Thread: DeWalt SCMS Problem...

I cannot help you with the cutting depth but you should ditch the bag and attach a dust extractor or a shop vac. The smoothness of the cut could probably be improved by a better blade. A bit much to ask on top of $1000 though!

Pusser

Dust collection bags help a bit, but they're never all that good. Wear a dust mask, or attach a vacuum cleaner.
As for the posts, try putting a stick of 2x1 against the fence as a packer. The DeWalt is a nice saw with lots of good features, and you should be getting nice smooth cuts straight out of the box.

According to this you should be able to get upto 163mm

http://www.justtools.com.au/prod4572.htm

That was brought up in another thread, but I don't see how they can make that claim since the blade is only 305mm. That is unless they intend you to flip the timber over. Although that would also allow you to cut boards 700mm wide, which I have done before.

I did do a search by the way, to try and find if others had this problem (only relevant post I could find was to do with the laser, which I have not setup yet).

I'm sure I could flip the timber and be able to cut through, and I guess the sacrificial spacer would also work, but I'm disappointed that it needs to have that done...I wonder why the fence can't be adjusted.

At this stage I think I will be taking it back under the 30 days satisfaction guarantee.

By the way, I may have mislead when I said the cuts were not smooth - they are, and the blade cuts through the cypress post like a hot knife in butter. It's just that last bit which it does not cut and that tears out...

Maybe the depth adjustment isnt all the way down.. Most scms have a depth stop which may just be a bolt like on the makitas which allows the blade to stop at certain heights. The blade doesnt seem to be low enough if the back corner of the wood near the fence isnt being cut through. Check the manual about adjusting the blade height and set it as low as you can.

Maybe screwon a bit of scrap as a backing board on the fence....that'll bring the timber your cutting towards you and bring the full depth of cut through that last corner.........that may solve that depth cutting problem if I'm picturing your problem right. I have to do that at work I've found. And its a Hytachi. My makita at home will do it too.

If you've got a backing board as well, you'll generally get cleaner cuts....ie. won't splinter out the back face...

I wouldn't worry about dust collection without a vac either....I don't have a vac at home, so I just ditch the bag. Just a stupid attempt at collecting the ????. Let it all go on the floor and quicker to clean up with a broom.

I don't like dewalt either anymore. We've got a dewalt power planer......There 'supposed' to be good, but the soles not even true !...not saying your saw an't good though.

I think Sol381 is on the right track. Sounds like you just need to ajust the depth of cut to reach the inner corner. I had to do this with my Makita. Just dont ajust it too low,or you'll take a chunk out of the saw
With tearout on the back of the cut, you can make a sacrificial fence as Appricotripper said.if you're just making straight cuts, the fence will stop all tearout. Also I've found, if you take the cut nice and slowly tearout is greatly reduced
cheers.

The manual for my 12" Hitachi SCMS says to use a backing board.