How to Replace the Fence on a DeWalt DW703 Miter Saw
The fence on your miter saw is one of those parts that's actually quite unlikely to break. If it does, it is probably because something hit it pretty hard, causing it to warp and crack. So if you see cracks on your fence, it is probably no longer straight and will need replacing. Keep reading to find out how to replace your fence--and align it--so you can get back to those precision cuts you rely on your miter saw to give you.
Remember to find the exact right fence for your saw by matching your model and type numbers on our DeWalt miter saw parts page.
Replacing the Fence
1. Remove the upper fence
Begin the repair by removing the upper portion of the fence. Loosen the lock knob, then just slide the upper fence away from the saw.
2. Remove the fence screws
The fence is secured to the saw on both sides with two screws. Remove all four of those screws to free the fence.
3. Remove the fence
Now just lift the old, broken fence away from the saw.
4. Align the new fence
You can't just drop a new fence back into your saw. You'll need to do a bit of aligning first. Begin by tightening one screw on the left of the saw all the way down.
Then go to the other side and loosely fasten one of the screws. At this point you should have one screw on each side fastened--one tightly, one loosely.
5. Square the blade to the fence
Lower the saw blade to help further align the saw.
Use your square flat on the saw's cutting surface, with one edge against the fence and the other on the saw blade. Adjust the fence until it is flush with the blade. This may take a bit of maneuvering, but once you've erased the gaps on the square, you can tighten the looser screw.
Check once more that the fence is square.
6. Tighten the other screws
Now you can tighten the other two screws that secure the fence to the saw.
7. Re-install the upper fence
Now just slide the upper portion of the fence into place to finalize your repair!
Conculsion
And that's how easy it is to replace the fence on your miter saw. This repair should only take about 15 minutes and will save you loads of money compared to a repair shop. Remember that we stock parts for most of DeWalt's tools and you can find spare DeWalt parts for everything you need here.