Customer Reviews

DEWALT DW715 15-Amp 12-Inch Compound Miter saw

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm not a professional, I'm just a homeowner who appreciates quality tools, but it seems they got all the details right on this saw. Miter and bevel were perfectly aligned out of the box, which I checked with my triangle and with some test cuts. Getting it out of the box was easy too, thanks to the carrying handle on the saw head which is very solid and close to the center of balance. (Usually with big items like this you have to figure out how to get your hands underneath it and then hold the box down while you get it out.) The locking pin which keeps the saw head down when you're carrying it can be slid in and out easily but has no problem supporting the weight, while the spring that raises the head prevents the pin from sliding out accidentally. There are also good hand holds on each side of the base with rounded edges so they don't dig into your hands.

Bevel stops at 0 and 45 degrees make it easy to switch between common angles, but can be slid back after loosening a screw to allow a few more degrees either way when you need to compensate for other cuts that were a little off (made by someone else, of course). There's also a flip-out stop for 33.9 degree bevel which is also solidly made. The bevel locking knob-thing is nice and big, making it easy to grip and turn. The adjustable fence can be quickly adjusted with a single knob, but is still very sturdy when tightened down.

Miter adjustment is rock solid. The quick detents have no wiggle room at all, and the detent override makes it easy to adjust to any angle. The simple push-down miter lock is easy to use, and once locked I was unable to force it slip to either side.

The dust bag collects a bit over half of the sawdust, and as a result fills up pretty quickly. I'm planning to get an adapter so I can connect my shopvac to the dust outlet. If you're wondering, the dust port is 1.5" O.D.

Everything about this saw is sturdy, and all the adjustments can be made with very little effort. It's also a little quieter than I expected, which is nice. You can't go wrong with this saw.

I have to admit,

I've always been one of those pro carpenters that thought DeWalt saws looked and worked cheaply. Like many of you, I have used every chop saw and dual compound miter saw imaginable. Years later I became a woodshop teacher. When I started, the old teacher before me had an nice new Makita and good old Hitachi stuffed in the back tool storage room and this saw set up prominently out on the shop floor. I decided to leave it there and see what would happen over the course of the school year.

I watched this saw get day in and day out abuse from students who cut too fast, started the saw while touching the work, let the saw run too long, let the saw snap back to its upright position, chopped wood not against the fence, never cleaned the blade or used wicked dull blades all day. I had students using pine and the saw covered in sap that hardened to amber. (hey I can hear you judging me fellas, I had thirty-two inner city kids in these classes [no injuries-knock on wood]. One week I had students blazing away for hours chopping hickory and pecan, leaving the saw hot to the touch.

Long story short: you couldn't find a better field testing environment than a high school shop class. Despite this merciless abuse, this saw cut perfectly accurate. It is loud, and the brake doesn't like the kind of resharpened heavy blades I use, but nonetheless, after school, I made fine furniture with this same saw. I made tight perfect miters with it It could chop cleanly through 12/4 rock maple full of nails on a dull blade (I know all of you are wincing, that's why I used a beater blade)
I used it to chop and cut shoulders on giant 5 in dovetails in 8/4 Bubinga. or trimming off a 64th of the same without it drifting away...always leaving my work dead on 90 degrees. We cut dirty two by fours, weird laminates, acrylic, you name it, this saw performed.

This proves to me that this saw has earned it's chops for the jobsite. Period. I wish I could say the same about DeWalt biscuit joiners.

I've had this saw for almost a year now and can still recommend this tool as a great purchase. Despite the 12" size, its remarkably light and portable which is a major plus as I don't have a workshop so I have to pull it out and set it up each time. Plenty of power. The miter stops are solid and extremely easy and accurate. I put on a Frued blade to take care of the molding work I mostly do and the results are always gratifying (when I measure twice). I purchased the Irwin laser for $25 and that works great as well.

Many people have beat up the yellow saws. I don't understand the psychology of DeWalt hate. This has been a fine saw. The blade is fine for construction work and eats 2x4's. I put a 80 tooth on it for finer work and it is spectacular. Out of the box it could have been ready to go, but I'm not one to expect perfection after mfg and shipping. To make this a really good saw, I screwed on a Dewalt 36-136 miter stand (I'm not worried about clashing colors!)

