How To: Add A LED Shadow Line To A Miter Saw (CHEAP!)
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- In this video I go through the process of adding an inexpensive LED light to my Bosch GCM12SD Miter saw. This little upgrade makes a HUGE difference in the use of this saw. This is a great option for older saws as well, once you use a saw with a shadow line you'll never go back!
This process is somewhat universal to all miter saws, you'll just need to use a different method for attaching the LED to the saw hood, in the past I have used hot glue and gaffers tape to keep the LED to on the saw hood, and its held up great.
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If you have any questions, leave them in the comments! Enjoy!
Below are some links to tools I used in this project.
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Led light:
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Thank you to Pferd abrasives for supporting my shop and my channel. For links to some of the grinding discs I use most see below:
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Thanks for watching! Be careful, know the limits of your skills and your tools! Don't try this stuff at home!
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Below are some links to tools I use in the shop on a daily basis.
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Bosch Miter Saw ( My Favorite miter saw)
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Sawstop Table Saw:
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Wen Tabletop Metalcutting Bandsaw
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Bosch Portable Bandsaw ( 18V)
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Lincoln 120V Welder ( good for a home shop)
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That had to be the BEST tip I've ever gotten from UA-cam! I thought I'd tell you that my 12 inch Bosch saw (GCMSD.... which I thought was identical to yours), it turns out it wasn't..... it did not have that black plastic removable piece. I just drilled a hole in the back of the metal raised part and ran the wire thru and it worked great. One thing I did different was to NOT open up the housing at the bottom of the light but instead take a couple of pliers and twisted the gooseneck open to access the wires inside. I cut off a couple of inches of the metal gooseneck and extended the wires that way. Very easy! Thanks again for a great idea.
Excellet video. I VERY much appreciate not having to listen to excess talk, or music interludes and visuals. Just make your point and you DID, refreshing. Thank you.
After seeing this video, I just taped a cheap led magnetic pocket flashlight (was on sale from haborfreight for under $5) to my miter saw and works great. Just need to change the 3xaaa batteries periodically. Amazing change in using it. Thanks so much for the idea!!!
one of the very few video's that are worth watching. good idea and a simple fix.
Chris. I was skeptical I could pull it off. But for $9 on amazon I bought 2 lights. Not only did i pull it off ... THANK YOU!... I wired it to the saw power side of the switch and use the common. Now I have 1 plug in with the saw, Light / guide that is ON/OFF when the saw is plugged in... AND and AWESOME saw line thanks to YOU!!!! GREAT IDEA.
You, my friend are a genius. I had the Dewalt with the shadow line, but sold it to get the Bosch, and the one thing I really miss is the shadow line. Not anymore. Thanks for posting this video.
which model dewalt did you have?
@@ginoasci DSW780 comes standard with it ($600). The DSW779 ($400 for the same saw minus light) is able to install the upgrade kit but they stopped selling them.
Great tip! The best I have already found on internet.
I purchased the dewalt dws 779 and I couldn’t spend the 110 bucks for their custom light conversion kit. I figured something like this could work, and I assumed someone already thought of this and I searched UA-cam and here it is. Great job!
110 dollars for a light? Jesus.
@@Germanicworldsnot just a light…it pretty much converts it to the same XPS light on the 780. I just installed mine and it’s great. It’s pricey, but it’s a clean install and there’s no external wiring or anything. Takes like 15 minutes to install.
Fantastic! I just picked up a Bosch yesterday at an estate sale and was surprised that Bosch did not include something considering the retail cost of this puppy.
I believe I will do this on my ol' Hitachi also.
I love this shadow indicator, because it gives me the sense of the thickness of the cut!
Thanks for sharing this tip!
This channel is great!
I bought the same light but the bulbous light part wasn't going to fit under the guard of my old Dewalt chop miter saw. I found out though I could disassemble the bulb part and end up with a nice flat LED circuit board. This fit fine under the guard. I cinched it down with a cable tie. This whole shadow light concept works great. I am glad I could mod my old saw for it. Thank You!
