DeWalt Reviews

This is a rugged, sturdy table for benchtop type of planer. You wouldn't wnat to run 12" 8/4 board through it without using a roller stand on both sides lest you risk tipping the planer stand over. But otherwise, it's a very useful item.

If you asemble one, follow the descriptive text for assembly, noting the letters used to denote each part (washer "P" or "O", etc. IF you do that, asembly shouldn't be difficult.

I found the that the bolts for attaching the planer to the stand were bagged separately from the other nuts and bolts so there was little chance of using the wrong bolts.

I used a 1/2" wrench and a 1/2" socket without any problems. You do need a socket for tightening some of the nuts.

Assemble in a clean area; if you drop a nut or washer, you want ot be able to find it as there are just enough of each parts, including nuts, bolts and washers to put the stand together. Don't count on there being spares if you drop one into the pile of waste cuts you haven't gotten around to picking up.

I find that the top panel is more than sufficient for it's purpose. Some have said that it could be thicker, but the weight of the planer rests near the perimeter so you shouldn't expect to notice any flexing in use. Also, near the perimeter, the panel rests on front, back, and side bars, which at the top extend several inches toward the interior.

A plus, the panel is predrilled and marked for the DeWalt planers, although you can countersink and drill holes to hold other benchtop planers.

The stand is rigid and uses lockwashers on all of the nuts where lockwashers would matter. I expect to get a long useful life from this stand, and I know my back is going to appreciate it. ;-)

MY HUSBAND IS VERY, VERY PLEASED WITH THIS PRODUCT. VERY STABLE, EASY TO ASSEMBLE, EASY TO MOVE AROUND. IT'S A GREAT PRODUCT WHICH WE WOULD RECOMMEND HIGHLY TO ANYONE WITH A DEWALT PLANER.

Very sturdy stand that moves almost effortlessly. Expensive, but you'll love it when you don't have to lug around your portable planer from the floor to a bench to use it.

I had read several reviews before making a purchase on a saw. I am extremely glad that I chose this one. The only gripe that I have with it is it can be tough to hang on to when you start it up. After that It is great. It cuts very nice and has plenty of power. I also bought one of the blades for cutting concrete and the saw works beautifully for that also. I would reccomend this saw for anyone wanting a quality saw for not an extreme amount of money

The saw feels natural in your hand. Controls are easy to use and logically placed. I prefer the metal base on my old "Skilsaw" though.

Took this saw to the jobsite and all others were forgotten. More powerful than Porter-Cables and others. Slices multiple sheets of OSB. Love the saw hook. Owned this saw fo 5 years without a problem. Make sure you get the gear oil changed every year.

Power is good (takes a few seconds to come totally up to speed) and included blade is better than expected - I got additional blade at initial purchase becuase I assumed like most saws the included blade would be crap but standard blade is good general purpose. Dust collection sucks, though some reviewers have not been as "candid." Does not fit any standard dust collection connection I know of (i.e. have), and the provided "bag" holds enough dust to be worth a Tinker's "Damn." For an extra $50 next time I would go for 12" for the extra height on miter cuts concurring with other review that says guard (and dust bag) get in the way sometimes.

Though table seemeed expensive I bought it anyway (needed portable platform for job-site) and it was definitely worth it. Extendable supports are convenient (wouldn't say "invaluable" because I avoid hyperbole ;-) for long pieces of molding, flooring & 2x's for framing. If you clamp the saw past the stops and extend one end support to limit you can handle 12' cuts. Haven't seen a need for sliding as I always need a table saw for long rips, so having short slide doesn't eliminate an extra tool. Laser might be nice, but I guess I trust my eye and a solid pencil line enough...