I won't duplicate what everyone else has said - this is a wonderful saw that is easy to adjust, and a joy to use. However, two quirks, one of which I took a star for.

- First, the dust collection isn't that hot on this saw. There is a port to hook a vacuum hose to in the saw support just above the spring that holds the saw open. There isn't much of a chute, however, to direct dust to this port. After using it for an afternoon of trimming trim for baseboards, my hose and workspace was coated in sawdust. With my earlier, cheaper Skill miter saw, the collection seemed to work a bit better. (That would be the only area of many where I'd put the Skill saw above this one)
- Second, when buying blades, I discovered by accident that the saw uses an insert that goes into the arbor hole of the 12" blades to center the blade on the saw. The arbor hole itself is smaller than the standard 1" opening on a `12" blade. No crisis, but threw me for a loop as I didn't figure out the insert until returning one blade to the store and wandering the aisles looking for 12" blades with smaller arbor holes. These can be purchased from parts stores on the internet for about $3/each, I think I'll buy a few just in case one gets lost.

Otherwise, a wonderful saw, very quiet and cuts like a dream. The default blade isn't all that exciting, but would work for rough carpentry. I replaced with a Dewalt 80T ATB blade, and the ensuing cuts look and feel very finished with minimal splintering. My saw came with the optional work light / saw aiming device installed, and that has been nifty too, really improves visibility of marks for cuts.
DEWALT DW3128 Series 20 12-Inch 80 Tooth ATB Thin Kerf Crosscutting Miter Saw Blade with 1-Inch Arbor

I received the saw a couple weeks back and have been enjoying the quickness of cutting boards. Straight out of the box the saw was making accurate cuts. I checked all the angles and they were spot on.

A couple quick notes -

1) shop around - even the big box stores. I know, it seems like simple logic, but sometimes we get caught up in the online game. After I purchased I saw that Lowes had it for a few dollars less. I see that Amazon has since reduced the price to match Lowes.
2) The saw came with a 32 tooth blade. Great for getting through the wood fast but that blade is certainly not for anything more than building a shed. If you want to avoid tearout then you will need to invest in a higher tooth blade. Good example is Freud LU74R012.
3) A lot of shoppers are going to the sliding saws. Nice saws and bigger cuts, but you have to be aware that a sliding saw is going to need another foot or more of space behind the saw to have room for the sliding bars. I have limited space and needed the saw closer to the wall.

Quick delivery. Cuts great. Worth the price.

I'm a frequent home improver and have used this saw for building, improving and/or trimming my own home and those of friends and family for over eight years. Since I purchased it in 2000, this unit has never failed me. With reasonable care and adjustment this thing just keeps going strong and retains precision. Coupled with a Freud teflon coated thin kerf trim blade this unit is the best for what I need it for. I've cut trim, two-by stock, aluminum extrusion, oak and teak and it has always delivered precise cuts. I almost wish it would break so I can justify a 12" slider. The Dewalt bench is perfect too! And I'm not a fan of Dewalt products!

Looking for a good mitter saw without spendind a lot of money ? Look no more.

The first thing that concerned me when I opened the box was the two pronged plug. I know never to buy power tools at Home Depot because it carries a sub standard product line (i.e. more plastic parts, shorter cords...maybe two-pronged plugs?). I was worried that this product, sold by Amazon, was not contractor grade, because of the two pronged plug (something a homeowner might like, but not a contractor). However, I looked around and discovered this was normal.

Amazon had the cheapest price and I am confident I didn't get ripped off with a substandard model. This is the heavy duty version.

I actually had a 20 percent off coupon at a popular tool website, but after factoring shipping and a higher price, the Amazon Dewalt was still cheaper even though I had 20% off somewhere else.

Mine is a couple years old now and has had no problems.

Once you get the fence set to square with the blade, if stays there pretty well. The miter rotation is easy to move and is quite accurate for most all projects, including frames.

The blade that comes with the saw isn't the greatest for fine woodworking, but is acceptable if you move the cut slowly. Certainly, a higher quality blade can be purchased if needed.

I mostly use mine for rough crosscuts on longer boards and some small frames. Truthfully, I like using the table saw for very precise angle cuts, but that's my fault with not getting it set up to near perfection, not the machine's.

One star off of perfect due to lack of quality dust collection. I don't know if anyone makes one that has good collection. Maybe the Kapex?