Dewalt DW717

8.0
8.0 score
[Editors rating (8.0)] = (DrivrZone.com) score (8.0)/10


0
Editor rating: 8.0 / 10
User's rating: based on 0 user ratings
1 star
0%
2 star
0%
3 star
0%
4 star
0%
5 star
0%
Add your Rating
Dewalt DW717 Review Facts

If you are someone who does woodworking, a miter saw is a product that you should absolutely consider having in your collection. Or, perhaps you already were on the hunt for a good miter saw. The purpose of miter saws is to make smooth and accurate angled cuts. Some of the items that you might need to use a miter saw for include window casings, crown molding, larger picture frames, and more. According to many carpenters, if you work with wood a lot, a miter saw is an essential product that you need to have. And the best part is, you don’t necessarily need to be a professional in order to have one.

A miter saw that has received fairly high reviews from customers is the Dewalt DW717. If you have worked a lot in the woodworking industry before, you probably aren’t surprised to see the name Dewalt. This is because their products are very highly durable and powerful, as is the case with this miter saw. It has a 15 AMP motor with 4,000 RPM and can be used for many different projects. The blade provides smooth and precise cuts, especially if you plan to be working with larger pieces of wood. The tall sliding fence that this product comes with will also allow you to work with more difficult materials. These, along with the fact that it comes at a rather small size and a decent price, are just some of the many features that people liked when they purchased this product.

So, in this article, we will discuss all the different features of the Dewalt DW717 miter saw, as well as what people had to say about it and what they liked and didn’t like about it. This will help you to determine whether or not you should purchase it for your woodworking needs.

Editor's Pros & Cons
Pros

Is fairly lightweight and has a compact design

Provides accurate and precise cuts

Saw has a tall sliding fence

Allows you to complete your job quickly

Can be used for a variety of different purposes

Has large bevel scale and miter capacity

Cons

Does not have the best dust collection

Some parts are difficult to use and to figure out

Motor

This miter saw comes with a powerful 15 AMP motor. This can be used for many different types of projects, and its 4,000 RPM no-load speed will allow you to make accurate cuts and to work quickly. A 15 AMP motor is quite common across many different power tools because of its durability and ability to get the job done quickly yet accurately. It is great for when you want to work with different types of materials that might be a bit more difficult to work with.

In these cases, you will need a powerful motor in a miter saw to be able to cut them. Having a powerful motor and sharp blades will increase your security because the potential of not cutting something accurately could lead to problems. So, many people were pleased with the motor in this product.

Weight

There were some people who said that this device is portable, and others who said that it does not quite fall within the portable and lightweight range. It weighs 51 pounds, which does put it above some other miter saws on the market, but at the same time, there are many miter saws that weigh a lot more and that do not necessarily offer as many features. It is important to consider that this product is made out of stainless steel, which is known for being a rather heavy element, and there are also other features in it that help to contribute to its overall durability

. The most durable products do not tend to be the lightest, so that is also something important to consider. However, 51 pounds is not much heavier than the other lightweight miter saws on the market- many of them weigh around 45 pounds- so you likely will not have much difficulty if you need to be able to store or transport this miter saw with you from place to place.

Design

This product has a yellow, black, and silver design that features a powerful motor, a miter plate made out of stainless steel that has 11 positive stops, a cam-lock miter handle, a tall sliding fence for working with crown moldings, base moldings, and other materials, a clamping mechanism, and more. All of these features work together to give you a product that provides accuracy, durability, convenience, and more.

It’s easy to adjust thanks to these levers and the relatively small size of the product will allow you to use it in tighter and more cramped workspaces. However, the large sliding fence will allow you to work with more difficult materials. All in all, the design of this product is innovative and one that will give efficient results.

Safety

There is not much information available when it comes to the safety of this product. However, in order for a power tool to be sold and manufactured, it needs to have been able to pass a variety of safety tests, so it is safe to say that this is something that you will be able to use without issue. It does have a blade brake and people have agreed that it is fairly easy to use in most regards.

The saw is rather lightweight and compact in comparison to other models that are available on the market, which also further contributes to its safety. The fact that it produces accurate cuts also makes this miter saw easy to use because you won’t have to worry about potentially hurting yourself or causing damage to the device. There is also a crown stop and instructions on how to use it in the user’s manual that you will receive with the saw.

