DeWalt DWS780-XE Review

Beefy, precise, and surprisingly affordable for a powerful unit — the DeWalt DWS780-XE sliding compound mitre saw is a valuable tool for the dedicated DIYer and trade professional.

With a dual bevel feature and offering 50/60 degree left/right mitres — it delivers welcome flexibility for carpenters and joiners. And, featuring an integrated LED cutline indicator, guarantees accuracy with every cut.

Its smooth rails ensure effortless blade gliding for the cleanest of cuts, while an incorporated dust bag collector keeps your cutting area clean and safeguards against dangerous sawdust inhalation.

Pushing out 3800 RPM from its 1675 input watt motor, the DWS780XE’s 12-inch (305 mm) carbide-tipped blade eases through dense timbers. And, at just 24.8 kg — lightweight for a pro-end tool — ensures pain-free portability around job sites.

This mighty tool arrives from the famed DeWalt brand — an American company with  100 years of knowledge and experience in power tool innovation, design, and manufacture.

The DWS780XE is the company’s jewel in the crown in its corded compound mitre lineup — surpassed only in its full catalogue by the cordless DCS781N-XE.

Pros

• XPS Shadow Line Cut indicator.
• 60-tooth carbide-tipped blade.
• Suitable for serious DIYers and trade pros.
• Reliable mitre lock function.
• Bevels to 49 degrees left and right.
• Robust fence for reliable material stability.

Cons

• Vibrates under heavy loads.
• Sluggish trigger response.

Features and Benefits of the DeWalt DWS780-XE Mitre Saw

Promising serious brawn combined with accuracy, the DWS780-XE is a mighty cutting machine as suited to the proud Aussie carpenter or joiner as the enthusiastic home DIYer.

Here’s what this tool has under the hood:

Smooth Glide Rails

Offering reassuring precision, the DWS 780 from DeWalt incorporates substantial dual rails — allowing you to effortlessly slide the saw along your cutting line. Providing a maximum cutting width of 345 mm, their bronze guide construction ensures smooth operation combined with durability.

Generous Mitre Function

Utilising its proprietary cam-action function, the DWS780 allows you to set your angled cuts — and have them reassuringly held in place — through an in-built mitre lock.

Whether you’re making standard 45-degree joints for a picture frame, or more adventurous 52-degree cuts for an attractive cabinet moulding — this mitre saw can tackle the job. With zero to 50 degrees left and zero to 60 degrees right capabilities, it offers remarkable versatility.

Cut Indicator

Boasting DeWalt’s trademarked XPS Shadow Line Cut Indicator, this sliding compound saw promises incredible accuracy.

An incorporated LED lamp shines downwards over the blade, casting a shadow on your target material. Not only does this indicate the exact area of imminent blade penetration, but also demonstrates the cutting width. Thus meaning no cuts in the wrong place!

Dual Fences

Independent left and right sliding fences provide robust support for your timber during cutting.

Permitting you to adjust — and lock — the fences in place to secure your wood, they provide reassuring support even with larger materials, whatever your cutting angle.

Dust Expulsion

Deflecting dust away from your working area, the DWS780 DeWalt compound mitre saw ensures a clean work-cutting line — free from timber debris — to elevate your sawing accuracy.

Furthermore, the waste is collected into an included dust bag. Not just keeping your workspace tidy, but also shielding you against the many risks of sawdust inhalation — including sinus and nasal cancer. 

Lightweight and Compact Build

Weighing in at a surprisingly low 24.8 kg — and with a foot area of 470 x 770 mm — the DWS 780 is pleasingly portable.

Whether you’re hauling the unit from project to project on your job site — or pulling it out of storage for use on your garage workbench — you can do it without putting your back out or needing a second pair of hands.

Brawny Motor

Powered by a grunty 960-watt output motor, the DeWalt 780DWS knocks out 3800 RPM through its sizable 12-inch (305 mm) blade.

This impressive strength permits the tool to glide effortlessly through your timbers with the cleanest of cuts — even on the most stubborn hardwoods.

Included Accessories

In addition to the tool, guides, fences, and dust bag — the DWS780 DeWalt saw also arrives with a material clamp, a 12-inch carbide-tipped blade, and a blade spanner.

Furthermore, the machine comes with a standard one-year warranty — which is extended to three years once you register your purchase online with DeWalt!

DeWalt DWS780-XE Australia Specifications

What Do Users Say About the DeWalt DWS780-XE?

In my view, the DWS 780 XE DeWalt Compound Slide is a fierce machine that’s as suited to home DIYers as it is the jobbing tradie. With precision and might, it’s capable of tackling a wide spectrum of timbers and projects.

That said, with only minimal experience of wielding this tool — it’s challenging to give a thoroughly comprehensive review.

Therefore, to understand how this unit works in hardcore daily applications — and to deliver the most accurate review possible — I delved into the views of owners, saw experts, and professional users who have a more in-depth familiarity with this tool.

Pleasingly, it appears that my opinions concurred with the guys who know best. Overall, their sentiments were overwhelmingly positive — welcoming the smooth gliding rails, applauding the dust extraction feature, and being impressed by its reliable mitre function.

However, it wasn’t all favourable reviews!

One guy pointed out that the control trigger wasn’t as responsive as he expected, with a seemingly long gap between depression and blade revolution. Another naysayer indicated that the machine vibrates significantly when faced with dense timbers.

That said, all users of the XE DWS780 concurred that the tool offered excellent value for money for a precise and brawny machine.

Metabo KGS 254 M Sliding Compound Mitre Saw

If you’re a fan of the sliding compound feature of the DeWalt, but consider its 12-inch (305 mm) blade something of overkill for your more modest projects — check out the KGS254M.

This Metabo saw has a more modest 10-inch (254 mm) carbide blade, ideal for DIY projects. Knocking out 4500 RPM compared to the 3800 RPM of the DeWalt, it promises more rapid cutting, albeit with a smaller penetration depth capacity.

• Significantly easier on your wallet than the DWS780.
• Like the DeWalt, the Metabo includes an LED shadow line guide.
• Much lighter — just 16.3 kg compared to the 24.8 kg of the DWS 780XE.

HiKOKI C10FSB(H1Z) Electric Slide Compound Mitre Saw

Should the speed, dust collection, and mitre stops of the DeWalt appeal, yet you want a unit that’s a little more affordable — consider the C10FSB.

Like the Metabo, this HiKOKI sliding compound saw offers 3800 RPM, an included spanner wrench, and positive left and right mitres. Yet, at a more budget price point and with a smaller length footprint — perhaps makes it more desirable for the budget-minded and space-restricted DIYer.

• 10-inch (254 mm) blade compared to the 12-inch (305 mm) of the DeWalt.
• Smaller guides than the DWS 780 XE means less accuracy on larger timber.
• At 19.5 kg, it’s 5 kg lighter than the DeWalt unit for greater portability.

Makita LS1219 Slide Compound Mitre Saw

If you demand a 12-inch (305 mm) compound sliding mitre, but need a tool with a little more brawn than the DeWalt offers — think about the LS1210.

This Makita unit has the same generous blade size, but with a motor input of 1800 watts compared to the 1675 watts of the DWS780 — promising more grunt for stubborn timbers. 

• More power comprises speed — 3200 RPM as opposed to the 3800 RPM of the DeWalt.
• At 29.3 kg, it’s nearly 5 kg heavier than the DWS780 XE.
• Similar price point to the DeWalt compound saw.