Dewalt Dw705 Review: a Practical Look at This Miter Saw

Safety and Fit Boundary

Follow the product manual, use appropriate PPE, and respect local code or professional requirements. If the job involves electrical work, structural risk, fuel-burning equipment, or unfamiliar cutting tools, bring in a qualified professional.

The DeWalt DW705 is a straightforward 12-inch corded compound miter saw that fits trim, framing, and fixed-shop work better than daily carry. That answer changes if you need a lighter saw that moves up stairs every day, because older full-size compounds reward a permanent station. It also changes if dust cleanup and modern convenience features sit at the top of the list, since the DW705 wins on plain utility, not refinement.

We wrote this as editors who track legacy DeWalt saw layouts, used-tool condition, and replacement-part searches for workshop buyers.

Quick Take

The DW705 makes sense as a workhorse, not as a feature chase.

Strengths

• Simple compound layout with fewer moving parts than a sliding saw.
• Full-size 12-inch class cuts for trim and framing stock.
• Best in a fixed setup where the saw stays square and ready.

Trade-Offs

• No sliding reach for wider stock.
• Older units demand a real inspection before purchase.
• Dust cleanup lands on the owner, not the saw.

Best fit: a garage or shop station where the saw stays square.
Wrong fit: a saw that spends every morning in and out of a truck.

The key point is simple, the DW705 buys straightforward use, not a long feature list. A clean example beats a flashy listing with vague photos every time.

First Impressions

The DW705 reads like a legacy DeWalt saw built for clear work habits. The controls stay plain, and that helps on repeat cuts because the saw does not ask you to learn extra mechanics before you get to work.

That same plainness exposes the used-unit reality fast. A clean fence, smooth detent, and guard that returns without drag signal a saw ready for work, while nicked edges or a sticky return show hard use and rough storage.

On a shared bench, the fixed layout feels efficient. In a cramped garage, the saw occupies more real estate than a compact trim tool and asks for its own corner.

Key Specifications

The DW705 lives or dies by a short list of decisions, not a giant feature sheet. Because this is a legacy saw, the exact accessory bundle and condition vary by unit, so the individual example matters more than the name on the housing.

The drawback of a short spec list is that buyers have to read the saw, not just the model number. A clean, square DW705 is a different purchase from a tired one with worn hardware and missing pieces.

What It Does Well

Simple cuts without extra motion

For straight trim and framing cuts, the DW705 favors repeatable, no-drama operation. That matters on punch lists where a saw gets used for the same few angles all day. Compared with a sliding DeWalt DWS779, the DW705 asks for more board handling, but it gives up the sliding hardware that adds size and complexity.

The trade-off is reach. Wide stock needs more repositioning here than it does on a slider, and that slows the pace on jobs built around broad boards.

Good on a dedicated station

If the saw stays on a stand, its older footprint stops feeling like a burden. A fixed station turns a plain compound saw into an efficient shop tool because the machine sits ready instead of getting packed and unpacked.

The downside is mobility. The moment the DW705 becomes a travel saw, its bulk starts to matter in a way a bench-mounted saw never does.

Familiar for DeWalt users

Crews already using DeWalt gear recognize the handling quickly. That short learning curve matters on shared jobsites, and it also makes the saw easier to hand to another worker without a long explanation.

The drawback is that familiarity does nothing for dust control or worn parts. A familiar tool still loses value if the fence is tired or the guard drags.

Where It Falls Short

Dust cleanup stays on the owner

The DW705 does not erase dust the way a Bosch CM10GD puts a more polished glide-style setup in front of the user. In a garage shop, cleanup becomes part of the purchase, not an afterthought.

The trade-off is a simpler tool that asks more of the operator after the cut. Buyers who want the cleanest possible setup need to move up the ladder.

Used examples need inspection

A DW705 from the secondary market needs a fence check, detent check, guard check, and cord check. That extra inspection time is real, and it wipes out the savings on a sloppy example.

A clean photo does not prove a clean saw. Most regret starts when the buyer trusts the listing and skips the hands-on check.

Wide-stock work slows down

If the plan includes wider baseboard or repeated big crosscuts, a sliding DeWalt DWS779 handles the job with less handling. The DW705 loses that lane because it is a fixed-head compound saw.

That loss matters on repeat jobs, not just on paper. Once the work turns into wide material all day, the saw starts asking for extra steps.

The Detail That Matters

Trade-off block: the DW705 is a condition purchase first and a DeWalt purchase second.

Most guides treat all DeWalt miter saws as the same purchase. That is wrong here because the DW705 is a legacy platform, and the saw’s actual condition shapes the experience more than the badge on the housing.

The hidden cost sits in time, not sticker shock. A buyer who wants to tune a fence, replace a missing part, or chase a guard issue pays with weekend hours, and older saws punish that habit.

