Customer Reviews

DEWALT DW788S 20-Inch Variable Speed Scroll Saw with Stand and Light

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This scroll saw is great:

- High quality fit and finish

- Very easy to assemble: two screws/a couple of minutes and that was all!

- A bit heavy for portability, but that enhances its stability,

- Blade installation is just simple with thumb screws (top and bottom), no tool is required,

- All user controls - on/off sw, blade tensioner, speed controller - are in the front and "user friendly",

- It cuts just smoothly with very little vibration, unlike my Delta 40-540 that needs to be bolted down to a table. (To be fair, the Delta costs only about 1/3 of the Dewalt.) Still you want to appreciate the good design and engineering works applied to this saw.

The stand I received is in good shape; it will work but nothing to write home about. Maybe I should have saved the $50 and use that to build a rolling cabinet/stand for the nice saw.

I am the owner of the DeWalt DW788 20" variable speed scroll saw and am very pleased. I've been scrolling for about 20 years, so I feel qualified to evaluate this saw. I previously owned a Delta, which was a good saw until I burned it up. The DeWalt has some great features, among which is the fact that it has cut down the vibration considerably ( in comparison to other saws), has placed ALL the important contol features up front and within easy reach and without having to used any kind of tools. The adjustable height on the stand is a smart move.

I do intarsia wood crafting, requiring intricate cuts that must be perpendicular if the finished product is to look correctly. this machine competes with the top of the line machines the professionals use. It is user friendly at variable speeds. The other DeWalt machine tools I have have been top quality and durable for most all field applications.

I am overall very pleased with this product. Cuts well, nice features, packaging and instructions generated no complaints - for the saw.

The stand was another story. It is tube steel construction, when I unpacked it, the tubes were dented and would not fit together without cleanup. It was not of the same quality as the saw.

The DW788 20" variable speed scroll saw is the fifth major tool that I purchased through Amazon.com. Once again they came through with amazing service. The saw, stand, and light arrived in my shop less than a week from the date of order, and I do mean IN my shop. UPS unloaded and placed the boxes (3) inside my shop. Five stars for Amazon and UPS.

If you are serious about your tools as I am, you will be pleased with the DW788. The only assembly that is needed is to mount the table, attach the light and assemble the stand. I can't comment on the stand as I preferred to mount mine on a custom cabinet fitted with casters. The scroll saw is well designed for very convenient use and operation. Changing the blade is extremely easy. One of the best features is the method of threading the blade through the work-peace for an interior cut. Simply loosen the tension, loosen the top blade lock, (a quarter turn of the thumbscrew) and lift the upper arm of the saw. This allows you to slip your work over the blade, drop the upper arm back down and retighten the thumbscrew.

I was a little concerned about the work-light design after reading a negative review by one Amazon customer. The review indicated that the neck of the light would not support the lamp head. Fortunately that did not stop me from placing my order. I experienced the same problem when I first mounted my work-light. I found that it is not a fault of the lamp design. The problem was easily corrected by loosening the mounting lock nut at the base of the neck and allowing the mount bracket to rotate a half turn. This allows the flexible neck of the light to be in its natural position. The lamp head will stay in any normal operating position if correctly mounted.

The DW788 is a great saw, well worth the price. My 50 year old 24" Sears scroll saw can now retire.

My first scroll saw was a cheap delta. It did the job. The 788 is my second. If I had ever used one of the high dollar saws, maybe I wouldn't be so impressed.

I don't understand the user that had a problem with the light and the hold down. My light mounts on the left and is rock steady; my blade hold downs are knobs. I "think" I installed the light using an allen wrench but that's the only place. My saw doesn't pass the nickel test but that's only because I have the saw tilted forward on the stand.

I too was afraid that the 788 would not live up to its hype; so far (3 months) I have not been disappointed

I have cut copper laminated to piece of 1/4 paneling with no problems or vibration.

I think the other reviewer may have had one of the first 788 lemons that I have heard about.

Over 40 years ago my dad allowed me to use an old single speed saw. He showed me how to make turns and thread the blade for inside cuts. About four years ago I purchased a DeWalt machine and was very pleased. Little or no vibration, what a change from the machine I first learned on. I liked this saw so much I bought another for my girls to use. The only recommendation I have is I wish the DW 788 had an upper arm lift. I would recommend this saw to anyone and I know they will really like it.
Thank you DeWalt, for making such a fine machine.

I have been an amature woodworker for some time now but I'm new to the scroll saw. I bought this one because I thought it would have little vibration due to it's mass. Was I ever right!! Others have said that it has a small amount of vibration, but that doesn't do it justice; this saw doesn't vibrate. That alone has made it a wonderful tool for me. I can concentrate on learning fretwork instead of wrestling with vibration.

The one downfall is the "hold down". While simple to use, I have a hard time getting the right presure on the workpiece.

The 788 is a great saw easy to use cuts good clean lines. I do fretwork and need to feed the blade in alot of drill holes top feed is great. a great saw at a great price.

We are a production shop and when we use a saw it is for 6 to hours at a stretch. The one thing I really like is the lack of vibration with this unit. We are not into fancy curves but I am more then sure this can handle whatever job you need a scroll saw for.