Miter saw advise, DeWalt DW705 vs DW706

[Shran]

Need some advise........ I have had a DeWalt DW705 miter saw for many years. It is a tank and works very well. I have been looking for a nice stand for it - I found one at a pawn shop but the catch was, it came with a one year old DW706. So I really only need one saw........ I am thinking about selling off my crappy old stand and one of these. Here's the comparison:

DW705 - 12", direct drive, very loud, cuts great, needs a cord, well used, probably 20+ years old
DW706 - 12", belt drive, much quieter, seems like it has less power, excellent condition, 1 year old

I think I could get almost all my money back if I sold the new saw with my crappy stand and kept the saw I know and love. But the new saw is just so quiet...and in really, really nice shape. But I am leary of the belt drive aspect and it just doesn't seem like it spins as fast or cuts as quick. They are about equal on paper - 4000rpm, 15 amp.

What says the community?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

They both have the same blade? With equal wear?
I dont have any experience with either, just making sure you compare apples to apples.

 

[Shran]

Yep, same blade... The 706 is basically a newer, quieter version of the 705. I have several really nice blades that will fit either of these, I figured I'd let a couple of my old dull ones go with the saw I sell.

 

[rumblecloud]

I love my old tools, but in this case I think I would go with the newer belt drive. 20 years is a long life and I am sure it has served you well. Since you're going to buy the new one anyway, what's the rush in selling either one? Keep both till you've worked with the new one for awhile, then decide.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Sell them both and buy a Rigid?

 

[Roert42]

If the motors are the same size the direct drive one will have more usable power, less driveline loss.

On paper I would be more inclined to want the older direct drive unit, but in person I would probably pick whatever one had a better feel.

I have a new DW715 direct drive, pivots on two axis for beveled cuts. It's loud, but I only use it outside.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

I work IATSE union set construction for the Hollywood studios, where there is tremendous amounts of carpentry, compared to my miniscule welding shop. Our table saw to chop saw ratio is at least 3:1. We have a mill, and work on stages ad locations. I would say 99% of the saws is the Dewalt 12" double bevel sliding compound saw. Not sure which specific model, but definitely get the sliding.

Some studios, like CBS, provide ready to go mills that production can rent for us to use, they have huge old saws, sanders, planers, mills etc...but the chopsaws are all Dewalt.

In contrast, most of the table saws are Delta, or Sawstop (the hot dog saw).

 

[Eddo Rogue]

From what I recall most of the construction bosses get the "$599" model lol

 

[Shran]

I was hoping someone on here does carpentry or siding or something and might have had both of these saws...and run them for long enough to tell a difference!

I love my old tools, but in this case I think I would go with the newer belt drive. 20 years is a long life and I am sure it has served you well. Since you're going to buy the new one anyway, what's the rush in selling either one? Keep both till you've worked with the new one for awhile, then decide.

I did a bunch of cutting yesterday with my nice 60t and 80t trim blades. I swapped them between saws and I swear the older one cuts faster and smoother. The ends of angled cuts were definitely smoother with the old saw, and the same blade. Additionally the old saw just rips through stuff, it doesn't even slow down on a 2x6 or 4x4... the new saw seems like it bogs down and takes its time to make a cut.

I'm on the fence. I could keep both and use my old one for trim and stuff that needs to look good, and put a framing blade on the new one and use it for that only... or just part with the new one. I'm kinda leaning towards that. I just know I'm gonna be disappointed with it in the long run. Might as well try and make my money back while it still looks nice!

Sell them both and buy a Rigid?

Ha, I might as well buy one from Harbor Freight if I'm going that route... I would be buying Bosch if I had to switch brands.

If the motors are the same size the direct drive one will have more usable power, less driveline loss.

On paper I would be more inclined to want the older direct drive unit, but in person I would probably pick whatever one had a better feel.

I have a new DW715 direct drive, pivots on two axis for beveled cuts. It's loud, but I only use it outside.

Now that I've had a chance to run them both I agree with you 100%. They don't make them like they used to... my old saw is just so good.

Not sure which specific model, but definitely get the sliding........In contrast, most of the table saws are Delta, or Sawstop (the hot dog saw).

Neither of these are sliders. I would like to have one but I find that the non sliders are much more accurate for really fine cuts. The slide would be nice to have for cutting 2x10s or 12s but I rarely use those...and typically it's just for framing anyway so a cordless circular saw and a speed square get the job done there.

I have a Delta Shop Master table saw - that thing is a piece of crap but it keeps running. My main complaint is the fence, which is almost impossible to keep square. I will probably buy a new table saw in the near future and it will certainly be either a Bosch or DeWalt.

 

[Jazzer]

I’d put new bearings in the old one and keep it- you know you love it.

 

[CrabGuy]

I finally retired my old DW705 chop saw that served me for 15 years. I bought the DW780 sliding miter saw a couple years ago when it was a killer sale. My 705 was getting pretty worn out and needed new bearings and brushes. The new sliding saw with the XPS blade guide was far beyond my expectations. The cutting capacity increase is huge and it was dead on accurate right out the box. First thing I do is swap the DeWalt blade for a better Diablo 80T. It's a beast and I mounted it to a Husky folding/rolling stand.

 

[Shran]

I've been using the crappy DeWalt blades for framing and cutting up pallets and stuff. They are marginally OK for that and I don't care if they get trashed when I cut through a nail.

For trim and fine cuts I have been using a 60t Irwin Marples blade. I really like it! I have an Oldham 80t blade that works pretty well too.

 

[Roert42]

On a slightly related note.

What do you guys use for cutting tongue and groove?

I've been using a cheap Ryobi table saw I picked up, but the arbor is too small for a dado blade so I need to make multiple passes and then use a chisel to clear it out. The throat plate is pretty flimsy too so the cut depth is all over the place at the end of the board.

I'm thinking, build a better throat plate and get a better chisel. I don't have a router, may need one in the future for making trim pieces, but not at the moment.

 

[CrabGuy]

On a slightly related note.

What do you guys use for cutting tongue and groove?'''

I use an inverted 1/2" plunge router mounted in my table saw top and T&G cutters since consistent cuts are easy. I'll use a dado on the table saw for lap joints but dadoed T&G never came out too well for me.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I have actually used a bunch of different saws over the years, don’t remember exactly what ones. Bunch of Dewalts and some others. I have a Rigid for my own use, got it on a Black Friday special a few years back and it’s done all I’ve wanted. Got some nice Diablo blades for it. And it’s mounted to a Dewalt stand, lol. Have the Rigid portable table saw too, with Diablo blades. It’s nice how big the table is and that the stand is built in with wheels. Had a couple Delta portable table saws before that, but they weren’t as accurate, had a much smaller table, terrible rip fence, and just kinda irritating to use. I have a rip from clear pine from my Rigid saw with a 40 tooth blade that is less than 1/16” thick and 10’ long.

All of my saws get Diablo blades. Tried a bunch of different blades over the years and been the happiest with those. And the carbide tipped metal sawzall blades are just amazing. I even used a mostly worn out one to hack through ceramic tile to fit a new window in a bathroom.

Router is the way to do T&G. Arguably it’s even good for doing ship lap joints. And a lot of other cool stuff.