quite a bit lately doing my first portrait, I like it a lot, anyway to my question, I was reading on this website that the blade is suppose to be in the middle of the teardrop hole of the table, mine is almost touching the left edge, where is the blade on your saws hang in the hole and is there some way to align it or is there a defect on my saw? Info please and thanks. Lloyd

miniwoodworker · 05-05-2009, 12:52 PM

Lloyd, mine is a little off center, too. Not so bad that it's touching the side of the hole. In my case it doesn't cause a problem. If your blade is rubbing the side of the hole, then that is a problem.

Sounds like a casting defect to me. If it's causing a problem and the saw is still under warranty, you may want to have the top replaced.

JohnB · 05-05-2009, 01:11 PM

G'day Lloyed,
I'm trying to cast my mind back.........way back

If I remember rightly there is a bit of slop in the bolt holes that hold the table to the tilting bracket. If you just loosen of those two bolts and shove the table across a bit and then tighten the bolts all should be OK.
Of course this will only work if the old memory is OK.

miniwoodworker · 05-05-2009, 01:48 PM

Good point, John. I hadn't thought about that way to adjust it from side to side. I've give it a try when I get out to the shop, later today. So far, I haven't had any problem with it being off center, but you never know what the next project may bring.

Thanks, and G'day to ya!

oregoncarver · 05-05-2009, 02:30 PM

Mine was off center when I assembled it and I was able to talk to a DeWalt rep at a local woodworking store and he told me to loosen the bolts holding the table and to move it over. Havn't had a problem since.

Arthur

wood-n-things · 05-05-2009, 02:40 PM

Arthur same here took 2 minutes...several years ago.

southpaw · 05-05-2009, 07:29 PM

Thanks guys, I'll try it tonight.

southpaw · 05-07-2009, 04:06 PM

I loosened the 2 screws that holds the table and was able to move it over ,now the blade is almost centered in the hole, FYI update.

B Smith · 05-07-2009, 04:38 PM

Another thing you might look at is to turn the set screw the blade thumb screw tightens against. Screw in the set screw both top and bottom then be sure you check for the blade to be square to the table.

tgiro · 05-14-2009, 11:53 PM

I had to look for where I saw this complaint before for the Dewalt saws.

Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: DEWALT DW788 1.3 Amp 20-Inch Variable Speed Scroll Saw

Check some of the 1,2,3 and even 4 star reviews. Turns out hat many folks have had this problem.

05-05-2009, 12:41 PM	#1
southpaw Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: wedgeport, ns, can. Posts: 45	dw 788 problem? Hello everyone, I got a dw788 for xmas and have been using it quite a bit lately doing my first portrait, I like it a lot, anyway to my question, I was reading on this website that the blade is suppose to be in the middle of the teardrop hole of the table, mine is almost touching the left edge, where is the blade on your saws hang in the hole and is there some way to align it or is there a defect on my saw? Info please and thanks. Lloyd

05-05-2009, 12:52 PM	#2
miniwoodworker Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 497	Lloyd, mine is a little off center, too. Not so bad that it's touching the side of the hole. In my case it doesn't cause a problem. If your blade is rubbing the side of the hole, then that is a problem. Sounds like a casting defect to me. If it's causing a problem and the saw is still under warranty, you may want to have the top replaced. __________________ Lee in NC Als Ik Kan DW788 1975 Dremel (labeled Craftsman) Scroll saw w/3" pin blades

05-05-2009, 01:11 PM	#3
JohnB 1 Tin Soldier Rides Away Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kalgoorlie, Western Australia Posts: 4,806	G'day Lloyed, I'm trying to cast my mind back.........way back If I remember rightly there is a bit of slop in the bolt holes that hold the table to the tilting bracket. If you just loosen of those two bolts and shove the table across a bit and then tighten the bolts all should be OK. Of course this will only work if the old memory is OK. __________________ Regards John "The Golden Mile" “God bless America. God save the Queen. God defend New Zealand and thank Christ for Australia.” - Russell Crowe Some of my Stuff Retired Medically Unfit WA Police Officers

05-05-2009, 01:48 PM	#4
miniwoodworker Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 497	Good point, John. I hadn't thought about that way to adjust it from side to side. I've give it a try when I get out to the shop, later today. So far, I haven't had any problem with it being off center, but you never know what the next project may bring. Thanks, and G'day to ya! __________________ Lee in NC Als Ik Kan DW788 1975 Dremel (labeled Craftsman) Scroll saw w/3" pin blades

05-05-2009, 02:40 PM	#6
wood-n-things Behave Yourself..I can't. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Right here ---silly Posts: 4,296 Blog Entries: 1	Arthur same here took 2 minutes...several years ago. __________________ The Mike One of them anyway. Don't be so open-minded. Your brains will fall out! Remember.......Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car..

05-05-2009, 02:30 PM	#5
oregoncarver Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 44	Mine was off center when I assembled it and I was able to talk to a DeWalt rep at a local woodworking store and he told me to loosen the bolts holding the table and to move it over. Havn't had a problem since. Arthur

05-05-2009, 07:29 PM	#7
southpaw Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: wedgeport, ns, can. Posts: 45	Thanks guys, I'll try it tonight.

05-07-2009, 04:06 PM	#8
southpaw Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: wedgeport, ns, can. Posts: 45	I loosened the 2 screws that holds the table and was able to move it over ,now the blade is almost centered in the hole, FYI update.

05-07-2009, 04:38 PM	#9
B Smith Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 150	Another thing you might look at is to turn the set screw the blade thumb screw tightens against. Screw in the set screw both top and bottom then be sure you check for the blade to be square to the table. __________________ Smitty Dewalt 788

05-14-2009, 11:53 PM	#10
tgiro Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 28	I had to look for where I saw this complaint before for the Dewalt saws. Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: DEWALT DW788 1.3 Amp 20-Inch Variable Speed Scroll Saw Check some of the 1,2,3 and even 4 star reviews. Turns out hat many folks have had this problem. __________________ Love your enemies. It makes them so damned mad.

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