Always nice when someone is talking about their tools that they’ve used for countless hours, It definitely carries a lot more weight than just a tool review, I’ve been using makita’s sliding mitersaws for about 18 years I guess’ I really like the direct drive motor vs belt driven, but the way you tune and have such accurate cuts makes that saw look really good… I’m glad you made a another video me and my friend was just talking about you hoping you where doing ok, thanks for sharing man keep up the good work.
I bought the 779 a day ago as well as a dewalt 80 tooth blade to replace the 32 tooth that came with the unit. I also bought the xps lite kit from mmTools and installed it in less than 30 minutes....it works great. And, I saved more than $275 over the cost of the 780.
My 779, which I bought several years ago, has all the features of the 780 that you pointed out as missing except for the shadow light. It was not difficult to add the light and I’m totally pleased with the result. Even the knob on the back of mine is aluminum like the 780 and not plastic. Apparently DeWalt has been removing features of the 779 to differentiate it more from from the 780. When I bought mine, DeWalt was saying that the only differences between the saws were the light and the logo decal. Glad now that I bought mine when I did.
@@InsiderCarpentry Glad I got one of the good ones before they started cheapening it! They used to have a couple of other sliding 12” saws, I think they may have been a DWS709 and 716, that were cheaper made than 779 and sold by the big box stores. I wonder if they may have just rebadged one of those and call it the 779.
Yeah same here. My knob on the back of my 779 is aluminum and painted black. I have the 22.5 and 33 degree bevel stops and levers on the back just like the 780. No light though. Was thinking about buying a new 779 but after watching this I'll probably get the 780 or something else
Just one comment as a recent 779 purchaser within the last year. I purchased the light upgrade for it for about $70 and it was very easy to install (it took about 15 - 20 minutes, with no splicing as the kit was a drop-in with the proper connectors ready to go). Hence I wouldn't say it's a difficult upgrade at all, BUT if someone isn't comfortable with wiring / electronics, then yes I'd say it might be more of a challenge. But I loved everything else about the video as at the time when I bought my 779, I couldn't find much about the true differences between the saws. And yes, once you have the lighting system, you never want to go back :D
I agree. I just don't feel like you could get a cut that would be as precise with the light as opposed to doing it old school. But I guess it depends on if you're framing or cabinet making
Not trying to troll here but as an experiment I bought Harbor Freight's 780 equivalent and I've been pretty pleased with it. It has all the features of the 780 including the light and it costs less than the 779. Right out of the box it was spot on. At a job I recently cut a 24" octagon using stops and the miters closed up with no gaps. I was impressed. We'll see about longevity but so far I have no complaints. And at $380 you can't complain about the price.
Wood butcher homeowner here. Wife bought me a $99.00 Porter Cable miter saw. It sat for months and when I tried to use it the arbor had a wobble. Returned it in warranty for service. Guy from Black and Decker service called and told me that they couldn't service the unit. (You could tell he was disgusted with the Porter Cable saw). He offered to refund me OR...... I can send you a new Dewalt. My $99.00 Porter Cable turned into a Dewalt sliding compound miter saw with shadow light.
I felt fortunate. I bought the 779 about 3 years ago and it came with all the features mentioned on the 780 except for the shadow light. I did however buy the aftermarket light for it. For me, it installed very easy and works as advertised. The main downside in them is they void your manufacturers warranty, so that is also something to consider.
@@joshh1835 same here. My 779 has everything he says it shouldn't have. I added the light for 50 bucks with a kit you can by. Not sure what this dude is talking about.
agree...I bought my 779 in April 2019 $349 and it has Everything except the Light. After market Light kit was about $60plus, installed in about 45 min. I love this saw!
Spencer is a real good communicator,his tone is so measured,I wasn't sure what the subject matter was,and he had my undivided attention, I'm a diyer and have learned so much from and Rich.,you guys have me doing pro quality work,Bigup to you man.great content as usual.✊✊
Great video. Glad to see an update. When I got my 779 all the comparison videos were identical besides the light. As the saw used to be. And as the 779 on demo at Lowes was. But when I unlocked mine. I was very upset to see the plastic bevel wheel, the lack of stops, and the lock for vertical baseboards. I did add the light later and I'm glad I did. But knowing what I know now since they cheapened up the 779 I would have spent the extra on the 780, I agree with all you have said
I added the XPS light to my 779 and it took 30 minutes to install from start to finish. The kit came with everything needed for installation and only cost $80 or so.
I did the same, super easy add on and didn’t take hardly any time to do. If I remember correct it was only like 3parts? I’m sure the detent stops are super cheap and obviously just screws on as well… the parts list for the 780 is interchangeable w the 779, and has been around for a long time.. I’d buy cheaper then add the features on you absolutely need and go from there, but they are identical builds
I've replaced the bearings twice on my buddies 780. It's probably 6yrs old. The saw runs so good there's no need to replace it when it's so easy to fix. My 779 hasn't had any problems yet but it's only a few yrs old so time will tell.
The bearing on the motor shaft? 3rd bearing here also... running the belt a little loose compared to the factory adjustment helps them last. Mine doesn't slip. If it did slip during a bind it might be a good thing to protect the gears.
I bought the 779 saw and bought the shadow light kit online for $68 which included everything including new handle and it only took 15 minutes to install. I got the 779 for $299 at home Depot on sale so with tax and light kit I have less then $400 into the saw. The other features I don't use so to me it made more sense for me to go this route. Only thing I changed right away was a zero clearance insert. The stock one has such a huge gap and I found mine actually sat a little higher.
@@lastditch727 don't know. I've had the same for a few years now and have never had anything go bad. I kept the old handle if I needed to return it to home Depot where I bought it and exchange it.
Very clear and helpful explanations, thank you. I am another Mr. DIY but this made clear a few items I was trying to figure out. Currently the 779 is on sale as a combo kit with the dewalt stand. This helps any buyer out to see where the values differences are.
