Author Topic: Upgraded my DW745 (Read 7995 times)

DynaGlide · « **on:** July 08, 2019, 12:49 PM »

Just got this saw two weeks back as my first table saw and decided to make some changes. Woodpecker 24" Super Track added to allow me more infeed support and to use my Jessem CS guides from my router table. Works a treat just used it to rip a 48" long board. The measure on the front of the saw had enough adjustment to account for the Super Track thickness.

TSO Products · « **Reply #1 on:** July 08, 2019, 01:00 PM »

@DynaGlide - that's one terrific solution for dealing with "narrow stock" in a space saving manner for everyone's space limited woodshop.

thanks for the detailed pictures!
Hans

Jiggy Joiner · « **Reply #2 on:** July 08, 2019, 01:14 PM »

That's a neat and innovative setup.

JimH2 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 08, 2019, 02:11 PM »

Very well done.

live4ever · « **Reply #4 on:** July 08, 2019, 03:05 PM »

Very nice - I'm totally going to copy this if you don't mind. I have a similar DW saw that I have to use right now since my cabinet saw is dismantled at the moment, and I happen to have some WP super track and those Jessem guides laying around...

DynaGlide · « **Reply #5 on:** July 08, 2019, 03:50 PM »

Quote from: live4ever on July 08, 2019, 03:05 PM

Very nice - I'm totally going to copy this if you don't mind. I have a similar DW saw that I have to use right now since my cabinet saw is dismantled at the moment, and I happen to have some WP super track and those Jessem guides laying around...

Hey we're all here to learn right? Copy away

Dick Mahany · « **Reply #6 on:** July 08, 2019, 04:18 PM »

Nice job. Clean installation. I have the DWE 7491RS and made a similar arrangement to hold feather boards as the Jessum devices weren't in the budget. Thanks for the great pics. Must be a joy to use.

ear3 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 08, 2019, 04:29 PM »

Great modification!

Dusty.Tools · « **Reply #8 on:** July 08, 2019, 10:49 PM »

Quote from: DynaGlide on July 08, 2019, 12:49 PM

Just got this saw two weeks back as my first table saw and decided to make some changes. Woodpecker 24" Super Track added to allow me more infeed support and to use my Jessem CS guides from my router table. Works a treat just used it to rip a 48" long board. The measure on the front of the saw had enough adjustment to account for the Super Track thickness.

Nice!

I brought a 24” piece for exactly this. How did you attach it? Looks like you drilled a hole through the fence?

I couldn’t figure out a decent solution that didn’t ‘damage’ the fence and I didn’t want to hurt the resell value.

Cheers

Ben

——————————
dusty.tools

Cheese · « **Reply #9 on:** July 08, 2019, 11:12 PM »

Quote from: DustyTools on July 08, 2019, 10:49 PM

I couldn’t figure out a decent solution that didn’t ‘damage’ the fence and I didn’t want to hurt the resell value.

I guess I’ve always had a different twist on the resale value thing. Most everything I purchase I use and if I do resell it later, it’s usually years later when better products are available and a few errant screw holes, CAREFULLY PLACED, really don’t diminish its value. For the most part, a Ryobi table saw will never become a collectors item...unless you happen to meet that singular museum associate that specializes in and obsesses over Ryobi table saws.

Collector cars, motorcycles, watches, knives and firearms are a completely different thing.

What ever happened to “Care Bears” or “Beany Babies”?

Dusty.Tools · « **Reply #10 on:** July 09, 2019, 12:36 AM »

Quote from: Cheese on July 08, 2019, 11:12 PM

Quote from: DustyTools on July 08, 2019, 10:49 PM
I couldn’t figure out a decent solution that didn’t ‘damage’ the fence and I didn’t want to hurt the resell value.

I guess I’ve always had a different twist on the resale value thing. Most everything I purchase I use and if I do resell it later, it’s usually years later when better products are available and a few errant screw holes, CAREFULLY PLACED, really don’t diminish its value. For the most part, a Ryobi table saw will never become a collectors item...unless you happen to meet that singular museum associate that specializes in and obsesses over Ryobi table saws.

Collector cars, motorcycles, watches, knives and firearms are a completely different thing.

What ever happened to “Care Bears” or “Beany Babies”?

I have done surprisingly well over the years upcycling my tools on ebay (etc.), sometimes even paying for a newer version of a tool outright. I have 763 reviews on ebay

So I tend to think twice before making a non-wear-tear change, but it definitely doesn't stop me!

DynaGlide · « **Reply #11 on:** July 09, 2019, 06:04 AM »

@DustyTools I think you're safe to drill the fence. Having seen your shop on IG chances are your saw will be so clean compared to others it won't be a problem.

