The sliding compound miter saw is the heart of every professionals and DIY homeowner’s tool set. While a DIYer can get by using a speed square and circular saw for a lot of things nothing beats the speed and detail of a sliding compound miter saw. Enter the DeWalt DWS779 – a powerhouse and one of the best bang-for-buck saws on the market that if treated well will withstand dozens of years of use.

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What is The DeWalt DWS779?

The DWS779 is one of DeWalt’s sliding compound miter saws, featuring a 12″ blade powered by a robust 15-amp motor. This saws impressive capabilities include effortlessly cross cutting 2″ by 14″ dimensional lumber, and cutting a 2 by 10 stock at a 45° angle. Whether you’re wrangling hefty framing materials or delicately crafting fine trim carpentry, the DWS779 is at the forefront of tools for the job.

Features

• 12 Inch Blade
• 15 Amp Motor
• Cut Depth Stops
• Extra Tall Fence Support
• Dust Collection
• 3 Year Limited Warranty

Pros

• Professional Grade Tool: While other saws might be capable of doing the job, none of the cheaper offerings are going to withstand the test of time like this DWS779 can.
• 15-Amp Brushless Motor: The motor on this tool offers ample power at 3800 rpm to cut through the toughest hardwoods. Being brushless allows low maintenance and great longevity.
• Easy Adjust Depth Stops: We really like the depth stops on this saw. This feature comes in handy more often than you might think and being able to quickly adjust cut depth gets 2 thumbs up.
• Extra Tall Fence: This small easily over looked feature makes cutting wood on end or multiple pieces at once possible for maximum productivity and versatility.
• Heavy Duty Design: This sliding compound miter saw is as heavy duty as they come. This means its unlikely to move or slide while making a cut or working with heavy material.
• Positive Stops: This saw features 10 positive detents to make quick and accurate angle adjustments.

Cons

• Higher Price: The DWS779 is a professional grade tool that comes with a professional grade price tag. We believe this is well worth saving for and spending the extra so that you only have to buy one saw one time.
• Heavy Weight: You will notice this point is made on the Pros and the Cons list and it really comes down to your personal application. Weighing in at 56 pounds if you plan to be extremely mobile with the saw there could be better options.
• Poor Dust Collection: The dust collection while it’s there is certainly not optimized. We find that without a shop-vac or dust collection device attached to the back side you will have a mess to clean.
• No Light: This model saw doesn’t feature a light so seeing your cut line can be difficult in low light conditions.

Personal Experience

From the moment we unboxed the DWS779 we were nothing but impressed. The saw was easy to assemble with quality instructions, worked right out of the box and most importantly was dead nuts accurate requiring no adjustments to get straight to work. With already a few thousand cuts made on it the DWS779 has maintained laser accuracy that I know will continue on just like the predecessor my dad purchased nearly 25 years ago and has built numerous homes and additions with.

DWS779 Sliding Compound Miter Saw Pricing

At the time of writing this post the DWS779 regular retail price is $599 but we have regularly seen it on sale for as low as $399 over at amazon.

Conclusion/Summary

Whether you’re looking to upgrade your home shop, tool trailer or tackle any DIY task that might come your way the DWS779 sliding compound miter saw should be a staple in the tool set you have at you’re disposal. Packed full of great features and with a durable track record to boot, here at The DIY Nut this saw receives our seal of approval as a worthy investment that will serve you for years to come.

If you’re interested in adding a cordless brad nailer to you’re tool box or just interested in reading our review check out this review on the Milwaukee 18 gauge cordless brad nailer here.