This saw replaced a Ryobi 10" miter saw that was highly recommeneded to me at Home Depot and which lasted a little over a year before the motor gave out. The DeWalt is on an entirely different level of home power tool. The quality of construction, ease of use (especially setting the miter table), excellent included blade, and the power and accuracy of the tool makes me wish I'd spent the extra money for this saw when I listened to the idiot at Home Depot. I'm using it for everything from light trim to 4X4s and rafters and have no complaints. I wonder about the stock people are cutting when they say this saw has a hard time with pressure treated lumber---must be soaking wet from the treatment process. As long as you let the motor get up to speed the DeWalt with the standard blade can handle deck building with ease. I didn't calibrate it, just set it up and started cutting. I'd give it 5 stars if the basic kit came without supports and clamps (the Ryobi did), though I highly recommend buying a miter saw stand for it anyway.

This is my second DW703 because my first one was stolen. I liked it so much that I never considered any other brand. The quality of the saw, the table, the adjustments, even the blade, are all top-notch. Good value for the price. Lately I've seen it for $189 at Home Depot and Lowe's. The dust collection could be better, but I just stick the shop vac hose in the back and it gets probably 60% of the dust.

I recently purchased this saw at a discount from Lowe's. It is completely assembled and only needs the dust bag pushed in. Since I will use this saw in my woodshop, I will mount a dust hood behind it and a hose to the dust back connection. This saw has an amazing amount of torque. I love it that the motor is very quiet as compared to my old Delta. Granted the motor was mounted directly to the blade. I love this saw!!! Set up time is 30 seconds. The saw was set to perfection. Fit and finish was wonderful. Only one gripe. The knob on the back was very hard to pull out the first time and once pulled out it was okay. I don't like the way the knob is made at all.

I love the saw and I hope the new models perform just as well. I won't know. I intend on this saw lasting me many years.

I've had this saw for about 2 years now. I wanted the DW708 Sliding miter saw, but $399 was more attractive than $599. For me, that was a good choice.

1) AMERICAN. I like to try and buy American first if possible. This one has more American content than most (The box said so, anyway).

2) RELIABLE. I use this thing all the time, and always has been excellent.

3) ACCURATE. Mine was aligned well, and I have not found anything that assembled improperly due to this saw's alignments. I have built several custom cabinets from Maple and Walnut, and all the joints I got from this saw were square and tight.

4) UTILITY. Functions great and easy to use. I wanted the 12" slide saw, but this already would make 95% of the cuts I need, and costs a lot less. It has a good-sized table, and the table is not two-thirds removed for the miter gauge, so it supports smaller pieces more completely as well as longer pieces.
I see that Hitachi has a digital readout saw now, but I'm not sure I would want that. More complexity than I would want. The only thing I wish this saw had from DeWalt was a laser guide.

Summary.
Mine has been excellent. I picked carefully from the above points and have not been disappointed. If you like to woodwork and have never used a compound miter saw, this will become your favorite tool quickly.

I'm a cabinetmaker and finish carpenter by trade and currently own, and have previously owned, a variety of powered compound miter saws from Hitachi, Milwaukee, Porter Cable, and DeWalt. My DW706 has been my absolute favorite miter saw! In fact, I also own a DW708 and that clumsey beast never leaves the bench, but the DW706 coupled with DeWalt's saw stand have provided me with 4 years of excellent service! Even though I also have a 10" unit, I prefer to take the 12" DW706 on just about every field project I have!

This past weekend my local Home Depot was clearancing the old DW706 inventory to make way for the replacement model, the DW716, so I bought 2 new DW706 mdoels for myself and my son! Couldn't beat the deal at $249 a piece while everyone else is still selling the old inventory at least $100 more! I hope the DW716 can fill the big shoes of the DW706!

After 7 years of use, it was finally time to upgrade my Skil portable saw. I did a lot of research into different models, including the Jet, Delta, and Powermatic. Finally I went to a woodworking show and talked to the man who literally "wrote the book" on table saws, and he recommended the DeWalt DW746. It was a little more than I wanted to spend on a saw, but he said it should be the last saw I ever buy. I ordered it and the 30" rails from Amazon, and ordered the mobile base from Tyler (Amazon had a long back order and Tyler was cheaper).

The suggestion made by someone else here to assemble the base first, then attach it to the feet while the saw was still upside down in the crate was on the money. Can't imagine trying to attach it afterwards.

