DeWalt scroll saw

[Robert K. Brook]

Thinking about trading my Dremmel scroll saw for DeWalt. What do you think? The Dremmel has been a good machine and easy blade detachment system for the scroll saw portraits I do.
Thanks for your help.

[William Young]

The DeWalt would be a huge step up from the Dremmel but for just a little more money, you can get the Delta P-20 Industrial quality saw that is a HUGE step up from the DeWalt. You can top feed the blade with a DeWalt in an awkward manner and you can top feed with a P-20 with ease. .
Been there ...Done that
I tried many times to top feed with my DeWalt but it just wasnt for me with arthritis in my hands. Now with the P-20 , I just cant imagine ever going back to bottom feeding again.
The P-20 is a joy to use. I totally wore out my DeWalt in a little over 3 years.
Hope this helps you make the decision.
W.Y.

[Warpguy]

I have had DeWalt 788 for about a year and am quite happy with it. I have no trouble feeding the blade from the top. I purchaced mine from the local True Value Store for $455 with stand and state sales tax. The only trouble I've had is the switch getting dust in it and the saw won't start. I blow the dust out with canned air. Good luck with your scrolling.

[William Young]

Hi Warpguy.
That is just one of the weak points with a DeWalt. After all these years of making them they still havn't started putting dustproof switches in them. It is quite a common complaint with that saw.
The cure for that is to loosly put a piece of latex glove material over the switch and tape it down all around. You can still use the switch but dust wont get into it.
I had mine covered like that but I always use a foot switch for on off and the switch on the saw is always in the on position.
W.Y.

[scroll-1]

For the money it can't be beat, I've had one for 5 years and have never had any trouble except the upper are sticks occasionally when I start to raise it to reposition the work, just a tap on the foot switch always fixes it. For us non-pro diddlers, I think it is the best

[William Young]

Dont take me wrong scrollers. The DeWalt is a good saw for weekend warriors and part time scrollers. I put literally thousands of hours on mine . I am retired and have more time for scrolling than some and I do a lot of stack sawing. That saw paid for itself over and over a lot of times before it wore out.
The main reason I upgraded to the Delta P-20 was to get a saw with more user freindly features and construction that will outlast me and my kids and grandkids..
I am not a pro by any stretch of the imagination. I just enjoy making clocks and things and it helps make ends meet on a meager seniors pension.
W.Y.http://mypage.uniserve.ca/~bzy/Delta%20P-20.jpg

[Dachshund]

Ok -guys
I've seen it on other boards - WY gets everyone upset about Dewalt VS Delta "DeWalt is for weekend warriors...", "Delta is for professionals...". It's called 'stirring the pot". There are a lot of "professionals" using all kinds of saws - I put "thousands of hours" on my DeWalt, too. Let's not get into this discussion, just take it for what it's worth - ONE GUYS OPINION. The P-20 and other delta saws have problems also ( other boards have posts concerning getting parts). It all boils down to what you fell is best for YOU. Test drive them (if possible) and decide. I have used both and found the DeWalt suited ME best.

[William Young]

Daschund;
Sorry to hear about your near sitedness and your inability to accept the fact that anything said about DeWalt is costrued as in insult to you.
I never classify myself as professional. Never have ...never will. That is your brilliant deduction. But if you want to insult anyone that provides information that could be helpfull to fellow scrollers than you are doing a great injustice to the real meaning of disscussion boards.
I dont bash any make . Some just take it that way. I tell the difference from my own experiences and state true facts about the specifications of different models to be informative and helpfull. You are obviously one of the Dewalt Huggers. I admit that I was also one untill mine wore out pre-maturely and then I did the research necessary to find a much better built and warranted saw that wasnt priced all that much higher than its closest competitor. That is when I realized the big difference in the two and I only share my experience to be heplfull and I dont cut people down just because they have not foumd out the difference for themselves yet. Lots of good scrollers are using low priced entry level saws which are also good for the money but eventually a lot of them will want to upgrade and information found in forums about good and bad points of various makes is valuable information to ones that are willing to listen.
I said Delta is in the industrial catagory because it is and it is listed and stated as so in their industrial line up tools which are separate from their regular lineup. Any amateur can use an idusrtrial quality tool . Using one certainly dosnt make me or anyone else a professional.
I never said as you quoted..." Delta is for professionls". That is a figment of your imagination.
Sorry you are one of the people that cant accept simple facts.
I am not going to dwell on this subject any further here just to keep you happy but anyone else that is interested in the real truth is welcome to email me about specifications and real life experiences on differnt makes that I have spent thousands of hours on. No more help will be offered by me on this particular topic on this patricular board . There are other forums and lots of other good people that appreciate my advice elswhere.

