Dewalt DHS716AT2


Dewalt DHS716AT2 - 12" Cordless Compound Miter Saw Kit
	Dewalt DHS716AT2 Highlights Hybrid-powered, battery or plugin Not too heavy for its class Soft-start motor Great reviews on power Impressive cutting capacities Dual bevel for better versatility Runs as Cordless or Corded Cutline(tm) Blade positioning system Standard dust collection
For the Professional Contractor	5 out of 5
For the Do-It-Yourselfer & Weekend Warrior	4 out of 5
For the Hobbyist and Beginner Woodworker	3 out of 5
For the Serious Woodworker	3 out of 5
	Specifications 12" blade, 5/8" or 1" arbor Cordless - battery powered 110 vac plugin adaptor 15 amp belt-drive motor Bevels 0° to 48° to the left Bevels 0° to 48° to the right Miters 0° to 50° to the left Miters 0° to 50° to the right Saw weight of 48 pounds Blade speed is 3,800 rpm Crosscut max @ 90° is 10"

The Dewalt DHS716AT2 – 12″ Cordless Miter Saw Kit – Review Summary

Here’s a fairly new line from Dewalt power tools called Flexvolt. This kit is the Dewalt DHS716AT2, and it comes with 2 batteries plus the charger, and an AC adaptor. The saw uses 2 – 60v batteries to provide 120v power. This makes it very powerful and able to handle any regular cut.

This cordless Dewalt compound miter saw offers the power and cut capacity of a corded 12″ miter saw. But it has the convenience of being cordless for a versatile and safer job site.

The saw gets stellar reviews online. It’s really built to last and comes with Dewalt’s standard 3-year limited warranty.

I would say this saw can handle any job the standard corded version can handle. Except with the added benefit of being cordless, this model is better geared towards the professional carpenter.

However, this feature comes at a cost.

For this cordless miter saw kit, you’ll be paying almost twice the amount compared to Dewalts corded 12″ model, which I reviewed here. The corded version is only a single-bevel, where this cordless model is dual bevel, so you’ll also be getting that added feature for the extra cost.

I would say if you’re an on-location type of user, especially in the construction fields of framing houses, where you probably are used to working with a generator, then this saw is built for you.

With the dual bevel, it also speaks to finish carpenters who do a lot of trim molding, although I’m not really sure how often this type of work is done at a site without power.

I guess if you really like the cordless tools in general, it may be worth the added cost. I, however, prefer the standard corded miter saw, as it’s more of a stationary tool and is usually used where power is readily available. Again the exception would be framers who are putting up walls, therefor plugins are not yet available on the job site.

Either way, I’ll go over the features and benefits so you can make up your own mind on whether or not the Dewalt DHS716AT2 cordless miter saw-kit is worth the money.

Dewalt DHS716AT2 – What’s To Like?

Cutting capabilities

Cross Cuts

For a non-sliding miter saw, this one has really good crosscutting capacity. It can cut through a dimensional 2×8 in a single cut.

However, like on some other Dewalt models, you can get an extra 2″ by using the back fence (which takes some extra setup). But it’s well worth it because it allows for crosscutting a 2×10 in a single cut. This is an impressive capacity for this class of saw.

Miter Cuts

For a 45-degree miter cut, this saw can handle a 4″ x 6″ cut in a single pass. This makes it possible to cut multiple boards stacked with ease. However, this practice may be frowned upon by some manufacturers. Read your manual if you’re unsure of how to make safe cuts with your miter saw.

Trim Molding

If you do trim molding, you’ll get a lot out of this saw. It can handle cutting 6-1/2″ baseboard vertically against the fence, which is handy for making really any baseboard cut. It’s more convenient doing this and using the miter adjustment, as opposed to laying it flat on the cut bed and using the bevel adjustment to cut your corners.

As for crown molding, you can nest 7-1/2″ wide pieces against the adjustable fence and do your compound cuts. This makes for great versatility in that the saw can easily handle this type of cut when doing crown molding jobs with larger crown.

