kmmcrafts Posted January 21, 2018 Report Share Posted January 21, 2018 Okay, so today I was out messing around with my Hawk 220VS.. I had a order come in last night and this morning.. figured since I had just went through the saw and installed a new front tension cam and upper blade holder.. I'd play a little and do some experimenting.. I been thinking about the blade motion between the Hawk and the DeWalt.. and wondered if one.. I was burning through blades faster because the sawdust may not be able to clear out of the blade as good as it does on the aggressive cutting 788.. I started messing around with SPM speed while cutting on some 3/4" cherry... My 788 typically stays about 3/4 + on the speed dial.. The 788 runs 1750SPM.. My old 220VS tops out at 1500SPM.. so I normally ran it full speed.. I always felt that with the 788 the blade just eats the wood like a starved pig, LOL but when I cut on my Hawks.. it's more like just nibbling like a stuffed hamster, LOL I started messing around with the SPM while cutting just playing with the dial.. the Hawk slowed down to just over the half way mark on the dial and all of a sudden the thing acted as if it was a very hungry pig.. now I'm thinking maybe the Hawk actually might be able to cut nearly as fast as the 788.. thinking maybe the faster blade speed coupled with a less aggressive saw may be running the saw too fast for the blade to efficiently clear out the sawdust.. and also creating more heat.. thus the blade dulls much faster.. Years ago when i first started with the 788 I always felt the saw was too aggressive and the very aggressive cutting would rock the board back and forth unless you was really holding it down.. and turns was a PIA.. until one day I figured out the the faster the saw blade runs the less it wants to bounce my board back and forth.. thus.. I run this saw at the faster speeds.. just assumed all saws was that way.. slowing the Hawk blade speed down.. I just cut a clock out this afternoon probably about as fast as I would have on the 788.. with slower blade speed... and used just one blade.. well two blades to be honest but the first one broke because I was messing with adjusting the tension.. guess I had it too tight at first.. SCROLLSAW703 and Iguanadon 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTTHECLOCKMAN Posted January 22, 2018 Report Share Posted January 22, 2018 I always ran mine at just abit above half speed. Full speed was not needed for me. Cherry is some tough wood to cut without burning too so I would think you need to slow it down. SCROLLSAW703 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotshot Posted January 22, 2018 Report Share Posted January 22, 2018 (edited) It would be very interesting if a somewhat slower speed resulted in faster cutting on a Hawk. Would like to see that tested with sled & weight. Edited January 22, 2018 by hotshot kmmcrafts and SCROLLSAW703 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmmcrafts Posted January 22, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2018 17 minutes ago, JTTHECLOCKMAN said: I always ran mine at just abit above half speed. Full speed was not needed for me. Cherry is some tough wood to cut without burning too so I would think you need to slow it down. Only burning issues I've ever had with cherry is with the wrong blades, LOL.. Have never burned with the Pegas MG blades.. but most all the other blades yes.. I do need to slow it some Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCROLLSAW703 Posted January 22, 2018 Report Share Posted January 22, 2018 Mr. Kevin, in all honesty, It sounds like things are startin' to click for ya, brother. I'm happy to hear ya got the ol' girl up & runnin'. Now school really begins, my friend. Like I've said in my other posts, I ain't got much knowledge of the DeWalts, or other machines I haven't used. But have read enough to learn. In time, with use & learning the Hawks' capabilities, you'll be amazed at what's happenin'. Like I said before, ya won't be necessarily cuttin' faster than everybody else, but your timing will greatly improve, your precision will be like no other, & blade breakage will end. In the year I've had my 26 Kevin, honestly, I've broke two blades. One was my fault. I have high hopes of hearin' good reports on your Hawks from you. Keep makin' sawdust, & keep us posted. God Bless. kmmcrafts 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iguanadon Posted January 22, 2018 Report Share Posted January 22, 2018 Very interesting Kevin. I'll have to try slowing down my Hawk to 6"ish" when I get back from this business trip. I'll report back Thursday or Friday. SCROLLSAW703 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ike Posted January 22, 2018 Report Share Posted January 22, 2018 I useally run my Dw788 at a 5 rate pf s[eed e;ce[t wjen cutting patterns out orf 3/4 popular wthe outline @ #5 and the letters @ full speed it seems to run better that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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