I finished installing mine yesterday using a 12" gooseneck light. There was enough wire inside to do a splice and is working flawlessly. There was also enough material in the black cover to grind away and reinstall all 4 screws. Just used it a few times today and perfect lineup. Thanks for posting this!
What is a 12" gooseneck light?
Awesome! I just got a new Dewalt without a light. I kept reading about shadow lines but didn't really know what they were. You explain them clearly and demonstrate exactly how they mark out where the blade is hitting the wood. Love the DIY alternative!
Not gonna lie, probably the easiest and best mod for any miterbox... Handsdown! Nicely done sir! Thanks for sharing!!!
I followed your install but I changed it up a little. I installed the switch and driver in the handle. Turned out pretty clean. Thanks for the video, very informative. I would attach a picture but don’t know how.
Hi Chris, I just bought a GCM12SD last winter and the blade shroud does not have a black plastic cap like the one you modified for your version of the 12” axial glide saw. No matter though, I used your idea and modified the plastic housing containing the LED board instead to give me more clearance when the blade guard rotates over the LED housing. I hot glued EVERYTHING (even LED housing) and I am really impressed with your fix to add a shadow line to the saw kerf! I have to admit it’s pure GENIUS on your part! Thank you very much for sharing this with the community. P.S.- I was never a big fan of hot glue until this project and now I use it more often then of epoxy. I think this an amazing saw and it’s even more precise with addition of your shadow line solution!
Best USABLE hack I've seen on UA-cam to date. And of course it takes an ordinary man, with a shit load of common sense, to come up with this idea. I was contemplating getting a Lazer for my 12" miter, but not now. Not to mention saving a lot of money. Great video and great job. Consider me a subscriber. 2 THUMBS UP
I have 2 different folders I put this kind of videos on. I can't decide if this is incredible enough to go into the genius or belongs in the miter saw folder. Whatever, it is truly a brilliant innovation.
I followed your instructions exactly and damn... works perfectly! In fact it’s SO perfect I’m kind of astonished they don’t have something like this standard. It’s so much better than the junky lasers that are not accurate and possibly dangerous.
Bravo!
I really wanted to get this exact saw but as soon as I used a DeWalt at work with the shadow line, it became essential. Thanks for the video. Now I can buy the Bosch and all is well in the world
I have a DW 708 Dewalt Radial Miter. Any suggestions on how you did yours?
Brilliant- no pun intended- absolutely one of the best tool hacks I’ve seen on YT. WHY didn’t Bosch do this in the first place? You’ve made a popular saw 5x more user and greenhorn friendly / much respect!
Probably because Dewalt has a patent on it?
Dewalt does it and they charge $200 for it >.< it's called XPS technology.
Bosch does have one it's on the European model not Imported here. I've tried to find the parts it replaces to top plastic piece at the end of the blade guard
@@georgebliss7674 Makita has it also. Are they paying Dewalt for the license?
@@XaeroR35, either that or Dewalt's patent ran out
This came as a feature on my DeWalt DWS780. At first I was like "Oh how nice - an LED to better see my work" - - then I actually took a look at the instructions for something else and saw its true purpose - and it is an amazing simple feature that does the job so very well.
George Gibeau we had a dws780 in my high school woodshop I used that thing for 4 years and thought it was just a work light it wasn’t even on 90% of the time because nobody knew it’s use lol
@@GrantsDad A dewalt saw in a high school woodshop? That wouldn't last 5 seconds with the stuff we were doing in high school shop class. Must've been donated.
Paul Day what do you mean by that? that miter saw ran flawlessly all for every year I had shop class and kids abused the hell out of it but it always stayed true we actually had two but one wasn’t a sliding miter one of them was the teachers personal saw and he used it at job sites during the summers with no problems I personally love dewalt saws
I just picked up a Bosch circular saw the other day and didn't have the time to shop around for various features/ect. While it's a nicely constructed saw, the way the top of the blade guard is designed, it the front of the blade is totally shaded and impossible to see my line and the blade. I was just thinking about how to add some LEDs without modifying the saw too much.
Thanks for posting this, as I'm planning on getting one of these Bosch miter saws this winter.
You just save me $600, as I was seriously considering replacing my old DW706 miter saw. Liked, subscribed, bought the light through your link.
replace your dewalt and get the BOSCH GCM12SD like this one, retro-fit an LED like this guy did or just get a red laser in the side that works great. This Bosch miter saw is really something. I returned my DeWalt after 10 months and bought this 12” Bosch, and it’s solid. No lateral movement when fully extended, super smooth action with adjustable tension, front controls, it’s heavy but it’s worth it.
The red LED light is not dangerous, it’s works great, or buy an LED that fits another saw onto this one if you prefer a shadow line.
I had a DeWalt and it wasn’t as accurate. None of them are like this saw. This is IT.
I added the LED and it is as good as any laser. Thanks for posting this video.
Thanks for the suggestion,very practical,as a member of my local men’s shed I’ll suggest the installation in all cutting machines have a happy new year 2025 from Australia
The laser of my miter saw broke down, so I’m definitely gonna have a look if I can apply this idea. Great job, good tutorial. Tnx!
Thank you for posting this video. One thing to add is newer version of the Busch 12 in mitre saw sold n Canada do not have the black plastic cover at the top any more. Instead the metal dome over the blade has been extended and has a larger cavity above the blade. I'm planning to place the light in this cavity and drill out for the wires as there's not enough room on top of the blade housing any more.
Hi Mak. Where you able to finish your project successfully? And how did you stick your led lights to the metal dome? Thanks!
Hi @@rolandoguevara3066, I tried using a clip on light at the top but it kept moving with vibration and it seemed to interrupt the flow of the saw dust. I'm a bit reluctant drilling into the metal blade cover as I think it would affect the warranty but can't think of another way. What has happened is I'm getting used to not having a laser light with this saw. I will still pursue putting one though if I can find a good way :)
Mine is the newer model as well, was thinking about drilling , haven't done it yet either. Not sure it's a God idea, plus mounting it securely. Let me know if you found a work around. Thanks
I first watched this video when I got my Bosch saw a couple of months back and realized that paying over $500 for a saw doesn't get you a laser or anything. :( I finally made my next order to Amazon and received my sewing machine light. Time to go do the install now. Thanks for the great idea and instructions. We all go farther when we share these kinds of ideas! Happy Woodworking!
I was about to spend 80 dollars on a light for my dewalt, thank God this video came across
I have the same saw and have been looking for a laser guide for it. This is so much better....and cheaper. Great idea! And you now have a new subscriber.....
That LED makes an amazing line, I wouldn't have guessed it does as well as a laser, I'm going to try it on my Ryobi 10"....
Did this on my 12" Harbor Freight miter saw and it worked perfectly. The guard had plenty of clearance and the light I bought from Amazon was more than bright enough. I'm not sure it will show up in bright daylight but we'll see. Still, it's a great hack!!
Brilliant - great idea! Not seen this anywhere else. Also a really good explanation of how you did it. I'll try this on mine - thank you
desreed1 thank you! Let me know if you have any questions I'd be happy to help! Good luck! It's worth it!!!
I just did your mod on my Bosch Glide Miter. Terrific! Great idea and I'm liking it. When I ordered the sewing machine LED they had other choices.....30 and 40 LED versions. All the same price. I was tempted to go with one of them, but was concerned that the dimensions of the light unit would be different. I will try this one out in the sun. If it's hard to see the line, I may upgrade. Can't go wrong for 10 bucks. Thanks
Great video. I have the DeWalt with that shadowline. It works way better than the lasers I've tried. My shadow line doesn't show up real well in bright sunlight but even casting a shadow on the saw helps
Great idea! I used a battery powered book light and hot glue total time for installation under 5 minutes. Not bright enough for outside, but perfect for shop. Now to figure out how to add one to the table saw.
What a great idea I did this today after watching your video thanks next job is to install the remote starter for dust extractor thanks again keep up the good work Craig
Thanks for this video. You saved me at least a hundred dollars. I was able to take the little power supply circuit board and fit it into the handle of my DeWalt miter saw and tapped the 110V input from there also. That way no extra plugs to plug in, and no wires showing at all. I did have to cut the LED board in half though, very easy to do with an abrasive dremel disk. Just had to solder a small jumper on that to power all the LEDs as they are wired in series.
Chris, watching your videos is a real pleasure. So much good information!
Cool mod. Love the shadow line. You may want to think about adjusting your red kerf boards, they look like they are in the factory shipping position. It's really nice to have zero clearance on those.
I've seen mitre saws with 2 lasers now, 1 for each side of the blade. This idea is soooo much better than a laser or even the 2 lasers gimmick.
Nice mod. I always look at how I can make things better and you did a nice job on the light addition. Thanks for the video.
Why are some of the simplest fixes so awesome to see? That's fantastic, nice job! Subscribed!
NICE! Ive been debating to upgrade my miter saw and ive fallen in love with the Bosch 12 inch glider. The only thing that is keeping me from getting one is no option for shadow line. Im so used to my Flexvolt XPS that i almost went and got another one but saw your video today and now i kinda wanna try this mod. Thank you for sharing this how to!
Love this idea. Never seen it before but answering a big need in the shop to line up cuts with less trial and error. Thanks for sharing!
Great mod. It makes lining up the kerf so much quicker. I used a somewhat different sewing machine light, but this guide makes it super easy to follow.
OMG! I’ve been wanting this for mine (Bosch axial) for 10years! Thank you for sharing this!
Such a beautiful crips shadow on the wood. That's not a mod, it's an upgrade!
Great mod, just did it, light was only $13 now on Amazon. Pretty straight forward thanks to your video. Thanks!
Thanks for this one! I gotta do this to my Bosch.
That’s pretty was pretty awesome I am going to try that with my Dewalt metal cutting chopsaw. Thanks for the video.
fantastic. I've always wanted to get one of those led universal screw on light cause I've always though that's the only option. Love this cause you don't need the saw running which doesn't bother me but it not running is much better for lining up. Thanks
Just watched this again. Very helpful! Thanks!
Absolutely fabulous...thanks. Have to see if I can get it to work on my Dewalt Radial Miter. Love your other videos too. Thanks again,.
Excellent idea and video , thanks for sharing. I'll be putting this on both my saws.
Very helpful video. In fact, Craftsman radial arm saws came with a beautiful high power genius riving knife, anti-kickback pawl, blade guard, and incadescent light bulb inside the blade guard, on their early 1970's radial arm saws. I am not sure which model it was, but I got a $75 1978 model Craftsman radial arm saw and I purchased the blade guard with the "light bulb" and riving knife, and installed that onto my 1978 radial arm saw, and now it's SO nice, it is more precise and I can cut tiny pieces of wood with absolute laser precision, a lot safer than a large compound miter saw. The compound miter saw excels in making angled cuts on regular "normal" size materials. The radial arm saw excels in making highly precise cuts on very tiny, super thin, fragile, or hard to hold objects. The radial arm saw can cut a 1/2" wide cube of wood with effortless precision, without any need for a jig or sacrificial fence.
Ordered one of those LED lights from Amazon. Gonna convert my Ridgid 12" saw this weekend.
Been having trouble aligning my laser since day one. Gonna have a look at my saw tomorrow and see if that light will fit.
You're a genius
Wow! That is one hell of a modification...much better than the spinning factory Laser indicator.
