So I go to the big orange box to pick up a saw, a DW713 10″ CMS. I am not a big fan of the yellow tool line but I’ve logged a fair bit of time on its predecessor, the DW703, and always thought it was a solid tool that you could carry with one hand. The DW713 is $220 just about everywhere so I grab the box and stick it in the cart. I couldn’t just grab it and go, I NEEDED to stroll the rest of the tool department just in case some new widget felt the need to leap into my cart. So as I am browsing aimlessly my eyes drift up to the shelves where customers are not supposed to go. Between two dusty boxes and beneath some safety netting I see a yellow saw. So I look both ways and don’t see anyone in an orange apron (big surprise) so I grab a set of those rolly stairs and climb up to check out the saw. Well what do you know, its a DW703 with a clearance tag for $149. So I haul it down check it out and other than a thick coat of dust it looks good. It was missing one bevel stop bolt, blade wrench, and dust bag. So I shuffle off to the corner where I spy an outlet, plug it in and everything sounds good. Here comes an orange apron so I ask if this saw is for sale. Call the manager, blah, blah, its for sale. Tell the guy it is missing parts, no paper work, etc. He asks if I would take it if he gave me an additional 10% off. Would I take it, I never let go of it! Out the door price $134, plus something for the corrupt politicians. I was like a swine in doo doo.
Obviously I can’t leave the tool department now, there are deals to be had. In the past I have used the DeWalt miter saw stand and found it very good if a bit big for some tight remodeling jobs. It is definitely big for a guy with a small truck. Back to the tools….I see a Ryobi miter saw stand on display right next to the DeWalt. Seem very similar, only the Ryobi is a bit smaller in size and and alot smaller in price. The box say 30 day satisfaction policy….oh what the hell I’ll try it. I have only used it for one day but what a pleasant surprise. The stand is solid, operates smoothly, and I like the blue than yellow anyway. I think I’m gonna like it. Be advised the packaging says it cannot be used with a 12′ saw, but I can’t figure out why.
Replies
"I NEEDED to stroll the rest of the tool department just in case some new widget felt the need to leap into my cart. "
The guys at my yard/store don't ask me if I need help anymore when I walk straight to the 'closeout' portion of the store on every visit...
Today I bought two fatmax 25' tapes with that stupid knife included, for 10$ ea.
go back and demand yur other 20% off....
without an act of congress and getting some super power into the fray the managers can discount up to 30% off on the spot...
but it takes some arm twisting to get there....
so the next time....
ya know....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Is this my chance to make everyone jealous?When in Florida, I need a drill for stuff at Mom's place. So I know where the Lowes is and head over there...While browsing, I find a Milwaukee offset angle drill on the rack, but with no postd price.I ask this guy and that guy until the manager of the tool dept tells me that they do not sell that drill and don't know how it got there - that it will probably get trashed in the dumpster.So I ask, What if I just trash it into my car.He says, "Dude, if you can get it past the alarms at the door, it is yours!" Done and done. Long story but too tired to type more now.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
That is one of my favorite drills. It sounds great too.
I saw a 12" slider on a dinky stand once. Someone let the handle fly and the whole shebang did a backflip. Nothing broken but it took awhile to get that saw square and true again.
I got that ryobi stand. Run a 10" Makita SCMS on it. Not too bad, but man is it heavy! I would give another 50 bucks for it if it was made out of something lighter.
Steve
You want a smaller stand, cut a foot off the Dewalt - that stand rocks!Weighs 35lbs and hangs from the wall of my trailer like butter.If the size bothered me, I'd slice a bit off the main extrusion and the extensions and have an even lighter stand and even more portable.They've been as low as about $109 on Amazon before - gotta keep your eyes peeled for the deals.I've seen the Ryobi, and although similar, the Dewalt is a smoother user.That Ryobi stand would be smoking after a hard days work, won't even be able to get it running the next day :)JT
Julian,We had one of the DW stands where I used to work. I basically like the DW stand, but am disappointed in the stops on the extensions. Not accurate enough to be useable, and just a general PITA. I've been on the prowl for the ideal chop saw stand for years and have yet to see one that that I truly like.Steve
I've been on the prowl for the ideal chop saw stand for years and have yet to see one that that I truly like
Have you tried the SawHelper?
>>Have you tried the SawHelper?<<No. It looks really nice, but a cruciual part of my criteria is portablility. My truck is routinely filled to the gills without a chop saw stand in it. The SawHelper, apart from being pretty pricey, just has too many parts and pieces, and it looks a like it would not suffer the indignities of the back of my truck very well. Might be a good option for the shop though.What I really want is a very compact, very light, very strong one-piece stand with a usable stop system. I would be happy with a version of the Ryobi that was big enough for a 12" saw and made out of aluminum rather than steel.Steve
True enough about those stops. They do suck.I've been thinking about making a small fence platform that would just slip onto the top of the stand next to the saw to allow for repeatable cuts.I actually have a spare Saw helper 4' extrusion that I picked up at a rummage sale that I've been meaning to try and modify for that.My praise as a miter saw stand for the dewalt was for everything it allows -except- for the crappy stops.I keep hearing about the sawhelper too, but that $5-600 entry price keeps me from making the plunge.JT
"You want a smaller stand, cut a foot off the Dewalt - that stand rocks!"
Gee, mine is pretty steady (;-). How do you cut off a foot and have the legs fold all the way? Mine almost touch when folded.
Well, I didn't say I had thought it all the way through....JT
Good deal.
I once got 50% off my rotary laser tri-pod cause the box was dusty. I made a joke to the lady that had to pull it off the top shelf and she said no problem.
Lowes has been very good to me around here.
Walked in one day and someone had returned a 40' Werner ladder after using it once and getting paint on it,
I paid $50.
Walked in another time and got a brand new Paslode gas framer for $100, display model.
I love a good deal.
I'd love to go into the big box and find a NOS Dewalt 705 chopsaw. I have one now, love it, and would buy another but it is now superceded by the 715, I believe. Why can't they keep making a proven design? Always seems to be a need for the manuf. to make it cheaper but add some geegaws to add to perceived appeal.
Edited 6/3/2008 11:54 pm by kenhill3
the new ones have to be better for the bottom line ....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
The 705's were made in the USA, THE 715'S are def not.JT