DEWALT DW716 Miter Saw Review

By Robert Robillard on Tool Reviews, Tools PLUS!

DEWALT DW716 15 Amp 12-Inch Double-Bevel Compound Miter SawDEWALT DW716 Miter Saw Review

The folks at DeWalt recently sent us their DeWalt DW716 Miter Saw to review.

With so many miter saws out there today it’s tough to find “that perfect one.”  You know what I mean, that special saw that does it all, one that is light weight, powerful, durable and will best suits all of your needs.

The DeWalt DW716 twelve inch, double bevel compound miter saw is certainly worth a look at.DEWALT DW716 Miter Saw Review

First Impression:

Like many of their miter saws the standard controls, bevel and miter locks as well as the fence locks,  have not changed.  And why should they?

If they aren’t broken, why fix them, right?

Smooth Controls:

The DeWalt controls are solid, easy to grab and easy to use.  Another niceDEWALT DW716 Miter Saw Review feature the DW716 offers is the thumb lever alongside the miter lock control.  When engaged this lever allows the saw base to freely swivel to any degree cut without locking into the common notches that the miter arm would typically click into.

The miter fence measures between 0 and 48 degrees both to the left and right. Hardened steel bevel stops at 0, 33.9, 45 and 48 degrees on both sides make finding and setting the most common bevel angles a quick, easy process.DEWALT DW716 Miter Saw Review

The DEWALT DW716 Miter Saw has a stainless steel miter detent plate with 11 positive stops for the most common cuts.

This saw has tall sliding fences which are super useful when supporting crown molding up to 6-5/8-inch nested.   Both fences easily slide out of the way for bevel cuts.

The motor gearbox has been designed to increase vertical cutting capacity, such as vertical baseboard, up  to 6 1/2 inches and will cross-cut a 2×10 ion the flat.

The Chop motion is securely and controlled by a strong spring and operates smoothly – which has a feel of quality to it.   I equate it to the feel of turning a Mercedes steering wheel.  You can “feel” the quality built into it.  the saw guide is precise and works as designed and I found it easy to see my cut lines at all times.

Dust Collection:DEWALT DW716 Miter Saw Review

Don’t overlook dust collection, as this saw has a nice beefy dust bag.   All too often you find the dust collection bags are not heavy duty and have potential to let finer dust get outside them.

DeWalt has provided a heavier canvas saw dust collection bag to their saw, allowing for more dust to be contained.    We do most of our cutting outdoors but occasionally go indoors and with the correct attachments this saw can easily attach to a vacuum if needed.

Weight and Durability:

Overall this tool fits the DeWalt Standard.  It is not overly heavy, although very durable and sturdy.    The saw weighs 44 pounds, and measures 27.5 x 18 x 20 inches.

The miter saw handle was precisely placed allowing for optimal balance and ease of transport.

However the biggest selling point which does not appear on all miter saws comparable to this model, is that the saw bevels both left and right.  At one point in time, almost all carpenters have owned a miter saw that allowsed for only one miter. This forces you to double and sometimes triple check how you cut certain moldings.  This dual bevel feature is a huge selling point and at price point of $329.00 its a bargan.

Overall Impression:

Between the ease of controls and use, the power to which this saw contains, I would absolutely market this tool as a PRO tool.  The DW716 is a great miter saw that any professional would be happy to use on any project big or small.

However, I do wish the saw came with a crown fence and crown clamp.  A majority of miter saws I’ve encountered have these items included.

One other feature to consider is that this saw does not have a safety switch.   While personal preference I think adding this small safety feature could extend the safety of the saw.

How Much and Where To Buy:

The DeWalt DW716 15 Amp 12-Inch Double-Bevel Compound Miter Saw DEWALT-DW716-12-Inch-Double-Bevel-Compound

 

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About the author

Robert Robillard

Carpenter / Remodeler / Editor

Rob Robillard is “The Concord Carpenter” Rob is a builder, general contractor, carpenter, woodworker, and editor of Concord Carpenter and ToolBoxBuzz As a General Contractor and carpenter, Rob owns and operates Concord Carpenter LLC. A full-service remodeling and construction company. Rob is a recognized leader in home building best practices and a source for how-to information for building professionals. On this website, Rob covers all aspects of home construction, building science, home improvement, woodworking, remodeling, and some of the best product and tool reviews. Rob is in charge of our Tool and Product Review series - Concord Carpenter Videos where we post all of our tool reviews and video tutorials. Rob approaches remodeling and building construction with a pragmatic and problem-solving approach. He enjoys using his knowledge and experience to help and educate building professionals as well as DIYers on best practices in the construction and remodeling industry. He's a strong advocate for "raising the bar" in the construction trades and promoting the trades to youth. #BeAMentor #Green2Great Craftsmanship, quality, and pride guide his journey on this channel The Concord Carpenter's motto: "Well done is better than well said!" : Read more about Rob

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