The first owner already absorbed the new-tool depreciation, but the second owner inherits wear, storage damage, and any shortcut in setup. That is why a complete, square DW705 holds appeal, while a sloppy one turns into a project.

How It Stacks Up

Against the DWS779, the DW705 loses on sliding capacity and the comfort of a newer platform. It wins when the job lives on a bench and the buyer wants the simpler saw to own.

Against the Bosch CM10GD, the DW705 gives up glide smoothness and the more refined cut experience many finish carpenters prefer. It wins if the buyer values fewer moving parts and a familiar DeWalt format.

Who Should Buy This

Buyers who park a saw on a bench or stand get the best value here. DIYers replacing an old DeWalt and wanting the same control logic also land in the right lane.

Used-tool shoppers who inspect fences, detents, and guard action before buying belong here too. The trade-off is clear, these buyers accept older-platform support and give up sliding reach.

Use-case callout: garage trim station, rental-property punch list, or a backup saw that stays parked.

If the saw will stay in one place and handle repeat cuts, the DW705 makes practical sense. If the work shifts into wide stock, move up to a DWS779 instead.

Who Should Skip It

Daily movers should skip it. A saw that rides in and out of a truck every day turns the DW705’s size into friction and its age into extra care.

Finish carpenters who want sliding reach and cleaner dust handling should also look elsewhere. Buyers who want a current-model paper trail and easy accessory shopping belong closer to a newer DeWalt or Bosch platform.

Skip list: mobile crews, wide-stock workflows, and buyers who want a modern support path.

The DW705 becomes an annoyance the moment the job depends on portability or convenience features. That is the wrong place to save money.

Long-Term Ownership

After the first week, the DW705 becomes a maintenance habit. Keep sawdust away from the guard path, wipe pitch off the table and fence, and the saw stays easy to live with.

Let the pivot and detent area pack up, and the handling turns rough fast. The setup time rises, the feel gets less precise, and the saw stops inviting quick use.

We lack reliable life-history data on every surviving unit, so the safest secondhand buy is the cleanest complete saw, not the prettiest listing. A complete DW705 with intact accessories holds interest because buyers know exactly what they are getting, while a missing clamp or fence piece turns the bargain into a repair search.

How It Fails

The first weak point is usually the setup hardware, not the motor. Fence alignment, miter detents, and guard movement show age before the tool stops turning.

• Fence faces get dinged or lose square after impacts and rough storage.
• Miter detents lose a crisp stop and make repeat cuts slower.
• The guard return drags when dust packs into the mechanism.
• Switch, cord, and arbor hardware show wear on heavily used examples.
• Missing clamps or stops remove the convenience that made the saw appealing.

Once those items slip, the saw stops being a tool you reach for and becomes a thing you work around. That changes the value of the whole purchase.

The Honest Truth

The DW705 earns respect as a simple, practical legacy saw. It loses on dust management, portability, and accessory ecosystem, and it wins when the buyer values a straightforward machine that lives in one spot.

We like it as a used-tool choice only when the specific unit is complete and square. Compared with a Bosch CM10GD or a DeWalt DWS779, it gives up refinement for simplicity, and that trade-off makes sense only in the right setup.

The Hidden Tradeoff

The DW705’s main tradeoff is that its simplicity works best when it can stay put. It is a solid fit for a fixed bench or stand, but the older full-size layout and plain feature set make it less appealing if you need easy daily transport or cleaner, more modern convenience. For used buyers, condition matters more than the model name, since a clean fence, smooth movement, and intact parts tell you far more than the listing text.

Verdict

Buy the DW705 for garage trim, shop crosscuts, or a backup saw that stays parked. Skip it for daily mobile work or any job that depends on sliding reach, newer dust handling, or current accessory support.

If the choice is between a clean DW705 and a tired newer saw, we take the clean DW705. If the choice is between the DW705 and a newer DeWalt DWS779 or Bosch CM10GD that matches the job, we take the newer saw.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the DW705 good for trim carpentry?

Yes, for straight trim, casing, baseboard, and repeat angle cuts on a fixed station. It loses ground when the job needs sliding reach or daily transport.

Is a used DW705 worth buying?

Yes, when the fence is straight, the detents are crisp, the guard returns freely, and the unit includes the parts you need. A worn or incomplete saw stops being a bargain fast.

What should we inspect before buying one?

Check the fence, miter detents, blade guard, switch, cord, arbor area, and whether the saw sits square at the angles you use most. Those checks matter more than cosmetic wear on a legacy saw.

Is the DW705 better than a sliding saw?

No, not for wide stock or repeated crosscuts that depend on extra reach. It beats a sliding saw only when simplicity and a fixed station matter more.

What alternative belongs on the shortlist?

The DeWalt DWS779 belongs there for sliding capacity, and the Bosch CM10GD belongs there for a smoother glide-style experience. The DW705 stays the better pick only when you want the older compound layout and accept the trade-offs.