Amazon.com Review It's hard to imagine anything DeWalt could do to improve this saw.
As with it little siblings, the DW716 and DW715, the feature at the top of our list is the fantastic miter detent override, allowing you to compensate for a world that just isn't square all the time. Normally, setting a 44.7-degree miter would leave you with a fight on your hands with regular detents, because of that annoying tendency saws have to snap in when you get too close. But with the integrated override, you can cut as close to a detent as you need to without slipping in. The 718 miters 60 degrees to the left and 50 degrees to the right, with 10 zero-play detents, and all dead-on accurate. Of course, we like the miter cam lever, too, a great improvement over the old turnscrew knob.
The tall sliding fence has a machined support that promises nothing but the ultimate long-term accuracy. We like the extra height because it supports crown molding beautifully, even up to 6-5/8 inches nested, and base molding up to 6-1/2 inches vertically. Need a bevel cut? The fence slides neatly out of the way for bevels, anywhere from 0 to 48 degrees both left and right. (If you're in the market for this much power but just a single bevel, check out the DeWalt715 saw. A close second to this saw, without the slide, is available in the DW716 model.)
There are absolutely no complaints from this motor no matter what you're cross-cutting, as it's drawing 15 beefy amps and has a max rpm of 3,600, slicing through 2-by oak like it's paper. What we found extremely impressive is the saw's ability to crosscut a 2 x 16 just by adding an auxiliary base to bring the stock up to level with the back fence. At a 45-degree miter, you're still able to cross-cut a 2 x 12.
If portability is a factor, understand that the slide function adds a little weight, so this saw tips the scales at 53 pounds, nine pounds more than the next model down from this. Still, easy-on-the-body handles built into the base offer a nice, wide, secure grip. This is more saw than most do-it-yourselfers need, but it's a contractor's dream. --Kris Jensen-Van Heste
Amazon.com Product Description
The DW718 takes cut capacity to the next level. The innovative back fence design delivers cut capacity up to 2 x 16 at 90 degrees and will cut up to 6-1/2 base molding when standing vertically against the fence. The DW718 is powered by a 15 amp motor and comes equipped with a 12-inch carbide blade which spins at 3,600 rpm. The extra tall fences and double bevel feature deliver unmatched performance. The DW718 incorporates an adjustable stainless steel miter detent plate with 10 positive stops for the most common miter cuts. The cam lock miter handle eliminates the need to twist the miter handle to lock in on the miter angle and delivers a quick and solid miter lock. The saw features a miter detent override which allows the user to override the miter stops and adjust to the miter setting desired without the saw slipping into the miter detents. The innovative machined base fence design delivers long term fence straightness by providing additional support to the fence. The DW718 is designed to accept the DW7187 DEWALT Adjustable Miter Saw Laser System (SOLD SEPERATELY, NOT INCLUDED) which delivers visibility to the cut path. The saw can be beveled to the left 0 degrees - 48 degrees and to the right 0 degrees - 48 degrees with positive stops at 0 degrees, 22.5 degrees, 33.9 degrees and 45 degrees. Weighing in at 53 pounds and equipped with dual horizontal rails, the DW718 is designed to be compact and portable.
Technical Details
Powerful 15 Amp, 3,600 rpm motor provides extended power and durability
Tall sliding fences support crown molding up to 6-5/8 inches nested and base molding up to 6-1/2 inches vertically against the fence while easily sliding out of the way for bevel cuts
Miters 60 degrees to the left and 50 degrees to the right provide increased capacity
Compact, lightweight design (53 pounds) allows for easy transport and storage
Designed for use with the DW7187 DEWALT Adjustable Miter Saw Laser System which delivers visibility of the cutting path
What's in the Box
DW718 saw, vertical material clamp, carbide blade, blade wrench and dust bag.
Great SawApril 5, 2008 The best part of using this saw is you can cut a 2X12 board in any angle at one time. The same saw without extending arm requires two or more cuts while turning the board over or around to complete the cut. You can make a better cut in a shorter time which will save time on the job site.
The problem with this saw is the weight.
Dewalt 718 Dual bevel compound sliding miter sawMarch 31, 2008 Bought the 12" Dewalt dual bevel sliding compound miter saw on sale at Murdoch's. The saw has very poor dust collection system. The dust built up on the slide and would not complete cut. I returned it and was refunded my money. Went back to the Makita with same capabilities and no problems. Thanks for your time. Loren Holland Miles City Mt 59301.
I love mine.March 23, 2008 2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I am a carpenter by day and operate a small furniture building business nights and weekends. This saw has been with me for 2.5+ years now and gets used daily for all types of woodworking. Sometimes framing or trim, but mostly cutting parts for fine furniture. The blade that came with it is junk for anything but framing. With a good tune up and a Forrest Chopmaster blade, this saw is capable of doing extremely precision work. The following is a review I posted on a woodworking newsgroup shortly after I purchased the saw. It explains what I was looking for and why I bought the DeWalt:
"Well, after 6 weeks of borrowing co-workers saws to trim houses out because
I couldn't make up my mind on which saw to replace my old 12" Ridgid MS, I
made the decision yesterday to buy a new one. The choices narrowed down to
two, Hitachi's 10" slider, which I've used considerably. The Bosch 10"
slider, which I've never actually used, but the upfront bevel lock was worth
putting it at the top of the list. The new 12" DeWalt slider, which I
happened across browsing the tool section of HD earlier this week, was a
late entry in the running, but worth adding to the list.
I went out yesterday to get the Bosch. I own many Bosch tools and have
been very pleased with all of them. After playing with the Bosch a while,
basically putting the saw through the motions as I would if I were really
cutting with it, I couldn't help thinking about that DeWalt. Decisions,
Decisions, Decisions!!!
Anyway, I decided to drive over to the HD to give the Dewalt a second
look. On the way there, I put together the perfect miter saw in my mind,
basically combining all the things I've liked about saws I've used over my
18 years as a carpenter into one perfect saw. Knowing I'll never find this
one, I'm gonna settle for the one that is as close as possible. Here's the
list:
1. Tall fence - This allows cutting things standing up. Great for
baseboard. Also, I like to cut crown laying at the spring angle upside down
against the fence. This way, you only change the miter from left 45 deg to
right 45 deg. for cuts, and it doesn't matter if it's 45/45 deg crown or
52/38 deg crown. If you lay it flat, you're constantly changing the miter
and bevel for left and right cuts. Way less efficient for a production run.
This eliminated the Hitachi with it's small fence.
2. Slotted blade guard. - This is important for sighting straight down the
blade to your cut line. The Hitachi and Bosch have a clear guard similiar
to my old Ridgid which is nice for a while, but dust settles inside the
guard making it difficult to see through and hard to clean. This left me
sighting down from the side of the blade, which can be inaccurate. (A laser
may make this a moot point) The new DeWalt, like their other saws, has an
excellent slotted blade guard that you can sight down the blade easily.
3. Easy to read miter/bevel scale. - The DeWalt line, IMO, has the best
miter scales of the three. The miter scale on their new saw is the familiar
stainless one on their other saws which works very well. The bevel scales
were about the same on all 3 saws to me, none being greatly easier to read
than the other. (All 3 could improve here)
4. Easy to operate Miter/Bevel locks - The Bosch won the bevel lock with
it's upfront controls, but the DeWalt won on the miter lock. No knob to
turn to lock the miter, just push down. And the detent override was easier
to access too.
5. Smooth slide without deflection. - I felt the differrence in smoothness
between the three was negligable. All worked well. And, like any slider,
all deflected somewhat if enough pressure is applied.
6. Size does matter - I didn't measure each one, but the DeWalt seems more
compact for a 12" than the other two 10" saws. Oddly, it seems quite
"roomy" and compact (hard to explain this one).
7. Price. - The Dewalt, being a 12" was the same price as the competitors
12" saws at $650 which was a hard pill to swallow. The competitors saws
also came with a laser while the DeWalt is a $50 option. However, after
years of buying what I could afford as opposed to what I really wanted,
lately, I've been buying what I feel will help me produce the best quality
work with the least amount of fuss.
There are a number of other things on the list of the "perfect saw" such as
dust collection (which is not-so-great on all saws I've used), capacity,
accuracy, (which I'd expect on any quality saw) etc, that I can add, but the
points mentioned are the differences between them rather than what I'd
expect from all saws so I'm gonna let it go at that.
I ended up with the DeWalt as it met the most things I was looking for. Set
it up last night (well, it was put together out of the box except to attach
the dust bag and optional laser, which i purchased) and have put it to the
test today. The laser took a little time to align, but produces a nice
bright thin line. If the laser is aligned incorrectly, it will make a thick
fuzzy line, kind of like pointing a flashlight straight at the ground as
opposed to shining it at an angle with the ground, so keep that in mind if
you are setting one up. I read some reviews about the saw this morning on
this group and noticed someone mentioned the slide was difficult to use. I
did notice this on the store model and was somewhat concerned. However, my
saw slides smoothly. The store model was on a shelf considerable higher
than my stand, so I suspect the height difference may play a part in the
sliding mechanism being operated smoothly. As far as accuracy, I've cut up
some big thick stuff today, 12/4 x8 WO, 8/4 walnut etc. The saw performed
just fine. Accurate and smooth cuts, even with the factory supplied 60
tooth DeWalt blade (and I'm am not a fan of DeWalt blades either) and easy
to operate. So far, I'm very pleased. It has passed all preliminary tests.
The real test is gonna happen this week when I take it to a production
environment and see how it goes. I'll post a follow up shortly.
The salesman told me it has a 90 day money back guarantee if I don't like
it, but I think DeWalt is going to keep my money on this one."
That was a recap of what I was looking for when I purchased the DeWalt 718. After using it for several years, I have never regretted buying the saw. It's been a real workhorse and although I regularly check it's settings, it's rarely went out. This saw, when tuned up with the right blade, can be deadly accurate. My only real complaint is the optional laser is junk. It works until the saw is moved even slightly, and then it goes out of alignment. It's been annoying enough that I haven't even turned the laser on in the last 2 years. However, the saw gets used pretty much daily and continues to provide me with reliable, accurate cuts. -dave
DEWALT DW718 Heavy-Duty 15 Amp 12-Inch Dual Bevel Sliding Compound Miter sawMarch 22, 2008 1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Very smooth and powerful enough to do most of my wood cutting. Reasonable price. Look forward to finding out long term performance.
Not too happy I paid that much for itFebruary 22, 2008 0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I'll sum up the only flaw that matters. Its ability to return to 0 bevel.
The way the bevel detent/lock works is when you flip the lock actually bends a piece of steel up to release. With lock engaged that piece of steel still flexes and lets the bevel move over 1 degree. This is a real pain when you want to cut crown angled against the fence and base, or cutting trim vertical against the fence.
Rough in carpentry is about all that i would recommend this saw for.
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