* Pros:

Assembly took a few hours, and was very straightforward.

The table was very flat, and everything but the splitter was well aligned.

I had to resaw some 5/4 x 5 Poplar, and the saw never bogged down at all. Plus it made surprisingly smooth and well aligned cuts for having to flip the wood over to make 2 passes.

Dust collection works surprisingly well. I had to rig up a 2-1/2 to 4" adapter, but it removes 90% of the dust. A little dust still blows off the blade.

Very smooth running, no vibration. The internal motor and wide belt lend a lot to that.

Takes up a lot less space than most other saws, since the motor is inside the frame.

The 30" rails were flat and true.

* Cons:

Removing the guard is a pain, and it's a little hard to get at one of the nuts.

The blade that comes with it is lousy. Replaced it with a Freud and it's like night and day.

Needs a 20A line, as it occasionally trips a 15A breaker on startup. I'm going to switch it to 240v soon. Should be smoother.

The miter guage does not have any holes in it for mounting accessories and jigs. I took care of that.

The assembly instructions (as others have mentioned) could stand some improvement. The photos were not matched up with the text, and in some places the text started next to the picture then wrapped under it, making it very hard to follow. This should be a simple fix for DeWalt.

* Overall:

I'm hoping the author was correct that it will be my last saw. So far I have been very impressed with it.

I've taught high school woodshop for 13 yrs and have used contractor saws in my home shop and 2 Unisaws in the school shop. Needing to upgrade the saw at home I researched the options. A Unisaw was my first choice but if I bought it I was short on funds for an upgrade fence (Beisemeyer) and sliding table. Looking at the hybrid saws brought me to the Jet and the Dewalt. Reviews of the Jet spoke of a quailty machine but with a few shortcomings such as the link belt for blade adjustment. The DW was newer on the market than the Jet so didn't have many reviews. I decided to purchase a recon unit from Toolking for just under 800.00.

The saw arrived in sturdy packing and there was nothing to make me believe it had been reconditioned for any reason. No sawdust, dents, dings etc. A few hours to assemble with decent directions. I had also purchased the 30" Beisemeyer commercial fence and Delta sliding table and Forrest blade. All this took me to under 1500.00 which was the entry level price for the Unisaw.

The saw has seen hundreds of feet of cherry and tiger maple. I built an entire set of kitchen cabinets with melamine boxes and cherry doors. The sliding table was easy to install on the Dewalt. I have not had one single problem or noticed any lack of power or performance.

I made some zero clearance inserts and a large side and outfeed table. The saw comes with some steel units that are rather light weight. The factory fence looks decent although I have never installed it.

My only recommendations for improvement would be to add a 4" or 6" dust port and larger handwheels for blade adjustment. All in all its a great value for the money. Lance A, Chico CA

My woodworking hobby outgrew my starter saw a few years ago, but circumstances did not allow me to buy a new saw until this year. Since I really wanted to take my time with this decision, I studied the market, put my hands on every saw I could, and read everything I could find on the web about table saw features. Since I work in a library, I also had access to every table saw review in most of the woodworking magazines.

Eventually I came up with the following criteria:

- I have a one car garage for a workshop, so space was a big issue. I was only looking at saws with 30" capacity to the right of the blade. I also limited my search to saws that could be pushed flat against a wall if need be. This left only hybrids and cabinet saws to consider.

- I wanted the most powerful motor I could get without having to switch to 240 volts, yet have the option to rewire the saw for 240v later if I so choose (thus eliminating 3hp saws).

- I wanted a solid fence that was accurate and DID NOT DEFLECT when locked down.

- I wanted some decent dust collection abilities.

- I wanted a quieter saw with less vibration than my old Delta contractor's saw.

- I wanted to spend less than $1000 to get the saw, yet have lots of options for upgrading/outfitting later.

