The most impressive part of this video is that you actually remembered where you put the washer after you originally removed and replaced it with the laser.
Nice video and love the mod. I did something like this on my saw (same saw as yours), but put a tiny 12V power supply inside the handle (there is lots of space in there, and access to the mains AC) and used a momentary switch to power the LED when the saw's safety slide is engaged to the right. It seems like it might be a hassle, but you only get a good shadow line when you bring the blade down anyway, so it really doesn't add any burden and then you never accidentally leave it on and you don't have to plug in 2 different things.
Great idea, Drew. Back before LED lights like that were available, I bought a device called a Laserkerf. It mounts under the motor and shines a beam the exact width of the blade and right where the blade will cut. It still works great. Bill
Great mod, Drew! I love the same type blade light on my Dewalt DW780 (added an aftermarket light kit to my 779 and made it a 780). Saved some $$ buying the DW779 and adding the light kit to make it identical to the 780.
I highly recommend these lights! While my Hercules comes with the shadow line light, I use these sewing lights on my band saw and on my drill press. They are awesome!
Perfect timing, Drew. I have the exact same saw, and my one disappointment is the lack of a shadow line. Adding one has been on my to-do list since I bought it, and now you've shown me exactly how to do it. No excuses! Thanks, man.
@@paulvolkmann2979 I didn't want to drill into my saw incase I ever want to resell it. Plus, I didn't want it hooked up to the saw switch because I did all my "cold setting" before I pull the trigger to turn on the saw.
I did this a while back to my Delta saw before they came out with the 2nd gen that had it built in. I scavenged one of those free Harbor Freight LED lights and put a switch on it. The whole thing ran on batteries so no electrical cord needed though my next step was to wire it into the power from the saw itself so I still didn't need a separate outlet. Shadow line is great!
I have a DeWalt saw that has a kit to add this mod. I added it shortly after getting the saw and I agree, it makes it much easier to see where the blade will cut. Another advantage of the LED light is that, when you change blades, it does not need to be re-adjusted to conform to a different thickness blade. It is "self-conforming". Looking forward to your next build as you put your new modification to work.
Wow. This is so cool. I just bought a miter that I use for things like cutting firewood, 2x4s for my fire pit and fingers. This will work great. Thanks Drew!
I am a finish carpenter by trade woodworker as a hobby. It blows my mind how many wood workers disregard the accuracy of a good miter saw. Key words being good. The bosch style saw you are using is widely considered unusable amongst finish carpenters. There is way to much play in the system (you can see it in the zero clearance fence in the video) but a good saw (in my case dewalt) dialed in with some stop blocks can be one of the most accurate tools on the shop. All of that being said the shadow line is something I can no longer live without on a saw. Excellent upgrade
Thanks so much for this!! I just bought this saw and was so unhappy that it had only the laser. This is one of the only two drawbacks of this saw that I expect to experience (the other being dust collection), but I am glad that you've solved this one! Thanks so much for sharing!!
I got a DeWalt 10" That I got for construction work. It came with a shadowline, and I never knew that wasn't standard. So that's something I learned today, thanks for that! This will make it another thing to look for when I want to upgrade my little 10" to a proper 12"
I appreciate this video. I ordered a similar light (I think the same one, different brand) and installed it. It works pretty good in the garage, but my garage is pretty bright so it's faint. The only thing I did differently was drill a hole so I could run the wires out the back to keep it a little cleaner. And that I used hot glue to pin the wires across the saw, so we will see if that holds up. Thanks again for the idea and video.
I have a miter saw with a built-in laser. I adjusted it so the cut is right on the edge of the line, and I cut perfectly all the time. I just wish it had a second laser. For the other side I tried the add-on like you had, and had the same issues, and wound up tossing it. I just need to keep the save piece to the right of the blade. If the laser dies, I'll try this.
Hey Drew, love your videos! I just wanted to let you know, in case you didn't notice it, that at 6:04 you removed the blade guard pivot screw from the top hole and at 8:59 you reinstalled it in the bottom hole. Not sure if this matters, but I'd hate to see something bad happen later on from this. Aloha from Hawaii!
Love that saw but I have to wait for my ship to come in, but just ordered the goods for y J.A.Pan Special until then! Your add-ons and upgrades are all over my shop. Made a couple more of your flip-top carts (with my "updates")!
Great idea adding the lights to the miter saw, I need to try that! I've been using the same light on my bandsaw for a couple months, it makes a huge difference in visibility. I hard wired the light's power cable to the switch of the bandsaw, so it always has power and doesn't need the second plug/extension.
Great idea and video about it. Thank you. I think I will try something like your idea on my radial-arm saw, if there is enough room inside the blade guard. My bandsaw came with a flexible light on the back of the column. The flexible part is just long enough to place the light behind the blade , so a shadow marks the cut line.
