Whether you’ve owned any of the distinctive yellow and black tools before, or this would be your first one, you’re going to appreciate the quality and value the Dewalt DW715 Compound Miter Saw delivers. It’s a whole lot of saw at a reasonable price.
Dewalt Delivers On Its Promises
It’s a saw that combines precision with power and portability. Well engineered and manufactured, this Dewalt saw cuts to exacting standards and doesn’t bog down even when you work it hard all day long.
It weighs in at 42 pounds – so it’s not exactly the lightest miter class. But you can still take it with you wherever you need to go, without a huge amount of hassle. It’s got a built-in handle that gives you a solid center of gravity grip. Although, like most miter saws, this one is bulky and the shape makes a little awkward to carry.
Miter saws aren’t the most movie-friendly of shop tools. But there’s nothing like the convenience and time-saving benefits of having a saw like this on site to custom fit crown molding, baseboards, door, and window trim.
What’s In The Box?
Inside the Dewalt DW715 box, along with your corded 12-inch miter saw are the following items:
– One 32-tooth carbide-tipped blade (12-inch diameter)
– Blade changing wrench
– Dust collection bag
– Support extension arm
– Instruction Guide
– Arbor Washer (Makes the saw compatible with blades 5/8 and 1-inch diameter bores)
Quality Design and Engineering
Where Dewalt really excels is the quality it builds into its tools at every turn. In this case, it’s the precision cuts that you get – deadly accurate miters and bevels up to 48° to the left and 3° to the right – straight out of the box.
Another thing I noticed when using the Dewalt DW715 was just how easily it swings from one side to the other, without you having to force it as you do with some saws. This is a feature that comes in handy when you’re working with trim pieces like baseboards or doors trim and you need to cut angles from both sides of the table.
Fixing Inaccuracies
Not every saw will arrive in perfect condition, unfortunately. That’s a reality of the world we live in. Products get banged around and dropped in the warehousing and shipping processes. So it’s always a smart idea – whatever brand you settle on – to always check your saw table and fence to make sure it’s true before you start making any serious cuts.
If you take the time to check the fence to make sure it’s perfect when you first receive the product, you can either return it for a replacement or take it to a Dewalt service center and have it fixed by a tool professional. if it happens to be out of square and you’ve been using the saw for a while, you can simply make the adjustment yourself. It’s a good idea to check your say periodically to make sure its square.
Greater Compound Cut Capability
Because it’s a compound miter saw, it can make both miter and bevel cuts at the same time. And with it’s larger blade – 12 inches as opposed to the usual 10 inches – you can cut thicker and wider stock in a single pass. That’s something you just can’t do on the smaller saws.
It’s a huge advantage to have this added capability – should you ever need it. But if slicing larger pieces of stock in one fell swoop or custom-fitting crown moldings is not in your future – maybe you don’t need a 12-inch miter saw at all. In this case, I recommend the Hitachi 10-inch model instead.
Equipped with a strong 15 amp motor that turns the blade at 4000 RPMs – this Dewalt 12-inch miter saw provides fast and efficient cutting of a large of variety stock – at virtually any angle.
Safety Comes First
For safety, there’s a blade guard that completely covers the blade when the saw is raised. But as you lower the saw blade, the guard makes contact with the stock and is lifted out-of-the-way. This is an important safety feature – even though they can at times abstract your vision. It’s always better to get used to using this kind of safety accessory instead of removing it, as some people do. A safety-first approach is always the best one to take.
A Guarantee That Inspires Confidence
Dewalt offers a full, three-year limited warranty on the Dewalt DW715, plus a one-year service contract – as well as 90-day hassle-free money back, guarantee. With many brands of tools and equipment, the warranty lasts for just one year. Getting three years of peace of mind is quite a generous protection plan. It tells me this manufacturer is confident in their product. And that should trigger confidence in more buyers to opt for a Dewalt when it comes to purchasing a miter saw.
Get The Saw You Need
There’s a lot you can do with this 12-inch compound miter saw. But it cannot do everything. For example, the blade tilts in one direction only, so in some cases, you may have to reverse-cut your stock. More expensive miter saws often tilt both left and right and they slide back-and-forth, offering a wider cut capacity. If that’s what you need – be prepared to spend several hundred dollars more than this model from Dewalt would cost you.
For a double bevel compound sliding, miter saw see our review of the DeWalt Dws 780
But if cutting wide boards and working with crown molding is not something you’re going to need most of the time, why spend all that extra cash? There are tons you can do with the 12-inch blade of the Dewalt dw715. For example, you can easily cut through 4 x 4’s and 2 x 8’s in a single pass (at 90 degrees) and have those cuts turn out perfectly. That’s huge. And it’s one of the things that makes it an excellent tool for fence and deck builders as well as framing contractors.
Side Support Included
The DeWalt DW715 compound miter saw comes with one extension support that can be used on either side of the table. It’s one of those accessories that at times can be as helpful as having an extra pair of hands in the shop to support a long piece of trim.
But if you plan on mounting your saw to a stand or building it into a bench, those extension arms won’t be of much use to you. But if you lack the extra support the stand or built-in workbench provides – by all means – use the extension support. You could even buy another one for the opposite side, should you need both.
Ready, Set, Cut
Right out-of-the-box, the Dewalt DW715 should give you precision cutting capability as it powers through softwood, hardwood, hardboard, fiberboard and more.
But as with any miter saw, you should always check it for square with an accurate machinist square. If your table base, fence, or saw blade isn’t in perfect alignment, it can be adjusted with a little work on your part. But it’s so important to get the most out of any miter say. You want your saw to produce accurate cuts so it’s worth the extra step to make sure it’s set up perfect before cutting into any material.
Really, Is It A Dust Bag?
Every manufacturer includes a dust bag with their miter saws and Dewalt is no exception. But truth be told, these dust collection bags don’t help much at all. What’s really needed is a dust collection system and a huge funnel-shaped hood behind the saw. This way it would channel a decent amount of dust away from the work area. Those little dust collection bags do fill up fast. But the thing is, most of the dust goes out and away from the chute that’s supposed to capture it.
Well Designed and Well Made
What I like most about the Dewalt miter saw is that it’s intelligently engineered and manufactured. The components that are supposed to be flat and true are flat and true. And the parts that are intended to move do so smoothly and consistently. Cuts are clean and deadly accurate. It’s a workhorse that can stand up to continuous use without overheating or wearing down.
The built-in positive stops at common angles make it super convenient to quickly make the cuts you need and have it turn out exactly the way you want it. That’s huge in a shop setting where productivity is key. But it’s also helpful to be able to work efficiently when you’re renovating your home.
Quick, Easy, Powerful and Accurate Single Cuts On Larger Stock
The consistency and versatility of the DeWalt DW715 means you can cut virtually any angle with considerable accuracy. And with its taller than most 5.25-inch fence, crown molding is easily cut as is 6 1/2 inch baseboard when its set vertically against the fence.
With the built-in adjustable stainless steel detent plate, there are 1 positive stops at common settings like 22.5 degrees and 45 degrees. This makes it quick and easy to make those angled cuts while ensuring accuracy at the same time.
It’s a powerful saw that makes quick work of cutting stock including various hardwoods like oak, birch, and walnut – as well as solid decking lumber like 4 x 4s and 2 x 8’s.
You can also cut those 4 x4’s on a 45° miter in one shot. The same thing with 2 x 6’s – they can also be cut on a 45° miter with a single pass. And at the 90° setting you could conceivably cut 4 x 6″ material with one chop of the blade.
Not The Lightest But Manageable
Although it’s not the lightest miter saw around, it’s still more lightweight than other saws. And with the built-in carry handle, it makes moving it from location to location a little easier.
Due to its bulk, it’s probably not the kind of equipment you would want to take everywhere. But wherever a larger capacity saw is required, it’s good to know that this one can be transported to accommodate.
What Buyers Like Most About The Dewalt DW715
– The overall high quality of the build
– Durability – it keeps performing even years later
– Precision cutting
– Larger cut capacity (thanks to the 12-inch blade)
– Comfortable to use – the D-handle is ergonomic and fits perfectly in the operator’s hand
– Solid angle adjustments locked in place with accurate detents for faster set-up
– Smooth operations – particularly when adjusting the arm to cut miters
– The powerful and smooth cutting action
– An angle locking mechanism is strong and secure (it’s a precision machine and once it’s set to cut a certain way – there’s no play – no wobble – no sloppiness.
– Saw blade provided is of better than expected quality and good enough for day-to-day use
– Plenty of power to cut through most stock – even thick hardwoods
– The built-in scale is easy-to-read – even when there’s sawdust present
– Powerful breaking mechanism – once you let go of the trigger, it’s a matter of milliseconds before the saw comes to a complete stop
What Some Buyers Didn’t Like
– The bevel locking mechanism is a small aluminum knob (would be better if it was a larger size – that would make it easier to use)
– Difficult to move around than smaller saws – due to its size and weight
– There’s no built-in laser
The Verdict
If accuracy is your primary requirement when shopping for a reliable miter saw, you should strongly consider the DeWalt DW715. It’s a powerful saw that consistently delivers. And it makes smooth and clean cuts (with no tear-outs) every time -with the right blade installed.
Look, if you’re going to get a quality miter saw anyway, why not spend a few more dollars and get a proven performer with 12-inch blade that significantly increases your cutting capability?
And if you want even more out of your saw, one useful accessory is the Dewalt DW X726 rolling miter saw stand. It’s made for the Dewalt DW715 miter saw and it makes it super convenient to move your machine from inside your garage to outside, so you can do more cutting where sawdust is less of an issue.
Looking for something a little cheaper, check our review of the Makita Ls1040 compound miter saw.
Hey there, Giving great info about Diy and the tools we use to build and create is the driver behind this site. About Us.