Stale Peeps Posted June 29, 2014 Report Share Posted June 29, 2014 Hi guys, I've often heard people complain about the factory light fixture for the 788, and I'm curious what the problem with them tends to be. I have a type 1 788 with the light and I am very happy with it. It is rock solid and throws out a large amount of light (just wish I could find an LED replacement bulb for it). Was there a design change somewhere along the line that might explain why my light works great, but others seem to have issues with theirs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjR Posted June 29, 2014 Report Share Posted June 29, 2014 (edited) Mine was just a cheap piece of junk thrown on the side that was a bear to even find the right bulb for it! I am totally happy with my modifications to the stand and the light. I put a shelf between the saw and the stand. I have a stemmed spring arm type desk lamp that I drilled holes in my shelf for positioning it on either side and forward or back as needed! It takes standard bulbs that are cheap easily found and give a lot better light than the original. I use a screw-in fluorescent daylight bulb and it lasts very well. Current one is at least a couple of years old. Maybe they did change it! Hard to get expensive bulbs that burned out rapidly made no sense to me! I had used the same type of light on my old Dremel that even had factory holes for it. SO I knew that it would work well! On top of that;it no longer gets HOT! Edited June 29, 2014 by rjR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay Prozora Posted June 29, 2014 Report Share Posted June 29, 2014 Mine is too heavy for the saw. It would not stay up and it would fall to the table. Bummer. I'm sure it would be a great light if it worked right.. Grrr... So it is on the shelf in my shop and not connected to any thing as yet. Fay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amazingkevin Posted June 29, 2014 Report Share Posted June 29, 2014 Same problems as above,Best thing i ever did was get rid of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bandaideman Posted June 30, 2014 Report Share Posted June 30, 2014 Gee I have had my newer model Dewalt and the light for about 2-3 years absolutely no trouble with the light. Of course it is still in the unopened box it came in. I use a magnifiing light and am very happy and so are my old eyes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stale Peeps Posted June 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2014 It's interesting to hear that the light falls out of position for so many people, given that mine is solid as a rock (sometimes it takes two hands to even move it). It makes me suspect that they changed the "arm" to one that is far less stiff than mine. Or maybe I just got one that is extra stiff. My only complaint is with the lightbulbs that are used. I don't like the "yellow" light from traditional style bulbs, and I do not like the large amount of heat generated by them, either. An LED bulb would solve both of those problems, but I haven't been able to locate one so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browders Posted June 30, 2014 Report Share Posted June 30, 2014 I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. I bought the light when I bought the saw without really knowing anything about the design. It works fine and stays in place. I do agree about the bulbs. I've been through 4 in 3 years, and they do get hot. Other than that, I'm happy with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Posted June 30, 2014 Report Share Posted June 30, 2014 Check out Gary Beasley's upgrade which appeared last October - I did it and think it a great improvement; and the extra weight does not make my arm light sag. http://www.scrollsawvillage.com/topic/7569-lamp-upgrade-on-my-dewalt-scrollsaw/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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