DeWalt DW788 Scroll Saw Review⚡ Quick Verdict
The DeWalt DW788 is the scroll saw for woodworking I wish I’d bought years ago. After six months of using it nearly every day, I can say with confidence that it’s one of the best values in the 20-inch category. The double parallel-link arm design makes it remarkably smooth and quiet, blade changes take literally seconds with no tools, and the variable speed range handles everything from fragile 1/8-inch plywood to thick hardwood stock. It’s not flawless—the dust blower is weak, and the stock blades are forgettable—but for anyone serious about scrollwork, this machine removes the frustration and lets you focus on the craft. My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommended.
Table of Contents
How I Ended Up With the DW788
I’ve been woodworking as a hobby for about eight years, but scroll sawing was always something I dabbled in rather than committed to. The reason?
My previous scroll saws were cheap, entry-level machines that vibrated so much they walked across the bench, required constant blade re-tensioning, and made following a pattern feel like trying to draw a straight line during an earthquake.
Last winter, I decided to get serious. I wanted to make wooden puzzles for my nieces, decorative fretwork panels for a cabinet project, and maybe try my hand at intarsia.
I knew I needed a real tool, not a toy. After reading forums, watching hours of YouTube comparisons, and visiting a local woodworking store to test a few models in person, I settled on the DeWalt DW788.
I paid around $480 for the saw alone (no stand) during a holiday sale. Six months and probably fifty projects later, here’s my honest, unfiltered take.
First Impressions: This Thing Has Heft
When the box arrived, I knew immediately this wasn’t my old saw. The DW788 weighs 56 pounds, and most of that mass sits in a solid cast-iron base. Unboxing and assembly took about twenty minutes—attach the base, install a blade, plug it in, and go.
The first thing I noticed was the arm design. Instead of the single pivot arm you see on most scroll saws, the DW788 uses a double parallel-link system.
Two linked arms on each side guide the blade in a vertical arc. In theory, this cancels out the side-to-side vibration that plagues traditional designs. In practice? It actually works.
I turned it on, ran it up to full speed, and placed my hand on the table. Barely a tremor. I could feel the motor running, but the table itself stayed almost perfectly still.
That first moment sold me. I’d never used a scroll saw this smooth.
The Specs That Matter
Here’s what you’re working with:
- Motor: 1.3 amp, which doesn’t sound like much but is plenty for scroll saw work
- Throat depth: 20 inches—meaning you can cut a circle up to 40 inches in diameter
- Blade stroke: 3/4 inch, which helps clear sawdust and prevents burning
- Cutting capacity: 13/16 inch through hardwood
- Variable speed: 400 to 1,750 strokes per minute
- Table tilt: 0 to 45 degrees left for bevel cuts
- Power cord: 15 feet, which is longer than most and genuinely useful in a crowded shop
Real-World Performance: What Six Months Taught Me
Vibration and Smoothness
This is the DW788’s superpower, and I can’t overstate it. On my old saw, vibration was a constant battle. The table shook, the workpiece bounced, and my hands fatigued quickly from holding everything steady.
With the DW788, I can make cuts for hours without that tension in my forearms.
The smoothness translates directly to accuracy. When I’m cutting a tight internal curve for a puzzle piece or following a delicate fretwork pattern, the blade goes exactly where I guide it.
There’s no drift, no chatter, no unexpected jumps. For stack cutting—where you layer multiple pieces of wood and cut them all at once—this stability is essential. I’ve successfully stack-cut up to five layers of 1/4-inch Baltic birch with clean edges on every piece.
Variable Speed Control
The speed dial sits on the front panel, right where your left hand naturally rests. It ranges from 400 SPM on the low end to 1,750 SPM at the top. Here’s how I’ve learned to use that range:
Low speeds (400–700 SPM): Thick stock, aggressive blades, straight cuts where control matters more than speed. I use this range when cutting 3/4-inch oak or when I’m stack-cutting and need the blade to clear chips without overheating.
Mid-range (800–1,200 SPM): My default setting for most work. Good balance of speed and control for 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch hardwoods and plywoods.
High speeds (1,400–1,750 SPM): Thin materials, tight-radius curves, and delicate fretwork. The higher stroke rate makes the blade feel more responsive in tight turns, and the reduced per-stroke bite prevents tear-out on fragile edges.
Being able to adjust speed on the fly without stopping the saw is genuinely useful. Different woods behave differently, and having that dial right there lets me fine-tune as I go.
Cutting Power
A 1.3-amp motor isn’t going to win any horsepower contests, but scroll sawing isn’t about brute force—it’s about finesse. The DW788 has never bogged down on me, even feeding 3/4-inch maple fairly aggressively. The key is using the right blade for the material and letting the saw do the work rather than forcing the cut.
