Nickel Falls Posted March 6, 2019 Report Share Posted March 6, 2019 I purchased the dewalt scroll saw, and I love the job it does for me, however, I have a challenge The space between the arms measures 5 1/8 inches. Since most blade are 5 inches, this dont leave a lot of room to replace blades. Does anybody know of a way to adjust the arms on this particular saw? OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted March 6, 2019 Report Share Posted March 6, 2019 I may not understand the question, but it is the distance between the clamps that matters. When you release the tension, the clamp will be lower and the blade is put in, then with the blade in set the tension again. Been a while since I used a DeWalt so, wait for some more answers,,,, Some of the current DeWalt owners will speak up. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickel Falls Posted March 6, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2019 That's what I meant to say.....the space between the clamps is too far apart, even with the tension released.....I was hoping to adjust the clamps to give me a bit more room to change blades. Thank you OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted March 6, 2019 Report Share Posted March 6, 2019 There are times on this design of saw that when stopped after cutting, the mechanism stops on what I would call a high point. If you do a quick on/off it will move off that high point and the arms will return to where they should. Give that a try. Other than that I have no idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmmcrafts Posted March 6, 2019 Report Share Posted March 6, 2019 Ray, I may be wrong.. but I don't think the saw stopping in a odd position should change the distance between the blade clamps.. I'm thinking more along the lines of the rod that screws into the wedge at the back of the saw needs loosened up to let the upper arm drop down a little lower.. Maybe I'm wrong on that.. Maybe you should raise up and lower the arm down a couple of times to be sure it has dropped down to it's lowest point.. a new saw sometimes has the bolts a little snug and the upper arm doesn't pivot real smooth and easy.. and will take a few hours worth of cutting to get it to sort of loosen up so to speak.. If that doesn't fix it then I would guess you'd need to adjust the rod.. which is underneath the cover where the power switch is.. the rod connects to the lever that you use to adjust the tension.. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTTHECLOCKMAN Posted March 6, 2019 Report Share Posted March 6, 2019 Is the tension released all the way when lowered?? That is what tightens the blade. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC Scroller Posted March 6, 2019 Report Share Posted March 6, 2019 With the tension released on mine the space between the two clamp screws is 4 1/4" . Yours should be close to that. Is the saw new or used? If new and the space is really 5 1/8" I would return it. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted March 6, 2019 Report Share Posted March 6, 2019 53 minutes ago, kmmcrafts said: Ray, I may be wrong.. but I don't think the saw stopping in a odd position should change the distance between the blade clamps.. I'm thinking more along the lines of the rod that screws into the wedge at the back of the saw needs loosened up to let the upper arm drop down a little lower.. Maybe I'm wrong on that.. Maybe you should raise up and lower the arm down a couple of times to be sure it has dropped down to it's lowest point.. a new saw sometimes has the bolts a little snug and the upper arm doesn't pivot real smooth and easy.. and will take a few hours worth of cutting to get it to sort of loosen up so to speak.. If that doesn't fix it then I would guess you'd need to adjust the rod.. which is underneath the cover where the power switch is.. the rod connects to the lever that you use to adjust the tension.. You know Kevin, you may very well be right. These saws don't come from the factory with very much in the way of lubrication. When I took mine apart that wedge was pretty dry. I greased the heck out of the entire slide/wedge area with synthetic grease. I also did all the known fixes for the knocking noise that comes from the tension rod. I adjusted the rod. and I filed the plate that covers the rod. All stuff that should be done when taking the saw apart for service. kmmcrafts 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iguanadon Posted March 6, 2019 Report Share Posted March 6, 2019 (edited) Funny this is coming up... My newest DW I can barely clamp the blade due to the gap between clamps being more than usual (compared to my previous 3 DW's). I just brushed it off and am able to clamp the blade if I'm careful to clamp the top right at the end of the blade. But sounds like Chuck can't even get his to clamp due to the issue. Edited March 6, 2019 by Iguanadon OCtoolguy and barb.j.enders 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted March 6, 2019 Report Share Posted March 6, 2019 8 minutes ago, Iguanadon said: Funny this is coming up... My newest DW I can barely clamp the blade due to the gap between clamps being more than usual (compared to my previous 3 DW's). I just brushed it off and am able to clamp the blade if I'm careful to clamp the top right at the end of the blade. But sounds like Chuck can't even get his to clamp due to the issue. It'll take you about an hour to do the fix mentioned above. To hell with the warranty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iguanadon Posted March 6, 2019 Report Share Posted March 6, 2019 Just now, octoolguy said: It'll take you about an hour to do the fix mentioned above. To hell with the warranty. I saw the recommendation above and thought... "ugh, I'll just live with it." LOL I've had to take the top apart before on one of my first saws when the tensioner would max out at 5, so I know exactly what is being described... I just don't feel like doing it, I can clamp blades in for now without too much trouble. I have a new Pegas saw on the way, so, screw it. kmmcrafts and OCtoolguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted March 6, 2019 Report Share Posted March 6, 2019 6 minutes ago, Iguanadon said: I saw the recommendation above and thought... "ugh, I'll just live with it." LOL I've had to take the top apart before on one of my first saws when the tensioner would max out at 5, so I know exactly what is being described... I just don't feel like doing it, I can clamp blades in for now without too much trouble. I have a new Pegas saw on the way, so, screw it. You're gonna love that new saw. If it's anything like my EX you will have a saw to last for years. kmmcrafts 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike@57 Posted March 7, 2019 Report Share Posted March 7, 2019 I had the same problem with my dewalt saw and i disassembled the top to get to the tension rod and turned it CCW about 9 turns and the gave me another .25 inch between the top and bottom clamps OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickel Falls Posted March 7, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2019 Thank you all for the input. Yes, the saw is new....I will attempt to works on the rod that was mentioned. Appreciate the help OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC Scroller Posted March 7, 2019 Report Share Posted March 7, 2019 8 hours ago, Nickel Falls said: Thank you all for the input. Yes, the saw is new....I will attempt to works on the rod that was mentioned. Appreciate the help If you are handy it should be fairly straightforward. Just be aware that if you work on the tension rod you void your warranty. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickel Falls Posted March 7, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2019 13 hours ago, Mike@57 said: I had the same problem with my dewalt saw and i disassembled the top to get to the tension rod and turned it CCW about 9 turns and the gave me another .25 inch between the top and bottom clamps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickel Falls Posted March 7, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2019 I will try it this evening after work.....thank you OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry1939 Posted March 7, 2019 Report Share Posted March 7, 2019 If it is that far off, check if the factory assembled it with one or both clamps up-side-down. jerry OCtoolguy and kmmcrafts 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted March 7, 2019 Report Share Posted March 7, 2019 1 hour ago, jerry1939 said: If it is that far off, check if the factory assembled it with one or both clamps up-side-down. jerry Good idea Jerry. I never gave that a thought. Would that have even allowed a blade to be mounted? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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