DWS779 versus DWS780 (Also: Shop Teacher Bait)

"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
09/28/2020 at 11:25 • Filed to: None

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I did online chat with a DW rep and she said the 780/779 are essentially identical saws, but the 780 has a guiding light and comes with a 60-tooth blade. DW doesn’t have a guiding light they sell separately that can be added to the 779, and I’ve been eyeballing the edge of the blade for so many years that I’m not sure I even need one. Are there any other differences that I cannot spot between these two? The 780 is $599 and the 779 is $399, FWIW...

DISCUSSION (20)

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/28/2020 at 11:32

So one has a built in laser guided blade sight that shows you where the blade will hit without eye-balling it? That seems like a good feature for someone who doesn’t cut wood often. Seems like if you have used a compound miter in the past and know how it works then probably not needed. These sliding compound miters are pretty nice, they cut very well. I just have a regular makita chop saw, doesn’t slide but damn I’ve cut a lot of wood with that thing.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/28/2020 at 11:32

Having used Dewalt’s guide light, I can say it’s sooooo much better than laser.

In saying that... is it worth $200? I say no. Especially not if you can add it later for less.

Tripper > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/28/2020 at 11:34

Hey thanks! I’m in need of a new chop saw and have mostly Dewalt power tools! 779 sounds like the one for me, I too use the blade and def will not spend $200 on a blade.

PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/28/2020 at 11:34

My guess is the 780 is the new dog in town and commands a higher price as compared to the outgoing 779? The 779 looks to have a higher tooth count blade, do you have that info?

Jake, Yes, wearing khakis > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/28/2020 at 11:36

I have the 779 and love it, same as you I have been working without a laser guide for so long that I don’t think im missing anything. I picked up a Kobalt 80t for it at the same time for 20$ on clearance and never looked back, great for trim work.

MM54 > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/28/2020 at 11:39

My guess is that the 780 is the “this year’s model” and the 779 is the “old” one - there’s probably some other incremental differences but for $200 difference you can buy a nice blade and still come out ahead.

The “guiding light” sounds pretty gimmicky. Which side of the kerf does it shine on? Sometimes I need to keep the line, or split the line, or take it off - just have to look at the blade, how does a light or laser help with that ?

adamftw > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/28/2020 at 11:41

All my battery tools are dewalt, but I couldnt stomach the premium for the chop saw. I cheaped out and went with a Ryobi single bevel 10 and its been great and I use the hell out of it. A good blade 12" is gonna cost you $70-100 anyway, so that is almost half the cost in the “newer” one. My father in law has an older dewalt double bevel 12 and there is only one time where the 12 would have been useful. I don’t mind flipping crown molding around to make cuts with my single bevel.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/28/2020 at 11:48

But, can it slice a banana?

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > adamftw
09/28/2020 at 12:01

I couldn’t tell if one of them came with a legit blade and if that was the cost difference, because you are correct a good 12" blade is going to cost a bundle.

adamftw > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
09/28/2020 at 12:04

Yea man, the 10" diablo trim blade I bought was like $70 or 80. It’s just about ready to get retired now but I’ve trimmed my whole house with it the past 3 years.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/28/2020 at 12:10

If you’re not in a hurry. I have a 780 and.ca n write up a Longer response tonight. One deal is the 780 are sometimes have a sale deal with the folding stand for free that I don’t I don’t know if extended to the 779

Thomas Donohue > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
09/28/2020 at 12:21

Similarly, can it chop broccoli?

Wacko > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/28/2020 at 13:26

https://updweller.com/tool-reviews/dws779-vs-dws780/

shop-teacher > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/28/2020 at 13:41

I personally can’t stand the lasers. One of the best things about sliding saws, is you can bring the blade right to your mark anyways. A decent 60 tooth blade is like $5 0 at Home Dumpo. Keep the $200 in your pocket and buy the 779. $399 for a brand new 12" slider, is a killer deal. I paid $400 for my old 708 used 15 years ago.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > MM54
09/28/2020 at 19:27

its a superbright LED that casts a shadow on the wood. As the bulb is wider than the blade, the shadow matches the kerf width. So shadow is right where youll be cutting.

Lasers run the risk of loosing alignment with the blade and cant adjust based on blade kerf width.

Kinja'd!!!

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Jake, Yes, wearing khakis
09/28/2020 at 19:27

The XPS isn’t a laser

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120
09/28/2020 at 19:29

both are 60 teeth, but I think the blade the 779 has is a finer kerf.

Jake, Yes, wearing khakis > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
09/28/2020 at 19:30

Correct but it serves the same or similar purpose. Kerf shadow vs laser line, kerf shadow is probably better but two tools with similar result.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/28/2020 at 19:58

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/opponauts-please-teach-me-about-miter-saws-1792027337

I went down a similar route 3 years ago.

If the xps system is only $ 60. i would get the 779, and add that on later. Also I think blade that comes with the 779 has a less agressive kerf, than the 780. i guess they figure owners will swap out anyway.

I got the 780 for a few projects. at the time i kept waiting for a sale at HD and lowes where they throw in the stand for free. Also I don’t think at t he time there was an upgrade kit availa ble. . I was doing a lot of chopping for a deck project. L ater when doing some trim work, I had to switch out the blade for a 96t diablo.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/DEWALT-Aluminum-Adjustable-Miter-Saw-Stand/3326150?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-tol-_-google-_-lia-_-129-_-miterandtablesaws-_-3326150-_-0&placeholder=null&gclid=Cj0KCQjwk8b7BRCaARIsAARRTL4VYWlehYGSob9fk_XygKpARee7AXhzZBX0fYRobXGwRX2z4nbe22AaAm4GEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds If you don’t need it right away may be worth keeping an eye out when they redo the free stand sale .

For both saws the dust bag fills after a fwe good thick boards. I think a common trick is to jerry rig a hose down to a 5gal bucket.

MM54 > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
09/28/2020 at 20:20

Okay that’s pretty neat. Unnecessary (can still lower the blade and look) but useful!