Another great video. I’ve been 780 for years and cutting crown on the flat. The bevel detente for crown is a time saver. I keep both detentes down when I use the crown stop. I don’t really trust the weight of the saw hitting the plastic and can get in a zone during long cut sessions. Really hadn’t noticed all the differences but noticed 779 on sale lately
It would seem they have made the 779 cheaper in the past few years since I bought mine. I have the 779 and have the exact same features as your 780 except for the light. I bought the light separately, 10 mins to install. Saved about $100 doing that.
Dewalt must have recently removed the features identified /discussed in the video from the 779 so that the Saws we're no longer identical (minus the XPS light/laser combo) which means they actually went out of their way to create those differences between the 779 and the 780. The conversion kit that I purchased was comprised of genuine DeWalt OEM parts and took 10 - 15 mins to install... I was lucky enough to catch the saw on sale at Lowe's a couple years ago and used military discount for combined savings which equated to almost $300 difference which was used to purchase the FastCap Pro stand/system. I guess it's a moot point now because they've made the changes... faced with the same decision now with the dumb down features, I would definitely go with the 780
@@Dirtdog1962 They had 3 types. Type 20 was identical to the 780 (minus light), Type 21 was lighter (both 779&780 now weigh same) but had the plastic bevel knob, and Type 22 is the bare bones one above. The original 779/780 had a heavier motor.
Hey Spenser! I own a DWS779 (Date Code 2019 35 - CJ) as I watched your video comparison between these two DeWalt's 779 vs 780, I ran out to the garage several times! On my DWS779, I have all of the nice to have adjustments on the rear, with exception of my bezel knob is black plastic - not metal like on the 780. And it does not have the light system, which would be great! Also just to add, I just replaced the rear guard, due to a recall from DeWalt. The guard was made of plastic and it was indeed cracked. The replacement part is made of metal. Unfortunately, after replacing the rear guard, I found oil leaking from the blade spindle!!! My saw is made in Taiwan and I looked at a new DeWalt DWS780 it is also fabricated in Taiwan. Kudos on your videos!!! Great stuff.
Great Info & Video! Enjoy all your videos! The 779 at HomeDepot has the rear aluminum handle, the slide lock and the angle sliding stops like the 780. Only difference appears to be the XPS light & Switch. That's available in simple to install kit using 780 parts.
Thank you so much for this. Just recently got into general contracting and was trying to figure out what miter saw to maybe potentially get and this helped me out a lot. I appreciate it.
My 779 has the slider lock, and the bevel detents. I did add the light and with your help, found the infinity insert as well as calibrated. Works well for my needs. Keep the vids coming!
I bought the 779 three years ago added the handle/light kit and now it's a 780. Like others have said it has all of the features of the 780 mentioned in this video. I'm guessing that Dewalt finally caught on to people buying the 779 and an OEM light kit online (parts from the 780) and making their 779 into a 780 while saving a few hundred bucks.
@@actionjksn They are the same weight now. They had 3 types. Type 20 was identical to the 780 (minus light), Type 21 was lighter (motor is lighter) and had the plastic bevel knob, and Type 22 is the bare bones one above. The original 780 had the heavier motor as well.
One of the biggest feature missed is the motor construction, 780 has a superior quality motor as compared to 779 residential quality motor. Still a great video. Thank you
The original older 780 had a different motor compared to the newer ones. Both saws now weigh 56 pounds and have the same motor last time I looked at the part's list. Imo probably not as heavy duty.
Yes, this video is helpful! 100%. I am planning to buy myself first miter saw, but the million different models driving me crazy, especially when you don't know anything about it.
I still need to calibrate my 779 but it came pretty square out of the box. I had to return 2 saws before I got this one. The first two were so jacked up, I dont think they could've been calibrated. The first one's pivoting table was almost an 1/8 inch higher than the sides and fence was just as out of square. Glad to see your back
I bought my 779 back when I first started working in carpentry 4 years ago cuz It was on sale at lowes and I didn’t really know better, I was curious when I saw this video in my feed so I watched it and I was amazed when all the features you said don’t come on the 779 (except for the light) we’re actually on my saw!!!! I don’t know if they started taking those off but mine has all those, it’s kinda crazy!!
Great to see such a clear video explaining the differences. The one thing I didn't hear mentioned was the difference in weight. Where do the weight savings come from in the 780? A lighter base?
I actually use the light guide all the time. I went back n forth on them before buying another one for the shop. I HATE HATE HATE THE SAFETY SWITCH NOW ON THE NEW ONES. Can’t get used to it. Always pinches my finger too. By the way, where I live Lowes has the saw 50.00 cheaper, Home Depot price matches and beats 10 percent. I got my new 780 for 549.00 I thought that was worth the hassle to convert everything over on the 779.
I wouldn’t mind if Dewalt experimented with the Bosch style slide arm. With my shop setup, my side feed rollers need to be away from the wall about 2 feet. Almost tried the Bosch. I hate that safety switch also. Quit trying to be big brother and let me protect myself. It’s actually a safety hazard.
The 779 is like having an iPhone SE. if you have to think about 200 bucks, you are starting out, or losing your ass. That being said, I will always drive a Ford over a Lincoln, to each their own. BTW ,Also hate that switch.
Now that you explained the differences, I'm really glad I spent the extra money 💰! (My wife says I have more money than sense, but I've never been sad when I buy the good equipment. Lol)
I started off with the 780! I bought the 779 thinking it was the same! Needless to say the 779 has set in storage because the light in the 780 is essential for me now doing trim work. My 780 just got stolen and I’m fighting not going to buy a new one!
Worth noting that you can find aftermarket kits for the XPS light, that include a wiring harness and a different handle set with the cutout for the button to mount on. Costs around $80, takes less than 15 mins to install.
