Messages

511

Ask Steve a question. / Re: Making a Dewalt saw stand more mobile

« on: October 12, 2011, 10:32:19 pm »

I have the Delta 40-690, the clone/copy of the 788.  The stand is also the same as the 788's stand.  To make mine mobile, I have placed a castor something like this one http://jacobholtz.thomasnet.com/item/casters-furniture-bed-casters-glides/bed-casters/231-87-4-wb? under the single leg.  This also tilts the table towards me, as some in the forum have recommended - I'm still deciding if I like it or not.

To move the saw, I have made a sort of "T"shaped lever that goes under the top of the stand.  It lets me lift the saw and stand onto the caster so I can move it.

This arrangement is unstable so I glide the two front legs across the floor.  Not the best but it works until I find a better solution, or make my own stand.

Jim

512

The Coffee Shop / Re: Fender Skirts???

« on: September 22, 2011, 05:14:12 pm »

Don't forget suicide doors on cars.
Jim

513

The Coffee Shop / Re: Clamps

« on: September 22, 2011, 05:12:30 pm »

Gene, that is a very good deal assuming this is what you bought.
http://www.amazon.com/Irwin-59400CD-Quick-Grip-4-Inch-Handi-Clamp/dp/B00005RHP0

North of the 49th, Home Depot has the same clamp for $9.97
Jim

514

Tutorials, Techniques and Tips / Re: Delta 40-690 blade alignment

« on: August 27, 2011, 06:06:37 pm »

Gabby,

Great idea, I will try it today.  I still want to be able to spin the workpiece like Steve does so I have to practice, practice, practice.

Jim
(Now I'm going off topic!!   )
J

515

Tutorials, Techniques and Tips / Re: Delta 40-690 blade alignment

« on: August 27, 2011, 01:14:00 pm »

Alien11, of course.  I didn't think of it that way but you're right about the blade only being proven vertical from side to side.  It is as vertical front to back as I can make it and as I can measure it with my plastic protractor.

Graybeard, I wouldn't call myself an expert by any definition of the word but thanks for the compliment.  As I said before, I was in no way upset by the "driftin' off topic".

When it comes to sharp turns, they never turn out to be sharp, they are rounded and don't hit the line coming away from the corner.  That is certainly a lack of practice.  I thought cutting patterns might be enough practice but now see the wisdom of making practice patterns of lines with many corners.  I also have to re-watch Steve's video on corners.

Practice, practice, practice.
Jim

516

Tutorials, Techniques and Tips / Re: Delta 40-690 blade alignment

« on: August 23, 2011, 10:59:30 pm »

Followup on the blade alignment. 

I finally got a chance to test the adjustments to the saw.  Took a 3/4" piece of pine and free-handed a circle about 1.5" across and tried my best to not side load the blade.

The "circle" dropped out the bottom as well as it fell into the top so I think the adjustments for blade perpendicularity are as good as they are going to be.

I'm a beginner so I ask you, is this a good test of the blade being perpendicular to the table from the front as well as from the side?

Now I have to learn to make sharp corners and to follow the line.
Jim

517

Tutorials, Techniques and Tips / Re: Delta 40-690 blade alignment

« on: August 07, 2011, 02:11:58 pm »

Marion, please believe me, I wasn't complaining in my last post.  What happened in this thread is very much what happens when a group of friends get together.  Sometimes the conversation departs from the original topic.

When I first found this forum, I noticed that it was a much more relaxed forum than some others and I feel very comfortable here. 

Again, I was not upset about the later posts, I actually enjoyed the comments.   Those comments might also be a sign that the "technical" discussion was pretty well complete.

Jim

518

Tutorials, Techniques and Tips / Re: Delta 40-690 blade alignment

« on: August 07, 2011, 09:52:32 am »

Gabby,

The adjustment I made isn't in my manual, the idea came from the Delta service engineer.  The saw has a 5 year warranty so I didn't want to start elongating holes, as some have done to solve the same problem on their DW788.

BTW, in an earlier post I wanted the blade vertical when I should have said perpendicular to the table.

Russ, this might bring the thread back from the "foul words" but perhaps not.  That's one of the things I like about this forum, people are relaxed enough that drifting off topic is OK.

Jim

519

Tutorials, Techniques and Tips / Re: Delta 40-690 blade alignment

« on: August 06, 2011, 10:12:58 pm »

Gabby,

The lower rocker mount is item #13 on the 40-690 parts list.  Go to http://servicenet.deltaportercable.com/Products/Detail?productNumber=40-690. To see where it fits into the saw, download the "Exploded Art - Default" PDF diagram.

Easing off the two bolts #44 and two #126 (at F and F') allowed #13 to tilt forward, around the lower bolt, just enough to make the blade vertical.  I didn't have to elongate the holes in #6 and #81 as some have done for the DW788s.

Hope this helps.  Let me know how it turns out.
Jim

520

Tutorials, Techniques and Tips / Re: Delta 40-690 blade alignment

« on: August 06, 2011, 11:31:14 am »

Gabby,

What I solved by tilting the rocker mount was the forward tilt of the blade when observed from the side of the saw.  The top of the blade was tilted forward about 2 degrees, relative to the table, before the adjustment and is now as vertical as I can measure with my school protractor.

The forward/backwards movement of the blade was measured at the table surface by putting a ruler across (side to side) the table, against the back of the blade, and moving the blade by turning the motor with a screw-driver.  Can't recall if the blade was most forward at the top or bottom of the stroke but it was easy to measure the movement at the table surface.

Adjusting the bottom rocker mount also reduced this forward/backwards movement and the blade is also vertical to the table.  I want to test the blade verticality (is there such a word?) by cutting a complex shape out of 3/4" material to see if the cut-out comes out through the top and bottom but haven't had a chance to get into the shop for a while.

I hope this clarifies my original post.
Jim

521

Tutorials, Techniques and Tips / Delta 40-690 blade alignment

« on: August 03, 2011, 09:50:41 pm »

I just bought the 40-690 and was surprised to find the blade tilted forward about 2 degrees.  The blade also moved forwards/backwards almost 1/8" as it moved up and down.

The local Dewalt/Delta repair shop had no idea how to fix it.  Dewalt support was unable to suggest a solution but with a little pushing I reached an engineer.  He suggested tipping the lower rocker mount forward by loosening the two supporting bolts and letting it tilt forward.  (The lower rocker mount is item #13 on the 40-690 parts list.)

There was just enough slack in the holes to make the blade vertical throughout its travel.  As a bonus, the forwards and backwards movement has been reduced to under 1/16".

As the 40-690 is identical to the Dewalt 788, this may also apply to that saw.