( 26 reviews )
-
Posted: May 16 2009
I've been borrowing a DW705 and was impressed with how simple and solid it was. I was torn b/w a Bosch 4212L and the DW716 but went with the DW716 after weighing all the factors that were important to me. The 4212L seems to have quality control issues based on reviews I'd read on Amazon, however the DW716 seems to have solid reviews and little to no quality issues. The 4212L has tons of features that the dw716 doesn't (comes with crown stops, laser, extensions on both sides, vertical clamp, upfront controls, adjustable handle, etc). However, after reading reviews I started to wonder if those extra features are just extra points of failure. The DW716 is simple and straightforward. Doesn't come with any attachments out of the box but it is solid and reliable. Also, I wasn't able to play with the bosch in person since none of the local stores had any floor models at all (I was surprised). I went through the steps to adjust my saw for accuracy - out of the box, the blade was square to the base and to the fence so bevel and miter were both accurate out of the box. However, the miter pointer needed adjustment (no big deal). I was amazed at how smooth the belt drive is, and how well it cuts. I got the DWS7085 LED worklight (instead of the laser) and would highly recommend it to anyone who would consider a laser. Personally, I always line up the blade with my pencil line (left or right depending on the cut), but I still appreciate a quick visual and who knows, maybe I'll start to trust this more than my eye. Thing is it's a light ABOVE the blade that shines down both sides and creates a shadow so you see exactly where the blade will cut (including the teeth of the blade). It seems to work equally well when beveled. Pretty amazed at it so far, only positive things to say. Can't wait to use this saw on upcoming projects.
-
Posted: May 12 2009
Growing up, I was spoiled by my dad's DeWalt radial arm saw that was built like a tank. There are few tools that can compare to a good radial arm saw in versatility and accuracy; however, it sorely lacks in portability. After using the DW716 for awhile, I've finally found a tool I like more than the tank of a radial arm saw. While the sliding compound miter saws rival the cutting capacity of a radial arm saw, the sliders tend to be less accurate. Furthermore, the sliders take up a huge amount of area on a workbench because of the added depth of the rails. While the cutting capacity is nice, I find that I don't need to cut 14" boards very often (a circular saw can suffice for cutting 2x12s since that's generally a roughing project anyway). The DW716 has several features that are extremely useful. The miter detent override is particularly useful for those not-quite-45-degree miters by preventing the saw from slipping into the normal detents. The tall fence is great for large crown molding, and the double bevel feature comes in handy then too. The way the saw is set up allows for very tall vertical cuts, which is much easier on the saw. The belt driven operation makes a much different noise than traditional direct drive saws, but the motor is then out of the way for bevels to the right and vertical cuts. There are several complaints people have about the saw. Firstly, it's expensive, but like that radial arm saw, it's built to last, and it works much better than cheaper saws. Secondly, people are disappointed that for the price there is no attached laser or work light. The work light might be nice, but a normal worksite light works better. Lasers are a joke for serious carpenters. The best way to get an accurate cut is by inching the running blade up to the line with a false cut or two on the scrap side; then you know exactly where the cut will be. Lasers have to be calibrated perfectly (and recalibrated too) to be accurate, and you're also left with the problem of the laser being sighted to one side of the blade or the other. The laser can't be in the center of the blade because it won't adjust for the width of the kerf (always remember not to get a thin kerf blade since they wander and won't make as accurate of cuts), and if the laser is to the left or the right, you can only be accurate when your line is on that side of the board. And all of those little gimmicks just give more opportunities for things to break. Dust collection on this saw is bad, just like every other miter saw. The fulcrum for the arm is up high so as to allow for taller vertical cuts, resulting in the dust bag being too high for reasonable dust collection. I hook my shop vac up to solve the problem, but dust still flies. And yet I don't loose sleep over this. You're not going to regret buying this saw.
-
Posted: Apr 2 2009
OK so lets make something clear really quick before I talk about the saw. A lot of carpenters ask me what I think the best saw is. Depends on what you do for a living and how you do it. No tool manufacture makes all perfect tools, only some. The Dewalt 12" slider is a piece of junk but this saw rocks. The Bosch jigsaws are amazing tools but Bosch's 10" slider is always a pain to stay square. With that said here is my review on the DW716. I need two saws for being a finish carpenter. A 12" miter saw for cutting big material and big crown and base in position is amazing. I also have a Hitachi 10" slider that I love if I am doing a huge 8-10" crown, paneling, or lid work or small cuts with base cap or even large casing. I've beat the crap out of the DW716, cut miles of base, crown, deck work etc and it does a great job. I recommend for this product to get a thick kerf saw blade with 60+ teeth because of the saw capacity you will use it to cut tall material vertically, and you don't want a thin kerf to wonder when you go down to make a cut. A CMT or Forrest ChopMaster are great blades to use. The Freud Industrial blades are decent but spend the extra 20 and get the other ones. Another thing to mention is how convenient the miter over ride feature is for changing a 45 to a 45.5 etc.. This saw stays accurate and is very accurate. This saw is not the same as the cheaper 715 because the 715 has the motor on the right that gets in the way and the 716 motor is placed higher up and has the bigger fence and dual bevels for changing weird base cuts etc. It is very accurate, cuts great and does a great Job for most tasks. It only cross cuts 8" however I flip the material over all the time and it always turns out a perfect 90.. I recommend also to build an auxiliary fence out of hardwood to not rely on the fence. They move a little with pressure because they are so tall but it's not worth discarding the thought to purchase this saw. Dust collection is suprizingly good and the bags fills up quickly. I could care less about dust collection because to me its no reason not to buy a saw. The saw is very powerful and you can tell when you squeeze the trigger it jumps. No big deal if you're a carpenter, but an inexperienced do-it yourselfer might be intimidated by the power. I'm a finish carpenter and highly recommend in the Dewalt miter saw line as follows-the 708, the older 12" slider not the newer DW718, this 716 and the new 8 1/2" slider. The rest of them have been very disappointing on the job site. Hope this review helps a professional.
