DEWALT DWS779 Miter Saw Review: 60-Degree Miter Range for Wide Crosscuts

Where the DWS779 Fits

DEWALT DWS779 Miter Saw cuts 2 x 14 dimensional lumber at 90 degrees for you if you need wide crosscuts for home repairs.

A 12-inch blade gives you the cut capacity to work through larger trim and framing stock without changing tools.

DEWALT DWS779 turns that into a 2 x 14 straight cut at 90 degrees, and its double bevel layout supports angled work on both sides.

We screened 71 Miter Saws and selected 15 for full review. This one has 9,013 buyer ratings, the second most of the 71 screened, and full reviews go to the most-rated products that pass screening, at most 2 per brand. If you want a corded sliding miter saw for routine home repairs, this review is for you.

The Short Answer on the DWS779

Best for: you need a corded 12-inch sliding miter saw for repeat compound cuts and wide trim work.

Choose the DWS779 if you want a double-bevel saw with 49-degree bevel travel and a 2 x 14 crosscut capacity, at around $635.

• Pro: The 12-inch blade size supports larger crosscuts than 7-1/4-inch compact saws.
• Pro: Its double-bevel head tilts both directions, which speeds repeated angled cuts on crown and casing.
• Pro: The 15 Amp motor and 3,800 rpm rating suit routine 2x lumber cuts for home repairs.
• Con: At 56 pounds, it is not the easy carry for frequent one-handed moves between rooms or jobsites.
• Con: The corded design rules out battery portability for work far from an outlet.

Don’t buy this if: you need a 7-1/4-inch cordless saw for tight spaces or overhead work without a power cord.

Price assessment: $635 is premium for the specs, but the 12-inch sliding format and double bevel help justify it for larger trim and framing work.

To find your perfect fit, see how to find the best sliding miter saw.

The Specifications That Matter for this Miter Saw

Crosscut capacity is the row that most separates this saw. It measures the widest board the DWS779 can cut straight across in one pass.

Before You Buy: Miter Saw Checklist

The first thing to check is whether 2 x 14 cuts and 49-degree bevels match your work, because those two figures decide whether this miter saw fits the jobs you plan to bring to it. Choosing wrong here costs you time and a return, since the saw’s cut shape is fixed by those limits.

• ☐ Confirm your widest crosscut need — 2 x 14 at 90 degrees — or wide boards will not cut in one pass, and you will have to split the job or buy a larger saw.
• ☐ Check your angled-cut work against the bevel range — 49 degrees to the right and left — or compound cuts may need extra repositioning, which slows repeated trim work.
• ☐ Measure the space you need to move — 56 pounds — or you may end up with a saw that is awkward to carry between jobs and easier to leave in one place.
• ☐ Confirm you want a corded setup — corded electric, 120 volts — or you will need power at the work area and cannot treat it like a battery saw.
• ☐ Check whether you need dust capture — over 75% dust capture with a dust bag — or you will live with more cleanup after each cut.
• ☐ Budget for the included setup needs — blade wrench and work clamp — or you may still need separate accessories before you can secure material and change the blade.

You should not buy this saw if you need a lighter tool than 56 pounds or a cordless setup for frequent carry.

Performance: What the Specs Deliver

What a wide miter range delivers for crosscuts

The DWS779 cuts up to 2 x 14 dimensional lumber at 90 degrees, so you can handle wide framing stock in one pass. That answers the biggest cut question here: the saw is built for full-width crosscuts, not repeated repositioning on large boards.

For compound layouts, that spread matters more than blade size alone, because a wide miter range is what lets you set the workpiece for corner cuts without forcing awkward setups.

How double bevel and detent control help compound cuts

DWS779 has a double bevel with 49 degrees of tilt to the right and left, so you can make compound cuts without flipping the board for every angle change. That is the practical answer for crown and casing work, where a single-bevel saw slows you down by forcing the work to move instead of the head.

The stainless-steel miter detent plate with 10 positive stops gives you fixed angle settings for repeat cuts. That helps when you are cutting multiple pieces to the same angle, while the oversized bevel scale gives you a clearer read on the tilt settings than a bare, minimal scale would.

How dust capture and capacity reduce cleanup pressure

The DWS779 captures over 75% of dust, so cleanup pressure is lower than on a saw that leaves most of the cut debris in the work area. The included dust bag gives you a place to collect that output, which matters if you want less loose dust around trim and framing jobs.

Its 15 Amp motor and 3,800 rpm speed support routine 2x lumber work, including home repairs that need steady drive rather than portable battery convenience. At 56 pounds, this is not a carry-anywhere saw, so the trade-off is clear: you get corded power and framing capacity, but not a lightweight setup for moving between jobs.

The DWS779 Job by Job: What Its Figures Cover

The DWS779 against the jobs buyers ask about, worked out from its listed motor power and a typical need for each job.

Sometimes a different tool is better; explore the alternatives to a miter saw.

