DeWalt - 706 Compound-Miter Saw

Editor's Review: Double-Bevel Compound-Miter Saw

With the motor positioned toward the rear of the machine and the blade arbor being driven with a multi-V belt, the DW706 achieves its full double-bevel capacity.

I hoped the belt-drive design would afford soft starts and stops, but I found the tool jumpy. When I initially tried to make a cut, the motor's torque sent the blade into the stock prematurely. I avoided the problem by dropping the blade to my mark, starting the motor after raising the blade back up and then lowering the blade into the cut.

I spent about half an hour adjusting the saw for precise cutting. For instance, the miter table on the saw I tested flexed considerably around the spring-loaded center pivot bolt. The flexing throws the table out of square with the fence every time the blade presses into the stock. By removing the six screws holding down the plastic table insert, I could tighten the center bolt with a socket wrench. I traded easy rotation for a flex-free table, but my cuts were better for it.

Editor Test Results:

Editor's Review: 12-in. Compound-Miter Saws

This 12-in. compound-miter saw was the easiest to get up and running of the saws we tested because the adjustment process was so simple. Instead of adjusting the fence, you adjust the miter scale by loosening a few screws in the metal detent plate. In this miter-plate system the detents don't snap down as hard as on some other saws, so they are easy to shift out of position and to lock into angles close to the detent.

The saw has average crosscut capacity at 0 degrees (90 degrees), but the upright cutting capacity is greater than most saws, at 6-1/8 in. The upright cutting capacity let us do more work with the miter table before having to resort to flat bevel cuts.

The saw bevels in both directions with a decent bevel scale. We had to reach around to the rear to operate the bevel lock and to release the pin that allows the bevel to be swung to the right. When the saw is returned to 90 degrees, however, it automatically resets with a positive stop. The swing-out stops for 33.9-degree bevels and the slide-out stops for bevels greater than 45 degrees are on the money and easy to operate.

Editor Test Results:

More In-Depth Information

12-in. Compound-Miter Saws In a field of powerful and accurate tools, three saws stand out with useful features and large cutting capacities by Rick Arnold, Mike Guertin