And obviously, for door and window casings, this saw handles it all with ease. You have plenty of capacity for the standard crosscutting and miter cuts required for these types of projects.

Dust collection performance

While I couldn’t find any good reviews on the dust collection performance, I did notice the dust port at the back of the blade is positioned kind of high. However, it’s a pretty good sized dust port.

I would believe this saw does decent with dust collection, so long as you hook up a shop vac.

It’s very rare that the included dust bag with any miter saw catches much of anything when making cuts without a shop vac.

So if you’re like many other people who plan on using this saw in areas without a readily available power source, then you likely would also be relying on the dust bag. So don’t be surprised when you end up with a big mess after using this miter saw all day.

Versatility

The Dewalt DHS716AT2 miter saw is built very well and is designed for use on construction sites.

Being a hybrid tool for either corded or cordless, you really can use this saw anywhere.

If you’re on a job site, you will absolutely love the cordless feature. The battery technology of the day is very impressive. You’ll be able to use this saw all day without having to recharge. Of course, there’s eventually a limit to how many cuts you can make. But watch the video below to get an idea of how Dewalt is marketing this Flexvolt technology for power tools.

However, if you’re in a shop environment, the cordless feature starts to become less useful. As a woodworker, I have no desire to pay the extra cost for a power tool that is cordless, if the tool spends it’s life stationary. Hand power tools are one thing, like a drill, a circular saw, and a jigsaw. I use and love this technology for these tools.

But for stationary shop tools, I much prefer the more economical corded power tools.

But back to my point, the versatility is there and you can use this miter saw on location, whether you have an available power source or not. And that really speaks to a lot of people.

Who it’s made for

Due to the cordless option, large cutting capacities for trim molding, and the low-quality to average dust collection, I would say this saw is definitely geared towards professional carpenters.

If you do framing, deck building, renovations, or finish molding, you can get great use out of this saw.

Anything else to mention?

Like some other Dewalts, this saw uses a feature called Cutline(TM), which is really cool.

What this does is 2-fold.

First, it puts extra lighting right on your cut area, and anytime you’re making a cut, you can never have enough light. It’s all about seeing all the details, and making sure your cut is lined up good.

The second thing this system does is it creates a shadow mark on the cut piece, which is actually a shadow from the blade itself. This creates an exact kerf line of the cut you’re about to make. Youll save time and get more accurate cuts with this technology.

This replaces the industry standard cut alignment method of using a laser light to quickly set up your cut. I prefer Dewalts Cutline(TM) technology over the laser light, just because I like the added LED lighting it gives you prior to cutting.

Opinions Based On Real User Experiences

Positive Reviews

Users find that for being a battery powered tool, it has more power than they expected
Overall users love the saw and even prefer it over their corded models
Consistently getting lots of 5-star ratings
Has exceeded most users’ expectations of a battery-powered miter saw

Negative Reviews

Some users find it heavier than they expected, typical of battery powered tools
One user had issues with low power and smoke, required warranty repair

Review Summary

Overall people love this saw. I still see how it’s geared for a more specific type of user, but if cordless is your cup of tea, then go for it.

I would say if you want a cordless power tool, Dewalt has this technology figured out. Read up on their FlexVolt system to see how you can use the batteries easily between multiple Dewalt battery tools.

Is This Cordless 12″ Compound Miter Saw Worthy?

If you have a need for a hybrid powered miter saw, I would recommend this Dewalt.
It’s really geared towards the professional contractor and finish carpenter.

As I’ve been explaining throughout my review on the Dewalt DHS716AT2, if you don’t really need a cordless tool, then you’re going to be spending more money than necessary on this particular model. As you could get similar cutting capacities at a lower price, from models like the DW715.

But if you need the cordless option, Dewalt has this technology figured out. I have several Dewalt battery powered tools, and they are some of the highest quality and capable tools I own.

DIY homeowners working on random projects around the house, hobbyists, and woodworkers may not have much use for a tool like this.

But no matter what your uses will be, if it needs to be cordless, the Dewalt DHS716AT2 kit is probably going to be your best bet.