Dewalt or Delta

[lew]

Amazon has the Dewalt for only 90 dollars more then the Delta.....Almost a no-brainer!....

Is there anything about the Dewalt that the owners don't like?.... The only thing I can think off is the arm not staying up when you reinsert the blade. I believe that the Delta arm stays up by itself.

Help me decide!!!

[OCtoolguy]

I can only speak for myself. I bought a used Dewalt 788 type 1. I love it. Had to do some service on it but worth it. Not sure about the arm on the Delta but either way, you can fix that for $25 or less. Just for the sheer sake of parts I'd go with the Dewalt but I don't think you can go wrong with either one. Have you watched the Craigslist in your area? I see used Dewalts all the time for anywhere from $150 to $450. Of course, you can buy a new one for $450 most anywhere. Best of luck on the one you choose.

R

[SCROLLSAW703]

Not havin' experience with either, but havin' friends that own DeWalts, & what they say is mixed opinions about it them. I have one friend that has replaced his DeWalt five times. 

Were It me, I'd go with the delta. 
The three things that sell a saw for me is tech support, parts availability, & how the saw will handle the work I need it to do. You have to make the decision in your best interest.

[jerry1939]

I bought a new 40-694  4 or 5 years ago.  Only replaced one bolt.  If needed, I wouldn't bet that you wouldn't find that at least 95% of the parts are interchangeable.  At the time, the yellow paint was $100 more expensive.  Don't saw as much as a lot of you.

I'm a top feeder & never did understand the issue of the arm staying up.  I lift the arm with the R. hand & thread the blade with the left while lowering the arm.

That said, it's hard to knock the Dewalts, for as many of them that are in use.

jerry

[kmmcrafts]

I don't have any experience with the Delta.. I've had a DeWalt since 2008.. Even though I've had the Hawks and other saws over the years the DeWalt carried most of the weight of my business needs.. I rebuilt my DeWalt in 2013 mostly the front bearings but took the back end of it apart and added synthetic grease.. back sleeves showed some wear and I've intended to replace them but the work load kept coming at me and it just never got done.. it's really noisy now.. and I plan to go through it this summer.. now that I have several back-up saws. 

As for the arm.. Maybe you will like the Delta arm lock thing.. I doubt I would like it myself after being spoiled with the Jim Dandy easy lift attachment for my DeWalt.. but for a cheap price point.. I think the Delta is probably a great saw.. for the money.. That said though... f you were to ever need to sell the saw you chose. I notice it seems like the DeWalt holds its value better than the Delta model... don't know why.. because really they are about the same saw..   

[Woodmaster1]

I own the Delta 40-694 and have no issues after one year. I have used both the Delta and Dewalt and both are great saws. Delta has parts on their new models so that is not a problem.

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

Delta is alot newer than Dewalt is why the value is a thing. 

[ScollSaw Slasher]

Ah, the great DeWalt Delta debate. They are the same except the Delta has the locking pin which I have stated a few times is useless for the way I cut whether bottom or top feeding.  Let's get this discussion out of saw realm for a second. You've decided to get a new Ford Escape car (only this model because it's the largest seller in America). Now you can get this model for 20% less from dealer one than dealer two. Where do you choose to buy? Either could possibly sell you a  lemon. But parts are available for either one because they are the same car whether it's made in Mexico, Canada, Timbuktu or the US. Oh dealer two sells 5 times more cars (why, I don't have a clue) , has been in business longer than dealer one and has a bigger service department. But than one hears the stories that it takes weeks to get the darn car fixed anyway. So what I'm getting too is that the Delta is actually the "no brainer". Only my opinion and not to step on toes.

[TripleJScroller]

I've had the Delta for about 3 years now and I've done a fair amount of cutting on it with no problems whatsoever.  I've not used the Dewalt so I can't comment on it, but I've been watching for a back up to my main saw and I know that I'd happily pick up either one.  Unfortunately no one ever seems to sell their saws in my area and when they do they want more than you can buy them for brand new.

[kmmcrafts]

Just to give a more realistic opinion on the Delta and DeWalt.. as my last post was kind of in the air with what I would do personally..

If I was in this boat.. in fact.. I was because before I found those cheap Hawks.. and then the Excalibur.. My choice was the Delta... why? because I am mechanical and would take out the locking pin... make my own version of the Jim Dandy easy lift.. as i'd rather not have to fool with the locking pin when I'm used to the easy lift.... other than that the saw is pretty much the same saw.. but much cheaper. 

I haven't priced these saws in a long time.. since I have so many back up saws I don't too much care how much a new one on sale is,  BUT.. FYI.. there is a new Delta on eBay for $299 with I believe free shipping.. says it was a display model I think.. 