Eventually I chose the DeWalt 746, and here are my observations:

The saw package arrived in relatively undamaged crating (seven days after I ordered it from Amazon), and the saw was in perfect condition. Here's a tip - I ordered this saw over the phone and was given the option to pay $25 to have the saw delivered on the ground in my shop - well worth it! Assembly was not too bad (3 hrs), but the manual could have been a bit better. In my mind it was a bit too small and the illustrations corresponding to each step of assembly were not always on the same page! This saw is heavy and the cabinet/stand is very stiff and strong. I feel that the base of this saw is a much better design than the open stand of my old Delta. The saw also runs very smoothly - it is A LOT quieter than my last saw and vibration is at a minimum. The motor is about as powerful as you can get while running 120v without popping breakers left and right (which I have read is a common problem with the 2hp motors running 120v). I have not had any problems ripping 8/4 white oak with a good sharp blade... Speaking of blades, the one that came with this saw is inferior. I will keep it just for those instances where I want to cut treated lumber for outside projects or some other such task not requiring precision or smooth cuts. I have always wanted a Biesenmeyer fence, but I read good things about the DeWalt fence on this saw and was eager to try it for myself. I am pleased to say that it is a very sturdy (and heavy) fence with some ingenious features. Most importantly this fence operates very smoothly, it does not deflect when locked down, it was easy to adjust square to the miter slot and blade, and zeroing the fence scale could not have been easier. I did have to fuss with it a bit to get the fence face set 90 degree to the table, but once I got it there it seems to hold the setting well. Dust collection on this saw is absolutely excellent. I hooked up my Fein Turbo II vacuum and basically no significant sawdust escapes. I couldn't be happier in that department. As for safety features, I like splitters and hate blade guards so I was pleased to find that the splitter/blade guard on this saw is able to be separated (I did just that). The splitter is easily adjustable and works well.

As far as downsides go... Well, as I mentioned earlier the assembly manual could have been way better and the blade that came with the saw is junk. Also (and I read this several places ahead of time) the table is not absolutely flat. Using a straightedge I found a couple of hollows in the surface. I don't think they are significant enough to throw off the accuracy of what I am doing with this saw, but be forwarned that if you use a tablesaw to cut something more intricate than tenons you may have a problem with this. Unlike other reviewers I didn't have too much of a problem with the steel extension wings that came with this saw. When installed properly are they perfectly level to the main table? Yes. Are they perfectly flat? No, but acceptible for what they are. I wanted a good saw that could be upgraded and these are good enough for temporary use. In fact there are a host of great accessories/upgrades available for this saw. I already installed a cast iron router table wing (made by Bench Dog) and soon I plan to order the DeWalt cast iron wing for the other side of the saw.

When it comes down to it, I am very pleased with this saw. The features all met or exceeded my personal needs. This is important, because I have no doubt I could have gotten a saw that performed nearly as well for a lot less money, but it would have failed to meet one or more of MY criteria. As for the price - I bought mine at a time when the saw was on sale and the mobile base was included (see my separate review of the mobile base). The sale price coupled with Amazon's ongoing deal of 25 dollars off any order over 199 gave me this saw at more than a seventy dollar discount. If your needs are similar to mine, then take a close look at this saw. I highly recommend it!

This has become one of my favorite tools in the 6 months or so I have owned it. Yes it's a little heavy, but you get used to that. It does make a strange, unexpected sound when the safety is pressed against your workpiece as the flywheel is engaged. This too you get used to, just warn unsuspecting first time users. It drives the nails just as well as my Bostitch 16g air nailer, just not as light weight. Sure beats having to lug out the compressor and airhose on those smaller jobs or up on a scaffold.

I work in Palm Beach County, Florida and the company that I work is high end trim company that works on the millionaire estates of the area. The trim work is endless and this gun has not let me down a single day... one battery keep me going for a day and half, setting crown and base board...
It has a very good grip, fits in almost every corner, and never jams or misfire, and the best it doesnt have the bad smell like the Paslode and doesnt need gas cans...
The bad part it is a bit heavy...but you'll get used to it... but not to have to drag the compressor and hose around and now I have much more room in the tool box of my truck this is truelly priceless...

very good tool, saved me a lot of time, worked perfectly for every need I had around the house such as trimwork, baseboards and molding.

