Easy Lift...for the Dewalt

[Troy]

Hey Evryone,

Well I got my easy lift system accessory for the Dewalt the other day and took some time today to install it. My first comment is wow this is nice.

Well not essential it is nice to simply left the top arm, have it stay in place while doing fretwork. Just wondering how many others use this as well and or any things people have done to accessorize their baby...

Troy

[jttheclockman]

I use it because I am and always be a bottom feeder.

[Woodbutcher68]

You're a lawyer John???!!????
I've got one too and wouldn't want a saw without it.
When I'm not using the saw, I put a piece of 2X4 under the top arm to take the strain off the spring. Don't know if it's neccesary, but I'm gonna keep doing it.

[jttheclockman]

Woodbutcher

Boy that one almost went over my head. I had to reread what I wrote and then it hit me like a ton of scrollsaw blades. Good one bad choice of words I guess. You might be getting letters though.

[Mick Walker]

John T. I don't have a Dewalt but thought the reason for the "easy lift" was so you could top feed. Mick.

[Woodbutcher68]

It works both ways Mick. I feed through the bottom too! (I'm not a lawyer either!) I tried top feeding, but had been coming up from the bottom on my old Delta so it was habit.

[Troy]

Yeah I'm a Bottom Feeder too. Something about having everything so handy on the top...i.e blade clamp, tension etc...that I just like it..

[jttheclockman]

No Mick it is just the opposite. If you are a bottom feeder you want the arm to stay up and out of the way. If you are a top feeder you want the weight of the arm to push the blade through the hole without it lifting on you. That is why on most saws they are bottom feeders because the arm lifts up and out of the way.

[Woodbutcher68]

When I tried top feeding on the DeWalt it was easier to put the blade in the hole. I held the wood in one hand and pushed the top arm down with the other. Having the arm stay up helped. I just didn't like fumbling around to put the bottom of the blade in the holder.

[Mick Walker]

You have me confused, I have a Delta P-20. I remove the blade from the bottom clamp, raise the blade and the arm, insert blade into new hole, lower arm, reclamp the blade to the bottom clamp, tension and cut. I am a top feeder, correct? Woodbutcher68, you have to teach your fingers to see, only takes a little practice. Mick.

[Woodbutcher68]

You're a top feeder.
With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and poor circulation in my hands, I have enough problems holding and feeling, let alone seeing with my fingers!

[Greenfield_Bob]

Some of us and I mean me, are like old dogs we don't learn new tricks.

Bob

[jttheclockman]

Bob

I don't think in this case it is a learn a new trick thing. It is what is confortable for you if you want to try it then please do so. I have tried it on both the Dewalt and the new RBI which by the way is easier to do it on. But since I do not scroll for speed and (yet I bet I can feed a blade through the bottom and set up for scrolling as fast as the top blade feeders) I find no interest in this method. So I think it is a matter of choice for there is no right or wrong. This is why the different saws.

[Greenfield_Bob]

John, I'm not in much of a hurry and I don't feel confortable top feeding.

Bob

[Hoover]

I too have the "arm" on my DeWalt..... and really like it even though I don't do a lot of inside cutting work, but I find at times if I don't pay attention the upper arm of the saw with this on it now just hangs up there about a 1/4 to 1/2 inch. I also did some vibration (spring noise) modifcications because the sound was driving me silly LoL but so far so good next investment a footpedal.