How To Unlock A DeWalt Miter Saw (Quickly & Easily!)

More and more home do-it-yourselfers and hobby woodworkers are turning to DeWalt power tools for their shops. One of the most popular DeWalt power tools found in home shops is the miter saw. DeWalt makes many styles and types of miter saws. However, the method for unlocking these saws for use is consistent across the model lines.

Unlocking a DeWalt miter saw requires several steps. In general, you must unlock the powerhead arm, unlock the slide arm if your saw has one, and unlock the table angle adjustment to set your cut angle. On some compound cut models, an additional lock allows setting the compound cut angle.

The very first step is to have a thorough understanding of your saw. The best way to gain this kind of understanding is to read the user’s manual included with the saw. The recommendations and directions provided by DeWalt are the best means of using your safely and effectively.

Pay particular attention to the sections dealing with preparing your saw for use and the safety precautions. Power tools such as the DeWalt miter saw can be dangerous if not assembled correctly or if you use them improperly.

Working around any power tool is dangerous. Taking every possible precaution is the best way to prevent accidents. A few basic things to remember can be the difference between a successful project or a trip to the emergency room.

Never perform maintenance on a power tool plugged into the outlet. Don’t change blades on saws. Never change bits in a drill press or router when the tool has power. Unplug any tool that is not in use at the time.

Wear your safety gear. Protect your eyes with high-quality safety glasses. Where appropriate, wear gloves. Avoid loose or dangling clothing that can get caught in moving machinery. If you are creating sawdust, wear a respirator.

The pivot arm allows the motorhead and blade to move up and down. In the stored position, the pivot arm is in its lowest position. Most DeWalt miter saws have a locking pin on the pivot arm near the back and close to the pivot hinge.

Unlock the pivot arm lock by pressing down slightly on the powerhead to relieve the locking pin’s tension. The locking pin should be easy to pull out and should stay out. Slowly raise the powerhead arm to its highest position. Make sure that the blade guard moves into place and everything moves freely.

Some models of DeWalt miter saws mount the powerhead on a slider system. The slider system allows the powerhead to move in and out over the cuttable. You can cut much wider material with a sliding miter saw than otherwise possible.

There are several different styles of slider lock used on DeWalt miter saws. Some are part of the pivot lock. On these, you may need to twist the pivot lock to free the slider. Several models of DeWalt miter saws have a lock knob for the slider mechanism.

The best information about the slider lock system is in the user’s manual that came with your saw. If you don’t have the user’s manual, most of these booklets are available for download from the internet.

If your DeWalt miter saw has a compound swivel powerhead, you can make compound miter cuts. To prepare for making a compound miter cut, you must unlock the swivel on the powerhead.

Most DeWalt miter saws with a tilting powerhead have a lock knob you must turn to unlock the swivel feature. Loosening the locking knob allows you to set the bevel cut angle on the powerhead.

When the powerhead is at the proper angle for your cut, tighten the locking knob to keep the powerhead in place. You should hand tighten this knob. Using a tool such as pliers to tighten the locking knob can damage the mechanism and your saw.

One great advantage the miter saw enjoys over other types of power saws is making angle cross cuts that are precise and repeatable. Setting the saw for making angle cross-cuts means moving the cutting table and changing the fence’s angle.

DeWalt miter saws use a different locking system on the table than most other manufacturers. The system consists of a lever and button. To unlock the table swivel, lift on the lever table arm. You can then push the button in front of the lever to release the lock and swivel the table.

Set the table to the appropriate angle and release the button. Pressing down on the lever locks the table into position. Your saw is now ready for use.

Before you store your saw, make sure it is clean. Remove the accumulated sawdust on the saw. Sawdust can be corrosive and build up harden, making it almost impossible to remove. Pay special attention to the inside of the blade guard and the dust port.

Clean and empty the dust bag. Sawdust left inside the dust collection bag can attack the material of the bag. The sawdust can also harden into a lump that can be difficult to remove later.

Check the blade for resin or sap buildup from the wood you are cutting. You can clean the blade using any good shop solvent. While you are cleaning the blade, check the teeth and the sharpness of the blade.

A wobbly blade is a dangerous situation, and you should not use your DeWalt miter saw until you have diagnosed and corrected the problem. Blade saw wobble can be a symptom of several problems. Check the arbor flange that holds the blade on the spindle shaft. The arbor flange can wear down and will often develop a noticeable lip. A worn arbor flange can cause your blade to wobble. Replace the arbor flange if necessary.

The bearing on the blade spindle may be worn. Sawdust can invade the tightest spaces on a saw and cause excessive wear. If there is noticeable play in the spindle, the bearings are probably worn.

The drive gears inside the powerhead can also become worn and cause excessive play in the blade. If the saw makes excessive noise in the powerhead when running or noticeable play in the spindle, you may have gear problems. Take the saw to a DeWalt service center for a complete checkup.