Shop Work: Adding a Miter Saw Shadow Line

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Lasers are cool, but they definitely have some setbacks when it comes to miter saws. In this video, I add a cheap and easy-to-install modification to my miter saw that enables me to make my cuts faster as well as improves my accuracy. Check out this video to see just how easy it is to add a shadow line to your miter saw and to see first-hand how it can be quite an upgrade for your shop!
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00:00 - Intro
01:00 - Cutting Methods
01:40 - Miter Saw Laser
02:59 - Cutting on the Right
04:33 - The Plan
05:14 - Unboxing
05:30 - Modifying & Install
09:24 - Testing
11:17 - Review
13:05 - Outtakes
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[@JimHester]

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.

[@FishersShop]

Haha, I stuffed it into the laser packaging and had it in the cabinet below. I figured one day I might need it again.

[@sc0ss3tt3]

Placing it in a spot you won't lose it is usually the best way to never find it again... 😂

[@RayMusic88]

That's exactly what I was about to comment! 😂

[@cw6136]

You took the words out of my mouth.

[@minisinscale1944]

This is exactly what would happen to me and would be delayed finishing until I was able to order a new washer😂😂😂😂

[@CSIGarcia]

Your neighbor is so generous for giving you a lot of their stuff without complaints

[@nikhilparanjape7890]

Should move closer to him...

[@ToolShow]

Shadow line should have been standard on every saw many years ago. I fully support this act of rebellion against Bosch’s incorrect choices. Well done!

[@FishersShop]

Hehe, thanks!

[@Sebastopolmark]

GREAT project Drew, your neighbor got off easy on this one! !! !!!

[@georgestgeorge5110]

I have those lights on every machine in the shop. Really helps old eyes.

[@FishersShop]

Sure does

[@zacdeen27]

As an Alabamamian through and through……I commend you sir for choosing the highest quality chrome for your daily needs!

[@FishersShop]

Hahaha!

[@crossgrainwoodproductsltd9230]

OMG! LMAO- "Alabama chrome". Priceless! I've missed watching your channel and I'm getting caught up on all that I've missed. Thanks Fisher for your brilliantly informative and humorous videos.

[@FishersShop]

Thanks for watching!

[@matthewclina4162]

Great idea. And I love how it creates mood lighting in the shop. Now you can re-use the laser for your pet sharks.

[@FishersShop]

Frickin' laser beams!

[@clydebalcom3679]

Another genius idea from the Fisher Shop Think-tank. Outstanding effort with perfect execution. You never disappoint.

[@FishersShop]

Thanks, Clyde

[@SawdustmakerLori]

That's awesome......it would really be a helpful addition to the miter saw! Of course, I always enjoy your sense of humor too!!!

[@FishersShop]

Thanks 👍

[@michaelhooper9729]

Thank you for this video. I figured it would take a much brighter light for this. This is just what the Bosch miter saw needs.

[@FishersShop]

Glad it was helpful!

[@imaginarynoise3218]

This is the first of your videos I've seen and when you started attaching the light to the saw you had me in stitches. Definitely entertaining but also a great suggestion!

[@FishersShop]

Thanks! :)

[@mikearning4866]

The miter saw I bought, (Bauer 10") came with a shadow line feature built in. It makes accurate cuts very easy.

[@ashokmoghe8035]

Is this the Bauer saw from Harbor Freight? How is it overall in terms of accuracy and build quality? TIA

[@darrenfetty6880]

I have a Ryobi miter saw with a shadow line. It makes very accurate cuts.

[@Cykyn]

@@darrenfetty6880 same here, it definitely helps setting but I find it just abit better than a laser line

[@Azurko]

I love how fate seems to work. The laser on my miter saw died yesterday and I was looking for a way to fix/replace it when your video came into my feed!

[@FishersShop]

Perfect! :)

[@rudykok9522]

Brilliant and entertaining video. I hope your neighbor figured out what was wrong with his car radio.

[@markwright8127]

Some great information but the best part of the video is your dry humor. I love it. Thanks.

[@FishersShop]

Thanks 👍

[@RingsWorkshop]

Great upgrade and explanation of why you wanted this feature over the laser. As always, well done man!

[@FishersShop]

Thanks!

[@jeffforbes3772]

Thanks for posting! That's a cool mod. Quoting Uriah Heep from 1971..."Don't be afraid, just look at yourself."

[@aprildegele1510]

OMG, BRILLIANT! The set up process seems tedious and difficult, but it's not really. BTW, you crack me up. "Alabama chrome" ... never heard that one, but from now on ... I'm doing this with my saw.

[@FishersShop]

Glad you liked it!