How did you know I’m in the market for a new 12” sliding miter saw😜? I haven’t pulled the trigger because I can’t decide if the convenience of battery powered is worth it? I also like what seems like a faster stop time of the blade on the battery powered. I am a handyman and use my saw almost everyday. I sincerely appreciate all your videos🙏🏽! You have saved/made me $1000’s. I try and buy from your store as much as possible!
They must've changed the DWS779 design, because I have the DWS779 date stamped 2017, and I have ALL the same features you showed on DWS780 except the XPS light.
Is there a support group for someone who can ingest all this well considered and superbly delivered advice and still want to impoverish themselves on a Kapex?
It's been about 3 years since Type 22 came out (bare bones one above). The original Type 20 779 was completely identical to 780(-xps) including the aluminium bevel knob at the back. Type 21 went to the plastic knob, one piece throat, and lighter motor (weight dropped to 56 pounds from 67 ).
I disagree with you. I bought the 779 and added an after market light for the cut line. It was simple and easy to install and it is dead on accurate. Thanks for show casing the differences.
I’ve always wondered why the huge difference in prices and now I know. One difference you left out is the 779 always seems to be on sale especially at HD, but never the 780. 😂
Bought a 779 while the motor to my DHS790 was getting the motor replace (under warranty). I can never go back to not having the shadow line. Not only allows for a more accurate cut, but saves so much time.
Have you ever thought of changing to the battery miter, I do a lot of different trades so I’m not doing trim or cabinets every day, but I got the 7 1/4 for like shoe mold or casing and small trims, and have the bigger saw for all the big cuts, an apartment I can do usually off one battery and an entire house off 2-4 that’s just with the 60v 6amp. Doesn’t bog down aslong as you got a good blade!
My first saw. The motor went out. I was in a pinch. Never cut right after it fell of a boom lift from 30 feet installing shingles. Never let your air hose out of eye sight when while moving. It will grab it and drag other tools to their death in a second. Was a great saw.
Very informative. Thank you for your time, it helped me decide. FYI there are no two different manufacturers between the saws, one is just a newer model
I bought the cheaper saw a year or so ago when I was starting out to save a few bucks. I ordered the kit to modify it to have the light immediately. It cost about $80 and took maybe an hour. No regrets here
My dewalt chop sore is like 20 years old. So many upgrades since then. I'm still holding off till the cordless ones become more affordable as I am on the makita platform
Good video! I run a Makita LS1019 as I don't do much crown, can share blades with my tablesaw, plus it has superior dust collection and ergos (at least IMHO). Been flogging it for 6 years now and I would recommend it to anyone.
You can add the light kit buy buying it on line for about $50. Its just amounts to changing out a portion of the handle attachment and IMO its worth saving the extra $200 to $250 . I have several of both of these models and have gone on line to buy the light kit attachment if my guys prefer them which is very handy @ times..I personally prefer the 780 since its by far one of the best models and dewalt brands on the market and very easy to recalibrate when it needs to recalibrated from time to time. Very good video assesment young man.
They used to be identical saws with both having the bevel stops and the slide catch. The latest generation of the 779 is missing both. The levers to extend the bevel on the 779 used to be identical to the 780, same with the metal lock handle. We had both a 779 and a 780 on the job. I bought the 780 in 2016 and the 779 in 2018 and added the light. The 779 is still running strong and the 780 croaked this year. I'd never buy the newer 779 with those features missing because we actually use them. When my 780 croaked I wound up with the M18 12 inch Milwaukee and the 779 is now dedicated for exterior work.
I think they wanted to make a bigger difference between the two for upselling. There was 3 types of 779. The original Type 20 779 was completely identical to 780(-xps) including the aluminium bevel knob at the back. Type 21 went to the black plastic knob, one piece throat, and lighter motor (weight dropped to 56 pounds from 67 ). Then you have the bare bones Type 22 above. Good to hear you have had great luck with yours👍
The 779 is not a "budget saw". It's just the previous gen saw. Then Dewalt released the 780 with soms updated features. I don't get trying to make it seem like these are two different ranges of saws in production quality or use case.
Good video and thanks. I disagree I bought the dewalt light upgrade kit for $115 and installed it in 15 minutes, no splicing, basically plug and play and you are good to go. Same exact parts as the 780 with minimal work to install. I got the 799 at Home Depot for 399 and it included a 230 dewalt stand for free. Saved me a bundle. The 780 cost 649 with no free stand. So 649 vs 399+115=514 and the 230 stand included.
Man I always wondered what the difference were between those two saws. Bro, where do you get your saw inserts for your work saw? I got those ez high fences for my Makita and never regretted it.
Excellent video! Thank you for posting it! I bought a DWS780 at Lowes today on sale for $499 and then got another 5% off which brought it down to $474. It was smarter just to buy the 780 on sale vs the 779 because it was cheaper. The 780 was normally $649! The 779 was not on sale. I would have bought the 780 regardless anyway.
I'm in the same boat as many other commenter"s. My 779 has most the features as the 780 Spencer is showing not on his 779 minus the light. Had mine about 2 years now. I know one major difference is the weight though. Other than that, same saw, heavier, no light, less money. I'm no pro tho. :)
If yours is a type 21 with the black plastic knob at the back it should weigh the same 56 pounds as the 780 according to dewalt. The older type 20 779 weight was 67. Food for thought.
This didn’t used to be the case. My DWS779 has the slide lock, the miter detents, and the swivel miter extenders. The only difference is the plastic miter lock handle and the laser. I bought mine on sale for $350 and then bought the laser aftermarket for $75. By far the best deal. Only difference now is the plastic miter lock handle.
They had 3 types. Type 20 was identical to the 780 (minus light), Type 21 was lighter (both 779&780) but had the plastic knob, and Type 22 is the bare bones one above.
Thanks for your reply. I like your way of getting perfect wainscoting and beading. I think you mentioned in that video how the nice thing about the saw was the centered pivot and when I saw your custom fences the question came to mind. Great tutorials.
I bought the 779 for $349, bought the light kit for $84. All in for $433 total. It took me like 20 minutes to install the light, not hard at all. I haven't seen anyone point out those other little features you did though.
