We may earn revenue from the product available on this page and take part in affiliate program . Learn More ›
Precision in ok woodwork look nearly as much on the putz as the technique , and for artisans and craftspeople , a dependable curlicue attend is indispensable . DeWalt is a key player in manufacturing top - notch power dick , and theDeWalt DW788 curl sawis no exception .
I put theDW788through its paces in my woodshop , alongside seven other highly value scroll saws , to see how it would fare . While I ’m not as impressively skilled with these saws as some of the overlord artisan I ’ve see online , I know enough about power tools ( and wood ) to acknowledge the difference between a so - so scroll see and a top performer .
Photo: Glenda Taylor for Bob Vila
I cautiously researched more than 20 scroll saws and then handpicked eight for in - depth testing in my woodshop . I was n’t of necessity looking for the most expensive saws but for the I that performed best in various price and skill ranges . In my pursuance to determine thebest scroll sawsfor a range of users , the DeWalt DW788 earned its spot as our Best Overall picking . Ahead , learn what happen when I prove this popular scroll saw ; find out what I hump and what I like DeWalt would improve .
DeWalt DW788 Scroll Saw: At a Glance
Rating:9/10
SPECS
PROS
CONS
Get the DeWalt 20 - in scroll saw at :
What is the DeWalt Scroll Saw?
TheDeWalt DW788 curlicue sawis a top - notch tool for make the variety of cutting off necessary to create intricate woodwork undertaking . DeWalt has equipped the saw with a treble parallel - connexion arm design for increased truth , and speed adjustments are easy to make using a control knob located on the front upper arm .
power by a 1.3 amp motor , the DW788 provides variable brand speed from 400 to 1750 strokes per minute , nominate it various for unlike case and thicknesses of wood . Its roll - iron tabular array angle 45 arcdegree in both direction for cutting exact bevel .
As with most of today ’s new scroll saws , the DW788 boast quick brand changes and uses pinless leaf blade . Long - clip roll saw users will remember needing to use twist when replace blades . With the DW788 , blade successor is as easy as turn a thumb screw to loosen the current blade , slip in a new blade , and then retightening the thumbscrew .
Photo: Glenda Taylor for Bob Vila
Seamless Setup
The DW788 requires some assemblage , but not much . The primary part of the saw was already put together aright out of the loge ; all I had to do was deploy the steel table , attach the flexible blower port , and insert the sword . Installing the table required position a steel pin in the bag arm , toward the back , and then sliding the table into place . When the table was aright adjust , the pin slid into a corresponding hole in the table . Then I secure the setup by inserting a couple of bolts , which were included along with the hex saw demand to tighten them .
The blade was round-eyed to install ; it ’s held in place by a clamp below the tabular array ’s Earth’s surface and also attach to the sawing arm above via thumbscrew . I slid the blade into the bottom clamp and used the thumbscrew to fasten it . The only downside I experience ( an issue divvy up with several of the saw I tested ) was sustain to scrunch down to see the bottom of the table to discover where to pose the bottom of the steel . This might only be impermanent , though , because once I became more intimate with the prick , I could almost ( not quite ) do it by feel . To be on the good side , be sure to unplug the saw before changing blades .
Then number the part I found pretty challenging : attaching the conciliatory blower hose to the cetacean mammal embrasure on the side of the political machine . Pushing as intemperately as I could with my hands did n’t work — it but would n’t select . I gave in and fetched my hair drier , then heated the end of the hosiery until it was soft enough to slip it securely over the cetacean port . Mission accomplished !
Photo: Glenda Taylor for Bob Vila
Precise and Accurate, But Dependent on User Skill
The DeWalt DW788 curlicue saw excels in three critical performance areas : vibration , blade - cut upper , and the ability to make bevel cutting . The adage exhibited very grim vibration in testing , providing the stability I desire for cutting different types of woodwind instrument . It fall with holes to bolt it down to a work bench , which I did , but even without bolt it , at 65.7 pound , this is a beefy see that wo n’t slide around when working .
The saw makes bevel cuts , angling up to 45 degree in both direction . This is a big plus for user who do n’t want to change state their projects upside down to cut an angle in the paired direction — which is necessary on saws that bevel only in one focussing .
Overall , the DW788 offers everything most users will need for preciseness press clipping , but it ’s crucial to note that the accuracy grade of all scroll proverb is in an elaborate way relate to the user ’s science . In my typeface , having not used a coil saw for several old age , the initial tests revealed challenge in keep the steel on the gash line . As I reacquaint myself with the technique and learned the machine , the scroll saw deliver highly accurate and precise swing .
Photo: Glenda Taylor for Bob Vila
User-Friendly, to a Degree
I found the DW488 to be very exploiter - well-disposed , but a few tweaks could make it even considerably . The ability to adjust the hurrying makes it a secure pick for both beginners who want to start out slow and experts who need both mellow and miserable blade speeds .
The quick - handout blade makes it an excellent selection for exploiter wanting to create fretwork ( pattern with intricate intention that require cut from the nub rather than an bound ) . With just a twist of the upper brand nookie , I was capable to release the top of the blade and wander it through holes I ’d predrilled in my forest to bring down fretwork . Once the leaf blade was threaded , it was easy to reconnect it at the top and cut the shapes . Soon , I became so conversant with the process that it did n’t require much thinking .
But while the steel - threading mental process is elementary , DeWalt could improve the saw by create a lock chamber on the upper arm that holds it aloft when the user weave the blade through a fretwork design . As it was , the heavy limb kept want to shake off , so I at last decided to place a display panel under the weapon to brace it up while I threaded the sword through the woodwind instrument . It ’s not a useable problem — just an vexing side issue .
Photo: Glenda Taylor for Bob Vila
The blower hosepipe is nifty : It offers just the right amount of aviation pressure to move the dust off the cutline so I could clearly see the channel while saw . The summation of a guiding light , however , would also be very helpful for illuminating the cutline and improving the overall level of craftsmanship .
Is the DeWalt scroll saw right for you?
The DeWalt DW788 scroll go out is a powerful shaft for create intricate carpentry projects . Its low vibration , varying speeds , and power to make beveled cuts in both directions make it a good option for initiate and advanced scroll saw enthusiasts .
However , the DW788 ’s weight ( 65.7 pounds ) may be problematic for those wanting portability . Beginners , in special , might find the weight cumbersome if they anticipate go the byword frequently .
The DW788 involve minimum forum and offers user - favorable lineament like quick blade change and effectual dust exculpate with a flexible blower hose . It would benefit from a locking chemical mechanism that held the arm up when the user threaded the blade through fretwork , but that ’s far from a plenty - breaker .
Photo: Glenda Taylor Bob Vila
The power saw is competitively price at around $ 400 , and it know up to DeWalt ’s reputation for producing top - notch exponent tools . I believe that this saw deserves a lasting spot in a woodworking shop .
Where to Buy the DeWalt DW788 Scroll Saw
Meet the Tester
Glenda Taylor is a product tester and author specializing in construction , remodeling , and woodworking . She and her husband own a universal catching company , and Taylor is live in both residential and commercial building covering . She quiz a wide range of major power tools as well as other base improvement , home , and lawn - and - garden products .
Everything You Need for a Lush and Healthy Lawn
keep open your grass green and your works thriving does n’t just take a green thumb — it go with the right tools and provision .