The holes are high up so I don't believe they would affect the functionality of the fence in any way. Remember most people use jobsite saws for rough work. Every one I saw when looking on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace looked like it lived a hard life.

With this mod I can do more precise rips and very safely which imo is more important than any resale value. If preventing kickback cost me the entire resale value I would still do it.

Sparktrician · « **Reply #12 on:** July 09, 2019, 07:37 AM »

Matt, I really like the way you used the SuperTrack and Stock Guides. Good job!

Richard/RMW · « **Reply #13 on:** July 09, 2019, 09:08 AM »

Thanks Matt, a set of the Jessem guides somehow found their way into my Amazon cart...

Already have the super track so the rest is easy, I never fret about drilling holes in stuff. I like the simplicity of reverting to stock with the turn of 2 knobs.

Love that little saw, mine has been thru the ringer for nearly 10 years and still cuts beautifully, 8/4 hardwood is not a problem. I just wish it'd take a dado blade.

RMW

DynaGlide · « **Reply #14 on:** July 09, 2019, 11:38 AM »

@Sparktrician Thanks Willy. I think I'm getting the hang of all this

@Richard/RMW When I was researching saws the consensus was the Dewalts cut just as well as anything and the rack and pinion fence is a pleasure to use. Coupled with the $250 price tag during holidays the choice was easy as I don't foresee needing anything larger. With the modifications ripping longer boards up to 60" is a snap by myself.

For anyone interested I'm posting up some work I'm doing on my instagram this week. The handle is in my signature.

Dusty.Tools · « **Reply #15 on:** July 09, 2019, 12:14 PM »

Quote from: DynaGlide on July 09, 2019, 06:04 AM

@DustyTools I think you're safe to drill the fence. Having seen your shop on IG chances are your saw will be so clean compared to others it won't be a problem.

The holes are high up so I don't believe they would affect the functionality of the fence in any way. Remember most people use jobsite saws for rough work. Every one I saw when looking on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace looked like it lived a hard life.

With this mod I can do more precise rips and very safely which imo is more important than any resale value. If preventing kickback cost me the entire resale value I would still do it.

I will make the mod this week!

——————————
dusty.tools

Steven Owen · « **Reply #16 on:** July 10, 2019, 12:12 AM »

That’s great solution. There’s a little flex in the DEWALT fence that can throw out cuts. What method did you use to drill the holes through the fence to get the alignment correct?

DynaGlide · « **Reply #17 on:** July 10, 2019, 06:02 AM »

@Steven Owen I used a hand drill and clamped a drill guide in place from Big Gator Tools. To get my measurements I placed the super track on 1mm shims to allow a gap under then figured out where the holes needed to be. Should've taken pictures. If I had a drill press I would've removed the fence.

broseiden · « **Reply #18 on:** July 12, 2019, 12:18 PM »

Looks awesome!

Richard/RMW · « **Reply #19 on:** July 12, 2019, 02:03 PM »

Matt after seeing the photos again on the shutter thread I clicked Buy-it-Now and the Jessum guides will arrive tomorrow. Only change I plan is to use button head cap screws rather than knobs so I can leave the push stick on the fence.

Thanks for the great idea, it's such a simple & useful mod it's impossible to pass up.

RMW

BTW - based on your shutter thread you are a better man than I...

DynaGlide · « **Reply #20 on:** July 12, 2019, 02:31 PM »

Quote from: Richard/RMW on July 12, 2019, 02:03 PM

BTW - based on your shutter thread you are a ~~better~~ crazier man than I...

I fixed it for you

Enjoy your upgraded saw and let me know how you like it.

Reed Hoyer · « **Reply #21 on:** July 14, 2019, 09:35 AM »

Matt,

The super fence and stock guides are both great additions to your saw. I have a Bosch 4100, which I have been lusting to replace for years, and am embarrassed I never thought to do either of them. It would have been trivial given there is already a built in t-slot in the fence.

I've looked at the stock guides several times in the past and, for some unknown reason, felt like there must be some technical reason or real disadvantage to using the router guides on a table saw rather than the much more expensive table saw guides. It seems to me that you are having great success with the router guides. Do you think that you make any compromises using the router guides or is all that extra engineering in the table saw guides just to mount them on an upper t-slot?

Thank you, again, for sharing. Your setup is very nice and your shutter work in the other thread looks great!