@@christcrucified6385 $253.50 from home Depot right now. Order the $399 779 plus stand combo. Return the stand for $145.50. Net $253.50 for the DWS779.
@@azngorilla1 wow that is crazy. They must be losing money. I have seen several people now saying the same thing. I could not do that unless they told me it was okay. The 780 I got from JB seemed to be a refurb though they are advertising it as new. It has scuffs and scratches and the handle was chipped in three places. It even had a used spare part from something other than the saw just laying in the box dirty, lol.
I've had a DW708 since 2004, I love that saw, but the bearings wore out. The bearing on the armature was a relatively cheap/easy fix, but the bearing at the blade is no longer available, so my saw still howls as it runs. It's a real heart breaker, I know these bearings are common sizes, but DeWalt won't say what size they are. Based on your review, I will buy a new DW780. Thank you for the review
@thomasnelson You have a couple of options to save your saw. Some people have been successful by using a hypodermic needle to inject oil past the dust seal to give the bearing new life. The other option is to remove the worn bearing and take it to a bearing supply shop. They'll usually measure it up and get you the right size. They'll probably ask if you want a domestic or import bearing, with the import being substantially cheaper. In either case, if you want to salvage that saw, you'll want to avoid using the bearing in that condition, ASAP, as it will wear and eventually shred the bearing, potentially damaging the shaft or the surrounding bearing support, making the saw worthless.
I should have listened to you in the first place! The light kit is now $100 plus another $16 for shipping. I paid $449 with the free stand deal, thinking I would just add the light for $70. I don't want the stand anyway, because I want a rolling one. I just found the 780 on sale for $520. It also comes with a 60 tooth fine finish blade rather than the worthless 32 tooth blade they are putting on the 779's. So for $70 more bucks I get it all and lose a stand I did not really want or need. Headed back to Lowe's tomorrow 😁😁😁
For those with the 780. Have you noticed that the shadow light is brighter on the right side of the blade? By the way I just bought mine 01/22/24 and tha is the first thing I saw and I would prefer that the led lights to be bright.on both sides of the blade.
I work in finishing but no where near a professional.. and with the company they have both versions and every time I have to cut a house without the light I feel so frustrated it's like trying to cut stuff without having mark lines after measuring! Such a frustrating feature. Hard agree that the light is true biggest worthwhile investment even if you use a saw not all that often.
Literally one of the best straightforward comparison videos I’ve seen. Thank you.
Nice that you're back with video.
You present the same feature twice at 2:16 and 3:01
I thought I was loosing it when I hear him go over it twice. Thought maybe I accidentaly jumped back in the video
Always nice when someone is talking about their tools that they’ve used for countless hours, It definitely carries a lot more weight than just a tool review, I’ve been using makita’s sliding mitersaws for about 18 years I guess’ I really like the direct drive motor vs belt driven, but the way you tune and have such accurate cuts makes that saw look really good… I’m glad you made a another video me and my friend was just talking about you hoping you where doing ok, thanks for sharing man keep up the good work.
Doing well, just took a break for a while. Good to be missed...
I bought the 779 a day ago as well as a dewalt 80 tooth blade to replace the 32 tooth that came with the unit. I also bought the xps lite kit from mmTools and installed it in less than 30 minutes....it works great. And, I saved more than $275 over the cost of the 780.
My 779, which I bought several years ago, has all the features of the 780 that you pointed out as missing except for the shadow light. It was not difficult to add the light and I’m totally pleased with the result. Even the knob on the back of mine is aluminum like the 780 and not plastic. Apparently DeWalt has been removing features of the 779 to differentiate it more from from the 780. When I bought mine, DeWalt was saying that the only differences between the saws were the light and the logo decal. Glad now that I bought mine when I did.
I really don't understand what dewalt is trying to do with these two saws... crazy...
@@InsiderCarpentry Glad I got one of the good ones before they started cheapening it! They used to have a couple of other sliding 12” saws, I think they may have been a DWS709 and 716, that were cheaper made than 779 and sold by the big box stores. I wonder if they may have just rebadged one of those and call it the 779.
Yeah same here. My knob on the back of my 779 is aluminum and painted black. I have the 22.5 and 33 degree bevel stops and levers on the back just like the 780. No light though. Was thinking about buying a new 779 but after watching this I'll probably get the 780 or something else
Mine had everything the 780 had except for the light
I'm with J T and Purtis...I have an earlier 779 and have everything but the light. Really strange.
Just one comment as a recent 779 purchaser within the last year. I purchased the light upgrade for it for about $70 and it was very easy to install (it took about 15 - 20 minutes, with no splicing as the kit was a drop-in with the proper connectors ready to go). Hence I wouldn't say it's a difficult upgrade at all, BUT if someone isn't comfortable with wiring / electronics, then yes I'd say it might be more of a challenge.
But I loved everything else about the video as at the time when I bought my 779, I couldn't find much about the true differences between the saws. And yes, once you have the lighting system, you never want to go back :D
Your observation about the light is pretty funny to us old dogs. You don’t miss what you never had!
but if and when you get it, you'll wonder why you didn't get it sooner...
I agree. I just don't feel like you could get a cut that would be as precise with the light as opposed to doing it old school. But I guess it depends on if you're framing or cabinet making
The light is a game changer. I’ll never buy a miter saw for finish work without one again.
@@littleshopofsawdust1157 there’s nothing more precise than using the light.
@@williambrown7437 we're going to disagree on that. Have a great day
Bought the 780 almost 4 years to the day along with the rolling miter sawstand. No regrets, what a great saw
Not trying to troll here but as an experiment I bought Harbor Freight's 780 equivalent and I've been pretty pleased with it. It has all the features of the 780 including the light and it costs less than the 779. Right out of the box it was spot on. At a job I recently cut a 24" octagon using stops and the miters closed up with no gaps. I was impressed. We'll see about longevity but so far I have no complaints. And at $380 you can't complain about the price.