I used to recommend DeWalt products to everyone who would listen to me because the ergonomics are so superior. Lately, though, the quality has gotten so bad, I have a hard time doing that.
My suggestion is to skip all the reviews by people who just pulled it out of the box, and read the reviews by people who have used it for a while.
I bought the DW618PK through Amazon several years ago. After about the 10th use, the plastic spindle lock button broke. I didn't care too much because it was a pain to use, so I started using two wrenches instead.
Then, everything went into storage for 2 years (past the warranty period). Later, after about the 20th use, the motor died. It turns out that the magnetic ring on the armature fell apart (apparently, a common problem), but the pieces took out the windings on the armature, as well. I called a DeWalt repair shop for an estimate. They want $20 to tell me what's wrong and then there will be an hourly rate plus parts to repair it. Also, they are backed up for weeks with work. It will be about a month before they can get to it. It may cost as much as a new DW618 (for about $170 from Amazon), so I'm trying to decide if I should buy another brand, instead.
If it wasn't for the quality problems, I still like the ergonomics. The handgrips are comfortable and the dust collection on the plunge base is great - as is the detachable cord, the quick-release latch for the motor, and the centering tool used when changing the subbase. When it runs, the motor is a good, strong motor, and I especially like the ability to easily switch between 1/4" and 1/2" bits. The spindle lock could have been better designed and it is much easier to lock the bit in using two wrenches, instead. A real spindle lock would have been nice.
If ergonomics are important to you, then buy this one and cross your fingers. If you want reliability, look elsewhere.

(originally posted under dw618pkv - but applicable to this product as the dw618pkv is the same kit, but with a router bit set included).
I bought this router about 2 months ago, and waited before giving this review to get some time using it. I'm a new woodworker, having started about 9 months ago, so I only have used one other router (a craftsman) so I can't compare and contrast for you, however I have to say that I'm very impressed by this router.

Good features:

* depth is easy to set on both bases.
* Very powerful, no problems plunging into 3/4" oak.
* Very easy to handle - low center of gravity - handles are soft and form to your hands allowing good control.

Bad features:
* the through-the-column dust collection on the plunge base doesn't fit my vacuum (shopvac), but I suppose my vacuum could be non-standard.
* seems a little bit noisy, but I don't have much experience to compare it to.

I would definitely recommend this to any woodworker.

EDIT: 07/01/2006 After over two years and lots of sawdust later, I'm still very pleased with the dewalt router. In fact, I just bought one for my dad! I've since had the chance to see and use other routers, and I still believe this is the best! I have had 0 quality issues with this router. In fact this winter I even made raised panel kitchen doors (23 of them!) with this router and it held up like a champ. The trick is to slow down the big raised panel bit, and take multiple passes.

Great power, balence and design. I love how easy it is to swap out bases. I only wish I would of waited and bought the 3-base kit for the same price of the 2-pack.

A word of warning before you spend your hard earned money on DeWalt tools. Black and Decker (they actually make DeWalt) recently moved the manufacturing of DeWalt tools from Easton, Maryland to Mexico. Most of the DeWalt tools being sold now were either manufactured in Easton after layoffs were announced or were made in the new Mexico facility. The facility has been riddled with problems from day one and may never produce the same quality tools as the Easton plant. Yes, every tool maker now manufactures outside the US, but DeWalt admittedly priced their tools higher because they could stamp "Made in America" on them. Now all they have is higher prices, a bright yellow case stamped "Made in Mexico". I am not telling anyone not to buy DeWalt, just sharing the truth.

I write this review from the perspective of an aggressive hobbyist. My first power tool purchase was a DeWalt compact 12 volt drill/driver. My primary use for this tool was fixing small things in the nightclub at which I worked during my college years. As my skills gradually increased I began to take on more demanding tasks. It was clear to me that I needed some other tools and a little more power also. Frankly I didn't do much market research as I was satisfied with my DeWalt drill. Having said that, I will not compare this tool set with others on the market.