-Reed

Alanbach · « **Reply #22 on:** July 14, 2019, 10:29 AM »

@Reed Hoyer - I have the Jessem guides on my router table and recently bought the TS guides for my table saw. The TS guide wheels themselves are bigger and beefier than those on the router guides. When I push a full 4x8’ sheet into the table saw those guides grab it and within an inch or two the first wheel has it snugged up against the fence and held down tight. I would think that in practice that will be the difference between the two when mounted on the TS ... BIG heavy pieces. No reason that the router guides won’t work they are just a bit smaller. Now as far as smaller work is concerned I would think that there will be no difference at all.

The other minor difference is that the router guides can pivot up to allow certain sizes of work to slide under them (without using them) without the need to remove them from the fence. However, if you wanted to run something tall up against the fence you would need to remove them. Whereas the TS guides can swing up and retract out of the way altogether. To me that is not really an issue at all as it takes seconds to slide the router guides out and then a few more seconds to slide them back in.

Alanbach · « **Reply #23 on:** July 14, 2019, 03:20 PM »

I elected to use the TS guides because I do sometimes push large 8’ pieces through my TS and the implementation of this tool means that I don’t have to bother my wife to help me handle large sheets any longer. As you can see from the picture I have a Besemeyer style fence and I used mag locks to help me avoid putting any holes in the fence. It also allows for quick removal when I want to use one of my other jig / attachments. I got this mounting idea from Dave Stanton’s YouTube video on the subject. Dave also has another jig project for a Besemeyer style fence that incorporates a sacrificial fence face as well as t-slots that accommodate feather boards and / or Jessem’s router table guides.

Having said that I do love this use of the super-fence. In the past hours since first seeing this post I have found myself thinking up other uses for it in my shop.

Reed Hoyer · « **Reply #24 on:** July 15, 2019, 10:12 AM »

Thanks @Alanbach . That’s a slick setup.

Steven Owen · « **Reply #25 on:** July 18, 2019, 12:20 PM »

Quote from: Alanbach on July 14, 2019, 03:20 PM

I elected to use the TS guides because I do sometimes push large 8’ pieces through my TS and the implementation of this tool means that I don’t have to bother my wife to help me handle large sheets any longer. As you can see from the picture I have a Besemeyer style fence and I used mag locks to help me avoid putting any holes in the fence. It also allows for quick removal when I want to use one of my other jig / attachments. I got this mounting idea from Dave Stanton’s YouTube video on the subject. Dave also has another jig project for a Besemeyer style fence that incorporates a sacrificial fence face as well as t-slots that accommodate feather boards and / or Jessem’s router table guides.

Having said that I do love this use of the super-fence. In the past hours since first seeing this post I have found myself thinking up other uses for it in my shop.

At some point you’ll want to get yourself a track saw of some kind. The track saws do a much better job breaking down large 8’ foot sheet goods.

Bob D. · « **Reply #26 on:** July 18, 2019, 12:53 PM »

I know the Mag-locks are strong, I have a few of both sizes, but I don't know if I could trust them to hold down a workpiece on a table saw with just a pair of them stuck to the top of the fence. The fence is not very heavy gauge metal, so not a lot for the magnets to 'bite' into or grip. You might not be able to pull it off by hand, but I think the kickback forces generated by a 3 HP motor like the one on my saw will be stronger than a pair of mag-locks.

Alanbach · « **Reply #27 on:** July 18, 2019, 01:35 PM »

I have a Sawstop PCS (3HP) with their T Glide fence which is a Besemeyer style fence. The rectangular steel tube is quite substantial and I used Mag locks rated for 150 lbs. each. They are drilled down into the wooden mounting block such that they contact the fence directly. I would consider myself fairly safety obsessed and I have no fear whatsoever that my set up, combined with my saws splitter / guard, will work perfectly and as intended. The whole idea of the Jessem TS guides is to hold the work very firmly against the fence so as to prevent kickback. If used properly I have no concerns whatsoever that this set up is safe and efficient. I would be more concerned that the one way gears in the guide’s wheels would fail before those Maglocks would let go and I have no fear of that happening.

Alanbach · « **Reply #28 on:** July 18, 2019, 01:46 PM »

@Steven Owen - I own a TS55 but I only break it out if the cut that I need to do exceeds my 52” fence capacity which is rare. Unless I am going mobile to work at one of the kid’s houses then it comes along, no doubt.

Richard/RMW · « **Reply #29 on:** July 19, 2019, 09:15 AM »

Received the Jessum guides a couple days ago and I'm really impressed with the quality for $100. For any price really, they are just super nice. Added bonus is they fit the super track like they were designed for it.

20 minutes and 2 holes away for adding this one to the "to done" list. Okay, add 10 minutes to find the right fasteners.

Thanks again Matt.

RMW