Power Tools Reviews

This is an old holdover from the Black & Decker days. This unit is one of the most durable units I've had the privilege of using. I've used this grider for over 18 years in the Ranch/Farm fabrication as well as Aerospace hardware fabrication. If I were ever put incharge every tool would have this durability. I would highly recommend this unit. For those of you not used to abrupt starts from a large "hand" tool take some caution with this large grinder it likes to try and get away. It would be nice however if Dewalt would update the grinder with a soft start and a tool brake. If you can not find this unit Milwaukee makes a close second.

I have owned 4 different DeWalt routers which I enjoyed despite limitations that I found in all of them (weight, power, ease of use, etc.) I still, however considered the previous DeWalt routers to be superior to both Porter Cable and Bosch routers.

When DeWalt came out with their new 1 3/4 and 2 1/4 hp routers with multiple bases to compete with PC, I had to try them.

I decided on the 1 3/4 hp, as I have their 2 hp, and have never liked the weight of the unit. It always felt cumbersome doing light work. Upon receiveing this little router, I mounted the fixed base underneath one of my router tables, and kept the plunge base out for travelling work. Here are my impressions:

1.) This has plenty of smooth power to run virtually anything you fire its way. I was able to smoothly run a cabinet panelling bit through MDF (I would not dare to do so through hardwood that is what the 3hp router is for). On sit I ran 3/4" roundovers, 3/4" straight fluted bits, etc. without incident. This router has the power to do almost anything you need on site, and can run most bits you need in a router table.

2.) The changing of the motor from base to base takes a couple of times to get used to, but is smarter than the current Porter Cable model. Changing router bits requires two wrenches, however, the detachable cord and flat base allow it to rest in a flat and stable position.

3.) They made the base compatbile with Porter Cable bases so most of the base attachments you can buy for PC also work with the DeWalt.

Bottom line is I got rid of all other routers I owned except for the DeWalt 3hp (for panelling), and have two fixed bases mounted under Rockler router tables, one plunge and one fixed base for on site work, and a total of 5 motors to put wherever I need them. It has truly been a universal fit for all of my routing needs!

Great router kit. I first ordered from TylerTool.com only to wait and wait for nothing because they said it was in stock when you order, then they fail to let you know that they don't even have it in stock. I'm finding out that there is more and more online tool business like Tyler Tools that are doing this type of deceptive selling with attractive low price listings stealing time and money from buyers and legitimate sellers like Amazon. Anyway, Amazon had it in stock and I'm not disappointed.

When you buy the dewalt miter saw workstation be sure to get a couple of extra of thes supports. They come in very handy and mount right to the workstation. They give added support and the opertunity to use the length stops with out pulling in the extentions.Very easy to adjust.

I have the Dewalt miter stand that included two DW7232 stands however I was doing a large project that needed multiple stops both long and short. Instead of moving the existing DW7232 stands around constantly I added two more of the DW7232's on the main rail and was able to cut down the number of stop changes in half. In addition these added support in the middle to the long piece of wood that I was cutting. I just wish I had purchased these sooner.

This saw is great once it is set up. Like almost everyone else on here says, the directions pretty much stink! I am a mechanical engineer with a strong practical background working with machines. It took me the better part of a day to set it up. The hardest part was leveling and ensuring flatness and being parallel of the tables. Once I tapped the feet and inserted leveling bolts, the problem was fixed. I don't know how you would level it otherwise! I bought an upgraded saw blade ahead of time. It is definitely worth it!

Max Tools did a terrible job communicating with me regarding order shipment. First they say the product will ship in 1-2 days. Baloney! It took over a week for it to ship. Then they gave me the shipment tracking order for the free appreciation gift rather than the saw! When I called back to get the right tracking order, they couldn't help me. It turns out that this drop ships directly from DeWalt. Next time I will order directly from my local Woodcraft store. The trouble wasn't worth the $50 I saved.

After 13 years, I decided it was time to upgrade from my Ryobi BT3000. After much research, and fondling every brand I could get my hands on, I bought this saw package from Amazon.

I could not be happier with the result. The basic DW746 saw plus the sliding table and super trick miter gage and cast iron extension wing make a package nobody else can touch for price and features. This saw is quiet, vibration free and as powerful as you can get from a 110 volt motor. I don't have a machinist's
ruler to gage table flatness, but I do have a Lie Neilsen #7 jointer plane that is dead nuts flat, and setting the plane tilted on edge on the table shows the table flat in all directions within .005".

Be advised this saw does not fall into my defininition of portable. It's one heavy puppy. It took two of us to wrestle the basic saw down to the basement. I was able to get the cast iron extension on by myself, but I could not even pick up the sliding table by myself, much less install it on the table.

Also, this package comes with instructions for putting the basic saw together, and separate instructions for putting on the sliding table. DO NOT start with the instructions for putting the basic saw together like I did. After I spent three hours getting the front and rear rails on and level, I had to completely disassemble EVERYTHING because the sliding table has a bunch of parts that must go on first. If you begin assembly following the instructions for installing the sliding table, you will get it right the first time.

I work in a school district maintenance shop. We do all kinds of projects with all kinds of wood. We needed a blade that was a standard kerf (not thin kerf) that would take the use and abuse we give. We have had the blade for a year now after seeing it at a Woodworking show and then ordering it from Amazon.com. The blade still cuts true and since it is a standard kerf we haven't seen any deflection on cuts. You can spend another $50 and buy those blades that you have to send back to the manufacturer to have sharpened but I don't see that much difference.

I had the opportunity to get myself in deep (up to my ears) in a welding project and needed a grinder. Well as it turns out this is the third grinder I have had to buy and it is by far the best. My first grinder was a cheap chinese unit that SCREAMED loudly and didn't last. The second unit was a Ryobi unit available from your local home improvement center, quiet and smooth but with a fatal flaw that was a consant problem, when you set it down it hits the power switch and turns on momentarily flying all over the place, at 10000 RPM this is a problem. The switch failed mercifully and I gladly threw it away. This Ryobi angle grinder did not last very long, another Made in China wonder. Speaking of switches that brings us back to the Dewalt unit which has a safety latch on the switch, that works very well. It's quiet, safe, and made in America. Oh by the way, ALLWAYS use ear and eye protection when grinding and cutting metal!

My boyfriend uses this grinder at work and he absolutely
loves it. The on/off switch is in a more convenient location than the previous models. Highly recommend this Dewalt grinder.

I am the sort of person who is very meticulous, and I would rather have one well made tool than a dozen cheap ones. Having said this I must say that I am thoroughly impressed and pleased with the DW824 grinder. It has good balance, A LOT of power, and is made to last. I especially like the quick-adjust guard, this makes it really convenient to use when grinding at different positions. The extra long cord all but eliminates the need for an extension cord, and the power in this small package is awesome!! I have yet to bog the motor down!! I looked high & low at all other grinders of this size (4 1/2" & 5") and I feel that this one beats the others hands down. I would heartily recommend this grinder to anyone.