The price tag for the combo had me second guessing myself so I asked a contractor if I actually needed a $500 tool set. He advised me that I had to make my decision based on my projected frequency and intensity of usage. According to him, the cheaper tools often have weaker motor housings. In other words, the tool will break if it is pushed too hard and will, generally, have a much shorter life span. Not to mention diminished accuracy and power.

So if your usage is going to be: (1) Light and infrequent, consider an alternative to this combo. (2) Heavy and/or frequent, purchase a high-performance combo.

A word of caution, err on the side of purchasing the high-performance combo if you are not sure if your usage over time will increase.

After two years my combo still functions flawlessly.

Hammerdrill/drill/driver: This tool does what it states. It is nice having a light duty drill/driver as the 18-volt version can get heavy after a couple hours of work. For light duty work, a compact 12-volt drill/driver is ideal. Even in general, having two drill/drivers with you can save you a lot of time as you can place two different accessories in each drill. i.e. a drill bit in one and a screw tip in another. As a note, the hammerdrill feature works well, but within reason. This tool is not primarily designed for such use.
I have used this combination of drill/drivers to complete these two major tasks:
Extend a deck. Including anchoring posts into concrete footings and attaching ledgerboard into concrete.
Complete a rough framed room. As helpful info, there is a cheap depth setting drywall bit DeWalt makes that's a great time saver for setting screws in drywall.

Reciprocation Saw: There are a million uses for this saw, just pop in the appropriate blade and cut away. The only major drawback is that the saw vibrates a lot as it is relatively light weight. This makes clean plunge cuts difficult and while recip saws are made for rough cutting, it is a little more difficult to cut a straight line compared to some other recip's I have seen. Do not let me discourage you, I could list a hundred positives, but that would encompass more space than allowed.

As I truly enjoy the functionality of this saw, I purchased the 24-volt version. The 24-volt is a monster tool, but in retrospect my decision was not a good one. I already had a cordless recip; I did not need another one. I would have been better suited with a top of the line Milwaukee corded sawzall. This saw is a powerhouse, half the cost of my 24-volt DeWalt as it is corded, and an industry leader. If you ever need a more powerful recip saw, this would be my recommendation.

A final note. All of the tools in this package have been upgraded. The new 18-volt recip is a little heaver and has a 1 inch stroke (mine has � inch). This may have corrected the flaw mentioned earlier.

Circular saw: This is a very functional saw. It cuts very well and comes with a rip cutting extension. I have only one complaint: The base is flimsy. It works, but a stronger base would have been a benefit.

After using this saw for 2 years, I decided it was time for me to move on to a more powerful saw. I was debating the DeWalt lightweight, high-strength base model with the DeWalt 364K which is the heavy duty version (and very heavy). I paid the extra $20 for the heavy duty model based on the reasoning that I already have a good light weight circular saw (my 18-volt). Also I may, in the future need powerful cutting power for lvl, concrete, brick, etc... Not to mention running my 18-volt through a lot of pressure treated wood is an abuse in my eyes. The 18-volt will take it, but that really is the place of a corded saw. I would recommend the DW364K if you need corded power to add to your tool set. However, I did not do any market research on corded circular saws so it may be worth your while to research some other brands for a corded circular saw (consider Skil and Bosche).

In the upgraded version of the 18-volt circular saw now available, the base plate is solid. This resolves my major drawback.

Also, buy a 24 tooth carbide blade, the 16 tooth blade included is a very rough cutting blade.

Flashlight: Works well, nice to be able to hang it on things.

For sustained work involving two or more of your tools you really need a third battery and a second charger. I would suggest purchasing another 18-volt tool you need as the cost of an extra battery and charger is significant. Do not buy the 18-volt jigsaw. It is my only DeWalt tool I am not satisfied with. The bevel lock comes loose while cutting every now and then; ruining the piece you are working on. If you need a jigsaw, purchase a Bosche; they apparently make the best jigsaws.

I sincerely hope this review helps.