Thanks for taking the time to do this review. It was very helpful!
Wood butcher homeowner here. Wife bought me a $99.00 Porter Cable miter saw. It sat for months and when I tried to use it the arbor had a wobble. Returned it in warranty for service. Guy from Black and Decker service called and told me that they couldn't service the unit. (You could tell he was disgusted with the Porter Cable saw). He offered to refund me OR...... I can send you a new Dewalt. My $99.00 Porter Cable turned into a Dewalt sliding compound miter saw with shadow light.
Lucky bastard !!!!😂
Wow, how awesome is that!
Good for you.
I felt fortunate. I bought the 779 about 3 years ago and it came with all the features mentioned on the 780 except for the shadow light. I did however buy the aftermarket light for it. For me, it installed very easy and works as advertised. The main downside in them is they void your manufacturers warranty, so that is also something to consider.
Yeah I was going to say the samething
Yea I’m watching this video, super confused, I even ran out to look at my saw to make sure I wasn’t crazy.
My Saws not even 2 yrs old either.
@@joshh1835 same here. My 779 has everything he says it shouldn't have. I added the light for 50 bucks with a kit you can by. Not sure what this dude is talking about.
agree...I bought my 779 in April 2019 $349 and it has Everything except the Light. After market Light kit was about $60plus, installed in about 45 min. I love this saw!
My 779 has everything except the light which I added. I got the 779 a few years ago on Black Friday acme tools. $289. No tax. Free shipping.
Was there a section of video here around the 3 minute or so mark that was repeated? About the side stops? Good to see you again boss
Spencer is a real good communicator,his tone is so measured,I wasn't sure what the subject matter was,and he had my undivided attention, I'm a diyer and have learned so much from and Rich.,you guys have me doing pro quality work,Bigup to you man.great content as usual.✊✊
Great video. Glad to see an update. When I got my 779 all the comparison videos were identical besides the light. As the saw used to be. And as the 779 on demo at Lowes was. But when I unlocked mine. I was very upset to see the plastic bevel wheel, the lack of stops, and the lock for vertical baseboards. I did add the light later and I'm glad I did. But knowing what I know now since they cheapened up the 779 I would have spent the extra on the 780, I agree with all you have said
I added the XPS light to my 779 and it took 30 minutes to install from start to finish. The kit came with everything needed for installation and only cost $80 or so.
I did the same, super easy add on and didn’t take hardly any time to do. If I remember correct it was only like 3parts? I’m sure the detent stops are super cheap and obviously just screws on as well… the parts list for the 780 is interchangeable w the 779, and has been around for a long time.. I’d buy cheaper then add the features on you absolutely need and go from there, but they are identical builds
I did it too, bought 779 and bought the light less than $100 bucks installed it took 20 minutes, works perfect and save big $$$.
Where did you buy this kit?
@@ryanB66 mmtoolparts
@@michaelblake9110 thanks
for carpentry work You are the best I miss you
Love my 780. I need to replace some bearings though. They have started making lots of noise. I have had it for about 10 years, still works fantastic!
I've replaced the bearings twice on my buddies 780. It's probably 6yrs old. The saw runs so good there's no need to replace it when it's so easy to fix. My 779 hasn't had any problems yet but it's only a few yrs old so time will tell.
The bearing on the motor shaft?
3rd bearing here also... running the belt a little loose compared to the factory adjustment helps them last.
Mine doesn't slip. If it did slip during a bind it might be a good thing to protect the gears.
I bought the 779 saw and bought the shadow light kit online for $68 which included everything including new handle and it only took 15 minutes to install. I got the 779 for $299 at home Depot on sale so with tax and light kit I have less then $400 into the saw. The other features I don't use so to me it made more sense for me to go this route. Only thing I changed right away was a zero clearance insert. The stock one has such a huge gap and I found mine actually sat a little higher.
Did you void the warranty when installing the light?
@@lastditch727 don't know. I've had the same for a few years now and have never had anything go bad. I kept the old handle if I needed to return it to home Depot where I bought it and exchange it.
Very clear and helpful explanations, thank you. I am another Mr. DIY but this made clear a few items I was trying to figure out. Currently the 779 is on sale as a combo kit with the dewalt stand. This helps any buyer out to see where the values differences are.
I have the 779 and bought the xps light and just installed it last night. Took me 20 minutes and I saved $200.
Another great video. I’ve been 780 for years and cutting crown on the flat. The bevel detente for crown is a time saver. I keep both detentes down when I use the crown stop. I don’t really trust the weight of the saw hitting the plastic and can get in a zone during long cut sessions. Really hadn’t noticed all the differences but noticed 779 on sale lately
It would seem they have made the 779 cheaper in the past few years since I bought mine. I have the 779 and have the exact same features as your 780 except for the light. I bought the light separately, 10 mins to install. Saved about $100 doing that.
I agree
We have a few and the only difference was that it didnt have the light
Dewalt must have recently removed the features identified /discussed in the video from the 779 so that the Saws we're no longer identical (minus the XPS light/laser combo) which means they actually went out of their way to create those differences between the 779 and the 780.
The conversion kit that I purchased was comprised of genuine DeWalt OEM parts and took 10 - 15 mins to install... I was lucky enough to catch the saw on sale at Lowe's a couple years ago and used military discount for combined savings which equated to almost $300 difference which was used to purchase the FastCap Pro stand/system.
I guess it's a moot point now because they've made the changes... faced with the same decision now with the dumb down features, I would definitely go with the 780
@@Dirtdog1962 Hey Kevin! Thanks for your service!
@@Dirtdog1962 They had 3 types. Type 20 was identical to the 780 (minus light), Type 21 was lighter (both 779&780 now weigh same) but had the plastic bevel knob, and Type 22 is the bare bones one above. The original 779/780 had a heavier motor.
