DeWalt DW745 is junk.

[Scarpozzi]

I just need to vent. I paid $375 for a DeWalt DW745 table saw. After using it roughly 3-4 days ripping boards, the motor stopped working.

I ripped a few 2x10s with it when I first got it over the course of 2 days. Now that I'm doing more finishing work, I ripped a few 1x6s down to make door jams and stops.

I got it out 2 weeks ago, set it up and tested the motor...it spun up. I fetched the boards I needed to rip and then the motor wouldn't turn on.

I called up DeWalt and spoke with someone in their service center. They told me I had done all the troubleshooting they know to do and they'd just have to ship it back. I can bring it to them for their warranty service. Here's the kicker....they have office hours of 8am-5pm M-F.....and are located 100+ miles away. I'm kind of angry about this.... I need to get it fixed ASAP to be within the warranty window, but will have to drive 420 miles total and wait 2+ weeks to get it repaired because they cheaped out somewhere.

I would have been better off going for the $100 saw....

 

[Nintendesert]

How long have you owned it?

 

[highland145]

I paid $200+ just for the new motor on my saw. 1950's Craftsman.

I got it out 2 weeks ago, set it up and tested the motor...it spun up. I fetched the boards I needed to rip and then the motor wouldn't turn on.

Strange. Reset button? The saw got good reviews on Amazon. Got a local motor shop that can look at it? You could test the start up cap.

 

[amdskip]

YMMV with the service center. I did not have a good experience with them on a $500 tile saw.

 

[PottedMeat]

I just need to vent. I paid $375 for a DeWalt DW745 table saw. After using it roughly 3-4 days ripping boards, the motor stopped working.

I got it out 2 weeks ago, set it up and tested the motor...it spun up. I fetched the boards I needed to rip and then the motor wouldn't turn on.

I'm kind of angry about this.... I need to get it fixed ASAP to be within the warranty window, but will have to drive 420 miles total and wait 2+ weeks to get it repaired because they cheaped out somewhere.

safety switch messed up?

420 miles / ballpark 20mpg / $3 gas - ~$60 down the tubes

 

[SearchMaster]

YMMV with the service center. I did not have a good experience with them on a $500 tile saw.

I bought a $80 tile saw that worked flawlessly on two large projects...I used to like Dewalt but my last cordless drill had its battery die pretty early. I bought two replacement batteries but I probably won't be buying Dewalt any more.

Sorry to OP - you'd think they'd have better customer service than that. Did you buy it at a big box retailer or online? It does seem strange that it would just stop working suddenly like that - I might be tempted to do some more basic troubleshooting myself to save the ridiculous drive.

 

[deadlyapp]

Where did you buy it from? Why can't you just take it back to the store?

 

[tfinch2]

Where did you buy it from? Why can't you just take it back to the store?

Chances are if his warranty is about to be up, his store return window is long over.

 

[purbeast0]

im going to be buying a table saw pretty soon and just plan on getting the ryobi one at home depot for $130. i won't be using it much, just for little projects, and it has good enough reviews that i think it'll be okay for what i'm going to be using it for.

but according to reviews of your saw, it sounds like you are in the minority with your experience.

 

[feralkid]

You weren't ripping 2x10's into 1x10's or anything crazy, right?

 

[Scarpozzi]

Sorry for the delay....dual Dell chat windows going. I bought it last May when I needed to rip some new rim boards for my foundation. It's still under warranty. I bought it from Home Depot....about 2 miles from my house. It's sad when a "warranty" requires you to either ship such a heavy item or drive it.

I'm tempted to take the motor assembly off tonight and try to fix it myself. I'm just afraid something is lightly cooked and I won't be able to easily see what failed. I do need a new volt-meter, but don't want to use this as an excuse to buy one. I put a non-contact voltage detector on it and know the switch is good....the motor or wiring within the motor is the problem. The brushes are too new to be the problem.

 

[highland145]

I'm tempted to take the motor assembly off tonight and try to fix it myself. I'm just afraid something is lightly cooked and I won't be able to easily see what failed. I do need a new volt-meter, but don't want to use this as an excuse to buy one. I put a non-contact voltage detector on it and know the switch is good....the motor or wiring within the motor is the problem. The brushes are too new to be the problem.

