I've been using my Dewalt 7 1/4" 20V miter saw for about a month, and while I love how light and compact it is for my trailer, I'm having some serious problems with cutting. The miters, especially for handrails, aren't coming out flat, and it doesn't seem to matter how I adjust the degree calibration. I've got a brand new blade on there, so I'm not sure if there's some deflection or if the arbor has runout. The left side fence isn't perfectly flat either, and the saw feels underpowered even with a 9ah flexvolt battery. I used to own a 12" fixed DeWalt chop saw that worked perfectly, so I'm wondering if I just got a bad unit. Other users seem to love this saw, but it's just not cutting it for me right now.
2 Answers
You might want to contact Dewalt directly and explain what's going on with your saw. They may offer to explain the situation further, replace it, or just brush you off. If it’s still super new, I'd try returning it for an exchange and see if you get a better one. Also, if you're considering battery-powered options, I’d suggest looking at the 60V models instead, since I’ve found some of the 20V tools can feel a bit underpowered for tougher cuts.
What blade are you using? A lot of 7 1/4" blades are designed for circular saws, which have different hook angles. If you’re using a blade meant for sliding miter saws, you should see better results. I usually go for the 60-tooth DeWalt blade for miters, and it works great for me. Just a thought!
Thanks! The stock blade was really bad for me. I’ve been using a 40-tooth Diablo blade. I’ll definitely consider trying out the 60-tooth. Do you really get nice, precise miters with your setup?