Hey Spenser! I own a DWS779 (Date Code 2019 35 - CJ) as I watched your video comparison between these two DeWalt's 779 vs 780, I ran out to the garage several times! On my DWS779, I have all of the nice to have adjustments on the rear, with exception of my bezel knob is black plastic - not metal like on the 780. And it does not have the light system, which would be great! Also just to add, I just replaced the rear guard, due to a recall from DeWalt. The guard was made of plastic and it was indeed cracked. The replacement part is made of metal. Unfortunately, after replacing the rear guard, I found oil leaking from the blade spindle!!! My saw is made in Taiwan and I looked at a new DeWalt DWS780 it is also fabricated in Taiwan. Kudos on your videos!!! Great stuff.
Needed this video about 4 years ago when I was shopping for saws. lol
Great Info & Video! Enjoy all your videos! The 779 at HomeDepot has the rear aluminum handle, the slide lock and the angle sliding stops like the 780. Only difference appears to be the XPS light & Switch. That's available in simple to install kit using 780 parts.
I have the 780 and love it. One major reason I bought the 780 was because of the light with the cut line shadow. Great feature.
Thank you so much for this. Just recently got into general contracting and was trying to figure out what miter saw to maybe potentially get and this helped me out a lot. I appreciate it.
If you’re just getting into GC, I strongly suggest you spend a LOT of time watching Spence’s videos. This kid has it figured out!
My 779 has the slider lock, and the bevel detents. I did add the light and with your help, found the infinity insert as well as calibrated. Works well for my needs. Keep the vids coming!
What light did you get if I may ask n where
I'm so bummed that mine didn't include the bevel detents!
@@orionfarris7305 mmtool parts I believe. I just googled 779 xps light. Was easy to install and works great
Where did you get fence pieces?
I bought the 779 three years ago added the handle/light kit and now it's a 780. Like others have said it has all of the features of the 780 mentioned in this video. I'm guessing that Dewalt finally caught on to people buying the 779 and an OEM light kit online (parts from the 780) and making their 779 into a 780 while saving a few hundred bucks.
@@actionjksn They are the same weight now. They had 3 types. Type 20 was identical to the 780 (minus light), Type 21 was lighter (motor is lighter) and had the plastic bevel knob, and Type 22 is the bare bones one above. The original 780 had the heavier motor as well.
One of the biggest feature missed is the motor construction, 780 has a superior quality motor as compared to 779 residential quality motor.
Still a great video. Thank you
The original older 780 had a different motor compared to the newer ones. Both saws now weigh 56 pounds and have the same motor last time I looked at the part's list. Imo probably not as heavy duty.
Yes, this video is helpful! 100%. I am planning to buy myself first miter saw, but the million different models driving me crazy, especially when you don't know anything about it.
I still need to calibrate my 779 but it came pretty square out of the box. I had to return 2 saws before I got this one. The first two were so jacked up, I dont think they could've been calibrated. The first one's pivoting table was almost an 1/8 inch higher than the sides and fence was just as out of square. Glad to see your back
I bought my 779 back when I first started working in carpentry 4 years ago cuz It was on sale at lowes and I didn’t really know better, I was curious when I saw this video in my feed so I watched it and I was amazed when all the features you said don’t come on the 779 (except for the light) we’re actually on my saw!!!! I don’t know if they started taking those off but mine has all those, it’s kinda crazy!!
They removed them on their latest version (Type 22). I assume you have type 20 (aluminum bevel knob) or 21 (plastic bevel knob). 👍
@@jameshill4900 ooooh ok yeah that makes sense
I bought the 779 and changed out the handle for the 780 and bought the factory light for it and have used it professionally for 4 years
Great to see such a clear video explaining the differences. The one thing I didn't hear mentioned was the difference in weight. Where do the weight savings come from in the 780? A lighter base?
adding the light kit to the 779 is easy. Takes about 15 mins and works great. I fully recommend it.
Rip to your warranty
@@lastditch727 Its a dewalt kit - from dewalt. It doesnt do anything to the warranty
@@joeychgo you most definitely voided the factory warranty when you took it apart to add the light. 💯
@@lastditch727 whatever bro
I have the Festool miter saw, Makita LS1018 and the 780. I use the 780 95% of the time (on site). Beautiful saw.
Nice review, I just got the 780, on sale 554$, still setting it up you answered a few questions,because of corse I not reading manual lol yet
As for the light kit, it was extremely easy on the 779. The old kits had splicing but the new ones are easy.
Yep!
I actually use the light guide all the time. I went back n forth on them before buying another one for the shop. I HATE HATE HATE THE SAFETY SWITCH NOW ON THE NEW ONES. Can’t get used to it. Always pinches my finger too. By the way, where I live Lowes has the saw 50.00 cheaper, Home Depot price matches and beats 10 percent. I got my new 780 for 549.00 I thought that was worth the hassle to convert everything over on the 779.
I wouldn’t mind if Dewalt experimented with the Bosch style slide arm. With my shop setup, my side feed rollers need to be away from the wall about 2 feet. Almost tried the Bosch. I hate that safety switch also. Quit trying to be big brother and let me protect myself. It’s actually a safety hazard.
The 779 is like having an iPhone SE. if you have to think about 200 bucks, you are starting out, or losing your ass. That being said, I will always drive a Ford over a Lincoln, to each their own. BTW ,Also hate that switch.
Super glue makes that safety switch go away haha worked for me at least
Spencer, I always enjoy your professional insights shared during your tool reviews.
Thanks.
Putting out content that dewalt hasn't. Was just selling a friend today on this saw over the kapex. This will be helpful to him. Yeah you eric
Now that you explained the differences, I'm really glad I spent the extra money 💰!
(My wife says I have more money than sense, but I've never been sad when I buy the good equipment. Lol)
I started off with the 780! I bought the 779 thinking it was the same! Needless to say the 779 has set in storage because the light in the 780 is essential for me now doing trim work. My 780 just got stolen and I’m fighting not going to buy a new one!