Theses four tools are the greatest, The drill is the best you can buy, strong enough to drill through anything. The reciprocating saw is wonderful for anything, even a quick prune of a low tree branch. The Circular Saw comes with the framing blade, cuts quick and the blade doesnt dull if you hit a nail or two, and the light is great for when you need an extra hand to hold a light, just adjust it and set on a flat surface and you have light to work by. I have had these tools for a few months now. I even try to find an excuse to use them.

As with most woodworkers, I thought long and hard before buying this saw. I have owned mine now for about 4 months, and have been using it frequently, so I feel I can make a credible review.
My saw arrived quickly and packaged perfectly. Everything was intact and went together quickly and easily. The instructions leave a bit to be desired, but they are adequate. The fence was tough to adjust, more on that later. The table is flat, and the stamped steel extensions do their job, but I am going to upgrade to the cast wings soon.

The fence. And here's the rub. As noted by other negative reviewer's, a saw is only as good as its fence. Apparently Dewalt made some of these with bum fences, so if you call dewalt with a fence complaint, they will immediately offer to send you a replacement for free, which I did. The first fence had a slight bow in it with the middle pushing in toward the blade slightly. I'm talking about maybe 1/64th over the full 31" length. Also, the way the fence is designed, you are supposed to square the fence to the table by pushing it sideways and tightening the torx screws. Well, in order to get mine square, I had to push pretty hard, but I did eventually get it squared to the table...at least when I checked beside the torx screws. At the far end of the fence, it was still out of square about 1/32. Square at one end, not at the other...yep. It's twisted slightly. "How do you fix that?" I thought, and called dewalt. My new fence arrived quickly, and...exactly the same. Still slightly bowed and twisted when aligned. Bah! I was frustrated with Dewalt for a few days there.

Then it occurred to me as I was building a custom fence for my miter saw. In order to get the fence perfectly aligned I was shimming it with playing cards and paper to get it perfect. "That's how you fix it. You shim it!" Duh. I went to the saw, loosened the 3 T-knobs that hold the fence face on (not the torx screws, this doesn't change the parallel to the blade), and with a single playing card torn a few times and some paper, I had the fence dead perfect in 5 minutes. Perfectly straight, perfectly square. Ahhh, bliss.

Sure, it isn't fun to have to shim your equipment to get it right, but there are very few saws out there that are truly perfect, especially in this price range. It's an easy fix, so shim it and shaddup. Most folks will want to build a sacrificial fence anyway, so just shim it when you put it on. Dewalt is kind enough to use a piece of MDF in the packaging that you can use... (and I did!)

Last thing on the fence. Except for the above issues, this is really an excellent fence. Mine stays parallel to the blade dead on. I don't even have to use my tape measure, I just set the fence and cut, the results are perfect and completely repeatable. Now that I have the face aligned, it truly is a dream to use.

Dust collection. Comes standard with a 90 degree elbow on the dust port that a few people have commented on. If you take this off, dust shoots a few feet out of the back of the saw making a huge mess. If you leave it on, it stacks up on the floor under the saw in a relatively neat pile. Hence the elbow. If you want to hook to a dust collector, remove the elbow and replace it with any 2" to 4" adapter. It fits perfectly, takes literally seconds to install, and works great. No complaints on the dust collection.

Overall, I am very pleased with my purchase, and would do it again today. I am replacing the standard throat insert with a zero clearance. Do NOT buy the dewalt dado insert, as it rattles and is basically a waste of money. The miter gauge isn't great, but decent. I don't trust it for miters anyway, because that's what the miter saw is for. Mine came with a free mobile base from amazon, which is super high quality, tough as nails, and a breeze to install and use.

Why four stars? The fence, of course. It has its problems, but they aren't fatal flaws. If there wasn't a reasonable fix for it, I would have to go 1 or 2 stars, because I agree; A saw is only as good as its fence. Well, with this saw, a few shims and a little patience, you'll be chuckling every time you hit the start button.

I just got back into woodworking recently and purchased this table saw. I have a friend who is a contractor and he said it is very important to have a solid table saw with a good fence for accurate cuts. I did a lot of research and found this to be the best saw. It has a wide arbor mouth that makes it easy to change the blade. It is left tilt which is more stable, and the motor is induction type, which is the safest and least likely to burn out, and the on/off switch is right next to your left knee so you can turn off the table saw easily after a cut.

