Miter Saws Reviews

I just recently purchased the DW716 and will admit, have yet to cut with it. The motor is powerful, runs smooth and I expect it to cut very strong but some things need to be noted about the craftsmanship of this tool. Once I had it out of the box I instantly noticed a few things. For instance, both the bevel and the miter pointer were misalligned and the bevel scale was somewhat crude (not finished or polished). I'm not sure if the bevel scale was part of the cast or it was etched into the aluminum but the end result is a "grinded" finish. I adjusted the pointers and cleaned the bevel scale but the markings still can be difficult to read. It almost looks as though they were painted (maybe white) and the paint rubbed off. Once I fit the saw to it's stand I found that when it is beveled 45 degrees to the right on a 45 degree right miter, the arbor housing on the right side of the blade hits the fence before the blade is completely down. Sure this is an extreme cut and the saw will complete it ... but just barely. The back edge of the saw blade, where the fence meets the table, clears the plane of the fence by maybe 1/8th of an inch. You must back the miter down to 35 degrees to get the full range of the 45 degree bevel cut.

The saw seems to be a fairly good quality tool that could use some refining. Based on reviews I've read for other double bevel compound miters it may be the best choice in this category. The DW716 is a powerful saw with crown stops and other accessories available for an additional cost.

Post review update: I returned the DW716 along with the laser and ordered the Makita LS1214L from Grizzly (through Amazon) ... what a difference! For about $100.00 more than what I paid for the DeWalt compound miter saw and laser, I received a much finer sliding compound miter (w/laser) from Makita. Although I didn't cut with the DW716 (b/c I was leaning towards returning it) there is one very big difference between the belt driven DW716 and the direct drive LS1214L and its head torque. The combination of the belt drive and no soft start on the DeWalt causes the head to pull down when you activate the trigger. A similar degree of torque is felt when the brake activates. Although some torque is felt with the brake on the Makita, there is none at start-up. Also, the Makita does not brake as hard so the torque is minimal.

I realize I'm comparing a sliding compound miter with a non-sliding saw but for the price of the DW716, it's not unfair. If you've read some of the reviews for DeWalt's DW718 slider, the quality issues I posted here will sound familiar.

The 716 is still the trusty model 706 saw with 1 change and 1 new feature.

Gone is the twist knob to set the angle,
in its place is a push lock, like a table saw fence, which is quick and easy to use
( make sure you adjust it if its to stiff).

The new preset miter stop release lever is a very nice feature,
allowing you to over or under cut angles without the saw snapping itself into the preset lock

Excellent saw, powerful and accurate.

I have used up several delta 12" compound saws. They were good, but I cut a lot of large aluminum and steel solids on them, and it is very hard on them.
I decided to try this Dewalt because it was belt drive, and I thought that would smooth it out on fierce cuts. That proved to be the case, it has been a very good and very smooth saw. So far, no problems, have had it about a year and half. It also has very good power. Adjustments are easy, table section is reasonably stout.
All in all, I am pleased

Checked a few woodworking forums and everyone who has one was very pleased although there was some grousing as there is with most products. The product is well crafted with a nice finish.
Directions furnished were for a different model which although similar, differs sufficiently to cause a few headaches figuring out assembly and adjustments.

I like the miter "rail" adjustments which permits a good solid feel in the table saw meiter slot yet allows for easy movement.

I compared this to the new Kreg model and this is better in my opinion. Are there better gauges? Yes but much more expensive.

Setup is straight forward. Unit cuts perfect at any degree setting. I found a few items that I thought needed some improvements, or fine tuning. The manual states that the tap measure will stay in place, but you could secure with double face tape. I would strong recommend doing so. In normal use with your hands on top of the fence you could inveterately slide the tape out of adjustment. Also when you pivot the fence to the left to 45 degrees the fence will be the way of the blade, so you have to loose the protractor from the fence and move out of the way. Once your done, and move back to the 0 position you will have to run through the set up again. I installed a small aluminum stop on the back side of the fence to bring me back to my original settings. Last there is limited space to install a piece of wood at the blade side of the fence to control tear out on your work piece. Bottom line the product is well built and works well, it has help me with my shop productivity.

This miter gauge is very accurate and is made extremely well. I made this purchase for the infinite number of angles you can easily cut with a table saw. I usually make jigs but figured I would give Incra a shot.
The teeth on the gauge allow you to lock in to a specific angle and the pin also includes a gauge which can handle 1/2 degree increments. I too received instructions for a different model as one of the other reviewers. All in all, it was easy to figure out how to assemble.
If you want to save your fingers and stop making jigs, buy this, you won't be sorry.

I like this instrument. It certainly makes calibrations far easier (and more accurate) to accomplish rather than using the saw blade and what should be for obvious reasons. Somewhat more expensive than I feel it needs to be but it since it doesn't eat anything and it should last a lifetime together with the fact that it can also be used on my miter saw, it's kinda difficult to find a downside. Only four star simply because of its cost.

I bought the MasterPlate simply to have a more accurate reference than a blade, or other "flat" material could provide, particularly in measuring and adjusting the tabletop to the blade using a miter slot. A quality saw blade can be assumed flat, however the effective horizontal measuring area of a 10" blade is maybe 7" at best, so you immediately gain about 45% more area and potential precision with the MasterPlate. Other non-machined materials simply have question marks regarding the precision of flatness, so unless you can prove that precision before you start, you're better off to go with a material that has a known precision with a stated tolerance. Speaking of tolerance, I found that the plate I received was within .002", with a very slight bow over its length. Certainly acceptable, but a bit more than I expected from the advertising. I spoke with MasterPlate and was informed that the flatness tolerance is within .003", and that the mention of precision of (1/1000) will likely be removed from future descriptions to avoid this confusion. I was told that they offer a 1/2" thick toolmaker version of the plate, accurate to within .0005", but the cost is 4 times that of the standard plate and unless you've got money to burn, completely uneccessary for this purpose.

The good news about the bow in my plate was that it could be measured and referenced simply by flopping the plate over and remeasuring. In my case, after adjusting the table, the measurement at the front and rear of the plate was nearly identical (less than .001"), with the center of the plate being plus or minus .002" depending on which face of the plate I was measuring.

I would recommend this product, and would have given it the full 5 stars had the precision been stated more clearly. For the money, it is doubtful that you will find a more accurate and flat piece of material.

When using the Master Plate to tune up the cabinet saw, I found it to be much more accurate than using the saw blade. The Master Plate provides a machined, stable surface to work with and it is a quick and easy way to check alignment.
I have used it, with the Master Guage, to align the table saw, cabinet saw , radial arm saw and the dirll press. The Master Plate and Master Guage are worth the investment.

This looked like the best stand for my Makita ls1013. First box came with more than have the pieces damaged! How can that happen? The second unit came with mimimal damage, not enough to worry about but not perfect. Problems: 1)one of the tabs that holds bolts for the table was off by about 1/4 inch compared to the others. Didn't affect anything but where's the QC? 2)The instructions made no mention of the diagonal support struts or the difference in bolt size to hold them. not hard to figure out - service center said I must have accidently gotten a old manual - funny because my first damaged unit had the same old instructions. 3) instructions say to measure height of the saw platform and then mount the stand table this far down from the wings. 2 problems with this, first there is no one place on the wings that is a reference point, you need to lay a long straight edge along the wing to get the average. However the wings have some adjustment too so there is no real reference point. With a lot of trial and error I managed to get it very close and proceeded to mount the saw to the table. First had to mount the extra bracket for the makita (no real good instruction for getting this even with the table itself - ended up clamping two straight edges to the table and then clamping the bracket to the straight edges). Second, Got the saw mounted and tightened down and went back to check the saw table to the wings and realized I was about 1/16 to low!!! Turns out that there are rubber feet on the bottom of the saw that got compressed by the bolts, accounting for the difference. Already had the saw mounted to the table but needed to raise it. Figured out the best way was to turn some of my clamps into spreaders to jack up the table after loosening the bolts. This worked pretty well but still had to mess around with the wings ( the wing adjustment changes the angle, not really the height), Called service and told them about this and my "new and improved way" to adjust the table height and he said that's the way everybody at the company does it!!! and he didn't know why that method wasn't in the instructions. They had never considered the problem of the compression of the feet 4) now on to the tape measure. they give you two little allen wrench looking wires that are supposed to hold the edge of the tape off the rail so the exposed glue doesn't stick to the metal before you're ready. I couldn't get this to work, not enough space under the rule to accept the spacer. Service said that they knew that didn't work and everyone just ignored this part of the instructions. If you were really careful you could slide the tape in and it would stick until you were ready. This did work.

I could not believe that the real way you put this thing together was so different than the instructions and that the service guy was willing to admit it. Makes you wonder what is going on that they won't admit to.

Finally got it up and running and it seems like a decent unit, fence is nice and accurate and the foot print is small when folded down. still need to figure out a dust collection shroud.

I bought the Delta Universal Miter Saw Stand first. I thought I could save $100. Boy, was I sorry. It was too big, too complex and too narrow for my PC saw. I gave it away and bought the Rousseau XL model. It's sturdy, easy to store and move and the wings with the fence system is ideal. Don't waste your money like I did. Go for the gold!

This is a sturdy roll-around stand great for use in a crowded shop or garage. When not in use it has a small footprint and can be parked out of the way. When you need it, there's no complicated set-up. The wings pop up easily and you're ready to go.

I'm using it with a Makita LS1013 which is quite a large sliding compund saw. There's a long L-shaped extrusion available for [money] that bolts to the back of the saw stand to increase the table depth by 2".

I agree with another reviewer...seems the price on this and another Delta saw increased by about $30. I saw the 255L for 297 a week or so ago around 3/15 now its $329?

I have been watching this item, considering buying it. What happen, it was $199 on 3/15, and on 3/16 it now sells for $239. Is it made of oil? Very high price increase, just found it on another site referring it back to Amazon at $199, but when you go back to the site guess what, it is $239.

I bought this saw after being totally confused from viewing so many models at Home Depot and other retail outlets. But could I really buy a heavy woodworking machine over the internet?! Would I do that?!

Well, I did.

I am totally a happy camper as a result. It didn't even have to be calibrated -- it was right on the money at 90 degrees right out of the box.

The posting by the other reviewer really influenced my decision. Thanks to you (who ever you are).

I just purchased this saw after owning the previous 12" model that didn't bevel. By the way I have had the previous saw for 13 years(bought it when they first came out) and it is still working fine. I will either sell it or use it as a backup or when I do jobs away from the shop. With Dewalt you won't regret your purchase.

1) The saw is fantastic.....it is everything you expect out of Dewalt. With everything in life you get what you pay for. Couldnt be happier.
2) Amazons deal on this saw with all the promotions applied made this one of the best purchases I have made in quite awhile. For the price I would have paid at the large national chain I recieved the saw,optional laser guide,Freud blade and a Dewalt recipricating saw AND the saws were at my house in 3 days......please. If you arent shopping on this site you arent paying attention.
3) Also by using spare change lying around the house I was able to cash them in for free at the local Coinstar by selecting the Amazon option....it was like a rebate in itself.

Throw your old Compound Miter saw out boys and girls. Dewalt has fixed the table lifting problem that made me regret buying the previous model. Laser schmazer!!! Setting the blade on the mark will always be the method of a craftsman. Now if they would improve the stand I'd really be happy, VERY unstable!!!

THE SAW WAS GREAT, VERY WELL MADE AND TIGHT TOLERANCE. IT WAS VERY IMPRESIVE. THE TABLE ON THE OTHER HAND WAS POORLY MADE. THE OAK WAS SPLIT IN SEVERAL AREAS BUT DID NOT FUNCTIONALLY AFFECT PERFORMANCE. THE CUTOUT FOR THE ROUTER LIFT ASSEMBLY WAS CUT TOO CLOSE TOLERANCE AND MINOR HUMIDITY CAUSED TOO TIGHT A FIT. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET ASSEMBLY TO FIT INTO CUTOUT WITHOUT FORCING IT WHICH I HAVEN'T DONE. I WOULD PREFER A REPLACEMENT TABLE. I WAS VERY DISSAPPOINTED IN EXTENSION TABLE.

If you are reading this review you are probably doing the same thing I was. Looking for the ultimate killer table saw to get old with. But in the back of your mind is the nagging idea that your better half may not see things quite the same way. So you look at the Deltas, Jets, Powermatics and maybe like me try to come to grips with not buying a good solid piece of Amercian steel.

Well give no more thought to your decision. JET has made the choice pretty plain.

Lets get the bad news out of the way. First, plan to devote a weekend of your life to setting up your new Jet. I got mine with a sliding table and between that and the saw it took a full weekend in part due to the incredibly poor manuals. A bolt sheared and two holes found their way into the wrong place. Only other complaints are the poorly sealed collection chamber bottom plate and the cheeseball vinyl labels instead of a decent rivited nameplate. Come on JET spring a buck or two.

Alright, enough complaining! Lets talk about how this beauty does its job. Punch on the power and this puppy snaps to life. Your first butter smooth perfectly square cut tells the story. This is an outstanding saw. Jet's attention to design and machining accuracy are evident with each cut. The fence has a useful and clever bubble magnifier to aid precise positioning. And is made in USA (which explains why its screws are sae and the saws are metric). Add the handy cabinet and router lift and it seems to me this saw is tough to beat. My suggestion is to use the money you saved over another brand and invest in Jet's sliding table. It's a bit of a challange to set up but makes handling even large panels a breeze.

I was looking for a solid, powerful and highly accurate saw with well rounded features JET delivered and left me with something to spend for more JET products.

Hope my experience helps in your decision! Happy woodworking!

saw was delivered in perfect shape had no trouble putting it together,am very happy

First saw arrived with a cracked base. I found this a bit shocking since it was very solidly built. I attributed this to a lousy packing job which could not tolerate a drop from a truck ( I assume this happened)....Replacement was fast and no hassle -LOVE AMAZON !!! SAW IS INCREDIBLE...cuts wood like butter, accurate scale of degrees, easy to adjust, heavy but not too heavy to move to site of cutting. Manual is not detailed enought you will need to get a wood trim book.

All in All a great saw and great value....

David - Interior Designer

I have owned this saw for about a month now and I love it. I have used it to trim out my house with perfect results. There is absolutely no play in this saw. Every cut is identical to the last. It is easy to set up and use. The motor has ample power. My only complaint is that the motor is not angled up for easier viewing of the work.

I've had my Makita LS1221 miter saw for almost a year now. To say the least, I am very happy with my purchase. The cut was perfect, right out of the box, and continues to be so even now. The blade was a better quality than what I thought would be on it and it still gives me the cleanest miter cuts I've ever seen. This saw is smooth and powerful enough to go through any of the hardwoods I use. My only regret is that I didn't spend the extra money and purchase the LS1212 (sliding compound).

I read the revue and thought this is the replacement for me as I had broken the pivot screw in my very old delta miter with a mishap on the band saw. I have had it a while and really thought it was great until 1/22/ 06 when I used the hold down feature and realized the gauge was lifting off the pivot. The old pivot was a special tapered screw which held it together. Maybe it is just me But when using the miter on a router table the work needs to be secure. So I will not use this one as a hold down. Other than that it is very accurate.
I wonder why R Fesser did not have this problem

Nitre guage was to replace the OEM unit. It it well made easy to align and hold alignment.

