Ideal for heavy-duty woodworking such as cutting dimensional lumber, the DeWalt DWS779 12-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw is a double-bevel workhorse that will power through large-sized materials. It has a good balance of power and adjustability that’s sufficient for most carpentry work, while its convenient features will produce repeatable results.
If you are interested in the DeWalt DWS779, I’ve written a review below to let you know about its specs, features, pros, and cons to help you decide on whether to buy this miter saw or not.
DeWalt DWS779 12-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw
As a dual-bevel sliding compound miter saw, the DeWalt DWS779 is ideal for cutting 2×14 or 2×12 size dimensional lumber, which means it is ideal for medium to heavy-duty carpentry work.
Specifications
With a 15-amp motor that has a no-load speed of up to 3,800 RPM, this miter saw features an arbor size of either 5/8 or 1 inch. With a 12-inch diameter blade that is made of carbide, the tool measures 24.75 by 17 inches and weighs 56 pounds, a standard weight for most sliding compound miter saws. Its maximum cutting thickness is at 6.75 (6-3/4) inches, which is also its vertical base support for tall sliding fences.
As for the bevel capacity, it can be set up to 48 degrees left and right while the miter detent plate has a total of 10 positive stops. At 90 degrees, it has a cross-cut capacity of 2 x 14 inches and at 45 degrees, its capacity is at 2 x 10 inches (both for dimensional lumber).
Quality
A 3-year limited warranty from the manufacturer will give you peace of mind about the product’s quality. It also comes complete with a blade wrench for adjustment and a user guide to help you out, aside from the miter saw and the carbide blade.
To help improve the durability of the miter saw, it has an efficient dust collection system, which can capture up to 75% of the dust in your work area. Less dust means better visibility for the material that you will cut, which also improves accuracy.
The stainless steel material used for its detent plate adds to its layers of durability, as well as its linear ball bearings. Moreover, the machined base fence support and the precise miter system are other symbols of quality craftsmanship.
Usability
The DeWalt DWS779 is filled with convenient features. For instance, it has an oversized bevel scale that allows for easy reading of the positive stops. Because of this, measuring the correct cut is simplified. Moreover, it has a cam-lock miter handle that has a detent override so you don’t have to set the same angle again and again if you are working on repetitive tasks without ruining the quality.
Its linear ball bearings and a clamping mechanism will ensure stability for your material, as well as the dual horizontal steel rails, which will help with adjustability. The dust chute and port will make debris management simple enough.
Should You Buy the DeWalt DWS779 Miter Saw?
The DeWalt DWS779 will be the miter saw for you if cutting depth and usability are on your mind. If you mainly work with 2×14 or 2×12 sized dimensional lumber, this tool is going to be a great addition to your shop arsenal.
If you are still unsure about your decision, go through the below list of the pros and cons of the tool.
Pros of the DeWalt DWS779
Let’s start with the pros.
It has a stainless steel miter detent plate.
The stainless steel material of the detent plate not only enhances the durability of the miter saw but it also makes the cutting tasks easier. Accuracy is highly important in any cutting tool such as a miter saw and by having a detent plate that’s easy to read and durable, you will less likely to make mistakes when you work on your material.
It fits different arbor sizes.
Unlike typical miter saws, having two different arbor sizes (5/8-inch and 1-inch) allows better adaptability to various materials. Typically, a 1-inch arbor is seen in most 12-inch compound miter saws, making them less adaptable to smaller projects.
The cam-lock miter handle allows consistent results.
The miter can be locked to your specific value so that you don’t have to set it again and again – perfect if you need to work on sets of materials with the same measurements. This way, you get consistent results without compromising accuracy, which is extremely important if you work on a job site or a shop.
The 12-inch blade is ideal for large materials.
If you will be working on materials as wide as 5 inches or more, a 12-inch blade is essential for a miter saw. I also mentioned above that it has different arbor sizes, not just 1 inch, so the machine is more flexible overall.
Cons of the DeWalt DWS779
Even though the DeWalt DWS779 is a great tool, there are a few cons worth noting.
It doesn’t come with a laser or LED guide light.
Although it has multiple features for better accuracy and convenience, the only minor con is that it doesn’t come with its own LED guide light or laser. Nonetheless, you can purchase one separately and install it on the unit. Moreover, you can try out the different DeWalt miter saws that I will discuss below (see the alternatives section), as most of them use an XPS LED cross cut positioning system.
The dust extraction system could be better.
Many users have complained that the dust extraction is not as efficient as other brands since you do have to empty the dust bag more often. Although dust management is okay, perhaps a bigger bag and a more efficient method of collection would make it better.
What Are the Alternatives to the DeWalt DWS779?
If the DeWalt DWS779 simply isn’t your cup of tea, here are some other worth considerations with similar specifications:
The DeWalt DWS780 (read my review) is a similar tool that also sports a 15-amp motor with a speed of 3,800-RPM. It also has 10 positive stops, but what makes it different is the integrated XPS cross cut positioning system, which adds more accuracy to the miter saw – good news if you prefer saws with guiding lights. This technology projects LED light and forms a shadow onto the material, which becomes your guide for cutting.
It even has a handle for simple portability, ideal for moving between job site areas. Additionally, it has different miter values (60 degrees to the right and 50 degrees to the left). The cutting capacity is slightly smaller at 6-1/2 inches as compared to the DeWalt DWS779’s 6-3/4-inch base capacity. Nonetheless, they both have a carbide blade and a dust collection bag with a similar extraction system.
Yet another double bevel unit that has an XPS cutline system with an LED light is the DeWalt DWS716XPS, which also has a 15-amp, 3,800 RPM motor. This model can also support up to 6-1/2 inches vertically, similar to the DeWalt DWS779 and has 48-degree bevel capacity on both sides.
The DeWalt DWS709 is yet another 15-amp and 3,800-RPM sliding compound miter saw with similar specs, such as 10 positive stops and an oversized bevel scale. However, it is lighter in weight and only has a 5-1/2-inch crown molding capacity and 4-1/2-inch vertical capacity. Nonetheless, it is still at 12 inches on its blade size and still has a stainless steel miter detent plate.
Summary
Overall, I believe that the DeWalt DWS779 will be a great workhorse in a shop thanks to its easy adjustment components. While it is not as good as other miter saws in terms of dust extraction and laser guides, as a 12-inch miter saw for basic tasks on dimensional lumber of larger sizes, this will be sufficient.