Size

The size of this miter saw is rather small in comparison to others on the market, but the sliding fence is what makes it large enough to be used on more difficult materials. The dimensions of this product are 23.5 x 31 x 19.5 inches, which makes it perfect for those who are looking for smaller power tools and something to fit in tighter workspaces.

Durability

There weren’t too many reviews that pertained to the durability of this product, therefore it can be assumed that this miter saw is made out of durable and sturdy materials. Considering the fact that it is made by a brand that is known for its high-quality tools, and one that is used by professionals all across the world, that can also contribute to the assumption that this is a highly durable product. Most of the materials that it is made out of are stainless steel, which is known for lasting a long time in many different appliances.

Other materials that this miter saw is made out of includes a heavy-duty plastic, which is also known for increasing the longevity of different power tools. In case you do experience any problems with the way that the miter saw works or if it fails, you will have a 3-year warranty. You can have the product serviced within one year of purchase and you will also receive a 90-day money-back guarantee.

Performance

Overall, people were pleased with the performance of this device. It has a motor that provides 4,000 RPM, which means that you will be getting accurate and quick cuts. It’s best to use when you’re taking on larger projects because of the tall sliding fence, which people said was best when you need to use materials that are more difficult to work with. The only aspect of its performance that led some people to leave more negative reviews was when it came to the dust collection, but this wasn’t something that was a huge dealbreaker for most users.

Use

There are many different uses for this product. For one, it is typically recommended for people who are more familiar with the use and the mechanics of a miter saw and not for those who are complete beginners and just starting to learn. It also isn’t really practical if you want to be working with smaller and more delicate pieces of wood because of how powerful the motor is.

There are certainly other miter saws that aren’t as powerful that can be used for more delicate projects, but if you need to be working with difficult pieces of wood, you’ll have an easy time with this device. It’s perfect for more demanding projects and when you need to use materials that require something with a powerful motor.

Price

Whether or not the price of this product was affordable and worth paying for all that is has to offer is another area where some people had mixed opinions. This miter saw retails for approximately $500, but you will be able to find it for cheaper prices on sites such as Amazon, where it retails for $460.

Overall, plenty of miter saws are available for similar prices, so this is to be expected. You are getting a product that has a powerful motor, that can be used for many different woodworking projects, and one that will provide you with accurate and smooth cuts. You can be assured that you will be using this saw for many years to come, and it was manufactured by a company that is well known throughout the carpentry industry, so you at least know that you are getting a good product out of the deal.

This company does offer some other miter saws that are available for lower prices, so if you aren’t quite comfortable with paying close to $500 to get a decent miter saw, you do have options. But know that this is a rather affordable and competitive price to pay for a miter saw.

Key Features

Has a 15 AMP motor with speed of 4,000 RPM
Has a compact and small design
Miter capacity is 0-60 degrees to the left and 0-52 degrees to the right
Comes with tall sliding fence
Can be used for a variety of purposes
Has an electric brake and a soft start

Bottom Line

Finding good power tools that suit all your needs can be a bit of a difficult task, especially when you consider the fact that there are so many companies on the market and so many new tools. Dewalt is a brand that is well-known for its high-quality and powerful tools, and it is trusted by many people worldwide for their carpentry and construction needs.

If you were on the market for a miter saw, the Dewalt DW717 is one that has received fairly good reviews. It has 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon, which means that the majority of people who purchased it liked it. Some people did have problems with some of its features- the dust collection in particular- but there were many other features about this product that people liked. It has a 45-degree bevel cut capacity, has 11 stops, can be adjusted easily, and has a wide miter capacity.

Thanks to the powerful 15 AMP motor, you can be assured that you will get accurate and precise cuts almost as soon as you pull the saw out of its box. According to a lot of people, the product has a nice size and weight, which is good for those who need to be able to transport it and take it with them places. This could also be an important feature for people who have smaller workspaces and need to work with smaller power tools.

Overall, you will be getting a miter saw that you could use for many different woodworking projects, and many people who purchased this product were not professionals. However, some said that it isn’t recommended if you’ve never worked with a miter saw before, because it may be a little bit difficult to figure out in that instance. Otherwise, many of the features that this product has to offer were highly-rated and appreciated by customers.