The 3/4-inch blade stroke is a sweet spot. It’s long enough to clear sawdust effectively (reducing burning and blade wear) without feeling unwieldy on delicate work.
Blade Changing: My Favorite Feature
I change blades a lot. A single project might use three or four different sizes—maybe a #2 or #3 blade for tight internal cuts, a #5 for general curves, and a #9 for roughing out waste. On my old saw, blade changes were a five-minute ordeal involving hex keys, dropped fasteners, and muttered curses.
The DW788 uses a tool-free blade clamp system. Flip a lever on the bottom arm, flip a lever on the top arm, swap the blade, flip both levers back. Total time: under ten seconds. The first few times, I kept reaching for a wrench out of habit. Now, the speed feels almost luxurious. I can try a cut, decide I need a finer blade, and have it swapped before the motor even stops spinning down.
The clamps hold securely. In six months of use, I’ve never had a blade slip, pop out, or shift in the clamps. The system accepts both plain-end and pin-end blades, though I stick to plain-end for the variety and cost savings.
The Table and Work Area
The cast-iron table is generous and flat. Mine had a slight oil residue from the factory (common with cast iron), but a quick wipe with mineral spirits took care of it. The table surface is smooth enough that workpieces slide easily without sticking, but not so slick that they skate around uncontrollably.
The table tilts up to 45 degrees to the left for bevel cuts. The tilt mechanism uses a large handwheel underneath with a locking lever. It moves smoothly and locks solidly—no play or wobble once tightened. I don’t do a ton of bevel work on the scroll saw (I prefer the table saw or bandsaw for most angled cuts), but I’ve used it for a few decorative edges and inlay grooves, and it performed fine.
One nice touch: the table has a small slot for a blade guard or hold-down, though I rarely use either. The saw also comes with a small plastic throat plate that sits flush with the table surface, preventing thin pieces from tipping into the blade slot.
The Dust Blower: Let’s Be Honest
If there’s one area where DeWalt clearly cut costs, it’s the dust blower. It’s a small plastic nozzle that directs a stream of air at the cut line. In theory, this clears sawdust so you can see your pattern line. In practice, it’s underpowered and poorly aimed.
On thin cuts with minimal dust production, it works okay. But when I’m cutting thick stock or making long, continuous cuts, sawdust accumulates faster than the blower can clear it. I’ve found myself stopping frequently to blow the line clean with my mouth or a quick puff from an air nozzle.
My workaround: I mounted a flexible gooseneck LED lamp with a small fan attachment near the saw, and I keep a shop vac hose positioned close to the table. Some woodworkers run a secondary air line from a compressor to a nozzle aimed at the cut. It’s an annoyance, and it’s the single biggest weakness of this saw. If DeWalt upgraded the blower in a future revision, this would be a near-perfect machine.
Noise Level: Shop-Friendly
I work in a garage shop attached to my house, and noise matters. The DW788 is noticeably quieter than any scroll saw I’ve used before. The parallel-link design doesn’t just reduce vibration—it dampens sound as well. At low speeds, it’s almost conversation-level quiet. At full speed, it’s still quieter than my router or table saw.
I can use this saw in the evening without worrying about waking the household. For extended sessions, I still wear hearing protection (old habit), but for quick cuts, I often skip it. Compared to the angry-bee buzz of my previous saw, the DW788 sounds almost refined.
What I’ve Made With It
To give you a sense of real-world capability, here’s a sample of projects from the past six months:
Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles: I made a set of animal-shaped puzzles for my nieces using 1/4-inch Baltic birch. The tight internal curves and interlocking tabs required #2 and #3 blades, and the DW788 handled the precision beautifully. No tear-out, no chipped edges.
Decorative Fretwork Panels: For a cabinet door project, I cut intricate floral patterns in 1/2-inch cherry. The patterns had lines as thin as 1/16 inch between cuts. The saw’s stability let me follow the lines without wandering, and the variable speed let me slow down for the most delicate sections.
Stack-Cut Christmas Ornaments: I layered five sheets of 1/8-inch walnut and cut matching snowflake ornaments. The key to stack cutting is keeping the layers aligned and preventing shift. The DW788’s minimal vibration meant the layers stayed put, and the blade cut cleanly through all five without deflection.
Custom Name Signs: Script lettering in 3/4-inch pine for a friend’s nursery. The continuous curves required frequent blade direction changes, and the saw’s responsiveness made the tight turns manageable.
Intarsia Experiments: My first attempts at this wood-mosaic art form. Cutting small, irregular pieces from different wood species and fitting them together. The precision of the DW788 made the difference between pieces that fit and pieces that gapped.
In every case, the saw was the least of my worries. When a cut went wrong, it was my technique, not the machine.