Just buy the light kit that is specifically made for the 779. It’s easy to install, no splicing, and less than $100.
@@nole8923 no longer for sale
Worth noting that you can find aftermarket kits for the XPS light, that include a wiring harness and a different handle set with the cutout for the button to mount on. Costs around $80, takes less than 15 mins to install.
Now it is $100 plus $16 shipping at the only place that carries it.
I’ve been going through new content withdrawals for almost a month! This is an older video but still great..now let’s see a JAMBMASTER tutorial!!
How did you know I’m in the market for a new 12” sliding miter saw😜? I haven’t pulled the trigger because I can’t decide if the convenience of battery powered is worth it? I also like what seems like a faster stop time of the blade on the battery powered. I am a handyman and use my saw almost everyday. I sincerely appreciate all your videos🙏🏽! You have saved/made me $1000’s. I try and buy from your store as much as possible!
Ive had to return three in one week due to blade wobble. I was really excited for this saw as well...
Looking for alternatives now
They must've changed the DWS779 design, because I have the DWS779 date stamped 2017, and I have ALL the same features you showed on DWS780 except the XPS light.
Thanks for telling me what some of the upgrades are for, I had no idea what they were for 😊
M&M Tool Parts sells the shadow light kit for about $95. It comes with a new handle, LED light, power supply and wiring harness. Easy install
Is there a support group for someone who can ingest all this well considered and superbly delivered advice and still want to impoverish themselves on a Kapex?
My 779 has all the 780 features as well minus the light. I added the light tkit myself in 25 min
Totally agree with u on the light i have the older model that had the cut out to add a light and i did. Great review thanks
Please go into detail about your custom higher fences. Thanks!
All the features that he pointed out were included on the 779 until recently, except the XPS.
It's been about 3 years since Type 22 came out (bare bones one above). The original Type 20 779 was completely identical to 780(-xps) including the aluminium bevel knob at the back. Type 21 went to the plastic knob, one piece throat, and lighter motor (weight dropped to 56 pounds from 67 ).
Yeeee have been waiting for this video, this will be my next purchase tyvm.
I disagree with you. I bought the 779 and added an after market light for the cut line. It was simple and easy to install and it is dead on accurate. Thanks for show casing the differences.
I’ve always wondered why the huge difference in prices and now I know. One difference you left out is the 779 always seems to be on sale especially at HD, but never the 780. 😂
I just bought a 779 today. I hate that it doesn't have bevel stops! But it's just for my shop. My field saw is the 780.
Bought a 779 while the motor to my DHS790 was getting the motor replace (under warranty).
I can never go back to not having the shadow line. Not only allows for a more accurate cut, but saves so much time.
How does the light make the cut more accurate...?
I've done a LOT of high end, very accurate work without a light.
I can see it saving some time....
Have you ever thought of changing to the battery miter, I do a lot of different trades so I’m not doing trim or cabinets every day, but I got the 7 1/4 for like shoe mold or casing and small trims, and have the bigger saw for all the big cuts, an apartment I can do usually off one battery and an entire house off 2-4 that’s just with the 60v 6amp. Doesn’t bog down aslong as you got a good blade!
Still rock'n the old 708. Been looking at the new Makita 40v though.
My first saw. The motor went out. I was in a pinch. Never cut right after it fell of a boom lift from 30 feet installing shingles. Never let your air hose out of eye sight when while moving. It will grab it and drag other tools to their death in a second. Was a great saw.
thanks , glad i got to watch this and now i understand what the differences are
Thank you for doing this video. It really helped me decide on the 780. 👍
How did you know I was shopping for new 12 inch miter saw? Great video!! Thanks!!
Spencer is your Guardian Angel!
12 inch ALL THE WAY!!! Thanks for the catch !!!
Very informative. Thank you for your time, it helped me decide. FYI there are no two different manufacturers between the saws, one is just a newer model
I didn't even now about some of those features, way cool. Thanks
Hey bud good breakdown. Just noticed you covered the miter stops twice I think you meant to edit one of them out of the video.
My DWS779 has all those detent stops as well as the little flip wing
I bought the cheaper saw a year or so ago when I was starting out to save a few bucks. I ordered the kit to modify it to have the light immediately. It cost about $80 and took maybe an hour. No regrets here
I assume you voided your warranty when you did that?
@@lastditch727 maybe. Don’t care. If need be I have the parts to change it back. Probably out of warranty now anyway. I have faith in the product.
My dewalt chop sore is like 20 years old. So many upgrades since then. I'm still holding off till the cordless ones become more affordable as I am on the makita platform
Good video! I run a Makita LS1019 as I don't do much crown, can share blades with my tablesaw, plus it has superior dust collection and ergos (at least IMHO). Been flogging it for 6 years now and I would recommend it to anyone.
You can add the light kit buy buying it on line for about $50. Its just amounts to changing out a portion of the handle attachment and IMO its worth saving the extra $200 to $250 . I have several of both of these models and have gone on line to buy the light kit attachment if my guys prefer them which is very handy @ times..I personally prefer the 780 since its by far one of the best models and dewalt brands on the market and very easy to recalibrate when it needs to recalibrated from time to time.
Very good video assesment young man.
It's more like $105 including shipping
They used to be identical saws with both having the bevel stops and the slide catch. The latest generation of the 779 is missing both. The levers to extend the bevel on the 779 used to be identical to the 780, same with the metal lock handle. We had both a 779 and a 780 on the job. I bought the 780 in 2016 and the 779 in 2018 and added the light. The 779 is still running strong and the 780 croaked this year. I'd never buy the newer 779 with those features missing because we actually use them. When my 780 croaked I wound up with the M18 12 inch Milwaukee and the 779 is now dedicated for exterior work.
Should have went with the Flexvolt or makita. Milwaukee 12’ isn’t good for delicate work.
