DEWALT DW712 8-1/2-Inch Single-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw

by DEWALT

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The DeWalt DW712 8-1/2-inch Single Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw comes with a powerful 15 Amp motor capable of 5,400 RPM for extended power and durability. Features include easy-to-use bevel stops at -2, 0, 33.9, 45, and 48 degrees, and an adjustable stainless steel detent plate with 11 positive stops for repeatable accuracy and work site durability. This saw cuts 3-1/2-inch crown nested vertically for increased vertical cutting capacity and cuts 3-1/4-inch base vertically for increased vertical cutting capacity.

Also featured is a 50-degree left miter capacity and a 60-degree right capacity for added versatility in miter cutting. Its miter cam lock system provides increased ease of use, and a horizontal main handle provides increased comfort during use. This saw also comes with a tall sliding fence for increased cutting capacity, and its arbor size is 5/8 inches. This saw weighs 43 pounds and comes with a carbide blade and a blade wrench.

From the Manufacturer

DEWALT knows that every cut counts, and the DW712 8-1/2-inch sliding-compound miter saw delivers optimum capacity, accuracy, and portability. This professional-duty saw produces smooth, precise cuts each and every time, regardless of whether you’re crosscutting, mitering, beveling or making compound-angle cuts. Its powerful 15-amp, 5,400-RPM motor slides effortlessly on two rock-solid steel bars, resulting in pinpoint accuracy and superior cutting capacities. With its 8-1/2-inch-diameter blade, the DW712 can crosscut and bevel-cut 2x12s, and miter-cut boards up to 8.3 -inch wide with the blade rotated to 45-degree. Plus, it’ll cut 3-1/4-inch-wide boards flat against its fence, and crown molding up to 3-1/2 -inch when nested at an angle against the fence. The blade bevels to the left up to 48-degree and the table miters 50-degree left and 60-degree degrees right. This versatile saw is indispensable on the jobsite or in the workshop. Use it to quickly and precisely cut: baseboard, window and door casings, chair rail, crown and other decorative moldings; wood siding and exterior trim; decking and fencing; flooring, framing lumber and tongue-and-groove paneling. Other features include a tall sliding fence for extra work support; comfortable horizontal-position handle; miter cam lock for enhanced accuracy; and durable, adjustable stainless-steel detent plate with 11 positive stops. The DW712 comes with an 8-1/2-inch-diameter carbide-tipped saw blade and blade wrench. It’s backed by DEWALT’s 90-day money-back guarantee, full one-year service contract, and three-year limited warranty.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 29.8 x 20.9 x 15.9 inches ; 50.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 50.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B00008WFSZ
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: DW712
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,572 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)
  • #28 in Home Improvement > Power & Hand Tools > Power Tools > Saws > Miter Saws

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

67 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice saw for cabinet/furniture makers, June 12, 2004

By 

E. A. Jamieson "ericjamieson" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: DEWALT DW712 8-1/2-Inch Single-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw (Tools & Home Improvement)

I've had this for about 6 months and it's never let me down. It takes a little getting used to if you've never used a sliding miter saw before, as the technique is somewhere between a radial arm saw and a normal fixed miter saw. As a couple of other reviewers pointed out, you have to make sure you slide the saw all the way home or you'll leave a little bit uncut.

One thing I've found is when I'm cutting narrow planks (4" or 6") I've gotten into the habit of pulling the blade toward me past the front edge of the piece, dropping it down, and then sliding it back through the piece - instead of just plunging the blade straight in, as you'd do with a fixed chop saw. This seems to significantly reduce bottom tearout.

It's undeniably a very pleasant tool to use; if you've only used saws that have a vertical handle you won't believe the difference the horizontal handle makes. The switch is well designed, it's not easy to trigger by accident but not fatiguing to hold. The action of the slides is smooth as silk, and setting the miter angles is quick, easy, and very positive. The motor has plenty of power for any kind of wood I've ever sent its way.

The 8 1/2 inch size has some advantages - the blade seems to be more stable, even without a stabilizer, than most 10" blades. Also in my experience 8 1/2" blades are a little cheaper than the equivalent 10" blade. But, it won't cut a 4x4 (or a 2x4 on edge) in one pass - a 10 incher will. Whether or not that matters depends on the kind of work you do.

