Dewalt DWS709 Slide Compound Miter Saw | Review

The Dewalt DWS709 miter saw has a lot going for it, as you’ll see in this article. It’s been designed for people who want versatility, power and accuracy. It can miter 60° to the right and 50° to the left to make your life easier. There’s a lot of great features packed into the Dewalt DWS709.

Keep reading and we’ll help you decide if this is the best miter saw for you. We also compare it to a couple other great miter saws: Bosch GCM12SD and the Makita LS1216L.

Benefits of Miter Saws | Dewalt DWS709

Carrying out DIY projects at home is one of the most enjoyable ways to spend your time, but I’m sure you’ve ran into a problem. If you don’t have the right tools for the job, you’ll not be able to work your way up to more elaborate projects. When you want to move onto bigger and better things you’ll need to carry out a few upgrades to your workshop, and the miter saw is the first thing to acquire. Let’s look at why your trusty hand saw isn’t going to cut it any more.

The Reason Why Miter Saws Are Essential

Miter saws are essential because of the cuts you can make. The only one you can do with a hand saw is a cross cut if you’re aiming for accuracy and speed. A cross cut is simply one at a 90 degree angle. Table saws are more accurate, but they are still slow should you wish to perform other types of cut. A miter saw is purpose-built to handle any types of cut, which we’ll briefly describe now before moving onto the specifics of power tools like the DEWALT DWS709:

• Miter Cut – A miter cut is an angled cut across the face of your wood. It’s essentially the same as the cross cut, but it would be diagonal instead of a perfectly straight 90 degree angle.
• Bevel Cut – A bevel cut is an angled cut, but this time it would be across the edge of the wood. If you were sawing downwards through the wood it would be at an angle instead of going straight down.
• Compound Cut – A compound cut is the previous two cuts rolled into one, so you would be cutting at angles on the face and edge of the wood at the same time. Something that would get very confusing and terribly slow without a proper machine.

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Different Types Of Miter Saws

There are two specific miter saws we’re going to focus on today. We’ll ignore the basic miter saw because you won’t be able to perform bevel or compound cuts. The amount of money you’ll save buying a basic miter saw is insignificant compared to the amount of DIY projects you’ll have to sacrifice should the bevel and compound cuts be snatched away from you. Let’s look at the two main models you’d be lucky to have sitting in your home workshop:

• Compound Miter Saw – A compound miter saw is one with the ability to perform all types of cuts, but it comes in a couple of different designs. The single-bevel miter saw only drops on one direction, so you might need to flip what you’re cutting. You won’t need to with a dual-bevel miter saw because it will drop to the left or right.
• Sliding Compound Miter Saw – A sliding compound miter saw can also come with a single-bevel or dual-bevel design. Models like the DEWALT DWS709 have an extra advantage too. The miter saw has a sliding head, which means you’ll be able to work with larger workpieces if they’re required for the specific project you’re tackling.

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DEWALT DWS709 | Sliding Compound Miter Saw

Features:

• Powerful 15 amp, 3,800 rpm motor delivers extended power and durability.
• Tall sliding fences support crown molding up to 5-1/2″ nested and base molding up to 4-1/2″ vertically against the fence while easily sliding out of the way for bevel cuts.
• Exclusive back fence design cuts up to 2×14 dimensional lumber at 90° and 2×10 at 45°
• Adjustable stainless steel miter detent plate with 13 positive stops improves productivity and ensures cutting accuracy.
• Miters 60° to the right and 50° to the left providing increased capacity.
• Oversized bevel scale makes bevel angle adjustments accurate and easy.
• Compact, lightweight design (51 lbs.) allows for easy transport and storage.
• Dual horizontal steel rails with linear ball bearings deliver an accurate, durable, and compact saw.
• Precise miter system and machined base fence support optimize durability and cutting accuracy.

✓ View or download the MANUAL for the DEWALT DWS709 miter saw.

You always know DEWALT will never let you down, which is why they’re the first brand most people look at when they need a new power tool. Luckily their miter saws exceed all expectations, and the DEWALT DWS709 is particularly special as you’ll see from all the reviews on Amazon. We’re going to dig into the exact benefits you’ll get once it’s set up inside your workshop.

1. It’s An Extremely Powerful Machine
2. The Miter Scale And Detent Plate
3. An Easy-To-Read Bevel Scale
4. A Long Sliding Head And Large Blade
5. A Large Back Fence Which Slides
6. The Machine Is Compact And Lightweight
7. It Has Great Accuracy When Cutting
8. Always Keeping Your Workstation Clean

It’s An Extremely Powerful Machine

If you want a smooth cut, it’s important to have as much power as possible. The DEWALT DWS709 has a 15-amp, 3,800 RPM motor under its hood. The motor is also extremely reliable, so it’s going to last a long time even with extensive use. You might be wondering about the cable that will be dangling out of your miter saw. You’ll be pleased to know there is plenty of room to swivel the head around from side to side without running into any problems.

The Miter Scale And Detent Plate

The DEWALT DWS709 will miter 60 degrees to the right, but only 50 degrees to the left. This should still allow you to cut any workpiece without flipping it around. As an added bonus, they’ve also added a stainless steel detent plate with 13 positive spots. These angles have been chosen specifically because they’re the ones you’re likely to use the most, which means you’ll be able to reduce the time you’d normally waste setting things up.

An Easy-To-Read Bevel Scale

First of all, due to the fact this is a dual-bevel miter saw you’ll have less work to do. This is helped even more because the bevel scale is oversized, which means you’ll never have a problem setting it to the right angle. This is crucial because you’ll not be looking directly down on it like the miter scale, so it’s easier to mess up if you’re not careful. You’ll also be able to set it to half a degree increments for those jobs when everything will go wrong if it’s only slightly off.

A Long Sliding Head And Large Blade

One of the biggest benefits of the DEWALT DWS709 miter saw is its sliding head. This lets you cut large pieces of wood you would never be able to tackle on many other miter saws. It’s also helped because this model has a large 12-inch blade with 32 teeth giving it even more reach. You’ll be able to cut lumber 2×14 inches in size when the machine is sitting at 90 degrees, and this drops down to 2×10 inches in size when it’s positioned at an angle of 45 degrees.

A Large Back Fence Which Slides

There is a large back fence you’ll be able to hold your base molding against easily, and it will allow you to work with anything up to 4.5-inches in height. They will also slide away within seconds when you’re making bevel cuts to ensure they don’t get in the way. You’ll also be able to cut crown molding up to 5.5-inches in height, and to make sure the straight edges are sitting flush you’ll be able to position it in between adjustable fences you can twist to tighten.

The Machine Is Compact And Lightweight

People love the DEWALT DWS709 because it’s so light. It only weighs a fraction over 50 pounds, so it’s easy to move around if you feel like working outside with it one day in summer. As long as it’s secured to a strong enough bench it’s not going anywhere. The machine is also more compact than you’d imagine for a sliding compound miter saw, which means even when sitting inside your workshop it’s hardly going to take up any space.

It Has Great Accuracy When Cutting

We talked about the micro-adjustments helping you cut more accurately, but they’re not of much use if the machine itself can’t be trusted. Everything rests on stainless steel plates with pads, so the machine is completely rigid and will last for a very long time. On top of the solid base, you’ve also got the saw sitting on dual horizontal steel rails complete with linear ball bearings. When you combine all of these things together an accurate cut is guaranteed.

Please Note: Although your cuts will be accurate they might not necessarily be smooth. For the smoothest cuts when cutting things like molding it’s better when the saw blade has 60 teeth. Even with a different blade, for maximum smoothness you’ll need to cut through it slower too.

Always Keeping Your Workstation Clean

One of the biggest issues when using any kind of saw indoors is the mess it leaves behind. You don’t have to worry about that when you’re using this model because it comes with a dust bag, which will suck up lots of the debris while the saw slides and chops. DEWALT actually said it will pick up around 75 percent of the debris, and although it’s going to leave you with something to clean up it will make your life much easier.

Miter Saw Stand (with wheels) | DEWALT DWX726

The DEWALT DWS709 includes : (1) 12” 60T Blade, (1) Material Clamp, (1) Dust Bag

Technical Data (Dewalt DWS709):

• Amperage: 15 Amps
  
• Bevel Angle Range : 48° left and 48° right
• Bevel Stops :  0°, 33.9°, 45° Left/Right
• Blade Diameter  : 12″
• Dust Collection : Yes
• Length  : 32.375″
• Miter Angle Range : 52° Left, 60° Right
• Miter Detents : 0°, 15°, 22.5°, 31.6°, 45° (Left/Right)
• Miter Positive Stops : 0°, 15°, 22.5,° 31.6°, 45° (Left/Right), 60° (Right)
• No Load RPM : 3,800
• Voltage : 120V
• Weight  : 65 lbs.
• Width : 26.5″

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Other Great Compound Miter Saws

When you’re looking for a power tool you’ll obviously compare a few of them before deciding which one you like best, but there are so many of them out there. How will you know what models to look into? To make your life simple we’re going to discuss a few today, and we’ll look at the major differences between each one versus the DEWALT DWS709. Here are the two sliding compound miter saws we’re going to focus on:

• Makita LS1216L
• Bosch GCM12SD

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Makita LS1216L | Sliding Compound Miter Saw w/ Laser

Features:

• Compact design with a patented 4-Steel Rail Sliding System further increases rigidity to produce superior cuts.
• Exclusive 6 linear ball bearings engineered to deliver smooth, solid, and adjustment-free “dead-on” accurate cuts.
• Exclusive 5-1/2″ tall dual sliding fence system features versatile upper and lower fence adjustments for more precise miter and bevel cuts.
• Independent laser indicates line-of-cut whether blade is turning or not, with on/off switch and micro-adjustments for precise “left-of-blade” or “right-of-blade” cutting.
• Powerful 15.0 AMP direct drive motor requires less maintenance and delivers 3,200 RPM.
• Large cutting capacity for up to 8″ crown molding (nested), 6-1/2″ baseboard (vertical), and 15″ crosscut at 90°
• Patented retractable rear guard and triple gear system for increased vertical cutting capacity
• Miters 0°-52° left and 0°-60° right, with positive stops at 0°, 15°, 22.5°, 31.6° and 45° (left and right).
• Bevels 0°-45° (left and right) with positive stops at 0°, 22.5°, 33.9° and 45° (left and right).
• Dual rear-handle bevel lock is easily accessible, with front and top facing scales for more precise bevel adjustments.

Documents for the Makita LS1216L:

• View or download the MANUAL.
• View or download the PARTS LIST.
• View or download the BROCHURE.

Overview | Makita LS1216L

It’s worth pointing out the Makita LS1216L is more expensive than the DEWALT DWS709, so you’ll have to decide if the differences are worth the increase in price for you personally. There are some specific things that do make it look superior on paper.

1. A Larger Cutting Capacity
2. It’s A Lot More Accurate
3. Miter Scale And Positive Stops
4. Positive Stops On Bevel Scale
5. Easier To Use On A Regular Basis

A Larger Cutting Capacity

The cutting capacity on the Makita LS1216L is slightly better, which might help workmen dealing with a wider range of sizes in workpieces. It can cut base molding 6.5-inches in height when it’s held against the back fence, and with crown molding it can handle anything up to 8-inches in height. When you’re performing cross cuts the machine will be able to handle lumber 15-inches in width when it’s sitting at 90 degrees.

Watch this Video to Learn More about the Makita LS1216L

It’s A Lot More Accurate

You can take this with a grain of salt because it’s harder to be more accurate than dead-on, but it still has more features. First you’ve got the patented 4-steel rail sliding system with 6 linear ball bearings. The see-through blade guard, Deep and eXact Cutting Technology, and an independent laser all add up to make the Makita LS1216L extremely accurate. You’ll even be able to see if the blade isn’t going to cut straight before you touch the wood.

Miter Scale And Positive Stops

This is where the DEWALT DWS709 starts to fight back. The Makita LS1216L can only move a few degrees more to the left, and they’ll both miter 60 degrees to the right. The difference is the amount of positive stops you’ll be able to make on the latter model, which isn’t as many as the 13 on the DEWALT. If you exclude zero degrees there will only be 4 positive stops in either direction. This has the potential to slow you down a little.

Positive Stops On Bevel Scale

Both models will be able to drop 45 degrees in either direction. The bevel scale is also easy to see on each miter saw. The biggest difference is the positive stops on the bevel scale to speed up your work. There are only 3 of them on either size of zero, but it’s still a nice bonus to have them. The dual rear handle bevel lock is arguably easier to use and more comfortable to handle too, which makes a small amount of difference.

Easier To Use On A Regular Basis

Once the soft start feature kicks in to spin the blade the Electronic Speed Control will keep it at a constant speed all the time. This will help your hand from taking too much of a beating when you’re using the machine regularly. There is a large rubber D-handle you’ll find easier to use constantly too. The cherry on the top of the cake is the extra large trigger handle you’ll have no problem operating from dawn to dusk.

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Bosch GCM12SD | 12″ Dual Bevel Glide Miter Saw

Features:

• The Bosch GCM12SD is a 12 In. Dual-Bevel Glide™ miter saw that features a smooth cutting motion, accurate performance and a space-saving design of the Bosch-exclusive Axial-Glide™ system
• Pre-aligned Squarelock™ fences help the saw maintain precision throughout its life
• A soft-grip ambidextrous handle along with a combination dust chute and vacuum adaptor add to user comfort
• The saw also offers a large cutting capacity, easy-to-read bevel and miter scales with detents at common angles, and easy-access upfront controls
• Integrated expanding base extensions: 60% more left-to-right material support than leading competitor – 40 In. left to right
• Large easy-to-read uniform bevel & stainless steel miter scales: 52° left/60° right miter capacity; 47° left/47° right bevel capacity with marked detents and roof pitch angle.
• Adjustable miter detents: detents at 0°, 15°, 31.6°, 22.5°, 45°, 60° right super-accurate and durable design
• Push-button miter Detent override – easy-to-access thumb actuated control right up front for fine miter angle adjustment
• Bevel detents: 0, 33.9°, 45° left/right for accurate cuts
• Category best 90% dust collection – optimized for cutting 2x material with a vacuum
• Ergonomic ambidextrous trigger handle with soft grip – large form fitting ergonomic handle provides comfort for all-day use.

✓ View or download the MANUAL for the Makita LS1216L.

The same thing we pointed out about the Makita LS1216L regarding price applies to the Bosch GCM12SD too. That doesn’t mean it’s necessarily better than the DEWALT DWS709, but let’s look at the major differences anyway in the hope it will help you decide which sliding compound miter saw to buy.

1. It’s Almost Twice As Heavy
2. Expanded Cutting Capacity
3. A Compact Axial-Glide System
4. Extra Adjustable Base Support
5. Quick-Release Squarelock Fences
6. Bevel Controls And Marked Detents

It’s Almost Twice As Heavy

The DEWALT DWS709 weighs only 51 pounds, but the Bosch GCM12SD is 88 pounds. It’s more or less double the weight, which might be a good thing depending on your needs. If it’s going to be tucked away in your workshop never to see the light of day, it won’t make much difference to you and could even help with stability. Unfortunately, if you’re planning on moving it around to carry out work in various places you’re going to struggle with it.

Expanded Cutting Capacity

The Bosch GCM12SD sits in between the miter saws we’ve reviewed so far. It has less cutting capacity than the Makita LS1216L, but it can handle slightly more than the DEWALT DWS709. The problem will be when you want to cut crown molding, because it will only be able to handle lengths up to 6.5-inches. It will be able to tackle base molding a couple of inches taller than the DEWALT, which will help in a few different scenarios.

A Compact Axial-Glide System

This is still a sliding miter saw, but you might not think so when initially looking at it. The reason for this is because of its special Axial-Glide System exclusive to Bosch. There are a few benefits to the system, but only one that would stand out compared to the other models we’ve looked at. The Bosch GCM12SD doesn’t run on rails, so it will save you a lot of room inside the workshop. 12-inches of extra space means the bench can be pushed much closer to the wall.

Extra Adjustable Base Support

The last model we looked at spoke about a variety of reasons why it would produce an accurate cut. This one has some of the same features like the clear guard, 60 tooth saw, and easy-to-read miter and bevel scales. It also comes with adjustable plates on either side of the base, which can be extended to 40 degrees. This will lock anything in when you’re cutting provided it’s not too long, which goes a little way to making up for the lack of a laser.

Quick-Release Squarelock Fences

Back fences always come precisely aligned, so you don’t need to spend a lot of time messing around with them. You’ll want to slide them into their correct positions immediately, which is why the Squarelock quick-release fences on the Bosch GCM12SD stand out. They’re so easy to use you’ll be able to lock and unlock them using one hand. This could come in handy when you need the other one to be somewhere else as you’re setting things up.

Bevel Controls And Marked Detents

The bevel scale on the Bosch GCM12SD is a touch better than the one on the Makita LS1216L. It will be able to move 48 degrees in either direction, which is a few degrees more than either of the other two models. There is only one other slight difference you’ll notice on this model, which won’t cause you too many problems. There are only 2 detents on either side of the zero, which sit at 33.9 degrees and 45 degrees.

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Makita LS1216L vs. Bosch GCM12SD

As we’ve already said, the differences between these two sliding compound miter saws are so small you won’t even notice them. It will make it hard to compare them to the DEWALT DWS709, but there is a way to simplify things. Should you need a more expensive and advanced miter saw, let’s look at the standout feature on each model the other one can’t compete with.

Makita LS1216L – The huge positive about the Makita is the larger cutting capacity. It’s unlikely you’ll ever need to use the machine to its maximum potential in the first place, but you’ll always need to pull out the manual saw when using the Bosch before you will using this one.

Bosch GCM12SD – The biggest benefit the Bosch offers you is the ability to save so much space. You’ll still get to use the sliding arm length, but thanks to the Axial-Glide System your bench can be a little closer to the wall if you don’t have the largest workshop in the world.

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Are The More Expensive Miter Saws Worth It?

For the money you will have to pay, it might not be worth it for the average DIYer trying to remodel their home. If you are using it for work purposes it’s always good to have the best. If you flip homes for fun you might want one with more bells and whistles too. If it’s to use at home the DEWALT DWS709 is good enough unless you’re flush with money. Even if you did want more features you could always opt for a more expensive DEWALT sliding compound miter saw.

DEWALT DWS780 | 12″ Double Bevel Sliding Compound

You’ll Be Able To Remodel Your Entire Home

A sliding compound miter saw really will feel like the icing on the cake when you compare it to all the other tools in your workshop. DIY projects will quickly become a breeze to complete, and if you’re not careful you’ll be remodeling your entire home before you know it. Everyone can’t believe they’ve never bought one sooner.

If you’re looking for a great bargain you can’t do any better than the DEWALT DWS709. Not only are you buying from the biggest power tool brand in the world, but you can’t ignore all those people raving about their machine. Read through all the comments on Amazon if you really want to get a feel for what it’s like to own one.