I am considering purchasing the Dewalt DW788 scrollsaw and am wondering what your opinions of the saw is? Originally the saw was produced by Excalibur but now the saw is produced in China or Taiwan by Black & Decker. Has the quality changed? Also, has anyone used it for Marquetry? Any information would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance
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Replies
I use one of the original machines for marquetry (packet cut). It work great.
Tom
Douglasville, GA
I can't answer this specifically, mine is older. However, in general what is important is the design and the specifications including quality control. Both good quality and dreck can be manufactured just about anywhere.
If you don't find anyone here who's used the newer model, try a Google on scroll saw forum -- you'll find two or three out there that have pros as members, and I'm sure some of them use the DeWalt. I used to belong to an active SS forum at justwoodworking.com but when the magazine went belly-up it got pretty quiet over there. At that time (2+ years ago), there was a problem with the upper arm of the DeWalt, but it was fixable and as time went by it seemed like there were fewer reports, so DeWalt in their usual way must have fixed it after the product was released.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Edited 10/28/2005 2:08 pm by forestgirl
Forestgirl,
There you go again...You wrote this:
"DeWalt in their usual way must have fixed it after the product was released."Care to explain where THIS assertion comes from?Here's a list of companies you have negatively criticized in recent days:
Craftsman
DeWalt
Powermatic
YorkcraftI'll ask again, do you have actual experience with any of these?I'm sure I'm the bad guy here, but it is relevant to the discussion.
Edited 10/28/2005 3:22 pm ET by MatthewSchenker
the saw is produced in China or Taiwan
They build to the specifacitions given AND really good at it!
Never know what specks' were given!
notalurker,
I never said people shouldn't criticize. If you use a machine and it is no good, say so. If you use a machine and love it, say so.
My opinion is that people should not criticize a machine they have never used. And people should not praise a machine they have never used. Obviously, you have used a machine you are unhappy with. In that case, I want to hear about it.
Forestgirl very often makes negative or positive comments about tools she has not used. She can do that all she wants -- it's a free country. But I am also free to call her on it.
It's that simple.
By the way, your comments were so crowded out by insults I couldn't tell which machine you were talking about. Which 3-cutterhead, 2-speed planer are you referring to?
Wow, I can't pass this one up: Matthew says "people should not criticize a machine they have never used." So, what you're saying is this: although there are numerous posts in the forums (and probably at Amazon, though I'm not going to swear to it) from users who have had the infamous bearing/sprocket problem with the DeWalt DW735 when it was released, and there was even a long post here explaining the mechanics of what was wrong, how to read the date code on the boxes, and which dates were problematic, I should not breathe a word of it to anyone because I've never used a DeWalt planer? This is exactly why you have no credibility with me any longer, Matthew. Sheesh.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
forestgirl,
No...
If we haven't used a machine, obviously we could still pass on information, but we shouldn't make it sound like first-hand knowledge. What I said is that we should not offer assessments (critical or positive) of machines we haven't used. We should say something like, "I haven't used the machine, but..." or we should just not interject in that case.This is not "policing" by the way. It's just my opinion.Too often, it seems to me, you are misleading about the level of your actual experience with a machine. Examples of companies that you criticized without experience with particular tools include:Craftsman
Yorkcraft
Powermatic
DeWaltYou have also praised Grizzly machines that you have never used.In all the above cases, you left it unclear how you arrived at your assessment of the machine in question.We are still waiting for your answer on several machines. You have refused to clarify whether you've ever owned or used a Yorkcraft jointer, a Craftsman scroll saw, a Powermatic bandsaw, a DeWalt scroll saw, or a Grizzly jointer. These are all tools that you assessed one way or the other.You can try to make my arguments sound bad by calling me names, but you and others reading this know that what I am saying is perfectly sensible.
Edited 10/29/2005 1:04 pm ET by MatthewSchenker
Matthew, I think you should call a proctologist immediately and make an appointment. You have some kind of large bug in your rear end, and you need to have it removed.You can't sit around these forums and see thousands of posts go by without forming opinions -- at least if you possess half a brain. Any reasonably intelligent person can and should learn from the experience of others. Whether or not one has personal and direct experience is relevant, but not the only factor in a worthwhile judgment. You're being dumb, Matthew --- just plain dumb..............Now I have given you the ammunition to engage in your favorite sport -- railing away at someone because they did not read, or misinterpreted what you said. Before you get started, I would like to say I DID read what you said -- every word of it. ********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
When do you graduate from high school? Sorry, junior high...Is Forestgirl going to vote you "coolest boy" or what!Obviously, I'm kidding. You're clearly an adult, and a smart one! I mean, who else could think of calling me "dumb." Wow! That's almost as good as the Einstein who called me a "twerp."I must say, the Fine Woodworking tool forum has really come a long way in recent years!
Edited 10/30/2005 5:11 pm ET by MatthewSchenker
Sometimes even the smart people do things that are, well .......... dumb. You cruise down the road here, generally offering worthwhile comments, but it seems to me, every once and awhile you kind of fall off the deep end; and for reasons I cannot fathom, you then provoke these vituperative exchanges -- apparently as a means of exorcising that bug I referred to previously. FG is always generous and cheerful, and to my mind has become the "institutional memory" of Knots. I am always happy to have her thoughts, opinions, and whatever experience she can bring to bear on an issue. I can't say the same for you .................********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
Do you really believe what you just said about "institutional memory"?So you don't care if the people contributing to that "institutional memory" have actual experience or not?
Edited 10/30/2005 9:20 pm ET by MatthewSchenker
Get a Life man.
Another genious!
The brilliance of this place is just dazzling!