[@lorschsp]

After two months of waiting for parts to arrive and a bit of procrastination, I finally got around to installing my own light to my mitre saw. Thanks Drew for your inspiration 🙂

[@FishersShop]

Awesome! Hope you like it

[@bobmcarthur4150]

I was thinking of adding the strip lights just as you had mentioned you tried. Your solution is perfect, and these lights are bright, as I already have them on the bandsaw and drill press. Thanks again for your helpful videos.

[@FishersShop]

Glad it was helpful

[@brentprosser7293]

Alabama Chrome has officially found it's way into my vocabulary.

[@FishersShop]

Hah

[@joeyleerobbins]

"Alabama Chrome" that killed me! As far as the video this is an awesome hack for the miter saw! Thank you for all the work you put into these videos. God bless you and your family.

[@FishersShop]

Thanks so much, I appreciate it!

[@teaguewhite26]

I was thinking to myself, Drew never really gets behind his projects, then you go and show you actually do.

[@tbsomerville5798]

Very well done and I love your dry sense of humor. A new subscriber here because of that.

[@FishersShop]

Awesome, thank you!

[@bigjoe6405]

Outstanding idea. Very clever. Thanks for sharing.

[@PeteSudlow]

"Hot sneaking" is my new favorite phrase. I'm going to work on incorporating it into daily conversation!

[@FishersShop]

Yes!

[@thebluefrog951]

Great video! The part of the video that taught about accounting for your blade with cut accuracy is a lesson that needs to be taught to new wood workers more often. My mind blew when I first learned it.

[@FishersShop]

Absolutely!

[@scunderw6962]

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.

[@cmorgan2005]

Did you make a video or plans?

[@shanebillings2290]

“Alabama chrome!” Awesome 😂

[@kenspears7159]

As an Alabamian, I approve of your use of the Alabama Chrome! Neat idea, I may try this as well.

[@FishersShop]

Go for it!

[@Bekim8310]

Great video Drew. My Ridgid sliding saw has that shadow light built in. Dead on too!

[@latenightwoodworker3283]

After watching this video like 3 times I went to see about how I can add a shadow light and you are right ridgid sliding saw has it. I have been missing out all these years. And 💯 dead on! What else have I been missing

[@EthanCarterDesigns]

Such a cool addition! What an awesome idea Drew!

[@FishersShop]

Thanks man!

[@mikecassidy3932]

As usual, an excellent video. Thanks for your all your time and generosity in posting this.

[@FishersShop]

My pleasure!

[@beaverbuilds3984]

Dewalt has a very accurate and bright shadow light and is very accurate with all the pre set angles. I would recommend!!

[@stephen1137]

Yeah? I bet it don't come with Alabama chrome!

[@silverbackag9790]

Just requires an aircraft carrier for a bench. Good for trim carpenters though (as long as their back doesn’t go out).

[@lifter78]

love the candid reels, also keep up the great work!!

[@sassafrasvalley1939]

Drew… I like it!!! Cold starts vary with each blade. Every time I change one, I have to make a bunch of cuts to find out how much kerf the wobble/vibration will consume. Sneaky cuts are good as long as you don’t need to use the off cut. They require a trim cut to clean up the start end. I like the idea of using a shadow instead of a light to demarcate the cutting area… Clever thinking bud!

[@FishersShop]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching

[@John-gm8ty]

Did this on my Makita ls1019 using a board mounted cree super bright LED. was SUCH a game changer. runs of an LI-ION pack. SO MUCH BETTER than a laser

[@jeffmassot6760]

Is there any reason you could not reverse the light? Drill a small hole at the top of the pocket that the light fits in and run the wire out the top. That way your wire has less exposure and doesn’t have to be sticking out of the bottom of the saw. The only downside is it would minimize you “Chrome” accent strips.

[@FishersShop]

I could, but I just don't care how ugly my saw looks. haha

[@TheIpadfanatic]

I thought that immediately after I saw the wires going from front to back. Good catch!

[@notme232]

​@@FishersShop I'd make sure the power cord is protected. If those wire jackets ever tear, the guard or other metal parts could become energized. I would recommend, at a minimum, adding a few layers of heat shrink to help protect those wires. You could also use crimp on connectors instead of wire nuts so you can heat sink the whole thing as one cable. Also buy your self a pair of wire strippers, a cheap pair is $5, and a good one is about $20.

[@jimweisgram9185]

@@notme232 if you are talking about the wires coming out of the LED head and to the switch, those wires are running low voltage DC. Which is not particularly dangerous. On the other hand, if the blade catches a wire somehow, who knows what that wire could physically do at high speed?

[@notme232]

@@jimweisgram9185 I had considered that it was DC, but with out knowing for sure if the dc converter is happening in the switch (witch is more likely) or in the led head, I figured leave it be. Either way protecting the cables is a good idea for longevity.

[@fireviper5063]

That's cool way of lining things up

[@ryanfrable5729]

Thanks for the video. I'll definitely being doing this.

