Dewalt DWS780 12″ Compound Miter Saw

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A while back we did a review of the Dewalt DWS780 12″ Double Bevel Sliding Miter saw.  We are not going to bore you with all the stats and small things again.  However we wanted to give you an update on how the saw has been working out.  Some of the things we like and don’t like about the saw since we have been using it.  If you do want to know about the stats, you can check out Dewalt.com.  If you want to check out what other people are saying, there is a lot of feedback on Amazon about the DEWALT DWS780.

I want to talk about the saw, but before we get there I have to mention the stand.  The stand I have been using is great.  It takes a little while to assemble, but once it is assembled, it is very nice.  I love how easy it is to set up and take down.  In fact when I am at home, I find myself using this more than my miter saw set up on my work table.  I can just wheel it outside, easily lift it up and start cutting.  Plus when I am not using the saw, it folds up nice and can easily be stored in the corner.  The one thing I wish Dewalt did with this stand is make a quick release feature so I can easily take the saw on and off to put in the bed of my truck.  They have that feature with the bigger miter stand which is a great idea.  The stand also has no hide-a-away supports to help support your longer pieces of wood on the left or right.

Dewalt Miter Saw 04Okay now to the saw.  When I first used Dan’s saw, I fell in love it.  It was smooth, accurate and cut well.  A couple months later, I got my saw.  The first thing I did was make some cuts to try it out.  I noticed that while it cut through wood, it wasn’t doing a great job.  It seemed like it was having a hard time making simple cuts.  I knew this had a strong 15 amp motor, so I wasn’t sure what was causing the slow down.  I ended up changing blades and then it just ran through everything.  Turns out it was a bad blade that was included with the saw.  This is weird because we had the same problem with the cordless 18V circular saw.  Anyways, no big deal.  Since then it has ripped through everything and has done a great job.  I have used it for a bar project, a basement, my bathroom, a shed, a fence and more.  Time after time, it rips through everything.  I have heard some people complain that the saw is not smooth during certain operations, but for me it has been smooth all the time.

Some of the key features that have stood out with this saw is first the light.  I have to say this is a cool feature and very accurate.  Even using it outside it works well.  Not if the sun is directly on the table, but even when it is bright outside, I can still see the light.  One feature I love is the small lever on the back to turn it into a chop saw.  Some other sliders I have used, use a knob to lock the saw in place (which the Dewalt still has if you want to use this feature for quick cuts) over time they seem to vibrate loose.  With the Dewalt, just flip the lever and it will stay in place.  You don’t have to worry about it coming loose.  Moving the table to different angles is a snap and I have noticed it’s very accurate.  You should lock the table down to the angle you want, but I rarely do because once it’s set, it stays in place.

amazon DEWALT DWS780 12-Inch Double Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw

I really can’t find anything I don’t like about this saw.  Some people have complained that there saw is hard to slide during certain operations.  Mine seems to slide pretty nice.  The saw is powerful, accurate and easy to set up.  I know some people don’t like sliders, but I just like having the option of cutting bigger material when I need to.  For me this is an awesome saw and worth every penny.  If you are looking for a top notch sliding miter saw, the DWS780 will not disappoint you.

 

 

Below is a video we did on Dan’s saw.

19 COMMENTS

  1. Thank you for the long term update review Eric! Love to see the long term updates. That is a GREAT saw! From all the projects you have done that saw is worth every penny! Miter saws take a beating. Blades can be changed.

  2. I commented on the 780 last time you guys reviewed it. I was not a particular fan of it…I have had a change in heart and will man up on this…well a little…I currently own a Milwaukee slider 6955(my favorite), a dewalt 715, 716, and 780! I just got rid of my Ridgid one not too long ago. For precise nice cuts at home, I use my Milwaukee. But when I need to haul around a saw, I use one of the Dewalts! I bought all 3 dewalts in the last year. First I got the 780, after getting it for a great price (otherwise I wouldn’t of). I built a portable bench that sat on horses and accepted the fit of the saw with the side flush to the saw deck. I LOVE the LED line light!!!! This then prompted me to buy the 716 for when I just didn’t need a slider, again getting it at a great price! I bought the LED light for it too! Then I saw the 715 for $199 recently, I had some store credit, and a 10% coupon…bought it! Went to get the light line for the 715 and it is no longer compatible on the newer versions (types)!!! I wanted to have the LED on the 715….so I returned it…searched all the stores for the older type and found one! Phew! Newer versions (types) of the saw will be sold in a black and yellow box, whereas the old types are in an all yellow box! You can also see that the manufacturing process on the base castings are different…the metal just looks different. The 780’s are all of the newer casting. The newer 715s (type 3 I think) are newer/different looking base casting. Furthermore, you can see a height difference of the base between the 780 and the type 2 715/716. The 780 base sits almost 1/16 higher. No biggie, but when I use my miter saw work bench, I have to shim up my 715 and 716 to make them flush with the sides. I do believe they have either gotten someone new/different to make the bases or have gone to a different way or use different materials to manufacture them. One other thing I did note when I bought the newer version 715, it came with a 32T blade, the older version comes with a 60T blade!

  3. guys, love your work when my bosch finally dies i’ll have to consider this as a back up, great work keep it up boys

  4. this is a great to have…it works perfect for all different kinds of jobs..nothing was too big or too small for this saw

  5. I bought one of these saws a little while ago,I’m very happy with the saw itself, but the same can’t be said for the 2 Extension kits [DW7080 extension rod & DW7051 Length Stop kits] that make it easier to cut short lengths of timber.I find it hard to believe that DEWALT could put out rubbish like this with their brand on it.Most people would think you’d buy this kit as an extra and then should just bolt on without any drama, it’s far from it, you need a workshop just to adapt the kits to fit the saw.Has any subscriber found the same problem,I’ve also left a review on Amazon as well as other users with the same problem.I’ve been a keen DEWALT user fot a long time but this has been most disappointing, cheers all.

    • I am from Brazil. I bought a DWS780 that is very nice. But, afterwards I bouth an extension (DW7080) that is a shame It is almost impossible to mount it. I am still thinking how to get around the problem.

  6. This saw has been out since 2011 if Im not mistaken. Any idea/rumor when Dewalt will be releasing an updated model?

  7. I just found one that had been opened but not used and returned to lowes. They had marked the price down to $475 because the box was open. I had a 10% off coupon and used that too and it brought price down to like $427. I was thinking about getting the hitachi for $399 before seeing this deal but I am glad I got the dewalt now. I hope to get years of use out of this one fixing up my old house. Anyway? Thanks for the review Eric. Always enjoy the articles and videos.

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