The DeWalt DWS715 15A single bevel compound miter saw is their most basic miter saw. While it doesn’t have the more advanced features, found on more expensive DeWalt miter saws, it is a high-quality machine from a brand we all know and trust.

This 12” compound miter saw review is going to unpack all the details to help you decide if it is the saw for you. While the DeWalt DWS715 a is superbly accurate, and well-made single bevel miter saw, it is fairly limited in that it only bevels to one side and does not have sliding arms to make wider cuts. For these features, you would have to pay a lot more for the DeWalt DWS779 – the ultimate DeWalt 15A compound miter saw.

For DIYers, in particular, the DeWalt DWS715 is a wonderful compound miter saw. The 12” blade allows you to cut larger material, even though it doesn’t slide to offer more width. Above all, this is a DeWalt product so you are assured of excellent quality and after-sales service. That’s why we buy DeWalt power tools.

All things considered; the price is very reasonable. Because you aren’t paying for highly advanced features, the DeWalt DWS715 is quite cheap for a saw like this with top-notch engineering from a high-end power tool brand.

DeWalt 12” Single Bevel Compound Miter Saw | The Full Review

Features:

  • 15A 1,600W motor
  • 4,000 RPM
  • Bevel: 0° – 48° left; 0° – 3° right
  • Cross cut capacity: 2” X 8” at 90°; 2” X 6” at 45°
  • Stainless steel miter detent plate with 14 positive stops.
  • Miter adjustment 50° left and right.
  • Tall 5½” fence.
  • Weight: 36 LBS.
  • 3-year warranty, 90-day guarantee, and 1-year free service plan.

Review:

If you’ve read any of my DeWalt reviews, you’ll already know how I feel about the brand. DeWalt tools are just fantastic. Though, in the realm of miter saws, I consider the Bosch GCM12SD Glide saw to be the reigning champion. However, this would not be a fair comparison.

The Bosch GCM12SD is much more expensive than the very reasonably priced DeWalt DWS715 and it’s a sliding double bevel compound miter saw. The Bosch is in a different league, competing with machines like the DeWalt DWS7719 and Festool Kapex KS120.

I’ll be reviewing this single bevel miter saw for what it is, a professional-grade machine that’s excellent for cutting hardwood floorboards, baseboards, moldings, as well as window and door casings.

It’s also great for cabinet making and decking. I think many furniture makers prefer the extra capacity of a sliding compound miter saw but for cutting up to 2” X 8” at 90° or 6” at 45°, this is a wonderful saw.

The single bevel can be an issue if you do a lot of trim molding. That’s just one of those things when you use a single bevel miter saw. You need to flip the piece over to make bevel cuts to the right.

Taking the DeWalt 12” single bevel miter saw in the right context, it’s fantastic and not very expensive.

Power

Despite being the cheapest DeWalt 12” miter saw, the DWS715 is in no way compromised when it comes to power. It has the same 15A (1,600 watts out) power plant as the more expensive 12” DeWalt miter saws. At 4,000 RPM, it plows through hard or softwood with the utmost ease.

General Quality

Apart from my own observations, I’ve also read a bunch of customer reviews to form a more objective opinion of this miter saw. There are a few points where the general consensus is unanimous. This is an incredibly accurate compound miter saw. The miter table and fence a superbly machined and are made from high-grade aluminum.

I read one review complaining about a gearbox malfunction. Though we should bear in mind that this is a one-in-a-thousand occurrence. Every manufacturer has their quality control slip-ups, that’s why they offer a warranty. Overall, DeWalt quality is impeccable. I have used, owned, and reviewed so many DeWalt tools over the years and consider this one of the best brands for outstanding engineering and quality.

Using the DeWalt DWS715 12” Miter Saw

One of the first things I noticed is how smoothly the blade moves back to the top position after making a cut. It doesn’t just spring back into position. A beautiful example of DeWalt attention to detail. The blade has a simple, easy-to-use knob to lock it in the down position for transporting and storage.

Adjusting your miter angle is quite easy. You press a button to allow the miter table to rotate 50° to either side. When you’ve set your position, simply press the locking button and it won’t budge. It has an amazing stainless steel detent plate with excellent markings and 14 positive stops, making it super easy to set the most common miter angles.

The miter plate is fastened with three screws that are easily accessible from the top when you need to adjust the blade angle if it’s not precisely 90° to the fence.

The fence is taller than average, 5½-inches, and can be adjusted using a regular locking knob that you turn to loosen and tighten. You get a workpiece clamp that locks using a similar type of knob.

You have an additional 3° bevel adjustment to the left and right, taking your left adjustment up to 48°. Although this is a single bevel miter saw, it does allow 3° to the right. It has very simple adjustments to fine-tune your bevel adjustment should it move out of alignment over time. Bevel markings are quite easily visible at the back of the saw.

Dust Extraction

I’m not too impressed with the dust removal capabilities of this saw. It has a port at the back and a dust bag is supplied with the saw. Though this does not do much to remove sawdust. You can connect a shop vac hose to the dust removal port, which does okay, but this still isn’t quite adequate for complete sawdust removal.

The Bottom Line

The DeWalt DWS715 is not a highly sophisticated 12” compound miter saw. It only has a bevel adjustment to the left of the blade and does not have a sliding action. It also doesn’t have cam lock adjustment knobs like the more expensive DeWalt miter saws.

The omission of these more advanced features makes the DWS715 much more affordable than the more advanced models. It’s the price that makes this one of the most sought-after 12” compound miter saws. It has all the high-quality traits that we expect from DeWalt without all the bells and whistles that would make it more expensive.

12-Inch Miter Saws on Amazon

Related Articles

Best belt disc sander for the home woodwroking shop
DeWalt DWE7485 jobsite table saw review
Thickness Planer review and Buying Guide
DeWalt DHS790AB 120V MAX cordless miter saw
A review of the best sliding compound miter saws
Contractor table saw review