DeWalt DWX723
DeWalt's DW723 sawhorse-style folding stand earned high marks back in our August 2002 issue for its portability, light weight, easy setup, rugged construction, and stability. Most builders I talk to are familiar with it, and many have been using this stand for years. For instance, Sim Ayers, owner of SBE Builders, in Discovery Bay, Calif., has used his DW723 for the past decade for everything from stick and metal framing to interior finish, and it's still going strong. His biggest complaint is that the non-marring shoes keep falling off. DeWalt's latest version, the DWX723, is almost identical to the one Ayers owns, but the shoes are now secured by screws, user-friendly levers have been added, and the quick-release saw mounts are supposed to be more secure.
Made of aluminum, the 35-pound DWX723 folds into a slender, 6-foot-long package that totes easily and doesn't crowd a pickup bed. Setup is a simple matter of squeezing release levers and swinging out the legs before securing the saw. The stock supports have flip-up stops and are 12 ¹/2feet apart when fully extended. The supports can easily slide into the main beam to hold shorter stock.
Steve Demetrick, a residential remodeling contractor in Wakefield, R.I., constantly moves his miter saws around jobsites and owns several DWX723 stands. He likes them, but notes some shortcomings: The stops aren't accurate enough for finish work; the "universal" brackets don't accept all saws without modification; and the material supports on top of the extensions will eventually connect loosely if you overtighten the securing knob. Demetrick also uses DeWalt's DWX724 model, which is similar to but shorter than the DWX723.
Some builders, including John Spier of Spier Construction, on Block Island, R.I., occasionally mount two saws on the sturdy main beam of the DeWalt stand so that they aren't constantly flipping stock end-for-end or tilting the saw from side to side when cutting lots of compound miters. DeWalt makes this easy by offering extra mounting brackets (DW7231) as an accessory. Spier always bolts the quick-release mounts to a piece of plywood and then bolts the plywood to the saw, which eliminates compatibility issues and anchors the saw more firmly to the stand. He also bores a hole in the plywood, where he stores his blade wrench.
Other useful DeWalt stand accessories include wide supports with stops (DW7029), wide roller supports (DW7027), and adjustable legs (DW7028) that prevent the arms from sagging under heavy loads.
DeWalt DWX723 /$200 / 800.433.9258/dewalt.com
