Dewalt 718 chopsaw quality problems
When the new 718’s came out I ran out and bought one. I liked to laser design. Then I sold one of my 708’s- big mistake. After about 3 months it developed a wobble on the bevel control. I took it to the factory service center and was told it would take about 2 weeks, went out and bought another 718. Got the thing back and sold my other 708 (slow learner). Now several months later the second saw had the same small wobble. Took it to Dewalt Service Center and was told 2 weeks, 3 weeks later called and was told 2 more weeks- said that was too long and talked to the manger. He said it would be done the next day-Great. Went to pick it up and it was exactly the same as when I left it. No problem the guy at the counter said I’ll be right back- 5 minutes later he brings it back and its nice and tight. Go to the jobsite and now the bevel will not lock and you have to use both hands to more it at all. Meanwhile the guard is falling off the first saw. We only do high end interior finish work so it’s not like these things get beat-up. Can’t wait for the festool chopsaw to come out.
Replies
There are set screws and hex head bolts that adjust everything on that saw.
Look at the booklet that came with it and they tell you what to do for every setting adjustment. It's simple to do.
Once you've done it, it takes 2 minutes to check and adjust anything when you set up the saw. I usually do this after it's been moved around from one site to another.
Whatever you do, do not put any "lock-tite" on these screws, that will come back to bite you in the butt...buic
Look at the booklet that came with it
That sounds wickedly similar to "RTFM"...
<g>
Whatever you do, do not put any "lock-tite" on these screws, that will come back to bite you in the butt
You forgot to post "don't ask how I know that", so - how do you know that? and what did ya do to overcome the mistake? IMWTK!
Only dead fish swim with the stream. Author Unknown
"and what did ya do to overcome the mistake? "
Years and years of experience! (g)
I just check mine whenever I set it up. Sometimes it needs adjustment, most times not.
Often just one is out, I tweak it, and don't need to re-adjust for the rest of the job.
To me, that's the easiest way to "fix" it...buic
buic,
Thanks for the suggestion however the set screws which you indicate define the left & right bevels as well as the 90 degree setting but have no relation to the bevel wobble. After my first post I went to my shop (with the manual I got from Dewalt because the ones provided wtih the tool do not have a complete schematic) and proceeded to examine the saw. The manner in which the bevel is held consistes of a keystone like device which drops into a similar shaped fitting on the housing. It is held in place with 4 screws and 2 washers. In my case I saw that the tech at the Seattle Dewalt service center had mixed up the screws ane lost 1 washer, he had also installed the bevel lock nut upside down rendering it useless. Out of the 8 nuts and screws which hold that part together he got 5 wrong and lost 1. In order to keep the thing from dropping to one side or the other he tightened the king nut until nothing would move. Having taken the time to understand how the bevel assembly works, it is simple and well designed. Something which can be repaired in under 10 minutes in the field (If Lock-tight had been used on these 4 screws it wouldn't need repair)- which makes me wonder why Dewalt cannot fix it in 5 minutes while you wait, rather than 2 weeks.
Glad you figured it out. They're good saws, but they need a little attention now and then (like most of us)...buic
I have the same saw and I must say it's not as tight and true as it's older cousin the 705, which is no surprise since the 718 has more moving parts. I would never give up the 705, I do 90% of my trim work with that saw. The 718 CAN be a very good saw,it just needs to be tweaked now and then.
Jer,Having spent an hour today rebuilding two 718's you can make your saw tight. In my opinion it will never be a strong as the 708's, but the laser does save time. It doesn't take very long to remove the wobble and the only additonal tool required beyond the tool with the saw is a straight screwdriver.
The moving parts on the saw are few and the repair simple. Which is good because in my case there are 2 to 3 guys using them 5 to 6 days a week and I supect this will be an on going concern- at least until the kapex comes out. If you are interested in tighenting up the bevel adjustment let me know and i'll outline it.Keith
Thanks, but I did mine right away after getting it. I never trust anything out of the box, so on a tool like this I get out the instructions, my little machinist square and Starret 45, loosen everything and go to town until the test pieces are perfect.
I actually don't use the saw all that much, but obviously you do so you'll become quite proficient and used to adjusting in no time.
Would you like to outline it for us? Mine only has about an hours use so far but you never know. I have not gotten use to having slider yet and seem to scare myself sometimes. I did some half laps for a small gate and trimmed up some clothesline posts ends is about all it has done so far, like it. However the old 705 and 10" Hitachi single bevels are like an arm extension for me.