I've used this saw for miter projects by adjusting the blade to 45 degrees and they've been dead accurate. You really don't need an expensive Biesmeyer fence or other aftermarket fence. The one that comes with this saw is more than sufficient. You should get a different miter for cross-cuts. I recommend the Rockler adjustable miter. It's more than good enough for a hobbyist (no need for sliding tables or expensive Incra miter). You will need to get some decent saw blades. I picked up a Freud ripping blade and cross-cut blade and they've been fantastic. You'll also need a set of dado heads. I got a nice set for about $80. With this I would strongly suggest the dado head arbor plate, or you can use a zero clearance plate - I did this and used 1/2" dado head setup which is the one I use the most. This makes for extremely smooth dados and rabbets.

I also highly recommend the mobile base that is available. I did not find it necessary to purchase the cast iron extensions. The sheet metal extensions are fine for me. I'm just a hobbyist and don't have the extra space anyway.

I have owned my DeWalt Woodworkers Saw for about two years now. If you plan on moving this saw from job to job like a contractors saw then think again. It may be called a hybrid but it is heavy enough to require at least two people to move it with all the rails and wings removed. It is lighter than a Unisaw that takes four people to move.
I replaced my old Delta Contractor saw that the roofer broke by throwing a 10' 2x6 off the roof endo. It broke the cast iron table in half.
That saw was old and tired anyway. I had been using a Unisaw for the past three years for a job saw doing fine woodworking on high end homes. When I first used the DeWalt I noticed that it did not have the power of the Unisaw but it did have a precision fence and a smooth vibration free feel similar to the Unisaw.
I had to shim the fence a hair to make it flat. Squaring the fence to the table was an odd procedure but seemed to work and the fence has remained square since then. The fence locks down securely without deflection at least as good as the Biesenmeyer fence. A nice feature is that the face of the fence can drop down to the table for ripping thin sheet goods so the sheets won't slip under the fence. I have been using the saw for all my finish carpentry in several fine new homes. I also use it for heavy ripping of salvaged wood that I use for exterior trim. I am very happy with this saw. Considering that I have to move it occasionally to a job it is a good comprimise between a heavy cabinet saw and a contractors saw. It can be hooked up to a vacuum for dust collection with success and that is not an option with a contractors saw. I think DeWalt has listened to woodworkers and came up with a lot of innovative features that make this saw a pleasure to use.

I have been using Dewalt products for a long time and have never had any problems -ever-. Naturally when it came time to get a new compressor, I decided to go for Dewalt as well.

Once the package arrived, the air filter was broken and the motor/compressor was not operating. The motor won't even turn, it is completely jammed. I considered this an oddity and processed a replacement from Amazon. To my surprise the second unit came with a broken air filter which completely boggles my mind as it is in a protected area and I can't see how this could be damaged during shipping. If it was the air filter only, I would have kept it, but the frame on this unit was completely twisted and the face place where the gages are on was completely warped out of shape.

I think I have had it with getting a Dewalt compressor... Needless to say I am very disappointed. I am very impressed by Amazon's customer service though, the sent the replacement unit 2nd day at Amazon's cost and they processed the returns very quickly.

the compressor is a little heavy, but workable. i can use it for multiple guns or a single trim gun.

I concur with Mr. Paulson on all counts. Since I live in Tucson, the issue regarding the ice hasn't and probably won't come up. I purchased this unit after hearing from a number of my colleagues on how reliable it had been for them. But, as some of the other reviews have stated, this unit is not for heavy duty operation that would entail the use of spray guns, air sanders or all day feeding of multiple framing nailers. I too like the stability of the unit as well as the overall design and protection of some of the more fragile controls. I have since replaced this unit with a simular $210 Hitachi twin tank unit (3 stars) that has worked fine for over a year after this one disappeared off a job site. I would be willing to purchase this unit again if it came with a GPS chip, a junk yard dog or an employee that can keep an eye on it while on break.