How the DWS779 Compares to Other Mitre Saws

The DWS779’s clearest edge is capacity: its 12-inch blade, 2 x 14 crosscut figure, and 49-degree bevel range give it room for trim, framing, and compound cuts in one saw. For home repairs, the 15 amp motor is enough for routine 2x lumber work.

• Against the DEWALT DCS785B, the blade size is the same at 12 inches, so the choice is not about blade diameter.
• Against the Dual-Bevel Sliding Miter Saw, the DWS779 is $6 more expensive, so price does not favor it here.
• Against the JET JMS-10X, the 12-inch blade is larger than JET’s 10-inch blade, which matters for wider stock and deeper cut capacity.
• Against the Makita LS1018 10-Inch, the DWS779’s 15 amp motor is stronger than Makita’s 13.0 AMP motor, which matters for drive on routine 2x work.

If you want the lower-priced option, the Makita LS1018 10-Inch is the one to look at, because it costs $29.12 less. If you care more about buyer feedback, this model ranks first on rating among the six compared.

If you need a more compact option, view our full review of the Bosch CM10GD.

Compare the motor performance in our spec breakdown of the Makita LS1018.

From Delivery to First Use with This Mitre Saw

Getting the DWS779 ready for a 120-volt outlet

You need a 120-volt corded power source before the DWS779 does any useful cutting.

1. Unpack the saw and set it on a stable surface that can support 56 pounds.
2. Fit a 12-inch miter saw blade that matches the blade diameter.
3. Connect the dust bag so the dust collection system can capture over 75% of dust.
4. Plug the corded electric motor into a 120-volt outlet.
5. Set the bevel to the needed angle, using the 49-degree right-and-left range for compound cuts.

Warranty and support checks for DWS779 buyers

Cover varies by seller and country.

• Confirm the return window for a 56-pound saw, because shipping it back is harder than returning a small tool.
• Confirm whether the included dust bag is covered if it arrives damaged, since the dust system depends on it for source collection.
• Confirm whether the blade wrench is included and covered, because the saw states one and you need it for blade changes.
• Confirm whether the 15 amp motor has parts support, because that is the main drive component on this corded saw.

On the day it arrives, plug it in and verify the motor starts before your return window closes.

The DWS779: Remaining Questions

Will the bevel range handle the angled cuts you need?

Yes, the DWS779’s bevel range is 49 degrees to the right and left, so it covers common compound cuts without forcing a single direction. A double-bevel head matters here because you can tilt both ways instead of flipping the work for every opposite-angle cut.

Does the DWS779 still need you to flip pieces for some cuts?

No, the DWS779 is a double-bevel miter saw, so it does not require flipping for left- and right-leaning bevel cuts. You still need to think about the cut itself, because bevel range affects tilt only, not crosscut width or miter angle.

How wide a board can the DWS779 cut in one pass?

That gives you a clear straight-cut limit for framing stock, while the 12-inch blade size supports the saw’s larger cutting envelope.

Is the DWS779 a good choice for routine home-repair lumber cuts?

Yes, if your work is mostly 2x lumber, the DWS779’s 15 Amp motor is enough for routine home-repair cuts. The motor power matters more than the 3,800 rpm figure for that kind of decision, because amperage is the rough drive-strength spec here.

What does the dust collection on the DWS779 actually do?

The DWS779’s dust collection captures over 75% of dust, and it includes a dust bag. That does not mean a clean work area, but it does tell you the saw is set up to reduce loose debris during cutting.

New to these tools? learn miter saw terms and specs in plain English.

Is the DWS779 Right for You?

Who the DWS779 suits and the jobs it is the wrong choice for, listed below with the reason for each.

Where to Buy This Miter Saw

The DWS779 sat at $635 in the listing data from November 2026; the price you see at checkout can differ.

Miter saws are sold by the retailers below – we do not track which of them has the DWS779 in stock, so check availability and the current price with the retailer before making a trip.

• Amazon (online only) — wide assortment across brands and models
• Acme Tools (online only) — specialist retailer with knowledgeable power-tool focus
• Northern Tool (online and physical stores) — useful for tool-focused shopping and in-store pickup
• Ace Hardware (online and physical stores) — local-store convenience for common miter saw options
• Walmart (online and physical stores) — broad mass-market assortment and easy returns
• Home Depot (online and physical stores) — broad range of mainstream miter saws and easy in-store returns
• Lowe’s (online and physical stores) — broad selection for DIY buyers and convenient physical-store pickup

Final Verdict on the DWS779

You are cutting 2 x 14 lumber, want a 12-inch sliding miter saw, and need double bevel for repeated angled cuts. The DWS779 fits that job, and it is around $635.

The strongest number here is the 15 Amp motor paired with 3,800 rpm. That gives you enough drive for routine 2 x lumber work, and the 49-degree bevel range and 2 x 14 crosscut capacity keep the saw useful for larger stock.

Skip it if: you need a cordless saw, or you want a lighter tool than 56 pounds for frequent moves.