The Included Blades: Replace Them Immediately
The DW788 comes with a small starter set of blades. My advice: don’t even install them. They’re generic, dull quickly, and will give you a poor first impression of what the saw can do. Order a quality assortment of blades before the saw arrives. I prefer Flying Dutchman blades (available from several online retailers), but Olson and Pegas also make excellent options. A good #3, #5, and #9 will cover 90% of your work.
What I Added (And You Probably Should Too)
- A good LED work light: The cut area is somewhat shadowed by the upper arm. A flexible gooseneck lamp makes pattern lines much easier to see.
- A foot switch: Not essential, but convenient for starting and stopping without reaching for the power switch.
- A stand: The DW788 doesn’t come with one. I built a simple plywood cabinet with a solid top at the right height. DeWalt sells a matching stand, and some retailers offer saw-plus-stand bundles.
- Quality blades: As mentioned, this is non-negotiable.
- Supplemental dust collection: Shop vac, air nozzle, or both.
Who Should Buy This Saw?
You should buy the DW788 if:
- You’re a hobbyist woodworker ready to move beyond entry-level equipment
- You do fretwork, intarsia, puzzles, decorative cutting, or detailed inlay
- You value smooth, accurate cuts over raw speed
- You change blade sizes frequently and want a tool-free system
- You have a dedicated shop space and don’t need a portable saw
- You want professional-grade results without paying professional-grade prices
You should look elsewhere if:
- You need a lightweight, portable saw for job sites or shared spaces
- Your budget is strictly under $300 (look at Wen or Skil models, but expect compromises)
- You primarily need to resaw thick stock (get a bandsaw)
- You want a saw with integrated, effective dust collection out of the box
Price and Value
The DW788 typically lists around $599, but I see it on sale regularly for $450–$500. At full price, it’s still a strong value. At sale price, it’s exceptional. The next tier up—saws like the Excalibur EX-21 or Hegner models—starts around $800 and climbs past $1,200. The DW788 gives you 90% of that performance at roughly half the cost.
Over six months, I’ve had zero mechanical issues. The motor runs cool, the bearings are still smooth, and nothing has loosened or worn prematurely. If it holds up this well for years, the cost-per-project will be negligible.
Long-Term Durability: Early Signs
Six months isn’t long enough to speak definitively about long-term durability, but I can share what I’ve observed. The cast-iron table shows no wear or rust (I apply a light coat of paste wax monthly). The arm linkage has zero play or looseness. The blade clamps still grip as securely as day one. The speed control dial turns smoothly with no dead spots.
The only maintenance I’ve done is blowing dust out of the motor housing with compressed air and occasionally wiping the table with mineral spirits followed by wax. It’s a simple machine mechanically, which bodes well for longevity.
Comparisons: How It Stacks Up
I tested a few competitors before buying, and I’ve used friends’ saws since. Here’s my informal comparison:
vs. Wen 3921 (16-inch): The Wen is cheaper (around $150–$200) and perfectly adequate for occasional use. But it vibrates more, has a smaller throat, and the blade changes require tools. If you’re serious about scrollwork, you’ll outgrow it quickly.
vs. Delta 40-694: Similar price and features to the DW788. The Delta is a good saw, but I found the DW788 smoother and the blade change system faster. The Delta’s table tilt mechanism also felt less robust in my hands-on testing.
vs. Excalibur EX-21: The Excalibur is a step up in price and refinement. The tilt-head design (instead of tilting the table) is genuinely useful for large workpieces. But for most hobbyists, the DW788’s performance is close enough that the price difference is hard to justify.
vs. Hegner: Hegner saws are the Rolls-Royce of scroll saws—beautiful, precise, and expensive. If money is no object and you want the absolute best, consider a Hegner. For everyone else, the DW788 delivers 95% of the experience at a fraction of the cost.
The Verdict
The DeWalt DW788 isn’t a perfect scroll saw, but it’s close enough that I rarely think about its limitations. The smooth, vibration-free operation makes cutting a pleasure rather than a chore. The tool-free blade changes keep me in the flow of work instead of breaking my rhythm. The variable speed and solid construction handle everything I throw at it, from delicate fretwork to thick hardwood.
Its flaws are real but manageable. The dust blower needs help. The stock blades belong in the trash. You’ll want to add a light and figure out dust collection. But these are accessories and upgrades, not fundamental problems.
If you’re sitting on the fence between a cheap entry-level saw and the DW788, save up for the DeWalt. The difference in experience is night and day. Scroll sawing should be about the joy of creating detailed, precise work—not about fighting your equipment. The DW788 removes that fight and lets you focus on the craft.
Six months in, I’m still impressed every time I turn it on. That’s not something I can say about many tools.
Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5)
Would I buy it again? Absolutely. In fact, I only wish I’d bought it sooner.
Have you used the DW788 or another scroll saw you love? I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments.
