FixitUp Find: DeWalt 12 Inch Slide Compound Miter Saw

The DeWalt 12-inch slide compound miter saw is a super slick slider.

If you’re in the market for a professional, high-performance 12 inch dual bevel compound slider you’ll get one with the DeWalt DW718. If you’re a trim guy or woodworker, you’ve got masterful molding, bust-out framing production, and a

I’m gonna spill the beans (and mix metaphors) right out of the gate: DeWalt’s 12 inch dual bevel slide compound DW718 is the best miter saw I’ve ever used.

There. I said it.

I used the DW718 framing and trimming and it super-starred throughout. Power, feel, cut capacity, blade change, detents, and even what I call the little-big-things like well-designed carry handles all work wonders-and can help you deliver wonderful work.

Power. Many carpenters pair sliders with trim and when you install hardwood packages, especially 1 x 12 parts like skirt boards, shelf blanks, or super-tall base saws need muscle. But if you’re a framer you might set up (actually you probably should if you don’t) a slider for gang-cutting blocking or angled studs, gable-end siding cuts, and they rock on decks, which is how I tested the DW718’s power.

I cut 2×10, 2×12, and 4×6 framing from a treated product called TimberSIL Wood. While TimberSIL is Southern Yellow Pine like the green stuff, TimberSIL’s treatment process renders the lumber denser than PT. The DeWalt’s belt drive motor muscled through. Pine 1-by has no chance. Even in twisted 2 and 4-by that might pinch a blade and cause the saw to jump, the DW718 cut impressively.

All the belt drive sliders I’ve cut with like to hop a little on take-off (including this one) but it was easy to get used to.

Accuracy and Detents. Power is no good without accuracy and the DeWalt cut square and true.

It’s easy to swing the saw and lock into all detents on the miter scale (including 31.62 degrees for cutting crown flat–YES). If you want a setting just past a detent (say 23-degrees instead of 22.5), no prob.

The bevel detent system rocks. It has dual (right and left) detents at 33.9 degrees for cutting crown flat . Here’s an ALL CAPS BOLD THANK YOU for that. And, you can move the saw to whatever setting you need easily with the saw’s first-class detent adjuster knob.

Feel. The DW718 is comfortable to use. Lines of site are great. I could see the blade teeth hit the work perfectly.

The horizontal D-handle is as comfortable a miter saw handle as I’ve used. The 2 finger trigger has just the right spring tension and size for my hands. It engages/disengages positively and there are no pinch points or #$%^ trigger locks to pre-press. I appreciate this simple feature and increasingly enjoy it proportional to the number of cuts I make.

Cut Capacity and Fence. The DW718’s cross-cut capacity enables you to whack a 2×12 on a 45 which is good stuff. What’s awesome though is the vertical cut capacity—combined with a 4 5/8 inch tall adjustable fence that delivers the means to move-out on a trim site.

With a 6 1/2 inch vertical cut capacity (for trim), the 718 enables you to cut tall base stock–in position–rather than flat. I can’t calculate the minutes per job/hours per house that saves! Holy *&^%$!

That capacity, however, would mean little if there was no fence to support the work. On my old miter saw, I installed a sacrificial fence (a piece of 1-by fastened through the bosses pre-drilled in what was otherwise a low fence). The taller sacrificial fence supported work—especially crown—along the back edge. Supported material, of course, is WAY safer to cut Not incidentally, the saw delivers accurate cuts more easily.

The 718 is ideal for cutting larger crowns (up to 6 5/8 inch material in position or “nested”) which is the best/fastest way. The efficiencies here are orders of magnitude greater than other saws I’ve used.

Blade Change. Blade changes on miter saws tend toward out-patient tool surgery. You have to disassemble about 1/2 the saw to bypass the blade guard armatures and shields covering the blade bolt. DeWalt’s system isn’t the best, but it’s a far cry better than others I’ve used. And, they include an awesome blade wrench that has (thusfar anyway) stayed in its on-board location. It’s big, beefy and does what it’s supposed to.

Little Big Things.

~ The carry handle is nicely positioned for moving the saw on site and in/out of the truck. At 53 pounds, it’s also light.

~ Blade take-off isn’t soft start, but it’s not instant-on either; I like that.

~ There’s no blade brake but belt resistance stops the blade nicely.

~ The bevel adjustment handle, unlike the common pull-lever/threaded handle design, is more of a lever-action deal. It took some getting used to; now I love it.

~ The motor/blade noise isn’t whiny to me. Nice.

~ The slide bars feel compact; indeed the whole tool feels that way, making it easier to move and store (at least it feels that way) than other saws I’ve used.

Gripes, Sort Of. The dust collection port was small and actually broke when a piece of wood shot into it. If there’s anything that could be categorized as an actual complaint this is it. On the other hand, every other saw I’ve had has been shrouded in just as much dust so take that for what it’s worth.

The included blade wasn’t my favorite. I got tear out in pine trim and it didn’t wow me zapping framing. For serious trim, I used a higher quality blade, which aint cheap to buy.

Regarding price, this tool retails for over $650. I never like to be cavalier about how my experience interfaces with your budget and $650 is some simoleans for a saw. I can honestly say, however, that I think the DW718 delivers on the promises of its design and is an investment that I believe will pay dividends on the back end.