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General Category => General Scroll Saw Talk => Topic started by: GrayBeard on May 26, 2010, 07:55:52 pm
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I did it!
With the help of the internet, copy and paste, emails, etc. I was able to negotiate the purchase of a brand new, in the box, DeWalt DW788 Yellow Saw!!!
Terms of the deal are not to be disclosed by either the local franchisee nor myself.
To boot, there is a DeWalt Service Center almost directly across the road in case of problems.
Saw and Stand to be picked up on Friday, May 28th and Saturday happens to be my BirthDay....my B'day present to ME!
NOW...What can you 'yaller' owners tell me about things to watch out for or to do when setting it up so I can jump right in and start 'making sawdust'.
I already have the momentary foot switch, light and magnifier and a tiny 'square' to true the blade.
I will carefully clean the table with solvents and thoroughly wax same with Johnson's Paste wax.
Stand will be assembled carefully and the necessary torque will be applied to all fasteners to make it firm and steady.
What else do you recommend that I do before cutting for hours to get used to it???
~~~Gray(happy)Beard~~~
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Congratulations, Grey Beard! I am happy for you! I LOVE my yellow baby! I can't think of anything else you need to do except 'get to know her'. I wish you the many hours of fun and pleasure that I have gotten from mine. The only thing I had really heard of was the switch going on it. It did happen to mine about 7 or 8 years ago. It is cheap to replace (under $10) and I keep a 'spare' here just in case. With the service center so close, you can get one at any time.
You will love it, I am sure. Mine still purrs like a kitten after over 13 years of use. Have fun!
Sheila :)
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Congrats!
Do not plug it in to a power source just yet.
First hook up the foot switch. Turn on the switch on top of the arm. Then cover it (the switch) with clear tape, to keep all dust out of the switch.
Now you can plug it into the wall!
Have fun!
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Thanks Sheila.
I really agonized about whether I really needed to go the expense but finally decided at my age it will likely be the last saw I will need and I want to enjoy this fun and satisfying new hobby as much as possible.
That recent project for my grandson gave me so much pleasure that I finally decided that this is something I can do and am I am totally absorbed with with this relatively new hobby!
Everyone will know where to find me now!
Settin' and Scrollin'!!!
~~~GrayBeard~~~
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Thanks Mike!
I'm planning to stop at the local H-D on the way home and pick up some Yellow duct tape to keep that BEAUTY 'color coordinated'!
~~~GrayBeard~~~
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I was amazed when I took off the housing to check out the switch when it went. I had the saw at least five years at that point and there was very little dust that had accumulated in there at all. At first when it just 'stopped working' I assumed it was dirty inside but it was darn near perfectly clean. (That's when I knew I was in trouble, though and had to replace the switch!)
Just a point of interest I wanted to share for what it is worth . . . . .
Sheila
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don't forget to buy the good blades.
Mike sells them at
http://www.mikesworkshop.com
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SawDust John....
I've been using F-D blades from Mike since i first got my old clunker of a a saw!
This will be the Third saw Mike has supplied the blades for!
~~~GrayBeard~~~
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congrats on the new saw, when i got mine it felt like driving a new cadillac. i did take some scrap wood tho and practiced cutting on it, so i could get the feel of how the saw handles when turning on lines etc. i use flying dutchman blades, that i got from mikesworkshop.
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Hey GrayBeard, Congratulations on the yellow saw! The tables on the newer DeWalt saws were machined very rough. spray a little WD40 on it and sand with 220 grit sand paper until smooth. Wipe off the WD40 and apply a paste wax, let it dry, then buff with a clean rag. Make sure to use a wax that does not contain silicone. I use Johnson's Paste wax. This will make the table nice and smooth!
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Hey there 'dgman'....
I wondered about the table and I have both 220 and 300 (wet or dry) that I can put in my orbital sander and go to town.
That made a big difference in the surface of the cast aluminum table of my current Craftsman!
Only wax in my cabinet is good ol' Johnson's Paste!
Thanks for the 'heads up'!
~~~GrayBeard~~~
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I am very happy for ya Grey Beard. Nothing like a new toy out of the box. I have never used a Dewalt, but I always hear great things about them. I have thought about buying one a few times, but when I stumbled upon my Shopsmith, I would never turn yeller. I turned green instead. LOL.
HAVE FUN AND LET THE SAW DUST FLY!!!
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WOOO HOOO!! CONGRATZ,GRAYBEARD!!!!! You will love it....
Tonya
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Congratulations on the new saw. Now sit down and let the saw dust fly.
Happy Scroll'n :D
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One more hour to pick up!!!
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59,58,57,56,55,54, and the count down is on. LOLOL ::)
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Congrats on the new saw , let us know when the big moment comes ............Marshall
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We are home and the stand is assembled.
Taking lunch break before I get into the serious business!
Stopped at "Dollar Tree" on way home and found some nice 'ovals' of what appears to be pine that are about 4" x 6" at $1.00 each...had to search thru the lot to get ones cut from a single board (no glue ups) and those with no flaws. Found 6 easily and grabbed them. They are part of the Memorial Day Sale so check your store. Also picked up several nice 'frames' for a buck each.
Sandwich, cold one, chips and then the final attack on the assembly process.
Will keep you all posted!
~~~GrayBeard~~~
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Saw and Stand to be picked up on Friday, May 28th and Saturday happens to be my BirthDay....my B'day present to ME!
NOW...What can you 'yaller' owners tell me about things to watch out for or to do when setting it up so I can jump right in and start 'making sawdust'.
Watch out for the saw's addictive characteristics. Use an occasional 'reverse blade' so you don't get too used to the smooth cutting! Most of all -- Have a Happy Birthday!!!
Dan
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One thing that will help is to get a thin piece of plexiglass at you local home improvement store. Lay it on the table top and draw the outline of the table with a sharpie on the plexiglass. Also mark the center where the blade goes. Now cut out the outline and drill a small hole where the blade mark is. Attavh it to the table with double stick tape and you will have a very smooth surface to work on and you can cut small pieces without them falling down around the blade. Makes for a smooth cut. woodcrafter tom
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;) Watch out for eyes with a brand new machine, it may shine too hard and go blind! ... Good continuation to make beautiful pieces! ... :)
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Wood crafter, now that sounds like an idea I would have to try. Makes a great zero clearance it sounds like. Do you have a picture so I can see exactly how yours looks?
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The only draw back is if your saw has a bottom dust port, it won't work with the plexiglass. I add some extra small holes to help. Also I only use the plexiglass when doing small, fragile cuts. :o
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Sorry to come in late GrayBeard, but good luck with the new DW788. I Love mine. This is my 3rd scroll saw and I do not see a 4th in the future.
Happy Scrolling
Bill
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Well bill this'n is my Third and at 73 ain't much time left fer no more!!!
I's happy as a hog in slop raht naow!!!
~~~GrayBeard~~~
Spent several hours with my Arkie Cuzins taday!!!
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I had the switch problem a couple of times and really panicked. I just used the old "Fonzie" method and thumped the switch a couple of times on and off and it works great.
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Me too, Judy!!!! When all else fails and you got nothing to lose, you get out the rubber mallet! My best friend and I used it many times in times of need and we put together quite a few toys for our kids with our 'rubber mallet friend'. LOL
Sheila
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NO, Sheila....
The correct shop terminology is U. A. T.!!!
~~ Universal Adjustment Tool ~~
~~~GrayBeard~~~
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See! I learned a new thing today! Who says this site isn't educational?? LOL Great terminology! :)
:D Sheila