Perhaps when you get my age and have arthritis in your hands and find the difference in using more user freindly tools that last a lot longer and have built hundreds of clocks and thousands of other scrollsawed items and get off you soap box and crawl back under your rock you will start realizing that I was only trying to be helpfull for anyone looking to upgrade.
Nuff said... end of discussion from here.. Call me what you want. You dont bother me.
W.Y.

[Warpguy]

It seems a large can of worms has been opened. I really like my DeWalt, and admit I haven't tried the Delta P20. I began scrolling with a 12" rigid arm Wards jigsaw run by a huge 1/4 hp washing machine motor, which I found at a garage sale. I bolted it down, used rubber mounts, and it vibrated so much, it was extremely difficult to follow a pattern line (the blade and line was a blur). At another garage sale I acquired a Delta 16" single speed. The vibration was less, but the single speed limited the materials I could cut and detail I could achieve. My main reason for chosing the DeWalt over the Delta P20 is the variable speed controll. I change speeds often while making a single cut. I don't enjoy having to stop cutting to change a belt to slow down for a difficult cut. (I happen to be quite lazy).

By the way, I made some really nice things with both of my earlier saws. But, they were of course, limited in size.

"Can't we all just get along?", Rodney King.

[Dachshund]

Like I said - stirring the pot, It's happened before and will happen again. Just get by it and decide which saw is best for YOU. Time to close the thread and move on.

[Robert K. Brook]

Sorry some feelings were hurt between members for my recent forum where I asked opinions on what Scroll saw I should upgrade to. I considered DeWalt but took Bill Youngs advise and bought a Delta P20. Just wanted you all to know I am EXTREAMLY
SATISFIED WITH MY NEW SAW. I'm by far not a professional but enjoy using this professional grade saw.
Thanks for your help

[Dachshund]

Good deal Bob! No hurt feelings here! Glad you decided on a saw that is right for YOU!:cool:

[tayjus]

I have had my dewat for a long time but seem to keep having trouble with the blade assembly parts stripping out. I need to reorder them all the time and dont understand whats going on. When I first got the saw it was fine for at least 6 months then once I replaced the parts, now I have to do it all the time... I love the Dewalt compared to all the other saws Ive had in the past but this problem is giving me more down time than I can afford.! Help!

[scroll-1]

Never heard of that problem. You might try Excalibur parts, seems like I read or seen somewhere that the DeWalt has the same insides as the Excalibur brand or it is made by the same manufacture. Don't quote me, on that cause I sure don't want to start a big fuss over this. After 10 years I finally overhauled mine a few months ago. A spacer washer broke on the pivot bolt for the arm. The only problem I have not is the blade slipping but I think it is my fault. the dealer/repair shops are usually pretty helpful, her in Ft Worth anyway. Hope this helps.

[pops-shop]

A "weekender hobbiest" ? ? ? ? ?

You have GOT to be kidding.

Have been using mine 5 - 7 hours per day for the past 1.5 years and haven't had a problem other than thumb screws (because I tightened them too much) and I squared my table for front-to-back square.

We all have our favorites. What ever works for you within your budget is fantastic. Learn it's quirks (as you will do with every machine) and it will give you service for years.

[wisconsinwoodch]

try RBI .never had a problem in 9 years :) :) :) :D
thewisconsinwoodchuck
_________________________
www.wisconsinwoodchuck.com

[jimp11]

HI GUYS DEWALT owner love it still have my old Delta . this is the reason I don't go to some other boards is because MY STUFF IS THE BEST AND NOBODYS IS ANY GOOD AND THE PRODUCT I USE IS THE ONLY GOOD PRODUCT ON EARTH?????????????????? :confused:

[William Young]

Yes isn't that a fact Jim. I seldom participate in some sites for the same reason. I usually just read and smile any more on the saw topics after being an owner of different makes and models over the years.. So many that are so quick to condemn a persons message about their particular saw are the ones that have never tried the saw or had any experience with the one they are condemning or don't want to hear about it and therefore don't know what they are talking about. Experince is the best teacher. Always has been and always will be. Some talk from experience while others talk from hear-say that they have copied from a google or another site and like to pretend they know what they are talking about.
The sites I refer to are just oozing with praises for their particular saw in spite of all its shortcomings but just mention the features of the saw you are using and they jump all over you and think you are trying to say your saw is better when you are only trying to be helpful and point out the differences in features so we can all be better educated on the pros and cons of the various makes.
I have heard a lot of good reports about the Hawk G4 being so much better than the previous models of RBI for various reasons..
W.Y.