I wish you luck with whatever saw you decide on.. I think both are basically the same saw.. just choose your color and run with it..

[MrsN]

I got a delta in my school shop last fall. I did have to open it up and tighten the bolts holding the motor on, but other than that it has held up great. The use and abuse that it gets with my middle and high school kids really puts it trough its paces. At the end of the day I can still use it to cut fine pieces. 

The $90 difference can buy a lot of wood.

[lew]

5 hours ago, MrsN said:

I got a delta in my school shop last fall. I did have to open it up and tighten the bolts holding the motor on, but other than that it has held up great. The use and abuse that it gets with my middle and high school kids really puts it trough its paces. At the end of the day I can still use it to cut fine pieces. 

The $90 difference can buy a lot of wood.

Well said!! Good point!

[SCROLLSAW703]

cheap Hawks, eh kevin? I'll remember you said that. When buyin' a saw, regardless the breed, invest in the best you can afford. You can always save up for Cheap Hawk, or other top of the line saw & keep the saw you're currently investing in as your second saw. Regardless of your decision, make sure it's the right saw for you.

No offense Kevin. As much as you carry on about the Hawks & other saws, I had to gouge ya. You're not the only mechanical perfectionist here.;)

[kmmcrafts]

1 hour ago, SCROLLSAW703 said:

cheap Hawks, eh kevin? I'll remember you said that. When buyin' a saw, regardless the breed, invest in the best you can afford. You can always save up for Cheap Hawk, or other top of the line saw & keep the saw you're currently investing in as your second saw. Regardless of your decision, make sure it's the right saw for you.

No offense Kevin. As much as you carry on about the Hawks & other saws, I had to gouge ya. You're not the only mechanical perfectionist here.;)

Maybe worded wrong or you took it wrong.. but cheap Hawks as in I only paid $100 for the 220VS and $400 for a brand new still boxed 226VS Ultra.. cheap as in low priced Hawks.. because I was looking for a back-up saw.. and was actually looking at the Delta deWalt clone.. that is until I found the cheap low cost Hawks.. and then also found the still boxed EX-21 for $350.. guess the word I should have used is low cost Hawks.. does sound better I suppose.. LOL But as you can see.. I should be plenty set on saws for quite some time... and I bought three higher end saws two of which was still boxed new... for less money than any of them individually had I bought from a store or BM ( Hawk ) 

[OCtoolguy]

14 minutes ago, kmmcrafts said:

Maybe worded wrong or you took it wrong.. but cheap Hawks as in I only paid $100 for the 220VS and $400 for a brand new still boxed 226VS Ultra.. cheap as in low priced Hawks.. because I was looking for a back-up saw.. and was actually looking at the Delta deWalt clone.. that is until I found the cheap low cost Hawks.. and then also found the still boxed EX-21 for $350.. guess the word I should have used is low cost Hawks.. does sound better I suppose.. LOL But as you can see.. I should be plenty set on saws for quite some time... and I bought three higher end saws two of which was still boxed new... for less money than any of them individually had I bought from a store or BM ( Hawk ) 

You have been extremely lucky in your purchases. I have found some great deals on C/L too but not like yours.

R

 

[kmmcrafts]

36 minutes ago, octoolguy said:

You have been extremely lucky in your purchases. I have found some great deals on C/L too but not like yours.

R

 

Well the $100 Hawk turned into about $300 by the time I replaced worn parts.. you see I didn't know what to look for in them.. and didn't know what was worn etc..  so while the price may have been good.. by the time I got it running right the deal wasn't all what I thought it was.. and now the motor has that jumpy VS thing going on.. ( known on the older Hawks ).. I love my Hawks and every time I see a topic on them I try my best to let people know what to look for.. give the heads up on the motor issue.. as well as the wedges at the back tension cam and the wear at the front tension cam.. 

The other two saws was well worth the money.. and actually the old Hawk was worth it even though I had to do a lot of work on it.. I did use it quite a lot the first year I had it.. and the learning experience about the Hawk saws  was worth the money I've spent on it.. Probably take it to the motor shop and see what they can do with the motor on it.. as it's really my favorite saw of all of them.. May even send it to Buston for a new motor and a going over..but before that happens.. If the local motor shop can't do anything with it.. then I'm going to run it until the motor quits, LOL then send it for a new motor, LOL  

[crupiea]

I have a dewalt and its a great saw for sure. I used to use a small delta shopmatser I think it was called. It was a fine saw but had its drawbacks with blade changes and such.

I usually only cut 1/8" bb so I do sometimes feel the dewalt is too much saw for the task but thats a pretty small thing to complain about.  I have had zero troubles with it and I did have to do a bit of maintenance and parts replacing on the little delta.  

Not apples to apples but thats my experience for what its worth.