Deals on Delta Woodworking Tools

[wroughtn_harv]

For construction I prefer a worm drive, Dewalt, just more comfortable for me over the Skil. I have four, they were on sale when Payless went out of business. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I have the twelve inch Dewalt chop saw on a nice Delta portable stand. It does all I need when doing repetitive cuts while framing. The worm drive with a good blade and some of these new guides is about all a guy needs if he doesn't want to tool up like a pro for light construction.

Now if you want a saw that will cut a full four by four on a forty five one slice you need a Makita sixteen inch circular saw. I have one. Love it. But it's a two hander if there ever was one. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[fishman]

So I see that both Higgy and WHarv prefer a worm drive saw. Just what is the difference between a worm drive and the "regular" circular saw? More durability, smoother, more power?

I have an old Black and Decker U130 I believe that was my Grandpa's. Unfortunately, the cord needs replaced and the handle (part of the cast case) is broken halfway off. Probably need a new saw. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[wroughtn_harv]

I've got one of Milwaulkees best seven and a quarter inch circular saws. Using it compared to the worm drive Dewalt is different on two fronts. With the worm drive you find using the weight of the saw to do the work. It's a comfort thing.

But for me the biggest difference besides comfort is the torque. When you hit something and it bogs down the saw with the Milwaulkee you back off a little on your pressure and let the saw wind back up. With the worm drive you don't have to do that. It just seems to reach down and grab another gear and gets after it.

All the major brands have worm drives. The mag 77 sounds like a winner. I've got a forty two year old son. He adopted me. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif And he's as comfortable framing with a 77 as I am welding with stick, maybe more so. But a 77 just doesn't feel comfortable for me.

White Cap's latest catalog has Makita, Skil, Bosch, and Dewalt worm drives on sale. There's one in Dallas below thirty five and six thirty five. If you come to the Fair next month consider dropping in. They might or might not have one in stock. They're not much on inventory, a lot like Graingers.

Worm drives are heavier. I've noticed the smaller framed framers prefer Makita circular saws over the Skil worm drives. Of course that might be because they're not facing the old framers with the "it's a 77 or it isn't a saw." /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Framers here in Texas have went the way of the most of the construction trades, piecework, and priced into the dirt and done accordingly. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[higgy]

Nice description, and I whole hartedly agree with it.

There are other differences as well. The motor is transversely mounted, 90 degrees to the blade, along the handle.

Harv is right, the dewalt has a different feel to the skil, buy the one that you are comfortable with as you will not ware the saw out.

One thing to think about is the blade is on the opposite side than a non worm drive saw, it is on the left as you hold the saw, makes it easier to see what you are doing if you are right handed.

as for brand, NE again the top produces make good tools, they can all be had for appox 150 bucks, give or take.

Harv, I have been eyeballing one of the big makitas 16 5/16" for a long time for cutting glue lams, I have not done it yet, but every year I say, I should buy one of those, I still have not.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Two things on the Makita Higgy.

First is it's a two hander. So I found a speed square with an extended lip. I use two clamps to clamp the speedsquare to the beam and then I have two hands for the saw. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The other thing is it's a gear reduction set up. So it takes awhile to get the blade up to speed and awhile to let it wind down. When you first squeeze the trigger it does a jump not unlike hooking up on the line in a drag race. It will twist and jump if you don't have a good grip on it.

The reason I've got mine is I had this job to do. (see attachment)

Two pavillions and one large arbor all done with full cut cedar four by material. The pavilions involved compound miter cuts. I only had two options. An old Dewalt sixteen inch radial arm saw, rare, expensive, and mostly three phase. Or the Makita and being able to do the cuts on site.

I highly recommend the saw as a tool. And before I jumped out and bought one I'd look at a local Makita factory repair store. I could have saved almost three hundred dollars by going there instead of the retailer where I bought mine. (four hundred versus seven hundred with the carbide blade)

 

[Bird]

Harv, are you talking about buying a new saw from a Makita factory repair store? Before I bought my Makita reciprocating saw, I went to the local factory service center. They sell new parts and accessories, but not the new tools. They do have a few that they've repaired or rebuilt and were never claimed by the owners. And they were asking new prices for the used ones they had. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Of course they've been good as far as batteries, saw blades, drill chucks, and such as that, but don't sell new tools.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Their deal is very similar to the one at the Delta--portercable factory store on thirty five or the Bosch store down off of Walnut Hill.

They sell factory stuff that's been repaired or just returned, checked out, and repackaged.

I found their prices better than anywhere else.

The best place is the Bosch store. They're the greatest and they have a sense of humor to boot. But there like the Delta Porter Cable store is the absolute worst place to buy consumables like blades, discs, etc. There's a deal with the dealers where those stores are obligated to get list for consumables. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

I bought that portable oscillating sander from Porter Cable before it hit the stores at the Delta PorterCable store. They had one in for a demo and I bought it on sight. Fantastic tool.

Milwaukee doesn't sell rehabbed tools anymore. They've got a contract with a vendor who gets all their stuff. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[higgy]

There is a local gluelam manufacturing facility here. I buy there out of spec lams for about $1.00 per lineal foot, no matter the depth or width of the beam. Right now I have about 900 feet of beam ready for projects. Most of it is 5X15" beam. I use them for out buildings. I love your arboretum, very nice. Your projects and sill are an inspiration.

I guess that I will pop for the saw, I have been drooling over it for a long time, I have always made due with hand and chisel.

Thanks for the speed square (great tool) and clamp info.

Dane

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Adopted son came by and modeled the Makita for those wondering what Higgy and me are talking about.

The awful beast with the smile in front is Max the wonder dawg. She's a Walmart. One day bud was at the store and they had free puppies in the parking lot. He took the runt, kind hearted sort.

When I asked him what breed the pup was he just smiled and said, "Walmart".

I'll tell you how smart she is. I love doing what I call "butt and brisket" on dawgs. I scratch their chest and their back at the same time. They'll just stand there and almost faint from pleasure.

One day Max came up and I was busy so I told her I'd only do it until she stuck her tongue out. So when she was ready for me to stop all she had to do was stick out her tongue.

You know as well as I do that it's has hard for a dawg to keep their tongue in their mouth when they're about to faint from pleasure as it would be for one of us.

So it became a game. About three times in she got it. I swear she won't stick her tongue until she faints now. She's a smarty.

To put things in perspective, he's six feet six inches tall. He's developed a fine sense of humor being around me too. Now when he's around me and I explain our relationship to a stranger with, "the good Lord made all of us equal. some of us He made smart, others He made tall." He just shakes his head and grins.

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( He just shakes his head and grins )</font>

I'd probably be a little cautious about teasing a fellow that's six foot six and had that saw in his hands. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif