Dewalt DWS780 Sliding Compound Miter Saw Review – Is It For You

Summary Of The DeWalt Dws780 Review

Having been in the industry for 20 years plus I decided it was time to replace my trusty but tired Makita miter saw. The DeWalt Dws780 has been getting good wraps online so I’ve done some homework to check it out in more depth.

So if you are a tradesperson or a DIY nutter looking to buy a decent miter saw then this review may be of some help. If you have any questions in mind it’s probably covered in the table of contents below.

All Miter Saws Aren’t Equal

The DeWalt DWS780 sliding compound miter saw was high on my list of three contenders. The following is what I’ve uncovered. From whats here you should be able to make an informed decision as to whether this miter saw is the one that will suit your needs.

Don’t make the mistake of jumping in and buying the first cheap machine you see. Pay attention to what your needs are, the saw quality, and what others have found out before you. We will cover any features, how it handles, and what it compares with.

As a side note, for those who aren’t sure what a sliding compound miter saw is, its basically a saw that allows you to pivot the cutting blade to the side. This is so you can cut a bevel cut and a miter cut, or a combination of angles at the same time. Having a forward and backsliding function on the DeWalt Dws780 gives greater functionality and the capacity to handle thicker and wider materials.

Who Is The DeWalt DWS780 Miter Saw Best Suited

Let’s face it, this saw isn’t the power tool you buy on a whim, so if you are just tinkering in your home workshop then its probably not for you. This miter saw is a serious piece of equipment and will be an asset to any tradesperson.  Plus for the serious DIYer who likes nothing more than to spend time in the workshop.

While researching this I did come across one rather humorous review. The guy suggested he purchased this to keep up with the endless projects his wife had found on Pinterest. He was able to cut boards so fast it gave him more time to focus on man stuff, making Jerky, eating bacon, and wrestling grizzly bears!

Check Pricing Here on Amazon

DeWalt Arent New To Miter Saws

DeWalt produced its first saw, a radial arm saw in 1922. Since then they have been serious contenders in the miter saw innovation. They continue to provide quality features such as accuracy, dual bevel systems, lighting guides, and high-capacity cutting.  And in 2018 they forging ahead with new battery-powered tools using Flex-volt technology. They make serious tools for serious tradespeople.

 What’s In The Box

• DeWalt DWS780 12-inch double bevel sliding compound miter saw.
• 60T 12-inch Carbide blade
• Blade removal wrench
• Dust bag
• Vertical clamp for material holding.

Specifications

• Weight – 56 pounds
• Dimensions – 33 x 23.8 x 18.8 inches
• 45° Bevel cut capacity 2X14 (2X16 using back fence)
• 45° Miter cut capacity (Max width) 4 inch X8 inches
• 45° Miter cut capacity (Max height)4 inch X8 inches
• 90° Cross cut capacity (Max width) 14 inches – 16 inches
• Power source – Corded
• Voltage – 120 V
• Wattage – 200W

What’s Great About The Dewalt DWS 780

Build quality is one of DeWalt’s strong points and this machine is a great example of that. It’s extremely well built featuring a 15A 3,600 RPM motor that’s keen to get on with things. This miter saw would suit professionals on the job site and the DIY guy or gal. This saw is grunty enough to tackle almost anything you would want to throw at it while still light and compact enough for transport.

• Has a machined base and fence support that gives a very accurate miter cutting system.
• the double bevel feature lets you cut accurate bevels without repositioning the timber being cut.
• Fantastic machine for all trades professionals, carpenters, furniture makers, installers, deck builders, house framers, and more. Especially for those who need no fuss accurate cutting.
• Made strong and durable, very solid.
• The DeWalt Dws780 has a new initiative from DeWalt with its XPS system that produces a LED light shadow precisely where the saw cut will occur.  This light shadow system would be the most accurate I have come across to date and really does show exactly where the saw blade will cut. Also lets you see what the thickness of the saw cut will be. At face value, this appears to be much more accurate than previous laser guides.
• In regards to the DeWalt Dws780 miter saw’s castings and safety guards, they have been made rugged and with precision. The miter detent plate is made from stainless steel and built to handle the day-to-day grunt from a typical job site.
• The motor offers plenty of power at 15 amps and an RPM of 3,800. And, although powerful, with its brief soft start feature, the motor runs smooth and quieter than you would expect from a motor that powerful. The power cord is routed through the backplate so as not to interfere with any cutting.

Vertical, Horizontal And Bevel Cutting Limits

The DeWalt Dws780 gives a combination of cutting angles that aren’t normally on other miter saws.

• Vertical cutting is 6-3/4-inches
• The nested crown cutting capability is 7 – 1/2 inches.
• For horizontal cut capacity, we have 13-7/8-inches.
• The design of the back fence lets you cut up to 2 x 16 inches at 90 degrees, plus 2 x 12 inches at 45 degrees.
• The saw includes a rail lock latch to easier cut and maximizes vertical cuts.
• Bevel cutting can go from nil to 49 degrees. The positive stop points work both left and right and are positioned at 33.9, 45 and 49 degrees.
• For miter cuts, we can cut 50 degrees left and 60 degrees right. The miter detent plate is adjustable to 10 positive points.

While the crosscut cutting maximum is 15.75 inches, you can cut 16 inch boards by lifting the front of the board about one inch at the end of the cut. I doubt that the manufacturer or health and safety would approve of doing this but it can be done if you are careful. The other alternative and safer method is to simply slide the 16 inch board away from the machine and finish the cut using a hand saw.

What Others Say About The DWS780 Miter Saw

A couple of minor complaints surfaced during my research, the first was that because the saw is so powerful.  If you have the blade to close to the work when starting, it can jump down into the cut prematurely, an easy fix is to start the saw in a higher position. After some use, however, I feel that this won’t be an issue once the user gets used to the machine.

Another quip was that if you are setting the saw into a workbench you will need about 36 inches in depth available, again, the benefits of having a saw set into your workbench outweighs any installation problems.

Other reviews were concerned about the sliders getting gummed up with sawdust, I suspect that this is not only related to the DWS780 but other saws that have sliding arms. For this one, all I can say is that every power tool needs to be maintained to a certain level. Taking time out each week to maintain these areas will keep you in good stead.

For using the compound miter saw straight out of the box, some buyers recommend that you check all the factory settings for square as some were found to be wanting. Others who use the saw for more high-quality projects or for cutting hardwoods, suggest exchanging the blade for an 80 tooth version, with this setup the cut is so clean it barely needs sanding.

Also, those who went the extra mile and purchased the stand found the overall setup to be outstanding.

We Found the dust collection bag works fairly well but has to be emptied often due to its modest size. If this is a problem for your workshop there are other dust collectors available.

Price. It’s worth noting that the DeWalt Dws 780 usually sells for the same price both at Amazon and the big box stores

Accessories For DeWalt Miter Saws

As with most power tools, unless you are buying a combo kit you really don’t get much more than the basics. There are however several add-ons for compound miter saws that are worth looking at.

Crown Stops are accessories that allow for accurate, vertical positioning of crown moldings against the miter saw fence.

Miter saw work stand. there are two models available from DeWalt, the DEWALT DWX723 Heavy duty work stand, and the  DEWALT DWX724 Compact Miter Saw Stand. Both offer similar features including saw mounting brackets, made from lightweight aluminum that allows easy storage and transport. For mind, I prefer the DWX724 purely for the ability to manage longer material lengths, up to each individual circumstances and use, however.

To complement the saw stand there is the DW7232  Saw Stand Material Support and Stop. This allows you to support any material along the rail and use it as a stop for cutting multiple lengths all the same measurement.

The DW7232 can be adjusted from 21 inches up to 37 inches and has leveling feet for uneven ground.

Alternatively, you could always make your own saw stands from timber. This would be a great starter project. Good for using in your own workshop but for site work a metal saw stand would be an easier option.

Final Word on The DeWalt Dws780

If you are a serious DIY’er, renovator or professional carpenter or builder there likely isn’t better value for money. The Dewalt DWS 780 compound miter saw ticks all the boxes. The build quality is excellent so I would expect to get many years of service from the machine.

For contractors and tradespeople, this miter saw would provide great productivity and a tool that will pay for itself over and over.

For Diy use, the Dws780 could be a little overkill. This depends entirely on the sort of Diy’er you are and the type of projects you tackle. This machine will handle everything a miter saw is capable of. If you are just doing straight cuts and angle cuts on general projects then maybe you would be better served looking at the DeWalt Dw715 10″ miter saw. If you are more into construction and home renovation then the Dws780  certainly be an asset.

Overall the DeWalt Dws780  is well balanced and the slide has a super smooth operation. Many reviewers have mentioned that they have not regretted buying this 12-inch miter saw and considered it well worth the money.