Got a good deal on DW 718 slider today.
So I’m building us a new table for my LS1013. The problem with this Makita slider is that the two rails that the saw head is on are down near the base. So if you want to make a ‘drop in’ table where the table top if flush with the saw’s cutting table then you’ve got to either make a ridiculously deep table or notch your table to heck, making it really weak and shortening it’s useful life.
So I got to thinking…. maybe it was time to upgrade my slider too seeing as I was building this new table. The newer models all have the rails mounted up much higher, making it a little easier to build a great table for them. Seeing as I was building this table for the long haul (SS screws, ACX ply, 2×6 frame, lotta adhesive) I figured I should get a new saw and customize this table for the new saw. My Makita was getting pretty sloppy anyway… most of the detents were rounded out and it’s just generally ‘loose’ and dinged up. Besides I’ve wanted a 12″ for awhile.
So I went to Home Depot. To be honest, I didn’t plan on buying there. I just went to take some measurements of a DW 718 and pick up some hardware for the table. I planned to build the table to fit the Dewalt, but actually buy the saw from my tool guy whom I’m seeing on Monday anyway. So I’m measuring away and a really nice manager lady came up behind me and started asking questions. I told her I wasn’t “sure” if I was going to buy this saw or not but wanted to see if it would fit in my table. I had to come up with something.
The saw was originally $629 but currently on sale for $549. She told me if I open a Home Depot Mastercard (you get HD points but can use it anywhere like a regular Mastercard) she’d give me 10% off everything I was going to buy today. And also said I could pick anything out of the clearance cart as well. So I’m thinking $494 is a pretty good deal. I say, let’s go look at the ‘freebie’ cart. I needed a little time to think about cheating on my tool guy. The cart was lame….shower heads, a garden hose, all kinds of weird stuff I don’t need. She sensed my hesitation and told me that if there wasn’t anything in the cart that I wanted then she’d take another $50 off the saw.
Sold.
Got a brand new DW718 marked as $629 out the door for $444. Also got 10% off a bunch of other stuff I needed any way….. sander belts, an extension cord, some hardware for the table, some electrical stuff for the table, and a Freud blade for the new saw.
I figured Rez would be proud of me.
Replies
NICE!!!!
great barganing
Can you hold the laser level while I shave?
great barganing
Thanks Andy. Wish I could accept your compliment, but the truth is.... I didn't do anything! Just stood there and listened while she marked the thing on down.
The funny thing is... I actually needed a new company credit card anyway. Of course we'll have to wait and see what the rates are like on this new one before I decide to keep it or not. But I just canceled my other business credit card account yesterday. I switched over to paying all my company bills through my banks website instead of writing checks out. My last payment was posted two days later than the due date. My bad. I was still figuring things out.
I was ready to eat the $40 charge for the late payment since it was my fault. But then I noticed my CC company changed my interest rate from 7.99% to 29.99% for being late! That was unacceptable to me, so I called the company to see what they could do about it. They wouldn't budge. This a business credit card with a $15,500 limit that I pay off monthly at an average of $2500 month. Unbelievable.View Image
"Wish I could accept your compliment, but the truth is.... I didn't do anything"That's the best way. Just step out of the way and let it unfold. I think you'll like the 718, I do. Got mine on a double rebate for about $500."Sometimes nothin' will get you a real cool hand...." Cool Hand Luke
Good score.
Last year I walked out of HDT with 718 and the DW stand for $540.
Edited 3/27/2008 9:32 pm ET by rasconc
That's an even better deal. I've got one of those DW stands for my 10" miter. It actually handles that 12" beast well enough, huh? Impressive. View Image
That's still gloatworthy. My deal was a bit less simple, but still a great deal.I picked my 718 up at Costco's. They had it for $499 - but wait - also came with a Dewalt 60 tooth woodworking blade instead of the yellow rimmed garbage and -wait - also came with a full dewalt 9.6volt drill kit with two batteries.The blade was worth $50-60 and I sold the drill kit for $85 so the saw cost me about $360 or so.Then a few months later, I was gonna splurge on the laser and it rung up at $25, instead of the $59 it should've cost new.Not worth $59, but definitely worth $25.Great saw though. Gets a lot of #### from folks saying some of the castings are rough, but I'm not rubbing on my saw so who cares about that?JT
I've got my 705 on the Ridgid MSUV which I like for many uses but the DW stand handles the slider rather well. It sure is a two person to be comfortable carry though. My deal was when Mark had an open house and had gotten some deals (too low to advertise)( or was it my pimp pay (:-)).
I had passed on several good deals because I could not justify it with two other mitre saws but could not pass that up, besides had a good year and needed the deduction. It is my first exp with slider and still have to think a bit before pulling the trigger. I end up using it with the slide locked a good bit. It really does not seem to have the umpth of the old 705 though.
Just curious,
Did the Sawhelper stand not hold up to your sites?
I love the Saw Helper, but we all miss having a big table/bench. On a frame, the bench will come off the truck the first day and sit on a pair of horses for the duration of the job. Just drop the saw into it in the morning and pull it out at night. It sort of becomes 'mission control'. The bench has a 50' cord with a four way gang box in it so it's convenient to have around and sort of run everything out from there. The bench becomes the coffee break table, the plan table, the drawing board, etc. And it's easy to attach jigs and fences to. You can screw anything you want or need right to it. This new one is a beast....32" wide and 14' long.
The Saw Helper is a kiler system. But it's a lot of parts and pieces to take out every day. Sometimes it could have been useful, but didn't end up getting set up in the morning because we didn't think we'd need it. It's not a big deal to set up... but it is a bit of a hassle enough so that you wouldn't set it up unless you knew you were gonna need it. With the bench, it's already set up (and nobody is likely to steal it) so you just toss the saw in it in the morning and you're good to go.
And the SawHelper/ADM totally sucks in mud. Totally. Or uneven ground for that matter. On winter days we were constantly readjusting the heights all day long. Set it up on frozen ground. By 10am the saw table was 2" down in the mud and the wings were each down an inch. By 3pm the the legs were down 4" and it was a mess. By 4pm you better break it down or it was gonna be there until the morning.
And it never really felt 'right' throwing 2x12's up on the thing for cutting headers and such.
What I'm planning on doing is using the DW and bench as our work horse. It will stay set up in a convenient central part of the frame... usually the garage. And I'll put a little more work into the Makita and have the ADM system to bring up to the second deck to trim out gables and such. It's like a whole different system when it's set up on firm level ground. It's just not made for the mud. But it's the best trimming set up I've personally ever used. The bench works great too, but the ADM system beats it on portability.View Image
Was guessing that it must have been the site conditions.
I really like my Sawhelper - trim and light framing on firm ground.
Sounds like the bench would be very handy for many things - 14' nice.
I just sent yer tool guy an e-mail!
Yer done! LOL
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.â€
Reagan....
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.
-Truman Capote