One of those brilliant ideas. Thanks. Cheers, David
Thanks for sharing! Another job to add to this weekend 👍
BRILLIANTLY OBVIOUS WHEN YOU KNOW .
THANKS A MILLION .TONY
Great idea. Going to do to my saws and get rid of the battery disc. Way better. Thank you.
I added 2 or those same lights to my mill about 4 years ago. Wired it some they come on with the power switch. I plan on replacing my 15 year old dewalt miter saw with this one. Think ill try this mod. Thanks for sharing.
The UK version has a double laser in that black plastic piece that you took off. It also has a better clamp than the US version.
Great idea, Thank you!
It also has soft start, while the US version doesn't!
I did this and can't recommend it enough. I used a slightly more powerful light than the one used in this video but I'm sure any led fixture that will fit will work. The newer saws don't have the small hood at the front of the blade housing but it's still easy to do. To do it:
Take note of where your blades rides inside the housing and mark the outside top of the guard with the blade's center. This is important because you want the space between the two rows of LED's to rest right over the blade. If you offset it you will get a slight shift in the shadow line from the actual kerf. Not much but in critical work you might be off by a 64th to a 32nd of an inch. I used an industrial adhesive to fix the light panel at the front inside of the guard. I then glued the wires from the light ( you have to cut them at about 6 cm from the LED control board ) to the switch inside the guard along its top left and after that I layered them with an industrial epoxy. This may sound freaky but there's 3/4 inch or more clearance in there. I exited the wires through a 3/16 hole in the guard that received the goose neck from the original light. I fabricated a small guard and mounted it to cover and bind this wire exit point. The the wires were routed inside the belt housing by entering a cooling vent and drilling the casting flashes and running it through them over the top and into the handle chamber. Those were then epoxied to avoid vibration chafing. The red LED mains wire (110v hot ) goes to the mains black at the saw switch on the un-switched side. The mains green wire is combined with the neutral hub. The LED switch white wire is lengthened about 5 inched for rerouting as are the switch yellow and red wires. In my case I cut a 1.5 by 1 cm rectangle into the handle top cover just behind the 4 clamp screws and mounted my switch there. I positioned the LED control board in an empty hole by the switch wire galley, soldered in my connections, routed them in the existing wire galleys and closed it up. The external switch and hub were secured with polyurethane adhesive. Now I have a shadow light with a switch mounted like the Laser switches on other saws have. This light gives good kerf location and serves as a work light.
Attaching the LED unswitched side of the mains to the saws unswitched side of its mains is no different eclectically than using two plugs in the same receptacle.
Post a vid on your solution.
Thanks Chris, that is absolutely brilliant. (especially the light). That problem has been haunting me for years - it’s my next project. Colin
Installed the lamp last week. Tried it out today on the job site. Shockingly great results. Do you have any other tricks up your sleeve?
That is beyond brilliantly simple. Thanks.
Been wanting to do this for years! Thanks for the video!
Chris, great meeting you at Jimmy’s this weekend. Excellent video. Looking forward to checking out more. Hope your puppy adventure went well.
Great idea. Love it. I don't like the lasers because i cut aluminum as well as wood and the laser is usually where the dust extractor is and the ali chips dull the plastic and makes it useless.
Wow! Thanks! I just added one to my Dewalt DWS709 I had to use a different light to make it fit but great job very easy to do! Anyone who wants to give it a try:
QUANS 5W Clip on Clamp Gooseneck COB LED Desk Table Light lamp Warm White 19inch Neck Black
I had to strip everything so it was light, wire and control box. I hot glued and taped it.
Thanks so much for the info!
This is the greatest hack in woodworking ever! It's a good time to be alive lol :-)
Nice idea, I`m trying this tommorow,will let you know.
What an awesome idea bro. Using the housing intended for the laser as the housing for a superior product you thought of yourself. Well done Chris, I've also got this saw and the built in laser (which is housed in the black plastic housing you manipulated to suit your led, stopped working a few months ago. A replacement laser is around £70 (I now live in France but bought the saw when living in London a few years ago). So your idea seems way more practical and inexpensive. That's some really dynamic thinking on your behalf, nice one bro.