[uhmnl]

I have heard a lot of good reports about the Hawk G4 being so much better than the previous models of RBI for various reasons..
Is this not hear-say?
Mike

[William Young]

About the G-4 is hear-say. . .Yes . . .that's right because I have no experience with one or ever used one. There are none in my area yet or I would ask to come and see it and try it out..
As far as previous models or RBI that I mentioned I talk from experience from ones that I have seen in person by friends that own one and cant use them because of serious manufacturers defects that RBI themselves could not fix after the owner drove six to seven hundred miles each way to the factory twice because they don't have a nationwide chain of authorized repair depots.
Mind you I am not calling down RBI saws at all even though some will take a negative view of my response and think that I am. Obvioiusly there are thousands in use by people that love them and are not having any major problems.
A bad one could be made by any make or model on the market. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time to talk from experience on a couple of them where the owners still have the saw in a corner of their workshop and can't use it or sell it or give it away in the condition it is in and they won't take the long journey back to the factory a third time . They are now using a different make and model of saw that they are having better luck with..
W.Y.

[wisconsinwoodch]

thats hard to beleve, and I am not saying it isnt true ,but as an owner of one for 9 years, i would have to see it to beleve it. I use mine every day and never had one bit of trobble with it. to each his own .own what you can afford and makes you happy.I know If I was to buy another saw It would be an RBI .but that is my personal oppion,and I am not running any other saws down. to each hi own .
thewisconsinwoodchuck
_______________________
www.wisconsinwoodchuck.com

[oldvaxguy]

Purchasing a new saw is a PERSONAL selection. It's like a glove it gotta fight just right. Otherwise it will be a mental pain and you will not want to use it.

So, everyone has a price vs. feature point that fits there own situation.

Here's what was done to purchase my new saw.

1) List features wanted.
2) List options wanted
3) Compare various models
4) Sort of pick out one model YOU like
5) Set max price.
6) Get advice from friends ( Us here )
6a) Ignore the petty complaints and attacks about various saws.
6b) Opinions are like xxxxxxx every one has one.
7) Consider what they say.
8) Go to local woodworking stores if possible to see it.
9) Check out Ebay and the prices there.
10) Buy one that YOU like. Because the guy down the street isn't cutting the project YOU are.

It took me two months to decide what saw to buy. Then a price point was set. Knowing that most people sell stuff they don't use I went to Ebay to buy my saw. I ignored the dealers selling the saw i wanted. It took seven acutions to get what I wanted. But, I got it at the price I wanted; including shipping. This was ok since i had a working saw that was still usable.

[pops-shop]

Purchasing a new saw is a PERSONAL selection. It's like a glove it gotta fight just right. Otherwise it will be a mental pain and you will not want to use it.

oldvaxguy - couldn't have it better myself

me? oldibmguy

[oldvaxguy]

My 2 cents worth were not to stop discussion but to have more productive discussion. I liked the RBI comment. But, why do you like RBI better than others saws is what i want to know. Here's an example:

The rbi saw runs really quite....

There have been improvements to saws in the last few years. So we would like to hear more. Twenty replies are way to low on this subject.

[wisconsinwoodch]

I started scroll sawing with a montgumery wards 10 inch throat with a 1/4 hr wash machine motor, then went to a delta, can't remember the Model. then up graded to a grizzly 26 inch throat, It would do a good job but it wanted to jump off the stand, way to much vib. then up graded to the RBI after seeing and trying Dewalt. Eclipse, Excalibur, Hegner. I have seen others work at the RV park I stay at in San Bento Texas. I have never had any trouble with my RBI, but now I hear they have a new RBI saw that is supposed to be better yet, but as long as my old RBI keeps cutting like it does, no reason to up grade any further. My personal opinion, and mine only (plus his wife!).. :) :) :) :) It is what you are comfortable with . good luck in what ever you choose.
the wisconsinwoodchuck
________________________
www.wisconsinwoodchuck.com