I just received this Delta Deluxe Miter Gauge #34-928. You wouldn't believe me if I told you how long ago I ordered it. I guess a fresh batch is in so order it quick. Now on to the item. When they say that it is accurate, the first thing I did, when I took it out of the box, was break out the Bosch Digital Protractor. It measures angles with a digital readout in tenths of a degree. (Equal to 3600 dots in a circle, no matter how small the circle) I put the miter gauge to the test. I clamped an aluminum level onto the face to extend the surface, and guess what? I got perfect readings after trying the detent stops, and even got the same results when I eyeballed a setting just using the pointer. It wasn't even off by a tenth of a degree.
At first I was confused, because some of the stops weren't right on the number, then I realized that they have stops at the popular detents, and some of those are in tenths of a degree.
Point number two is that I was impressed that the miter gauge bar that rides in your miter slot has little Allen bolts imbedded in it, so you can adjust it perfectly, to eliminate any play. When I put it in my Powermatic 66, it fit so perfectly, without any play, that I don't even need to fiddle with it. It is so snug that you would have to measure the play in thousandths of an inch, as in non-existent, yet it slides along the track like it was on greased wheels. It fit my Bench Dog miter track on their Router table extension for table saws the same way. The Might T track miter track guides had a little slop in it, but that is obviously the track and not the gauge. I guess you can tell where I will be using it. (Although the play is adjustable for any 3/4 x 3/8 track)
Point three is that the bottom of the gauge is polished so smooth that it will not scratch your saw tabletop. The front face of the gauge where you rest your work, looks like it was fine ground-polished with something like a 1000 grit wheel. You can see ultra-ultra fine lines going in a circle from where it was fine machined.
I strongly recommend that you also get Delta's clamp attachment that works with this gauge. The one that I bought is the 34-568 clamp assy, and it fits and works perfectly. Delta and Amazon feature the Delta cheapy miter gauge with the clamp as a combo package for about the same money as buying this Deluxe gauge and the 34-568 clamp assy as separate pieces. So for about the same money you are getting Delta's best, and in this example it is worthy of that title.
The gauge and clamp combo perfectly resolves the problem of when you are trying to cope the ends of your rails in a raised panel bit set. You know the problem, you have to hold that two-inch wide board and run the bit over the tip. Trying to get the bit to not move the board, by either pushing it a little away from the fence, or run into the second fence face causing a stop is a major accomplishment. Many use sleds with clamps on them, but then you are raising the work piece off of the table to make up for the sled base plate. With a router, that is a major consideration, because that oftentimes leads to having to raise the bit higher up out of the collar, causing more vibration and potentially a dangerous bit flying condition. This gauge and clamp combo locks it in just the same, but keeps the work piece flat against the tabletop. The other advantage to that is if you are running some larger pieces at the same time, you can do it by removing the gauge, and not have to change a bit setting. Wow! I'm getting off on this, I don't know about you. :-)
Another point is that the picture doesn't do it any justice. The fit, the finish, the accuracy of the deluxe gauge is better than any other miter gauge I have seen, even the one that came with the Powermatic saw. I can't recommend this high enough. Is it because it is a waxed Ferrari sitting in the garage? No, it is because it is as accurate and fine as a miter gauge can get. Buy one, you won't be sorry. Hope this helps.

I bought this drill/saw combo kit at a tool show for just $-
It's built with makitas typical precision and industrial ruggedness. The drill is faultless. The saw is very accurate and has a decent capacity, though it does tend to bog down a bit in denser hardwoods.

This product by makita is a great investment. The miter saw is great for a new house with no electricity and is lightweight. The hammer drill / driver works great for all situations.

I have used the Makita kit for about 1 1/2 years now. I am a woodworker and carpenter and bought the kit to replace an older one. This saw is great. It is perfect for trim, especially smaller parts. Lightweight, accurate, durable, what else can I say? I love the batteries, although after hard use they are almost due for replacement.
I also bought the drill, circ saw, and sawzall combo kit. I dropped the drill 8 feet and broke the case, and a new case cost only 20 bucks. I hardly use my Skil wormdrive anymore, because the circ saw is so convenient.

I don't put tools on display, I use them. These are good ones.