orangeman Posted May 26, 2018 Report Share Posted May 26, 2018 (edited) This no doubt has been discussed before but is there any difference between the DeWalt 788 and Delta scroll saws? Lowe's has the DeWalt for $489 and the Delta for $407. Since I wear out a DeWalt 788 in 12-18 months, the 3 yr extended service plan from Lowe's is attractive at $60. I'm assuming the Delta fits into the DeWalt stand. Comments? bb Edited May 26, 2018 by orangeman add OCtoolguy and SCROLLSAW703 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted May 26, 2018 Report Share Posted May 26, 2018 I don't own either anymore. I did have a DeWalt at one time. You might find so good info here: Some reviews here: OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted May 27, 2018 Report Share Posted May 27, 2018 I bought a used Dewalt and I love it. They do require some maintenance especially if you buy a used one. But nothing that is going to cost a ton of money unless you buy one that is worn out. R SCROLLSAW703 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodmaster1 Posted May 27, 2018 Report Share Posted May 27, 2018 I have the Delta 40-694 with no issues and love it. I use a Dewalt 788 at the woodworking club's shop. Their is almost no difference between the two except the shape. The main mechanism is essentially the same both are good hobby saws. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill WIlson Posted May 27, 2018 Report Share Posted May 27, 2018 It's not really a direct answer to your question, but if you are wearing Dewalts out in 12-18 months, I doubt you will see a big difference with the Delta. I presume most of the components are the same, so subject to the same wear. My suggestion would be to invest in a better quality saw. Yes, they are much more money, but there are several to choose from and in the long run you will be much better off. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ike Posted May 27, 2018 Report Share Posted May 27, 2018 28 minutes ago, Bill WIlson said: It's not really a direct answer to your question, but if you are wearing Dewalts out in 12-18 months, I doubt you will see a big difference with the Delta. I presume most of the components are the same, so subject to the same wear. My suggestion would be to invest in a better quality saw. Yes, they are much more money, but there are several to choose from and in the long run you will be much better off. I have a dewalt for 5 years and It needs maintence evey couple of years The last time I had to put a new motor in it . I don't have the shop that is big enough to do the work myself The first time it cost $39 and the second time they kep it for 6 weeks , I contacted Dewalt about the time and they sent a repairman down because the repair shop repair man quit any way they put a new motor in it checked it out good changed some bearingsand did a good job and the charge was $000. When it comes time to replace it I will think hard about a better machine. IKE OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orangeman Posted May 27, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2018 1 hour ago, Bill WIlson said: It's not really a direct answer to your question, but if you are wearing Dewalts out in 12-18 months, I doubt you will see a big difference with the Delta. I presume most of the components are the same, so subject to the same wear. My suggestion would be to invest in a better quality saw. Yes, they are much more money, but there are several to choose from and in the long run you will be much better off. I also have an RBI Hawk and Hegner. I prefer the DeWalt over both of them. Currently I am using both Hegner and Hawk and blade breakage is an issue with both. Never broke a blade with the DeWalt. bb OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roberta Moreton Posted May 27, 2018 Report Share Posted May 27, 2018 I had s Scroll saw class last month and one person brought a Delta. We checked it out beside the Dewalt. It appears to be the same Saw with a different color on it. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orangeman Posted May 27, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2018 1 hour ago, Roberta Moreton said: I had s Scroll saw class last month and one person brought a Delta. We checked it out beside the Dewalt. It appears to be the same Saw with a different color on it. Thanks for your reply. Do you think the Delta will fit on a DeWalt stand? bb OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodmaster1 Posted May 27, 2018 Report Share Posted May 27, 2018 23 minutes ago, orangeman said: Thanks for your reply. Do you think the Delta will fit on a DeWalt stand? bb Yes the base seems to be the same. orangeman and OCtoolguy 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orangeman Posted May 27, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2018 I just ordered the Delta saw from Home Depot. $399, plus $60 for 3 yr warranty, plus tax. Knowing the history of this DeWalt clone I fully expect to use the warranty within 18 months of purchase! And again after another 18 months! bb OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl S Posted May 27, 2018 Report Share Posted May 27, 2018 1 hour ago, orangeman said: I just ordered the Delta saw from Home Depot. $399, plus $60 for 3 yr warranty, plus tax. Knowing the history of this DeWalt clone I fully expect to use the warranty within 18 months of purchase! And again after another 18 months! bb And knowing first hand of the history of Delta parts you will be S.O.L. when you need parts! OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScollSaw Slasher Posted May 28, 2018 Report Share Posted May 28, 2018 Again parts. If the two saws are clones, what precludes anyone from fixing their saw with DeWalt parts. Yes Delta parts can be problematic as I've experienced as well. But I've had the same problem with my older equipment such as Dewalt, Porter Cable, Craftsman, Hitachi etc. etc. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orangeman Posted May 28, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2018 13 hours ago, Karl S said: And knowing first hand of the history of Delta parts you will be S.O.L. when you need parts! No problem with parts as DeWalt parts will work as well. Plus with the 3 yr warranty if they can't fix it I get a new saw! bb OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolf Posted May 28, 2018 Report Share Posted May 28, 2018 If you keep wearing out saws Why are you not going to a more reliable high end saw? Like a Hawk or a Hegner? Orangeman why are you breaking blades on the Hawk and Hegner? Where are the blades breaking? Check your tension. I rarely break a blade on my Hawk G4-26 if I do it is because I pushed it too long or over tensioned it. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScollSaw Slasher Posted May 28, 2018 Report Share Posted May 28, 2018 Brian, The only problem I have with an extended warranty is the hoops they make you jump to get it fixed or replaced. But since you have a couple high end saws sitting there, it's not quite as critical. Good luck with the Delta. Blake OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orangeman Posted May 28, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2018 6 hours ago, Rolf said: If you keep wearing out saws Why are you not going to a more reliable high end saw? Like a Hawk or a Hegner? Orangeman why are you breaking blades on the Hawk and Hegner? Where are the blades breaking? Check your tension. I rarely break a blade on my Hawk G4-26 if I do it is because I pushed it too long or over tensioned it. I have both RBI Hawk and a Hegner saws. I'll take the DeWalt any day vs those saws even with the shorter life. Spent this morning on both Hegner and Hawk. Can't decide which one I hate most. Blade tensioning and blade changes are more cumbersome vs DeWalt. And blade breakage is a big problem. I've varied the tension and the blades still break about an inch above the bottom blade holder on both saws. Very frustrating morning. And both Hegner and Hawk are very bad for the heart. Scares the you know what outta me when a blade breaks! bb OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry1939 Posted May 28, 2018 Report Share Posted May 28, 2018 Dewalt vs Delta. I am happy with my Delta. I would recommend buying whichever one matches the color of your shirt. Schematics are the same. jerry OCtoolguy, Mike and orangeman 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted May 28, 2018 Report Share Posted May 28, 2018 5 minutes ago, jerry1939 said: Dewalt vs Delta. I am happy with my Delta. I would recommend buying whichever one matches the color of your shirt. Schematics are the same. jerry Well said Jerry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodmaster1 Posted May 28, 2018 Report Share Posted May 28, 2018 20 hours ago, Karl S said: And knowing first hand of the history of Delta parts you will be S.O.L. when you need parts! Delta has parts for the scroll saw and their new machinery models just the older models are when they are gone they're gone. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolf Posted May 29, 2018 Report Share Posted May 29, 2018 Orangeman , What vintage Hawk? OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orangeman Posted May 30, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2018 15 hours ago, Rolf said: Orangeman , What vintage Hawk? I contacted Bushton and they said the serial # indicated it was a late 90's model. I bought the saw for $100 a year ago. It came with a boatload of spiral blades and the hole in the table where the blade is was all ragged - have no idea how it was used in the past. It is not my only experience with a Hawk saw. 10 years ago(+ or -) I bought a new RBI HAwk. It vibrated so bad I had to send it back because Hawk could not solve the problem over the phone. Got a refund on the saw less my cost to ship it back. Both Hawk and Hegner would be ideal saws if they had blade changing and tensioning like the DeWalt. bb OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ike Posted May 31, 2018 Report Share Posted May 31, 2018 as for the saw stand is of a different brand I have one that was for my 1995 Craftnab, I got a piece of plywood bolted it to the stand and drilled the ply for my Dw 788 works fine . I dave used thes stand on 3 different brand saws. IKE OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orangeman Posted June 1, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2018 On 5/28/2018 at 9:16 AM, Rolf said: If you keep wearing out saws Why are you not going to a more reliable high end saw? Like a Hawk or a Hegner? Orangeman why are you breaking blades on the Hawk and Hegner? Where are the blades breaking? Check your tension. I rarely break a blade on my Hawk G4-26 if I do it is because I pushed it too long or over tensioned it. Progress on the Hegner. I switched from a #5 to a #7 blade and was able to cut out puzzles on 3/4 soft maple which was the hardest soft maple I have ever seen. No blade breakage before I had to change the blade because it dulled. I did notice there is a slight wobble to the blade; perhaps that is why I break so many blades. Too much friction where the blade meets the wood. bb OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockytime Posted June 1, 2018 Report Share Posted June 1, 2018 If there is a wobble to the blade it would seem to me you have a tension problem. Like not enough enough tension. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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