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Table saw top

2K views 20 replies 17 participants last post by  theart 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Good morning y'all. Right about now my head is ready to explode and frustration at an all time high. Because of limited space and funds, I just purchased a brand new DWE7480 job site saw. All unpacked and set up. Lots of nice features and very happy with it, except for one itsy bitsy feature…...table top. Because Dewalt haphazardly for cost reasons or stupidity, put a POS PLASTIC table top on this thing…....why, why, why? The top is not flat by any stretch of the imagination. I'm not going to send this G^D damn thing back, so what now my industrious LJ's? I could take it to a machine shop and have a aluminum table fabricated and machined. However, that will undoubtedly cost a small fortune, but I'm particular and will not put up with such s^^t. I'm starting a project for and overseen by my wife for a table stand made of maple. My very first project made from hardwood. Suggestions!!!!!!!!! please.
 
#2 · (Edited by Moderator)
Not what u wanna hear but I'd send it back. Any sanding or milling will likely void the warranty and since it's plastic nothing will stop it from flexing again. Send it back and either get a new better quality saw OR find u a good quality used one (the craftsman 113 is a great basic saw that most all of us have or have had at one point and will run u under $200 pretty easy). To me other than space saving there is nothing real special about that dewalt. Good luck
 
#3 ·
All job site saws are going to have features intended to reduce cost and especially weight. Why put a heavy cast iron table on a saw that's meant to be portable?

They are not intended for precise cutting. They are intended to be used on the job site to rip sheet goods, etc. Rough cuts for construction, not fine woodworking. There would be no point in getting a replacement since the new one is likely going to have the same issues.

Look around for something on Craigslist. Maybe you can find a good deal on a contractor grade saw.

Or just live with it.
 
#6 ·
Hey JCamp, then I ll more than likely end up with a saw where the fence doesn t clamp parallel to the saw blade. The Rigid saw I have now is a perfect example of that.

- Oldschoolguy
You are probably correct, however I used a pair of drafting squares with my craftsman 113 to solve that issue. I now have a Unisaw and the 113 is a dedicated dado saw.
 
#7 ·
If it were mine, I would fabricate a new top from either aluminum plate, Baltic birch or MDO. The latter 2 would be considered expendable and replaced when it becomes too worn. I do have the tools and ability to do that, but maybe you do not. The only other option would be to return it and look for a used 113 or similar. There are lots of them around.
 
#8 ·
I have a Kobalt jobsite saw with collapsing stand w/wheels. This is required because my shop is so small I often need to roll it outside to work with long boards. Yes I need to use a square to align my fence each time and the top may not be perfect but I understand that there are limitations to cheap and portable. I dream of one day owning a saw with a self aligning fence and a cast iron top that is flat and true but that day is not today. Anyway, it does have an aluminum top and maybe you can find a similar aluminum topped saw that is flatter than plastic.

Side note, I went and got some Mag Switches to hold feather boards for ripping and to use as a reference for micro adjustments. It had never occured to me that my top was aluminum and the Mag Switches didn't work out too well. Experience is what you get when don't get what you really wanted.
 
#10 ·
If the plastic table top is reasonable rigid, I'd sand it flat and and top coat with epoxy. Bondo could work too, but epoxy is certainly harder. I've done this before on warped table saw tops with pretty good results.
The process is sand, fill, inspect and repeat until things are flat.

Aluminum is better, light weight, too but just more expensive.
 
#14 ·
What Rich said. Those little saws are for construction, not woodworking. They are for tossing in the back of a truck and hauling from jobsite to jobsite and they are lucky to last the summer so there is no point in putting metal tables on them. The table is too small and the fence lacks precision. Sure you can do good work on them but it's the nature of the beast that they will be full of compromise and less than ideal.
 
#16 ·
Send it back. Those saws are called "job site" saws for a reason. I had one and it worked great when I had to cut a corner or rip a laminate board. It didn't have to be perfect because the baseboards would cover it up. When I was going to make some more precise cuts for a home project, it wouldn't work because the fence would move and I could not get it true 90 degrees. I looked around and found a Craftsman zip code saw for $150. If you don't plan on moving it, then go used and get something better. I am only mad that I waited this long to upgrade.
 
#19 ·
If funds are an issue, as you stated, then having someone fabricate an aluminum top would eat away at those same funds. I would personally send it back, just my 2 cents and get a TS with an aluminum top instead. I just picked up a Hitachi on sale at Lowes for $299, sale is good till 10/14, and all reviews put it at par with the dewalt DWE7491, at half the price
 
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