RS

Roy Smith

06/05/2004 8:50 AM

Looking at scroll saws

I've got a job to do right now which involves cutting some interior
cutouts. Seems like a job for a scroll saw. I'm looking at the DeWalt
DW788. Some questions:

What's the realistic cutting capacity of a saw like this? The job I
need to do right now is cutting 1-1/4 teak. Do these saws really have
the power (and blade strength) to cut that? If I bought one of these, I
don't anticipate cutting something that thick would be my usual task,
but it's the task I need to do right now.

I don't have room for one of these to live full-time on my shop floor,
so my plan is to forgo the stand. I'd park it on my bench when I need
it, and it would live on a shelf the rest of the time. It's hard to get
a good handle on the weight of this thing from the ads (everybody quotes
a different number) but 50 lbs seems about right. Are there people out
there with this saw who treat it as a portable? How does that work out
for you?

Is it stable enough to use just sitting on a bench, or does it need to
be attached to the bench top when in use?


This topic has 2 replies

Po

"Pounds on Wood"

in reply to Roy Smith on 06/05/2004 8:50 AM

06/05/2004 11:31 PM

I have the smallest Hegner, 14". It's much smaller than the Dewalt,
although arguably better made. Anyway, I have cut 1-3/4" work. I don't
think 1-1/4 would be a problem even in Teak. The depth of cut should be a
readily available specification from Dewalt, so look it up first.

--
********
Bill Pounds
http://www.billpounds.com


"Roy Smith" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I've got a job to do right now which involves cutting some interior
> cutouts. Seems like a job for a scroll saw. I'm looking at the DeWalt
> DW788. Some questions:
>
> What's the realistic cutting capacity of a saw like this? The job I
> need to do right now is cutting 1-1/4 teak. Do these saws really have
> the power (and blade strength) to cut that? If I bought one of these, I
> don't anticipate cutting something that thick would be my usual task,
> but it's the task I need to do right now.
>
> I don't have room for one of these to live full-time on my shop floor,
> so my plan is to forgo the stand. I'd park it on my bench when I need
> it, and it would live on a shelf the rest of the time. It's hard to get
> a good handle on the weight of this thing from the ads (everybody quotes
> a different number) but 50 lbs seems about right. Are there people out
> there with this saw who treat it as a portable? How does that work out
> for you?
>
> Is it stable enough to use just sitting on a bench, or does it need to
> be attached to the bench top when in use?

DV

"David Van Nort"

in reply to Roy Smith on 06/05/2004 8:50 AM

06/05/2004 10:48 AM


"Roy Smith" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I've got a job to do right now which involves cutting some interior
> cutouts. Seems like a job for a scroll saw. I'm looking at the DeWalt
> DW788. Some questions:
>
> What's the realistic cutting capacity of a saw like this? The job I
> need to do right now is cutting 1-1/4 teak. Do these saws really have
> the power (and blade strength) to cut that? If I bought one of these, I
> don't anticipate cutting something that thick would be my usual task,
> but it's the task I need to do right now.
>
> I don't have room for one of these to live full-time on my shop floor,
> so my plan is to forgo the stand. I'd park it on my bench when I need
> it, and it would live on a shelf the rest of the time. It's hard to get
> a good handle on the weight of this thing from the ads (everybody quotes
> a different number) but 50 lbs seems about right. Are there people out
> there with this saw who treat it as a portable? How does that work out
> for you?
>
> Is it stable enough to use just sitting on a bench, or does it need to
> be attached to the bench top when in use?

Haven't had the opportunity to cut material that thick but can help with the
storage issue. I built a flip top shop cart to store my scroll saw. Saw
mounts on one side and top rotates leaving a clear 24x30 work surface on the
other side. I could justify giving up valuable floor space for a mobile work
surface. 50 lbs sounds about right which is why I didn't want to put it on
and off a shelf.

dave


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