I think they wanted to make a bigger difference between the two for upselling. There was 3 types of 779. The original Type 20 779 was completely identical to 780(-xps) including the aluminium bevel knob at the back. Type 21 went to the black plastic knob, one piece throat, and lighter motor (weight dropped to 56 pounds from 67 ). Then you have the bare bones Type 22 above. Good to hear you have had great luck with yours👍
The 779 is not a "budget saw". It's just the previous gen saw. Then Dewalt released the 780 with soms updated features. I don't get trying to make it seem like these are two different ranges of saws in production quality or use case.
Good video and thanks. I disagree I bought the dewalt light upgrade kit for $115 and installed it in 15 minutes, no splicing, basically plug and play and you are good to go. Same exact parts as the 780 with minimal work to install. I got the 799 at Home Depot for 399 and it included a 230 dewalt stand for free. Saved me a bundle. The 780 cost 649 with no free stand. So 649 vs 399+115=514 and the 230 stand included.
Man I always wondered what the difference were between those two saws. Bro, where do you get your saw inserts for your work saw? I got those ez high fences for my Makita and never regretted it.
Excellent video! Thank you for posting it!
I bought a DWS780 at Lowes today on sale for $499 and then got another 5% off which brought it down to $474.
It was smarter just to buy the 780 on sale vs the 779 because it was cheaper. The 780 was normally $649! The 779 was not on sale. I would have bought the 780 regardless anyway.
They are running some really odd sales on those saws lately...
The 780 also comes with the heavy graphite markings on the handle 😉
I'm in the same boat as many other commenter"s. My 779 has most the features as the 780 Spencer is showing not on his 779 minus the light. Had mine about 2 years now. I know one major difference is the weight though. Other than that, same saw, heavier, no light, less money. I'm no pro tho. :)
If yours is a type 21 with the black plastic knob at the back it should weigh the same 56 pounds as the 780 according to dewalt. The older type 20 779 weight was 67. Food for thought.
Thank you for the comparison of the Dewalt miter saw I’m gonna get the 780 thank you Pete
This didn’t used to be the case. My DWS779 has the slide lock, the miter detents, and the swivel miter extenders. The only difference is the plastic miter lock handle and the laser. I bought mine on sale for $350 and then bought the laser aftermarket for $75. By far the best deal. Only difference now is the plastic miter lock handle.
They had 3 types. Type 20 was identical to the 780 (minus light), Type 21 was lighter (both 779&780) but had the plastic knob, and Type 22 is the bare bones one above.
Does having the aluminum fence add-ons throw off the pivot point? Or can you slide the fences back slightly to accommodate the added thickness?
Yes, they throw off the pivot point. I remove them when I'm using a stop for casing because it affects the pivot point.
Thanks for your reply. I like your way of getting perfect wainscoting and beading. I think you mentioned in that video how the nice thing about the saw was the centered pivot and when I saw your custom fences the question came to mind. Great tutorials.
I bought the 779 for $349, bought the light kit for $84. All in for $433 total. It took me like 20 minutes to install the light, not hard at all. I haven't seen anyone point out those other little features you did though.
I wish that deal was still available on both things.
@@christcrucified6385 $253.50 from home Depot right now. Order the $399 779 plus stand combo. Return the stand for $145.50. Net $253.50 for the DWS779.
@@azngorilla1 wow that is crazy. They must be losing money. I have seen several people now saying the same thing. I could not do that unless they told me it was okay. The 780 I got from JB seemed to be a refurb though they are advertising it as new. It has scuffs and scratches and the handle was chipped in three places. It even had a used spare part from something other than the saw just laying in the box dirty, lol.
I've had a DW708 since 2004, I love that saw, but the bearings wore out. The bearing on the armature was a relatively cheap/easy fix, but the bearing at the blade is no longer available, so my saw still howls as it runs. It's a real heart breaker, I know these bearings are common sizes, but DeWalt won't say what size they are. Based on your review, I will buy a new DW780. Thank you for the review
@thomasnelson You have a couple of options to save your saw.
Some people have been successful by using a hypodermic needle to inject oil past the dust seal to give the bearing new life.
The other option is to remove the worn bearing and take it to a bearing supply shop. They'll usually measure it up and get you the right size. They'll probably ask if you want a domestic or import bearing, with the import being substantially cheaper.
In either case, if you want to salvage that saw, you'll want to avoid using the bearing in that condition, ASAP, as it will wear and eventually shred the bearing, potentially damaging the shaft or the surrounding bearing support, making the saw worthless.
Great comparison!
I should have listened to you in the first place! The light kit is now $100 plus another $16 for shipping. I paid $449 with the free stand deal, thinking I would just add the light for $70. I don't want the stand anyway, because I want a rolling one. I just found the 780 on sale for $520. It also comes with a 60 tooth fine finish blade rather than the worthless 32 tooth blade they are putting on the 779's. So for $70 more bucks I get it all and lose a stand I did not really want or need. Headed back to Lowe's tomorrow 😁😁😁
we run a flex volt and the older 779. both really great saws. the shadow light is nice, but really only saves a second to line the blade up.
actually the 709 i think it is.
For those with the 780. Have you noticed that the shadow light is brighter on the right side of the blade? By the way I just bought mine 01/22/24 and tha is the first thing I saw and I would prefer that the led lights to be bright.on both sides of the blade.
Is the higher fence just a piece of attached aluminum?
I work in finishing but no where near a professional.. and with the company they have both versions and every time I have to cut a house without the light I feel so frustrated it's like trying to cut stuff without having mark lines after measuring! Such a frustrating feature. Hard agree that the light is true biggest worthwhile investment even if you use a saw not all that often.
A up mate
Nice to have ya back… just not the same with out you , hope you will be staying mate iv missed your videos and all ya content 👍👍
Excellent Video. I will buy the 780.
What kerf plate is that on the 780? Also the fence upgrade please?
Excellent video
What are your thoughts between The DHS790 battery saw w/ cord option vs. DWS780?
I do a lot of volume cutting so a battery saw doesn't have any appeal to me.