You'll want to replace the blade that the saw comes with, it's fine for chopping up 2x4s (but if that's all you want to do you don't need this saw) but not good enough for finish work. There aren't a million blades available for this size of saw, but there's a decent selection - although not all the catalogs carry them. My favorite is a 60 tooth DeWalt finish blade that you can find most anywhere for about 50 bucks and does great work for me in all types of hardwood. Freud makes one that's pretty good as well. Forrest makes one of their chopmaster blades in this size, I'm sure it's great but it's $100+ and since I'm happy with my current blade I've never tried it.

Overall fit and finish is very nice - as you generally expect from contemporary Italian manufacture. After taking it out of the box, I went over it completely with my machinist square and couldn't find anything out of alignment. The only quality complaint I have is the crummy screws holding the blade guard on - blade changing is not exactly a snap with this saw and they really don't help.

There's no clamp included, unlike some other manufacturers - since I prefer to keep all 10 of my fingers I bought one - but they soak you on this item - $35!! Actually I bought two but you only need one - you hardly ever use both at once and it takes a second or two to swap it from one side of the saw to the other. Also, while it holds well, it's a screw type and I would prefer some type of cam action - I think that would be faster and easier to use.

But overall if you want a really sweet, pleasant to use saw and you don't normally need to cut large timber, I'd recommend this saw - I'm certainly very happy with it.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not perfect but, May 14, 2003

By 

Keith Smith (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: DEWALT DW712 8-1/2-Inch Single-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw (Tools & Home Improvement)

I have just bought the DeWalt712 to replace an aging Makita LS1040 I have had for four years. I was really impressed with the facilities and price and I have been very happy with all the DeWalt tools I have purchased, so it was an obvious choice.

The saw cuts wood! the extended ranges of cutting angles is great and the machine feels realy good to use, soft start, and it has good ergonomics; (on the 240v version only two buttons to press, make it easy for someone with small hands: but on the battery powered version 3 buttons are not so easy).

However I have a couple of complaints with the machine;

Firstly the guard runs along the workpiece on a wheel and I find that it feels like the wood is cut through when there is still a small corner left to cut and it can snag the workpiece when cutting some mitres. This could be operator error and I will probably get used to it in time.

Secondly the dust extraction is very poor. I have a workshop with a built in dust extraction system, with a 2Kw industrial vacuum unit I am used to a reasonably dust free workshop but this machine fires dust everywhere. I have to wear a dust mask when I use it, as the dust hits the piece of fabric behind the blade and bounces into my face.

I really like this machine and if you work on site I could recommend it to you; but unless I find a solution to the dust problem I am going to take advantage of the 30 day return policy and take it back, although I will be very sorry to part with it.

Well, I took it back and swapped it for a DW706, which I really did not like. Very fierce start and big blade did not suit me at all (I know I would have been better with the variable speed version).So I returned it next day and got my DW712 back!

The dealer tells me there is a dust extraction kit, despite the fact DeWalt told me that no kit is available, so I have ordered it and hope it is effective.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT Saw!! Use it thoughtfully, April 6, 2005

By 

Don Brockett "usually VERY critical" (near Motown (MI)) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: DEWALT DW712 8-1/2-Inch Single-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw (Tools & Home Improvement)

I've had the saw for about a week and am very pleased. I bought the DW723 stand too and that's also great. A few reviews have knocked the product, but I suspect that's due to misuse or lack of thinking or experimentation. For example, the amount of dust thrown and collected is one issue. I use the saw with a shop vac on the dust outlet. Used straight down on the workpiece like a chopsaw it throws quite a bit of dust. But if you start the cut with the saw close to you and cut full depth towards the back, it throws almost no dust that the vac doesn't pick up. (I DO wish DeWalt had seen fit to design it for a 2.5 inch vac hose rather than 1.25 to increase the air flow and dust capture.)

Also I've seen gripes about the material supports, but I don't understand why. The saw can be positioned anywhere along the rail of the stand, so if the saw is set at one end, support is available on the rail infinitely out to 4 feet and then the adjustable support adds another 3.5 feet. I suppose cutting a miter on the end of a 20 foot long board would demand additional support -- but DeWalt must have found that's a rarity and didn't want to add the extra weight -- understandable.

Finally, availability of the 8.5 inch blade is NOT an issue. I found 60 tooth carbide tipped blades made by the GREEN Japanese tool company both at Lowes and online at Amazon for less than $30. They make a beautiful cut. Several other makes of the 8.5 blades are available too -- but their prices are generally substantially higher.

Hope this corrects some misleading information in a few reviews.