DEWALT DW703 Heavy Duty 10-Inch Compound Miter saw

I debated a long time between a 10" or 12" miter saw, but when I stumbled across a refurbished DeWalt DW703 10" I simply couldn't pass it up. In the couple of years I have owned it I haven't found a time where I really "needed" the 12", and the advantage I have with the 10" is that it uses the same size blades as my table saw....so that keeps things simple.

If you have already made up your mind and have decided upon a 10" saw, I would have no reservations about recommending the DW703. I fully realize that DeWalt has other 10" miter saws and I'm sure they are as equally capable, but since I have no experience with them I'll only be commenting upon this particular model.

I have used this saw for rough framing, trim, and even for cutting sections of PVC and plastic. Over the course of the last two years I have moved the saw dozens of times, switched blades a few times, set it up and tore it down, and even after all of that the cuts stay absolutely accurate. Whether I'm cutting a 45, a 90, or any other angle this saw delivers and has never needed any adjustments. I have cut a little crown molding on the saw and again the cuts were at precise angles with no slop in the saw (I did opt for the optional crown stops which helped keep the stock at the proper angle).

I primarily use this saw on a miter stand and I couldn't imagine doing it any other way. In the few times where I needed to make just a few quick cuts on the floor it worked well enough, but the relatively small table surface area would make this difficult if working with long stock, so if I didn't have a miter stand I would surely opt for the optional extension system.

One disappointment was that DeWalt didn't offer a laser attachment for the saw. They offer a laser for the 12" saw, and now they even offer a LED light that "projects" a shadow of the blade on to the stock, but neither of these options is available for the 10" version, so I installed a Irwin laser guide onto the saw and it has worked beautifully.

Amazingly enough, even the dust bag on this saw works pretty well. I would estimate it captures at least 75% of the dust when working with the 40 tooth blade that comes with it, but it ceases to function very well when using a better blade (see my review of the 80 tooth Freud Blade for additional detail on this). If using a blade with more teeth, or when cutting MDF it may be to your advantage to hook up a shop vac to the saw or use some other type of dust collection system.

As to that 40 tooth blade it worked quite well and made smooth accurate cuts right up until the point I tried to go through a couple of nails with it. I chipped a few of the carbide teeth and lost a couple of others, but interesting enough the blade still works pretty well for dimensional lumber (although I would not use it for any fine detail work).

I've used cheaper miter saws and I've used more expensive miter saws, but for me this one is just right. If it was stolen from me today I would have no reservations about ordering a new one tomorrow although if the right deal presented itself I could be convinced to upgrade to the 12" just for the sake of it being slightly more versatile.

I purchased this item for my husband, for his Birthday, he had been telling me for a year or so that this is the Miter Saw he really would like to have. I kept looking at different places and finally decided on
Amazon.com, because the price was within my budget. We are beginning to do some remodel work in our home and this will be utilized a lot. He is thrilled with his new "toy". Thank you Amazon.com.

I purchased this saw for my husband after much research and plenty of recommendation. He was very happy with it as a gift and upon using it said - this is one slick tool!
Amazon price was great add the free timely shipping and I couldn't go wrong. Highly recommend this tool and Amazon as the supplier!

This 10 in miter saw was the perfect addition to the small but growing shop we have in the garage. It came quickly, in great shape, and at an amazing price off amazon.

-The miter gauge is easy to read, and as accurate as almost anyone would need. The detents also help, as the gauge does get covered with dust pretty quickly, and they seem accurate as well. The bevel gauge is adequate, but because of the gap between the arrow and the scale it can be hard to read without getting down on your knees and looking straight on. As some have said the arrow is flat on the top, and this line is what you line up with the scale.

-The saw has plenty of power, and what it can cut is clearly limited by the size of the blade, not power. There is no noticeable slowdown even in pressure treated 2x4 s, and if you keep a sharp blade on I would never expect there to be. It screams when it runs, much louder than other belt driven dewalts I have used, although this scream has slightly diminished with use.

-The saw seems very sturdy as well, and no important or moving parts seem to be plastic. The action is very smooth all the way down and up through the stroke, and the spring seems to be well balanced. There is a kickback from the torque when started however, so don t let this startle you.

-The guard moves mostly out of the line of sight as you bring the blade down, unless you are cutting something like 4x4 s, which it really isn't made for. although it works fine if you tape the guard up, but I wouldn't recommend this.

-The blade that comes with it makes very quick, and relatively smooth cuts. Blade changes are easy, with the spindle lock and included wrench, and if finer work is required, a blade with more but finer teeth would be helpful.

-Many reviews complain about the dust bag, but personally I think they expected too much. It catches about half the dust, and although this leaves a lot, it makes quite a difference too. You can always let it just spew out the spout, or hook up a dust collector if you don t like it.

-Clamping is a little tricky, as the fence has weird nooks and crannies to work around. It is very possible, but takes a little work.

I gave this saw a 5 out of 5 because it does what it is designed too exceptionally. It is not for a contractor, or to cut large lumber with, but for the homeowner it will cut anything 2x4 or smaller without a sweat. It also feels like it has been designed to last, and I feel perfectly confident pushing it to the limit when necessary. This saw has been a pleasure to use, and I recommend it to anyone with similar needs to mine.

Great little saw to transport around. I bought the Ryobi saw stand for 99.00 and the two combined are a great duo. I replaced the 40 tooth stock blade with a Frued 24 tooth because I am cutting treated pine,less strain on the motor and the 24 tooth last longer, cuts great. Very impressed with the quality and construction of the saw, I like the handle on top to carry it and the locking pin. Love the saw.