Dewalt 745 Compact Table Saw (Novice Point of View)

[Rick]

First off as the title says I am a novice and this is my assessment from a point of view of one not having a great deal of experience with table saws.

The stand bought separately, is simple to assemble and seems rigid and strong.  No problems that I can see there with the exception of Dewalt wants you to screw the saw to the stand.  This is suppose to be a mobile compact saw and I would think some sort of quick connect/disconnect would make more sense.  

The saw itself came well packed with adequate assembly instructions.  Set up was straight forward and diagrams in the documentation clear.  When I placed a carpenters square to check the alignment of the table to blade, no adjustment was needed.  I then moved the rack and pinion fence mounted right side, to read exactly 10 inches from blade to fence.  A tape measure registered exactly 10 inches measured from inside blade surface to inside fence surface.  Again no adjustment needed even though it was cautioned to adjust the pointer to make correct measurements before use in the instruction documents. All control and setting adjustment nobs and levers seem easily accessed and smooth in operation .

The blade sent with the D745 is a 24T 10 inch Dewalt construction grade blade.  We will have to see if it will suffice as my basic rip blade or not.  I do have Diablo blades on order in 40T and 60T finish.  I am guessing the Dewalt 24T blade is going to be ok for ruff cuts but that I will use the 40T to make clean hardwood rips with.

Time to cut some wood and see if I am still pleased with my purchase.  

 

[Rick]

Thanks for the info Ken.

[michael evans]

Hi rick ,my dewalt came with the positive locking levers as ken described ,not had any problems in 3 years.

[Ken Darga]

Rick,

Securing table saw to stand/base:

Bolting the saw to the stand is safer---

use "thru" bolts with washer and wing nut---4 places.

NOTE: when a "quick-connect" device is used, it should contain a "positive-locking" feature, so that it CANNOT be inadvertently disengaged, so that joining members DO NOT become easily separated.

Saw blade alignment:

Step 1. Insure the blade is parallel to the miter gauge slot.

Step 2. Adjust the fence so its parallel to the miter gauge slot.

Accurate measuring devices are necessary to achieve accurate results.

For accurate setting of the fence, make the measurement from the fence face to the saw tooth blade tip edge, nearest the fence.

(The saw teeth are wider than the saw blade plate.  When measuring to the plate face, the cut workpiece will be short). 

Tape measurers aren't accurate---there can be variations of 1/32 to 1/16 inch.

They're okay for rough measurements, but not for precision.

I use a machinist scale or rule, for making accurate measurements---

Starrett, or equiv cabinets makers tools.

Sizes: 6", 12", 18", 24" and 36".