FS,FatSebastian wrote: ↑Wed Apr 19, 2023 11:17 amSo I went with the WEN LL2156. Physically it is one yard in length, but it is not nearly as difficult to transport as I imagined it would be - there are lots of places to grab hold and the weight is spread out. I've only lightly tested its operation thus far because I have not finished mounting it securely; yet it appears to have good alignment and smooth operation (not too much vibration) - way better than our former 16" Craftsman.
The finish of its steel table leaves something to be desired though: it has a durable coating (metallic enamel paint?) but there are raised debris specks embedded in it, large enough that you can catch on them with a fingernail running across the tabletop. Probably doesn't matter for Pinewood Derby purposes but I'd otherwise worry about these imperfections possibly scratching softer materials. Also the table has what looks (and feels) like a residual weld seam in the original metal stock that the table was made from, that didn't quite polish out when they machined it. This recess doesn't actually interfere with material movement - it is just obvious and ugly.
I appreciate the feedback and especially the suggestion of the WEN LL2156 by Whodathunkit!
The Wen ll2156 came in today..
The finish on the table was ok no large paint bumps.
However in the above you point out a that your table has what looks like a weld seam in your table.
Hears an image of a notch that is seen on the right hand edge of my new table top.
( To Me this is a cut defect from the CNC plasma cutter or water jet cutter that cut out the table top.. Start/stop cut line.
However as kid in my Granddads wood shop I can recall a time where he took a metal file to put a small notch in the side his scroll saw table.
Back then I could not understand why he would do this to his scroll saw table..
As I recall he had very large hands and fingers and also a hard time trying to roll the smaller blades in his fingers.
He used the notch he filed in the table top to help him spin the smaller size cutting blades when he needed to change the blades out to a thin cutting blade.
Large and small cutting blades:
Okay in the images I'm doing this one handed.. while holding my I phone to take photos however.
But what he would do when he picked up a thin cutting blade and the cutting teeth were facing the wrong way..
With one hand on bottom and one on top of the blade he would drag it across the notch he cut in the table and let it spin the blade in his fingers.
So that the cutting teeth on the blade were facing him.. So he could install it the saw with the teeth facing forward!)
Blade facing wrong way:
Drag it across the notch:
let it spin in his fingers to face in ward to his bottom hand palm :
Funny!
How Wen's moto is.. Thanks For Remembering Wen!
And then how these little things in life like this notch in my new scroll saw table top..
had me recall the time where my Granddad used a file and put a notch in his scroll saw table to use to his advantage.
You also asked me what I liked about some of the features this saw had that I liked..
At the time I told you about the lock on the lift arm and it being a 21 inch model and that it was priced right for the money.
Well here a some features I really like now that I have the Wen saw.
The lower blade chuck in the Wen model.. has a holder that blade sets into that will not let the blade set lower in the chuck. ( with dust collection doors I can see why its this way)
Image of the lower blade chuck.
Here is the lower blade chuck on my DeWalt 788 with the Pegus chuck up grade.. the blades can fall out the bottom while trying to clamp them
Next I like how the wen model has bearing in the table trunnion's to help tilt and support the table top.
The table top on the wen model is stronger then the.. DeWalt 788 model that does not these bearing in the trunnion so its table has flex an movement!
And yes.. even the lock feature it has for the lifting arm. That you don't have to lock every time you lift the arm.. But it's there if you need it for the arm to stay up!
un locked:
Locked:
plus having the blade tension lever up front and variable speed.
And then yes even this one.. that the DeWalt 788 does not have.. the pull out child safety lock for the power switch:
