Delta 40-690 20" Scroll Saw opinions

[Northerner]

does anyone here have this Dewalt 788 clone and if so, please give your opinions of it?

is it an exact duplicate of the 788?
will the 788 mods work on it?

i cant find any decent reviews of it anywhere and it happens to be on sale today
and if its as good as the dewalt i will try and scrounge some cash together for it.

[anewscroller]

I bought one and had to return it because the blade wouldn't track straight. The blade moved from left to right. They may be ok, and it its a Dewalt clone, but I'd be cautious. At least be sure of the return policy.

[lucky788scroller]

Id jump on that $350 deal if I was in the market for a saw. Ive got three Dewalts plus a few other saws as well. And yes, the Dewalt parts are interchangeable with these on this Delta

[Bayward]

There must be a difference between the Dewalt and Delta. Woodcraft lists the Dewalt shipping weight at 68# and the Delta at 83#.

Bob

[ossaguy]

does anyone here have this Dewalt 788 clone and if so, please give your opinions of it?

is it an exact duplicate of the 788?
will the 788 mods work on it?

i cant find any decent reviews of it anywhere and it happens to be on sale today
and if its as good as the dewalt i will try and scrounge some cash together for it.

I bought mine about a year ago with the same low,special price.I have only used it a few times because of making pens on the lathe still,but hope to this coming year.

It's really smooth cutting,no vibes hardly at all.I did have to adjust the angle on the table a tad to get it straight up and down in the cut.The forward travel is right at the max limit when I measured it.( .038 '' if I remember right,something like that? ) I was hoping for perfection there,and if I knew then what I know now,maybe that would have made me look for something better? That was pretty much my budget limit,so I thought it was the best choice for me.I never have had good luck finding used tools.....

The dust blower almost doesn't.I solved that by mounting a Badger airbrush pump I had on the rolling platform I made for the stand,and that works fantastic!

Just tie-wrapped the tiny air hose along side the blower tube.Only problem is if it's cold outside,the cold air stream freezes my fingers.Nice in the warm months though!

On my motor,it says "Type 1" on it,which since it's so new,I thought should say it has the type 2,which if I understand it right,is more problem prone?

I compared the 788 to it side-by-side in the store,and couldn't see any differences.The weight difference I think is because the Delta comes with the stand included,and the 788 has the stand as an option.The stand is very well made.

The Delta comes with a 5 yr warranty,and I think the 788 has just 2 yrs.
Getting that may be tricky,though since the company has been sold.I did get hassled when obtaining a warranty repairon my Delta lathe at our local service center,but they get it handled.I think that will improve in the future,though.

Those are my observations,as an inexperienced owner.I can't wait to start using it more this next year!

Take care,
Steve

[pmac53]

I found a link illustrating a way to adjust the blade movement. If interested message me. Paul

[dgman]

There must be a difference between the Dewalt and Delta. Woodcraft lists the Dewalt shipping weight at 68# and the Delta at 83#.

Bob

The difference is the Delta comes with the stand and light included in the box. The Dewalt come just with the saw. That's the weight deference.

[pupper70]

I have both a DeWalt and the Delta. They sit side-by-side without fighting. I can't tell any difference in how they cut. See Bob Duncan's review a while back on this saw.
Dan

[irhyper]

you mentioned the saw 40-690 being on sell. What store?

[Northerner]

sorry but it was a one day sale at woodcraft. it was a fantastic price.
cant imagine how many they sold or would sell if the sale went for a week.

[Bayward]

They were still on sale at the Clearwater, Florida store this past Friday December 2nd. Had a big stack of them on the floor with a $349.99 sign on them. Maybe the Clearwater store will ship, give them a call.

Bob