Genius?
Were you asking a question?
Edited 10/31/2005 8:28 am ET by MatthewSchenker
Thank you
Hello, old friend,
I am reminded of the old joke that asks about the difference between "Optical Rectalitis" and a "Recto-Cranial Insertion."
Thank goodness Prospero provides the "ignore" button.
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
To say nothing of the past time of omphaloskepsis...Glaucon
If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...
It's funny...I did an experiment this morning. I sat down and began to type a response. But I wrote something in the style used by Glaucon, Forestgirl, Nikkiwood, and some others here. By that I mean childish insults and jokes.I wrote the message, then, before hitting the "post" button, I looked at it to see how it felt. It was completely unsatisfying, many levels below me. Way too simplistic and easy to do. No brainpower needed whatsoever. Pressing the "post" button then would have been an act of cowardice.So I got rid of that message and wrote this one instead.But the experiment did leave me wondering how people who resort to such simplicity can feel satisfied with themselves. Obviously, they are operating on a whole different mental level.I challenge others to do the same experiment. It's quite revealing.
Edited 11/2/2005 10:43 am ET by MatthewSchenker
Hi Glaucon,
Please fill me in - haven't heard that one!
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
FG, you do a great job of providing forum members info that they can use like the Lee Valley router table you suggested to me (when I was Sailalex before the forum changed) for which I am grateful. Why do you let these guys "pull your chain" ; every time you respond , they love it. Just ignore them and continue to give your opinions to the rest of us forum members who respect them and utilize them. Thanks!
There is no doubt that she has provided useful information, like many other people here.I'm asking her to tell us about her experiences with a few different machines she has criticized, or praised. But she seems unwilling to share!
Hi Sailalex -- first off, I really, really miss having our old names! This place just feels foreign, and I'm terrible at figuring out who's who with any new handles that have been developed. "Sailalex" has a great ring to it!
Trust me, I've ignored ~90% of what he's posted in the last 2 or 3 weeks. Just had to make a statement in a couple of places here, but only to vent a tad. I take MS about as seriously as a chihuahua with an attitude. (Did I spell chiwhooawhooa right?)
What have you been up to?? I think we should have a Cafe thread (apologies to the OP of this thread) that helps us catch up on people and their new ID's. How do you pronounce awarrenj anyway? :-)forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Forestgirl,
Where do you see an "attitude"?I've been asking you to tell us how you arrived at your negative and positive assessments of various tools. Pretty simple. But you refuse to answer, which suggests you reached your assessments without hands-on experience. Maybe I'm wrong. If so, I will immediately apologize.
Edited 10/29/2005 1:06 pm ET by MatthewSchenker
Jamie,
The pronoucing does get awkward; basically an "Alex" will get the job done.
What have I been up to? Just finished a 21' powerboat (3 year project) and taking a "breather". I would like to do manother boat but I am running out of room. :)
I am going to try to attach a pic of the boat; don't know whether I will be successful.
Oh, Alex, do post these in the gallery! Really nice! Here a pic in reduced form for the dial-uppers (not me anymore!)
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Thanks for the help. I did post some pics on the gallery but I am afraid they are too large also; I have a site where I posted about 50 pics of the build progress for some friends who were interested as I was building. I attached the instructions for that too. I do better with oak and cedar than a PC. :)
You're welcome to post the pic I provided for the dial-uppers. Right Click and select Save As to put on your computer, then attach it to your post. I'm gonna go look for your thread, so I can share a boat-building story with you without (further) hijacking this thread. ;-)forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
I have had one of that model for about a year, but don't know where it's from or who made it. However, my experience with it is very good. Previously I had a $100+ Home Depot special that I rarely used because it vibrated excessively and had to be clamped to my bench to keep it from walking off. The DeWalt, however, has been perfect for me although it doesn't get used every day nor have I given it any challenging work to do. (I turn to my bandsaw for heavy work.) I think it has enough power that it would work hardwood bundles with ease -- with the right blades, of course. It is easy to make blade changes, has a large work table, and I love the up-front controls, especially the variable speed function. The accessory stand, which I find to be almost essential, tilts forward for greatly improved visibility, is stable and doesn't contribute to vibration -- which is so good on this machine that I'd say was almost as good as the Hegner. I managed to get mine at a woodworking show for a slight discount plus free accessories. I would do it again.
The advantage of the DeWalt and the Excalibur saws is that they have a double parallel-link mechanism to move the blade. This system causes signficantly less vibration than a parallel-arm saw. Once I saw the dewalt in action at woodcraft I knew it was the saw for me. Hopefully you can get a demonstration as well.
You might also try to find a copy of "The New School Saw Handbook" by Patrick Spielman. The first 100 pages are all about how scroll saws work and the different brands available.
Kevin
Returning to your original post, I checked the only label I could find on my DeWalt 788 to see where the place of manufacture might be listed and all I could find was "Made in Canada" on the motor.
Hi BSzydlo,
Although a lot of people were worried about the quality of the DeWalt when the manufacturing was moved to the orient, I haven't heard any complaints at all directly related to that move. So, it seems that the quality has been maintained.
As for your question about marquetry, the DeWalt should work as well as any other scroll saw. One of the advantages of the DeWalt (to me, at least) is the fact that you can feed the blade thru your work from the top. That is not as critical when doing marquetry. Basically, there you want as true an up and down movement of the blade as is possible. I know several people who are very happy with the DeWalt in this regard.
I have played with a DeWalt for about a week, but most of my experience with that type of saw has been with the Excalibur. Same mechanics - different color and throat size.
Edited 11/3/2005 3:25 am ET by fretnmore
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