Great. Now I have to figure out how to adapt this light, or something I can make myself, to my carbide metal crosscut saw. These use internal blade guides, so your method won’t work, unfortunately. But watching this has me thinking about ways to overcome that, so thanks for the inspiration.
Great mod! I had seen someone else using the led light and thought what a great idea. You know exactly where the blade is going to cut. will be trying to put one on my miter
Chris, that's super cool. Those red lasers are not as accurate and change with each blade replacement and the battery is always dead when want to use the laser.
That's a really clever idea. Very well done.
I watch a lot of videos, this is up there with the best, what a brilliant idea, nice one mate I'll be doing this mod to my saw thank you
Cool idea, thanks! That small amp draw of a little LED wouldn't affect saw performance if hardwired to it.
Thought this was going to be a dumb gimmick and only make me want the laser more. Def going this route. Thank you.
Mate! Excellent idea would have never thought about this.
Dude! That is a sick modification
Great job! Excellent idea👍🏻
Good idea, I have to look to see how I implement it to mine. Thank you. Greetings from Spain
Ruben Paz if you have any questions let me know!
Thanks Chris, but in my little Delta 36-040, things are going to be complicated. But I keep turning to see how I can do something similar.
Ruben, I just looked up the Delta 36-040, I think you could get this to work. I would test proof of concept by removing your blade guard and position a led flashlight above the blade. This will mimic the effect of the LED light I used. If you are able to get a shadow line your good to go! Good luck, if you have any more questions shoot me an email.
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I saw a friend of mine do this too, excited to add one to mine. I'm older and have a hard enough time seeing the cut line at times, especially if it's not bright out or working with darker materials.
Great video. I have the same saw and I have been looking to add a laser but this works just as well.
This is a great idea. I’ve been wondering how to do something like this for a metal cutoff saw. I kept having to cut big and sand to the line. It just took to long that way and was driving me crazy. Thank you
Awsome idea! the laser on my Ryobi broke off (piece of material hit it and snapped the bracket). Also I'd cut aluminum and pretty much ruined the plastic lens. This might work better than the laser.
Sir, you rock! Thanks for this.
Very nice idea. I found a very small laser line generator for the same price that I'm certain could create a line you could see without having to lower the saw down to the work piece (which would be my preference) but I'm unconvinced that it would be as brainlessly accurate as this over time, especially with different kerf width blades and vibration when the saw is running. It's worth noting for users of this saw that on the newest iteration the front guard is all one metal piece making this installation less practical.
I just did this on my saw. Instead of carving up the black plastic piece on the front of the blade guard, drill a 1/4" hole on the small side as high up as you can, and drill a 3/8" hole on the larger side 7/16" up from the flat open end. This will allow you to snake the wire and steel coil through and be snug through the small hole, and then the light boss that is 10mm will be snug on the large hole. There is still enough clearance for the light within the moving guard, and you can epoxy to fill any other gaps.
That video earned my subscription.
Absolutely brilliant great job
BRILLIANT!....such an amazing mod!
I have always been surprised Dewalt is the only slider I know of with this type of indicator. Has to be cheaper for a manufacturer to go this route vs a laser and its so much simpler to align.
Rob H I thought the same thing. maybe it is copyrighted by DeWALT.
No. Its not the only one ;).. I don't know if u guys get it in the USA, but here in Germany, Festool invented the new KAPEX KS60 wich works with this method too :) But this hack is awesome!!
Laser needs to be adjusted and it can shift off alignment but shadow is casted always same line where that blade is. Led also illuminates work piece so you can see easier where is your markings.
New ridgids also use this type of guide
Ridgid has the exact same shadow line feature. Other companies just haven't bothered.
I prefer this over the "red" laser. This seem to show much more solid line, thanks :-).