A while back, I bought a EVO380 saw from trick tools. It is nice, but definitely not built to my standards (and those are generally pretty low). I have never been able to get the vise to stay at 90* from the blade. I called trick tools and Curtis said he would look into it and never got back with me. I decided it was time to really look into WTF was going on.

The back of the vise is cast and it has a little degree scale on it. Dont use the scale. Mine is off by about 5*. I would rotate the back until it couldnt go anymore and I just dealt with it for about three months.

I found the fix. The washer under the quick release clamp is too large, but a smaller one will fall into the curved slot. I ended up taking a die grinder and grinding the small radius on the casting at the end of the curve. you can see what I mean in the pic. The vise will now actually hold the material at 90.

Hope this helps somebody out there.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/abrogate/DSCF3044.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/abrogate/DSCF3043.jpg

A while back, I bought a EVO380 saw from trick tools. It is nice, but definitely not built to my standards (and those are generally pretty low). I have never been able to get the vise to stay at 90* from the blade. I called trick tools and Curtis said he would look into it and never got back with me. I decided it was time to really look into WTF was going on.

The back of the vise is cast and it has a little degree scale on it. Dont use the scale. Mine is off by about 5*. I would rotate the back until it couldnt go anymore and I just dealt with it for about three months.

I found the fix. The washer under the quick release clamp is too large, but a smaller one will fall into the curved slot. I ended up taking a die grinder and grinding the small radius on the casting at the end of the curve. you can see what I mean in the pic. The vise will now actually hold the material at 90.

Hope this helps somebody out there.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/abrogate/DSCF3044.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/abrogate/DSCF3043.jpg

i've had to do the same thing on a number of tools i bought.seems like no matter how much i spend on something,i can always find an area that can be improved or just work like it should.

the joke in my shop is from those BASF commercials

i don't make the shitty tools in your shop.

i make the shitty tools in your shop better.

qaulity is now 2nd to price,pretty sad.

the delta band saw we have a work has a set screw so you can slam the clamp back and its 90* perfect every time. it also has a handle like that, the threads stripped out so we use a bolt now.
a little trick i use to keep chips out of the wheels and wheel guards is to cut a slot in a piece of plastic and put it over the blade between the last guide.