[@FishersShop]

Right on. I recommend securing it in there with screws. Something more than hot glue just to be safe.

[@MakeEverything]

Interesting to see how Bosch changed the blade guard with that cast in place piece. I did the same mod to my Bosch a few years back with the same sewing light for a video. Glad someone figured out a way to get It into the next version of the saw!

[@FishersShop]

Right on! I new I wasn't the first to do this but nevertheless, I was thrilled with how well it worked out.

[@MakeEverything]

@@FishersShop once you have that shadow line you can’t go back!

[@FishersShop]

@@MakeEverything Yeah for sure! I'm loving it. I reinforced it a bit more with screws though. I started to get paranoid that it would come loose.

[@JASinIL2006]

Awesome video! I’m ordering the LEDs right now for my Bosch miter saw. Thanks for the excellent video!

[@FishersShop]

Glad I could help!

[@thebobloblawshow8832]

Great idea Drew.

[@bilbonanno4443]

You make great videos! I love the addition of your humor! This was a great idea! I followed your video to the T. Except for cutting the too close to the switch body which required some soldering to connect, everything went smooth as silk. It's impressive just how accurate that shadow line is! Thanks!

[@FishersShop]

Glad it was helpful!

[@pedrogarciaorejel4657]

Amazing! Great idea!

[@TheIpadfanatic]

"That is exactly what I was looking for." Something I say every time I visit an all-you-can-eat buffet.😁

[@FishersShop]

:)

[@rhuynh]

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!

[@stalkerspike]

You're humor is great!

[@FishersShop]

Thanks! :)

[@hassanal-mosawi4235]

Thanks for sharing those tips and the make!

[@FishersShop]

You bet!

[@BenNawrath]

Great idea! You could have drilled a small hole in the back of that little pocket and fed the wires thru. Alabama chrome cracked me up!

[@tschuler9923]

Great modification . I also dig the humor.

[@FishersShop]

Thanks 👍

[@carolriley8472]

I really need this setup for the shadow...thanks!

[@danharcz7810]

I added this to my Bosch saw. Worked great thank you.

[@FishersShop]

Glad it helped

[@sumosprojects]

Genius, I took the wires from my neighbours car 😁 gotta love a subtle sense of humour. Very well done buddy 👍

[@FishersShop]

Glad you liked it!

[@woodstover]

I have the exact same saw and I find it very accurate & square at all times. Love it. I too am going to try your shadow line hack, I think it's brilliant. Thanks for taking the time to share it. Your dusk extraction really interests me too, that is the only complain I have with that saw, a real dust maker.

[@FishersShop]

Have fun with the mod!

[@keithlamb324]

Great idea Drew, thanks for the humor also!

[@FishersShop]

You bet!

[@Emmeffsee]

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!

[@FishersShop]

That's where I have my other two. I love'em

[@timothybaker8234]

I use an identical light on my drill press. It’s a lot brighter than the one that came on it when it was new 35 years ago.

[@joeysturgeon]

Great video. I just finished installing it on my saw. Thanks

[@FishersShop]

Enjoy it

[@jimbalz3017]

love your sense of humor

[@FishersShop]

😉

[@maxblanton6711]

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!

[@FishersShop]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@willwyatt7023]

same

[@dannydefrancis2045]

The shadow line was what made me go with the dewalt over the bosch. Its a great feature!

[@FishersShop]

Agreed! I don't know why more brands don't pick it up

[@pbates33]

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.

[@williamellis8993]

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

[@FishersShop]

That sounds like a good solution too

[@genelomas332]

The 305mm DeWalt I have on my bench came with a shadow line light built in.. it's brilliant!

[@FishersShop]

Yeah, there's a handful that come with it standard

[@KarelKubela]

This is on Festool saw as well. Well done! 👍🏻👌🏻

[@dmueller1875]

That's awesome Drew! I really appreciate sharing this idea.

[@FishersShop]

You bet! Thanks for watching

[@pctatc66]

you must have seen my post about this a few years ago. as I did the exact same thing to my bosch 12 glide saw.. except I wired mine into the handle and berried a small on off switch into the top of the handle. Oh and that space in the blade cover is there because the EUROPEAN version of this saw has a LIGHT there for shadow line. Not sure why we dont get that in the US. I ran my light much neater than you did. Mine ran the other direction and had the wires exits through the back of the blade guard cover on the inside near the handle. My light mod used the power from the saw in the handle to power the light.

[@FishersShop]

Sounds neat. No I didn’t see your vid. Great minds think alike I guess. 😉

[@Psychlist1972]

Nice mod. The laser on the Festool Kapex works much like your shadow line. It's a dashed line on each side of the blade that is interrupted by the teeth of the blade, making it look dashed when the blade is not spinning. It also works independently from the blade rotation. I have some of those little lights on my band saw and drill press. They are super useful. They come in black and gray as well.

