Two sliding saws by their manuals
| Feature | DEWALT DWS779 | Makita LS1019L |
|---|---|---|
| Blade and arbor | 12 in on 1 in | 10 in on 5/8 in |
| Motor, speed | 15 A, 3800 rpm | 15 A, 3200 rpm |
| Miter range | 50° left, 60° right | 60° left and right |
| Bevel range | 49° left and right | 48° left and right |
| Crosscut at 0° | 13.75 in wide × 3.0 in high, or 9.1 in × 4.4 in | 12 in wide × 2-13/16 in high, or 11 in × 3-5/8 in |
| Crosscut at 45° miter | 9.6 in × 3.0 in, or 5.8 in × 4.4 in | 8-1/2 in × 2-13/16 in, or 7-3/4 in × 3-5/8 in |
| Molding | 6.5 in baseboard on a 45° miter; 6.75 in vertical | 6-5/8 in of 45° crown with crown stops; 5-1/4 in baseboard |
| Weight | Not stated in the manual reviewed | 57.6 lb (LS1019), 57.9 lb (LS1019L) |
Each figure is the maker's own. Amps are a rating of the motor's input, not a measure of how the saw cuts. Not a ranking.
Equipment notePaid link
12-in sliding compound miter saw
DEWALT DWS780
The DEWALT manual behind the table above is titled DWS779 and also names the DWS780, a 12 in sliding compound miter saw.
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Matching a saw to the work
| Work | What suits it | Why, from the documents |
|---|---|---|
| Boards up to 2 × 6, trim, frames | A non-sliding compound saw | DEWALT's DWS713 crosscuts a 2 × 6 at 90°; see compact saws |
| Shelving and panels 12 in wide | A sliding saw | The DWS779 and LS1019 cut 12 in or more at 0° |
| Crown and many compound cuts | A dual-bevel saw | DEWALT: no need to flip the molding between cuts |
| Tall baseboard and nested crown | A tall fence and stated vertical capacity | 6.75 in vertical (DWS779); 6-5/8 in crown with stops (LS1019) |
| Odd angles beyond 45° | Miter range past 50° each way | LS1019: 60° both ways; DWS779: 50° left, 60° right |
Built from the makers' statements. Not a ranking.
What to compare
- Capacity, not blade size. Read the maker's crosscut table at 0° and 45°: the 10 in LS1019 cuts 12 in wide at 0°, close to the 12 in DWS779's 13.75 in.
- Slide or not. Rails add width; both makers say to pull the head out first, then push it through the cut, never cutting on the pull.
- Single or dual bevel. Dual bevel tilts both ways; single bevel means flipping work for some cuts.
- Miter and bevel range. Check the far ends for the angles you cut, and that the bevel reaches compound settings such as crown's 33.9°.
- Blade rules. Both makers fix the blade size, bore and minimum speed rating; DEWALT also limits hook angle to 7°.
- Dust. Both saws take a bag or a vacuum on their dust port. How much they catch is not stated.
- Learning the saw. For a first saw, a manual's clear capacity table and stated safety rules — the miter saw guide sets them out — matter more than extras.
Before choosing a miter saw
- Widest and tallest boards you cut, against the maker's capacity table
- Slide or fixed, for the widths you cut
- Single or dual bevel for the trim you cut
- Miter and bevel range at both ends
- Blade size, bore and speed rating you can buy
- A stand or bench to fix it to
Stands are compared in choosing a miter saw stand, and older pull-style saws in choosing a radial arm saw.
Sources
Specification-based: every figure is the maker's own, from the saw's manual. The Makita figures come from the Spanish section of the Mexico edition; the DEWALT manual reviewed is titled DWS779 and also names the DWS780. Makers' capacities are stated differently and are compared only where both give the same setting. No saw was tested and none is ranked.
- 1.
Used for: The DWS779: 12 in blade on a 1 in arbor; 15 A, 3800 rpm; miter 50° left and 60° right; bevel 49° left and right; at 0° miter, 4.4 in high by 9.1 in wide or 13.75 in wide by 3.0 in high; at 45° miter, 4.4 in by 5.8 in or 9.6 in by 3.0 in; 0.75 × 6.5 in baseboard on a 45° miter and up to 6.75 in vertically with the slide lock; blades rated at least 4800 rpm, crosscut only, hook angle no more than 7°; a dust port for bag or vacuum; preset crown detents at 31.6° and bevel stops at 33.9°.
- 2.
LS1019/LS1019L Slide Compound Miter Saw instruction manual, Mexico edition (Spanish section reviewed). Makita, 2025.
Used for: The LS1019/LS1019L: 10 in blade on a 5/8 in arbor; 15 A, 3200 rpm; miter 60° left and right; bevel 48° left and right; at 0° miter and bevel, 3-5/8 × 11 in or 2-13/16 × 12 in; at 45° miter, 3-5/8 × 7-3/4 in; 6-5/8 in of 45° crown with the crown stops and 5-1/4 in baseboard with the horizontal vise; 57.6 lb (LS1019) and 57.9 lb (LS1019L); a laser on the LS1019L; blades rated at or above the tool's speed.
- 3.
How to Cut Crown Molding. DEWALT Canada, 2026.
Used for: On a single-bevel saw the crown is flipped between cuts; on a dual-bevel saw the top of the molding stays against the fence.
- 4.
DWS713 10" 15 Amp Single Bevel Compound Miter Saw. DEWALT.
Used for: A non-sliding single-bevel compound saw for comparison: 2 × 6 crosscut at 90°.
- 5.
LS0815F/LS0815FL Slide Compound Miter Saw instruction manual, international edition (Spanish section reviewed). Makita, 2024.
Used for: A compact sliding saw for comparison: 216 mm blade, 305 mm crosscut at 0°.
About this buying guide
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