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DeWalt DW780 12'' siding miter saw?

3K views 15 replies 13 participants last post by  Bluepine38 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I am looking to build my carpentry tools back up, I had to sell em when I lost my job and shop! But I am working a temp job hoping it leads full time work. I need a basic a carpentry set up to build my 12×20 garage for a new shop, I am looking at getting a Dewalt DW780 for the trim carpentry jobs I got plan and woodworking projects in the future shop, I am wondering is a 12'' siding miter overkill?
 
#2 ·
that is a good saw cj
always get what you might need
not what you only need now
as things go
we always wind up trying to do something
that is just out of reach later

i wish i had one myself

have to do with a radial arm saw (10")
and a 10" miter saw

that 12" makes crowns and wider cuts
a real pleasure to do
 
#4 ·
I have that saw and love it. It came accurately setup. I did add a laser to the unit. I tried the DeWalt laser and found that it was not accurate with varying thicknesses of wood. I bought one from Rockler that mounts to the blade using the same bolt that holds the blade and it is accurate.
 
#8 · (Edited by Moderator)
I love this saw. Seems much lighter than a lot of the drop saws in its class. Check out Lowes, they sometimes have it discounted. Sometimes you can get the free stand with it, and its actually a really nice stand. Folds down pretty small, and ive put (my bosses) through some serious abuse, we've put 4×6's up onto it and it held up well. The arms also reach a good length, we supported 16' (maby 12' i forget now ) TnG pine siding without too much flex toward the back.
 
#10 ·
The saw has a lot of power, cuts great but I never could get mine dialed in as accurate as I would like.

Now, I just use it for rough cutting ends off lumber coming in from being stickered to air dry and cleaning up any checked ends. Or chopping pieces down to size.

If it's just trim cutting, then it is a little overkill, but you want room to grow into the saw.
You might want to check but a couple times a year DeWalt does a special of that saw along with the miter saw stand for free. They may be doing that right now or it just ended. I remember seeing it at HD with that promotion recently.
 
#11 ·
I was shopping for the DW780 just last week, and all three prices I checked were identical at $599.99. Looks like a good saw-I'll probably get one for myself if I don't get one for Father's Day!
 
#12 ·
A sliding 12" saw is fabulous to have in the shop. I picked up a used (but mint-shape) Makita when Festool came out with some "gotta have it" saw, and the well-heeled were dumping their sliders for cheap. Fabulous saw, can cut things way wider than 12" by flipping the stock over. I suspect you'd be happy with the decision to buy the DeWalt.
 
#16 ·
When I bought my 12" Delta Compound miter saw, the slider was not available, I have used the DeWalt
while working for other people and it would be nice to have, I can not justify it for myself, but in your
case, it looks like it would pay for itself down the road. If you are going to use it for finish work, I would
recommend buying a good blade for it.
 
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