[@jackiefernandez8080]

Brilliance. Gotta say.

[@MCsCreations]

Brilliant, Drew! Fantastic work!!! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@FishersShop]

Thanks, you too!

[@imager8763]

Nicely done!

[@FishersShop]

Thanks!

[@elundrusmagee7915]

Some miter saws come with that light shadow feature alread installed like my DeWalt miter saw and its perfect for cutting accuracy I love it

[@ramonocasio9573]

Lol love your outtakes. Great idea im going to do that to my saw.

[@tedueltschi4060]

Thanks for sharing. This has been a growing frustration and as you pointed out lazers have their drawbacks. Definitely goi g to try this out.

[@FishersShop]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mrpink7395]

That’s brilliant!

[@AnthonyAntTony]

Came for the install. Stayed for the humor. Subbed.

[@FishersShop]

Welcome aboard

[@KCBhandy]

Genius. I have the same saw and will be adding this mod. Thank you 😊

[@FishersShop]

Glad to help

[@qapla]

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.

[@FishersShop]

Good point!

[@g.m.forsythe9626]

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!!

[@FishersShop]

Glad I could help!

[@Suicaedere666]

killer video, thank you Fisher!

[@FishersShop]

You bet!

[@tabathaosborne6447]

Great idea, I have the 10” Bosch so I’ll give it a go, thanks

[@jamesthomas4080]

That light does not fit in the 10", it is too wide.

[@tabathaosborne6447]

@@jamesthomas4080 bummer

[@carlmclelland7624]

Drew, I see a lot of use for this, but I'm like you... I've been using the 'cold cut?' method throughout the fifty-year life span of my 9" Rockwell miter saw. If I ever get one of those fancy, high $$$ saws - like my nephews Festool - I'll consider this option. You knocked this one out of the park; and your wit is a humerus added bonus!

[@FishersShop]

Thanks, Carl! Sure, stick with what's working for you. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right?

[@PHIL_S]

Best idea yet!

[@FishersShop]

Thanks!

[@larry527az3]

Perfect timing, I had just installed one of those laser washers on my saw and wasn't impressed. I also have the 12" Bosch saw so your idea should work great for me as well - I just ordered the lights. Thanks for the Video!

[@FishersShop]

You bet! Have fun

[@cadaveramatore]

Thanks for you knowledge

[@ReadySetBuildIt]

This is Awesome. I was just getting ready to add the laser, but I think I may have to rethink that now.

[@FishersShop]

Thanks man!

[@IEnjoyCreatingVideos]

Great job on the miter saw light Drew! Thank you for sharing the video with us!💖😎👍JP

[@FishersShop]

You bet. Thanks for watching

[@IEnjoyCreatingVideos]

@@FishersShop 😎

[@kathykarkut8931]

Everyone loved your idea! Now this product is 'currently not available' on both the US & Canadian amazon websites! 6 Sept 2022

[@FishersShop]

Haha, oops!

[@MiscMitz]

This is amazing!

[@blevit4354]

Great video as always! Thanks!

[@FishersShop]

Thanks for watching

[@IIIofV]

Love it! Thanks Drew! on a side note, I'm certain your neighbor won't miss any of the wire from his car.

[@greghoward5662]

Great video! Thanks. I’m planning on installing this on my miter saw this weekend. Keep up the great work… God Bless

[@FishersShop]

Thanks, you too!

[@Woodworkerdad]

Hey Drew - thanks for being such a nice guy in person! My wife and I ran into you at the IWF in Atlanta last week. Keep up the good work.

[@FishersShop]

Thanks man! The pleasure is mine

[@Woodworkerdad]

@@FishersShop I'm going to do this exact same thing as I've got the exact same saw. Any advise on the gauge of wire you used to extend it?

[@FishersShop]

@@Woodworkerdad doesn’t matter. It’s so low voltage anything will do.

[@keithl4779]

Great idea!

[@FishersShop]

Thanks, Keith

[@davidpaige146]

Great idea. It looks like you have your miter saw plugged into one of those switches that turns on a dust collector or shop vac. You should plug the added light into that too (with a splitter or something). So it turns on when you activate the saw.

[@FishersShop]

Nah, I want to be able to line things up before I pull the trigger for the saw.

[@jaycaviness1216]

As much as I wanted the Bosch, I opted for the Delta Cruizer 12" axial glide saw for this very reason. I love the shadow line! I am happy to see it can be retrofitted to such a good saw as well.

[@FishersShop]

You and me both!

[@zaphodbeeblebrox7128]

Minor tip: if the light you buy has a plastic light diffuser piece on it try taking it off for slightly better shadow.

[@silentterrorhawk]

I have a cheap mitre saw for rough cutting which has a lazer, I had to dig all of the sawdust out 3 times within the first 30 minutes of using it so I gave up on the lazer and went back to just looking at the blade lol