Thread: DeWalt 720 RAS - value and possible sale

RAS units can be worthwhile if properly set up, but they are too heavy and complicated to be considered portable. These days they can be hard to sell because people tend to go with drop saws or SCMS units for portability.

I saw a new 720 in a store in Melbourne about 5 years ago, and suspect that it had been in stock for quite a while. They wanted aout $2300 at the time, and had a larger 3 phase unit as well for about $2800.

A local 'clearance centre' had a used 720 with a $700 tag on it in their tool section for about 18months until Feb this year. At that stage it went into a clearance auction and eventually sold for around $150. What you might get is a function of the number of potential buyers nearby and the urgency of your desire to sell. You might find that you are struggling to give it away, or you might have a couple of people squabbling over who gets it, but I doubt you would get a lot for it. From that perspective, you might decide to keep it if you have the space to house it.

Sean, I would keep it.

The new or current model is available in two versions, the cheaper one DW721K is as you say priced at $4,300 the other model is about $5,500 from memory.

It is a wonderful piece of equipment, you should maybe think about keeping it and figuring out how to use it in all the permutations possible. Look up beehive handles on youtube, one person there shows a rather unique way of making them using the radial saw.

My guess is that you may attain somewhere around the $500.00 mark, give or take. Recently on this forum there was a very good one for sale, not as young as yours, but nonetheless in extremely good condition, I believe it went for something around that figure or maybe a tad higher.

Most people want the current smaller sliding mitre saws, they are good, but if you sell this, then in time, I would suggest you will probably acquire a current smaller sliding mitre saw and it will probably be more expensive than what you would receive for this.

If I had the dosh I would offer you the money as quick as a flash.

Properly set-up, they are devilishly good.

Mick.

Thank you for your advice and suggestions - appreciated. I think I may give it a full go as it is in remarkably good condition and after assembly by me (with some common sense but few technical skills) it was level both ways, the blade vertical and nearly perfectly perpendicular to the fence so it seemed like a good start. Neither the table nor the saw arm budge a mm when I lean on them so it seems like a stable platform. I will report further on progress!

all the best, Sean

Have you got manuals for the unit?
Lots of setup and allignment info and sequencing in the manuals. If you don't have the originals, you may be able to download them, or failing that I have 740/770 set which are similar, except for remote height winder system in arm.

Thanks Malb I do have the original manual and I also have a later version from Stanley B&D who have been very good in supporting me. I did my first 'test cut' on my newly made replacement table for the unit and was pleasantly surprised to see it was dead accurate to the fence and vertically. So, a good start. I do need to source a negative hook angle (I think that is the term?) blade before I try ripping. Regards Sean

Any chance for a pic of it.....interested to see what they look like?

cheers

DeWalt 720.jpg

I accidentally found them on the Sydney Tools site and they have all the models there so I would suggest going to their site for better pics - priced quite high actually - here is a quick and dirty iPhone pic I took last weekend - sorry about the mess around it (note: this image does not show the side extension which I have but have not yet fitted to it). I have realised my unit is certainly worth a few bob. My model - the DW720 - was designated 'call us for pricing' and when I called (speaking under correction) the guy told me the DW721 is $6990 and the DW720 about $1000 less than that. He raved about them and I guess there is a reason for that price. My unit happens to be in near mint condition - in fact it looks no different to the ones on the Sydney Tools site and I have just made up a new table for it which is very steady and level. I still might sell it though - for a fair and reasonable price to a nice home. all the best, Sean

PS: added two more pics the one showing the first cut on the new table
photo-2.jpgphoto-3.jpg