DeWalt DW715 - Vernier Scale for Precision; Cutting Base Molding; Vertical Base Molding Cuts

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The chart (Table 1) will assist you in selecting the proper bevel and miter settings for common
compound miter cuts. To use the chart, select the desired angle “A” (Figure 14) of your project
and locate that angle on the appropriate arc in the chart. From that point follow the chart
straight down to find the correct bevel angle and straight across to find the correct miter angle.
Set your saw to the prescribed angles and make a few trial cuts. Practice fitting the cut pieces
together until you develop a feel for this procedure and feel comfortable with it.
Example: To make a four-sided box with 26° exterior angles (Angle A, Figure 14), use the
upper right arc. Find 26° on the arc scale. Follow the horizontal intersecting line to either side
to get miter angle setting on saw (42°). Likewise, follow the vertical intersecting line to the top or
bottom to get the bevel angle setting on the saw (18°). Always try cuts on a few scrap pieces
of wood to verify settings on saw.
VERNIER SCALE (FIG. 15, 16)
Your saw is equipped with a vernier scale for added precision. The vernier scale allows you
to accurately set miter angles to the nearest 1/4°. To use the vernier scale follow the steps
listed below.
(As an example, let’s assume that the angle you want to miter is 25-1/4° left).
1. Turn off miter saw.
2. Set the miter angle to the nearest whole degree desired by aligning the center mark in
the vernier scale, shown in Figure 15, with the whole degree number etched in the miter
scale. Examine Figure 15 closely; the setting shown is 25° left miter.
3. To set the additional 1/4°, squeeze the miter arm lock and carefully move the arm to the
LEFT until the 1/4° vernier mark aligns with the CLOSEST degree mark on the miter scale
(Fig. 16). In our example, the closest degree mark on the miter scale happens to be 26°.
Figure 16 shows a setting of 25-1/4° right miter.
FIG. 16
1/4° VERNIER MARK ALIGNS WITH
CLOSEST WHOLE DEGREE
MARK ON MITER SCALE
(25-1/4° LEFT MITER)
FIG. 15
MITER
ANGLE
CENTER MARK ON VERNIER SCALE
ALIGNS WITH DESIRED WHOLE
ANGLE ON MITER SCALE
(25° LEFT MITER)
KERF
PLATE
For settings that require partial degrees (1/4, 1/2, 3/4°) align the desired vernier mark with
the CLOSEST degree mark on the miter scale, as described below (The plastic vernier plate
is inscribed with marks for 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and 1°. Only the 1/2° and the 1° are numerically
labeled.)
WHEN MITERING TO THE RIGHT
To increase the miter angle when mitering to the right, move the arm to align the appropriate
vernier mark with the closest mark on the miter scale to the right. To decrease the miter angle
when mitering to the right, move the arm to align the appropriate vernier mark with the closest
mark on the miter scale to the left.
WHEN MITERING TO THE LEFT
To increase the miter angle when mitering to the left, move the arm to align the appropriate
vernier mark with the closest mark on the miter scale to the left. To decrease the miter angle
when mitering to the left, move the arm to align the appropriate vernier mark with the closest
mark on the miter scale to the right.
CUTTING BASE MOLDING
FIG. 17
ALWAYS MAKE A DRY RUN WITHOUT POWER
BEFORE MAKING ANY CUTS.
Straight 90° cuts:
Position the wood against the fence and hold it
in place as shown in Figure 17. Turn on the saw,
allow the blade to reach full speed and lower the
arm smoothly through the cut.
CUTTING BASE MOLDING UP TO 1"
(25.4 mm) THICK BY UP TO 3-5/8" (91 mm)
WIDE VERTICALLY AGAINST THE FENCE
• Position molding as shown in Figure 17
• All cuts made with the back of the molding
against the fence and bottom of the molding
against the base.
INSIDE CORNER: OUTSIDE CORNER:
Left side Left side
1. Miter left 45° 1. Miter right at 45°
2. Save left side of cut 2. Save left side of cut
Right side Right side
1. Miter Right 45° 1. Miter left at 45°
2. Save right side of cut 2. Save right side of cut
Material up to 3-5/8" (91 mm) can be cut as
FIG. 18
described above. For boards [up to 6-3/4"
(173mm)] several minor concessions must be
made:
When cutting a board between 3-5/8"
(91 mm) and 6-3/4" (173 mm), the roller on the
tip of the guard will hang up on the workpiece.
If this occurs, simply place your right thumb
on the upper side of the guard and roll the
guard up just enough to clear the workpiece,
as shown in Figure 18. Once you have cleared
the workpiece, you can release the guard and
it will continue to open as the cut progresses.
When mitering to the right side of a base
molding 3-5/8" (91 mm) standing vertically
against the fence as in Figure 17, the saw can
only cut through the board up to 1" (25.4 mm)
from the end of the board. Trying to cut more
than an inch will cause the saw’s gear case to
interfere with the workpiece. If you want to cut
base molding between 3-5/8" (91 mm) and
6-3/4" (173mm) vertically follow the directions
on this page.