DeWalt was the first company to market a 12″ cordless miter saw with their dual battery Flexvolt slider (DCH790) back in 2015. In this review we compare the 790 to DeWalt’s new 60V, single battery, 12″ sliding, double bevel miter saw (DCS781).
DeWalt’s Press Release Header
“Cut, Capture, and Charge: DEWALT Announces 60V Max Brushless 12 in. Double Bevel Miter Saw with Exceptional Runtime and 20% More Power.”
20% More Power
This claim is based on running the DCS781 on a 9 Ah battery against Milwaukee’s 18V 12″ miter saw on a 12amp battery, not the DCH790.
The dual battery 790 powers through bevels, and single-pass 90° cuts, faster than the single battery 781. On two-pass 90° cuts the saws are equally fast.
“Cut, Capture, and Charge“ uses the 781’s blade braking to recharge the battery, and I did cut trim all day on a single, not fully charged, 6 amp hr battery.
Runtime
“Exceptional Runtime“ is based on the 781 getting 675 cuts in 3-1/4″ baseboard on a 9 amp hr battery vs. the 790 getting 289 cuts in base on two 6 amp hr batteries.
My guess is, light trim-board cutting keeps the 781’s battery cool enough to take the small recharge and keep it going longer than the 790 cutting the same light material.
However, starting with 3 fully charged 9 amp hr batteries, the 790’s batteries had more runtime left and were cooler than the 781’s single battery after the same amount of cuts through 2x lumber.
Capacity
The 781 lost the back fence of the 790 so you can no longer stack and cut a 45 through a 2×12, nor a 90 through a 2×16. The max vertical 90 on the 781 is a 2×12, or a 2X14 by pulling the wood up into the blade.
Dust Collection
The 781 and 790 collect the same amount of dust. The 781 however, has a thicker dust shroud that doesn’t collapse inward from vac suction like the thin shroud on the 790.
Also, the 781 dust outlet is located behind the blade instead of at the rear like the 790 so it leaves more room when the vac hose is connected.
It doesn‘t have it.
Unlike the UK’s 60V single-battery DCS781, the US model does not have Tool Control, which allows tool control vacuums to be triggered on and off with the saw.
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WEN WA0392 120V 15-Amp Momentary Power Foot Pedal Switch for Woodworking
But the 790 doesn’t have it either, and I don’t own a Tool Control shop vac anyway, so I use this momentary fool pedal to control my vac.
DEWALT FLEXVOLT 60V MAX* Dust Extractor (DCV585B)
You can also get DeWalt’s 60V Tool Control shop vac that comes with a remote.
AC Adapter
The DCS781 isn’t a corded/cordless saw like the DHS790. Will they release a 120V AC adapter for the 781? I doubt it. Word on the street is the adapter has been causing motor issues on the 790.
Specs
- Model:DCS781
- Weight: 51 lbs
- Bevel: 49-49
- Max Cut Against Fence: 6-1/2″
- Max Cut Length Flat: 12-1/8″ no rear fence
- Power Source: Corldess
- Battery Type: 1x 60V
- No Load Speed: 3800
- Drive: Gear
- Model DHS790
- Weight: 56 lbs
- Bevel: 49-49
- Max Cut Against Fence 6-3/4″
- Max Cut Length Flat 16-3/16″ against rear fence
- Power Source: Corded/Cordless
- Battery Type 2x 60V Flexvolt
- No load Speed 3800
- Drive: Belt
DeWalt 60V 12″ Sliding Miter Saw DCSD781
Sometimes less is more.
Bottom Line
Unlike the 790 the 781 has no AC adapter or rear fence, which are two things I never use anyway. The 781 also has less power and runtime when cutting 2x material. That said, I prefer the 781 for its lighter weight, slightly smaller size and single battery operation.
See it in action here:
