DWS709 vs DWS779: Head to Head with Two of DeWalt’s Best Miter Saws

DeWalt is one of the most trusted power tool manufacturers in the world, and their miter saws are among the best in the business.

But, DeWalt has a habit of releasing several nearly identical saws with slight variations. It’s not easy to understand the differences between the DWS709 vs DWS779 by just looking at the two saws.

Today, we’ll put these two saws head to head to determine which miter saw is best for your needs.

Why You Need a Miter Saw

When you’re working with wood, accuracy is among the most important components to a job well done, and a miter saw enables you to make incredibly accurate cuts you’d have a hard time achieving with other, similar saw.

Miter saws are designed for making cross cuts, miter cuts, bevel cuts, and compound cuts, and it’s an indispensable tool for finish work, like cutting and installing molding or trim on your projects.

Miter saws also provide similar functionality to a table saw or chop saw, which makes them well suited to tackle virtually any kind of woodworking job beyond just finishing work. There’s a strong argument to be made that the miter saw is the most useful power tool of all when it comes to woodworking.

DWS709 vs DWS779: What Separates These Two Miter Saws?

At first glance, these saws are virtually identical. They’re roughly the same size and weight, and even many of the “under the hood” specs are identical across both saws. So why should you buy one over the other?

Both the DWS709 and DWS779 feature a 3,800 rpm 15 amp motor and both saws are double bevel compound sliding miter saws. The primary differences between the two are the cross-cut capacity of the two saws, the lack of LED lighting with the DWS709, and the price, of course.

The cutting capacity of the DWS709 is 9 ½” at a 90-degree cut and 6 ⅝” for a 45-degree cut. Meanwhile, the capacity on the SWS779 is 2×16” on 90-degree cuts and 2×12 on 45-degree cuts.

The DWS779 provides a standard cut capacity whereas the DWS709 is considerably smaller. This model also comes equipped with onboard LED lighting. The DWS779 also has a list price that’s $150 more than the more affordable DWS709.

Which Saw Should You Choose?

With these saws being so similar, there are only two main questions you need to ask yourself to decide which saw is best for you.

First, how much capacity do you need? If you’re pumping out a commercial volume of work with your saw, then going for the DWS779 is a no-brainer. The instruction manual provides a few tips for ways you can increase the capacity of the DWS709 slightly. But, these hacks aren’t necessarily viable for the long term.

The next question is a bit less important. Are you willing to spend the extra money on the more expensive model? If you need the capacity that the DWS779 provides, the extra hundred dollars or so shouldn’t deter you.

But, if you’re on a tight budget, or you don’t need your saw to be able to tackle commercial work, the DWS709 may be the best option for your needs.

DeWalt DWS709

The DWS709 miter saw from DeWalt manages to pack tons of power into a smaller footprint. This saw is on the smaller side and weighs in at only 51 pounds. But it has the same heavyweight motor that’s available on DeWalt’s higher end saws.

The DWS709 features a 3,800 RPM 15-amp motor and has a vertical cut capacity of 4 ½” and a horizontal cut capacity of 9 ½ inches. This model can cut crown up to 5 ½” nested and has a cross cut capacity of 2×14 at 90-degrees and 2×10 at 45-degrees.

The miter detent plate of this saw is stainless steel and features thirteen positive stops that are controllable with a knob. Should something go wrong with your saw, it’s backed by DeWalt’s three-year warranty.

What We Like

• More Affordable
• Powerful motor
• Small footprint

What Could Be Better

• Lacks onboard lighting
• Small capacity

DeWalt DWS779

The DWS779 is quite similar to the DWS709, but it does feature some notable additions that will be especially important for serious professionals.

The DWS779 is a bit larger than the DWS709 and weighs in at a stout 67 pounds. It features the same 3,800 RPM 15-amp motor that’s available with the DWS709.

The vertical cut capacity of this model is 6 ¾,” and it’s capable of cutting nested crown molding up to 7 ½” thick. For cross cuts, the capacity is 2×16 at 90-degrees and 2×12 at 45-degrees.

Unlike its competitor, DWS779 has onboard LED lighting to help illuminate your work surface. While it’s not a major difference, it’s a convenience feature that comes in handy, especially when you’re working inside.

Newer DeWalt miter saw models, like the DWS780 feature the XPS lighting system, which assists users with making the most precise cuts possible, but it’s not exactly necessary. For most craftspeople, a simple LED light is more than enough.

This model also features a stainless-steel miter plate, but has only ten positive stops compared to thirteen with the DWS709. Instead of a knob for these adjustments, the DWS779 makes use of a cam-lock. The DWS779 features DeWalt’s same three-year warranty.

What We Like

• High cutting capacity
• Heavy-duty build quality
• Onboard lighting

What Could Be Better

• Doesn’t feature the DeWalt XPS system

Final Word

At this point, you should have a clear idea of the winner in your fight between DWS709 vs DWS779. The higher capacity is a major selling point for the DWS779, and the addition of onboard lighting is also helpful.

Meanwhile, if you’re not buying this saw to use commercially, you may be better off saving the extra money and instead opting for the DWS709. The fact remains that both saws are made by the same great manufacturer, and they both have rock solid warranties.

Which saw was the winner to you? Sound off in the comments.