Paul Schaefer
10-07-2015, 12:32 AM
First, for those of you who answered my earlier questions on the DW MBF saws, thanks! Unfortunately, someone else got to the one being sold locally before I did. The AMF and early B&D saws with the solid cast iron arms don't show up that often, and when they do, they go FAST.
On the other hand the 7740 and 7770 saws are a lot more common, and they tend to stay on Craigslist longer. I know that that they're considered inferior to the earlier saws with solid cast iron arms, but how much more inferior are they? I've been looking for a DW RAS because my '70s vintage Craftsman isn't great at holding adjustments - I leave it locked at zero degrees and it still seems to need regular tweaking when I have a job that demands precision. Even though the 7740 and the 7700 are less robust than the earlier DeWalt saws, are they still sufficiently better than the Craftsman that they'll hold and accurately return to a 90-degree setting?
(And yes, I know a lot of people love SCMSs for crosscutting, but I REALLY like the RAS's big table and ability to cut dadoes.)
On the other hand the 7740 and 7770 saws are a lot more common, and they tend to stay on Craigslist longer. I know that that they're considered inferior to the earlier saws with solid cast iron arms, but how much more inferior are they? I've been looking for a DW RAS because my '70s vintage Craftsman isn't great at holding adjustments - I leave it locked at zero degrees and it still seems to need regular tweaking when I have a job that demands precision. Even though the 7740 and the 7700 are less robust than the earlier DeWalt saws, are they still sufficiently better than the Craftsman that they'll hold and accurately return to a 90-degree setting?
(And yes, I know a lot of people love SCMSs for crosscutting, but I REALLY like the RAS's big table and ability to cut dadoes.)