Hey Drew, I have the exact saw that you have and will be adding this light. Thanks for all the great ideas you continue to share with us. Love your videos!
I really like your idea! My DeWalt DWS780 came with an led light on both sides of the blade. For some crazy reason I think they have stopped making them this way. Don’t know why. It’s a great advantage! I’m forwarding this video to my buddy who has the same saw as you. I do enjoy your videos and your humor!!
Soo many good jokes. Love it. I used to have a dewalt that that built in and it was my fav feature. I could even see the teeth in the shadow. Also. Fun fact. We are both named Drew and both released a miter saw upgrade video today. What is this world coming to?
I think the European version of the saw actually had either a dual laser or a shadow light in that space. It was removed for the US version and that's why the space is just there.
I did this mod to my DW718 but I didnt take the light apart. I took off the nose top which was doing nothing on the saw and used aviation safety wire to tie down the light and secure it to the housing much like yours fit in perfect. I then ran the flex cable along the top using hot glue and used a clip I had for the power button. Perfect light.
Great and hilarious vid, as usual. Thanks to you the lights are sold out. My Makita miter saw is not as generous in space to fit this light (or even the centrifugal laser), but will search for one that does. However, will order a set when available for other spots around the shop. Thanks.
Silver Cymbal (RU-vid channel) did an awesome video about some electrical connectors that would have been PERFECT for this application. I bought some and they are super handy to have around. Sopoby Seal Wire Connectors should get you to them. Keep up the great work! Love how fun and informative your videos are!
Hmmm, Someone on Etsy has a Bosch Miter Saw Kerf Light kit. Looks like it was made out of similar parts. I bet your DIY is less expensive. And thank you for expanding my vocabulary; “Alabama Chrome”! I’m going to share that one. Great video as always.
Wow, now Google has gone from stalking me normally to reading my mind! I was just thinking that I should add an LED to my miter saw before I start building my porch next week. Thanks for the good idea! This is way simpler than what I had in mind.
What a coincidence. I just put in an order for the same bosh. Adding a shadow guide puts it over the top. My old dark blue Ryobi 10" has seen better days. I've seen this video a while back, but my old saw was not compatible. For some reason RU-vid made this one of my choices.
That opening is likely the same as on the Metabo's, where it already contains a 230V LED (not sure it's angles in a way that will create a shadow line but it'll sure make installing one easier!)
I actually did this to a Hitachi 8-1/4 miter saw about 35 years ago. At that time there were no LED's, so I just used a flashlight bulb and 9 volt battery. I have upgraded over the years. A friend of mine said I should have patented the design.
"Alabama chrome" - cracked me up! 🤣🤣 Excellent idea really well presented! The laser on my miter saw has been driving me nuts for exactly the reasons you call out so I shall definitley be giving this a try. Subscribed :)
I had them mounted in the blade guard which gets pushed up and over the blade housing so I was losing a lot of light. The light needs to be mounted right where I show in the video for it to be effective. Anywhere else and the shadow just gets washed out.
Hey Drew I own an embroidery company and I am going to buy one for all of my machines. The lighting on the machines are not that good And I don’t own a miter saw, but might buy the Bosch or Mikita Great tip!
You should repay your neighbor for all the stuff he “gives” you by putting some of that Alabama chrome on his car. Like, the whole car. Make that baby shine in the sunlight!
Nice video! Thanks! At 23 seconds into the video, you start to pull back on the saw going into the wood which is not good. With a sliding miter saw, always start the cut with the saw fully extended and then cut into the wood. Pulling the saw and the saw cutting into the wood may make the wood jump up and cause an accident.
Bill, I typically cut a small channel first to make the dust collection way more effective. If you cut a channel for it to go through, then when you pull the saw out, drop the blade all the way down, and push forward, just about all the dust travels through that kerf and gets collected. If you don't, it just sprays everywhere.
@7:04 "with some Alabama Chrome" That had me in stitches. I'm totally stealing that phrase! And yeah, my DeWalt has it built in, and I thought it was going to be a gimmicky gadget. LIke the "laser" on the drill press. But boy was I wrong. I could never use a mitersaw w/o shadow lines. One thing that's interesting (to me anyway) On my saw, you can even make out the blade *and* the carbide cutters. So you can line up with the actual cutters and not just the blade.
I have a dewalt 780 and it comes with a shadow line stock. I love it, and its very robust. I'm not sure what the price difference is between buying the dewalt light and what you got, but you have a beautiful machine there and my in my personal opinion, it seems a shame to put duct tape on it. But, all in all good job and the end product looks like it works well.
