Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I have just recently purchased the new DW718 double-bevel sliding compound power miter saw with the high hope of a getting something really nice. Boy was I wrong! I really had high hopes since the older DW708 was a nice saw! Firstly, the table is smaller than the dw708, the rails are 1 inch in diameter (rather than the common 1 3/16") this smaller rail system causes major power head deflection!!!! Accuracy is severely compromised by too much head flex - even worse is how over 14 inches of travel, the cut is out by about 16th of an inch, too much play in my opinion! Since the saw is made in MEXICO, I really feel that there are quality issues. As the older model was made is the States (hurray), this new model has a bad finish! There are aluminum slag deposits everywhere! I had to get out my grinder and start grinding off the extra aluminum that appears to be everywhere! The newly redesigned cam-lock handle is flimsy and harder to use than the previous cam-lock system. One thing that I really don't like is that they got rid of the miter-verneer scale for the miter scale. One could easily adjust (on the DW708) to 1/4 or even 1/2 degrees - you still can now, but it is way harder. They now use a wimpy piece of "flexible red plastic" single arrow; very unimpressive; it is hard to read! Also, the bevel lock is hard to use and get at. DeWalt placed it very close to the motor. So you have to pull the power head completely forward in order to get a complete grip on the bevel lock handle if you want to lock into a certain bevel angle, very bad design! They have redesigned the dust collection system. It works by having a black plastic pipe run for about 12 inches before the dust bag is attached. Barely any dust is caught. Even with my 6.5 peak Horse Power vacuum I cannot collect any dust. At least other miter saws have "some sort" of dust collection, this one fails miserably! The bevel lever (this is what allows one to set the bevel into preset detents) is sometimes hard to operate - it can stick and get jammed, so look out for this! THE SLIDE ACTION (FRONT TO BACK) IS VERY JERKY (NOT SMOOTH)! EVEN AFTER LUBRICATION, IT STILL DOES NOT SLIDE EVEN CLOSE TO WHAT IT SHOULD FOR THAT PRICE. ALSO, WHEN THE SAW IS BEVELED EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT (PAST 15 DEGREES), THE SLIDE ACTION GETS WORSE--AS THE WHOLE MOTOR ASSEMBLY PUTS ADDED STRESS ON THE RAILS. WOW-WEE!?#... There are some positives though: the unit is lighter and smaller, it does cut 14 inches with the regular fence (and when you use the auxiliary fence with a 1 1/4 inch auxiliary wood table built-up, you can cut up to 16 inches, NICE!). The positive bevel stops: crown molding miter-bevel 33.85 degrees Left / Right, 90 degree, 45 Left / Right and right are on the money and very sturdy, They are also easily calibratable if needed. The laser feature is nice, but not needed in my opinion! The laser is sold separately!!!... The left and right fence assemblies are very sturdy and accurate (they too can be adjusted if need be)! They have reversed the 60 degree and 50 degree positions on the miter table. The dw708 went 60 to the right, 50 left. Now the DW718 goes 50 right, 60 left no real bigy here! They have redesigned the saw base for better stability - the saw does NOT tip like the older dw708 did. It does cut really high molding; both nested and flat. I tried 6 5/8 nested crown, and it did it no problems here! It will cut 6 1/2 baseboard vertically, very nice! I am going to return this saw and buy the MAKITA LS1013, now there's a saw! If you really want to buy a DeWalt slider though, then get the DW708! It is proven. My opinion, buy the MAKITA LS1013 - still made in the good old U.S.A., where quality still remains! DeWalt has seriously dropped the ball on this one!!!... I have now purchased the makita ls1013, wow what a machine! The dw708 does have more cutting capacity etc, but for the quality that makita offers, you just cannot beat it. I also, give high praise to the hitachi c10fsb (no laser)! ** I do NOT work for makita or any other tool company! I am just giving technical information not given by anyone else on amazon.com; to allow decent people to make informed decisions. ** TAKE CARE!!!...