Man card, give it up.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Man card, give it up.

So to keep a man card I have to use a credit card? Trust me, I have plenty of tools and volt meters....they're just buried in a storage building somewhere. Construction has forced me to compress all my stuff into fewer piles of junk....

 

[highland145]

So to keep a man card I have to use a credit card? Trust me, I have plenty of tools and volt meters....they're just buried in a storage building somewhere. Construction has forced me to compress all my stuff into fewer piles of junk....

There's always a justification to buy tools....."reasons."

 

[Rakehellion]

Looks like it's an excellent product and you just got a bad one.

http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DW745-1...owViewpoints=1

 

[Scarpozzi]

There's always a justification to buy tools....."reasons."

Yeah...there's also that justification of how many of a particular tool you need to always be able to find one when you need one.

It's like the more you need a #2 phillips screwdriver, the more likely you are to leave them where you worked last. So you need to buy 10-15 so you never waste time looking for them.

I replaced the brakes and rotors on my car Saturday since my saw was busted.... I was trying to find a half-inch drive 15mm socket and couldn't. I got stuck using 3/8" sockets...

Those bolts break so much easier when using a bigger bar. Once I get my garage finished, I'm going to buy about 10 sets of sockets and throw out all the oddball sizes you never need and only keep 10-13-15-17mm (though my rear calipers bolted on with 2 14mm bolts...weird, right?)

 

[highland145]

And the more members of your household that have access to your tools exponentially grows the odds that you'll never find them again except with the lawn mower.

 

[Vdubchaos]

im going to be buying a table saw pretty soon and just plan on getting the ryobi one at home depot for $130. i won't be using it much, just for little projects, and it has good enough reviews that i think it'll be okay for what i'm going to be using it for.

but according to reviews of your saw, it sounds like you are in the minority with your experience.

I have one that was 70 bucks back 13+ years ago that still works great.....

 

[OulOat]

Most CCs will add an additional year of warranty for free. If you purchased using a CC, you can wait until the warranty for the saw expires and then you can turn it over to the CC for warranty support. It depends on your CC policy, but you may have to ship it to them and they may just refund your money.

 

[Jimzz]

The DW745 is a light duty saw. Sounds like you needed one stronger.

Also use a thin kerf blade if you have not been as that also helps with items like that.

 

[NoTine42]

Yeah...there's also that justification of how many of a particular tool you need to always be able to find one when you need one.

It's like the more you need a #2 phillips screwdriver, the more likely you are to leave them where you worked last. So you need to buy 10-15 so you never waste time looking for them.

I replaced the brakes and rotors on my car Saturday since my saw was busted.... I was trying to find a half-inch drive 15mm socket and couldn't. I got stuck using 3/8" sockets...

Those bolts break so much easier when using a bigger bar. Once I get my garage finished, I'm going to buy about 10 sets of sockets and throw out all the oddball sizes you never need and only keep 10-13-15-17mm (though my rear calipers bolted on with 2 14mm bolts...weird, right?)

I always called that "critical mass". The number of tools you need so that you always have 1 when you need it.

 

[slag]

I paid $200+ just for the new motor on my saw. 1950's Craftsman.

Strange. Reset button? The saw got good reviews on Amazon. Got a local motor shop that can look at it? You could test the start up cap.

Have any photos?

I have an old craftsman table saw I got for free with a locked up motor. I sourced new bearings, but had to modify them to work (sleeve bearings) and its still going strong 2 years later. I just have to oil them every once and again, but they have felt that soaks up the oil and distributes it.

I'm curious what yours looks like though if you can post a photo or two.

 

[NoTine42]

And the more members of your household that have access to your tools exponentially grows the odds that you'll never find them again except with the lawn mower.

:lol:

 

[BoomerD]

Sadly, Dewalt's build quality has gone downhill pretty badly in recent years. Nearly all their tools are made in either Mexico or China nowadays, although they're supposed to be bringing some of their assembly back to the USA so they can say "Made in the USA" even though most of the parts will still be sourced overseas.

 

[bradley]

Dewalt makes the world's best tools.... even being manufactured in China nowadays.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxrfcpRgFVs