The Dewalt DWS774 Review
Adding to the quality affordable mitre saw range is the Dewalt DWS774. This versatile and good value chop saw and is a good alternative to the DW777 adding some extra nice touches and some modern features that keep Dewalt up there as one of the leading authorities in mitre saws.
The DWS774 combines the essential features that most of us need in a general purpose mitre saw with style upgrades. The modern look and feel are helped with the black blade cover and the chunky yellow handle.
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The Features
There are a lot of features to mention. Below we go through some of the important ones you need to consider for your purchase.
The Motor
The first thing to note this model is available in a 230 volt version and a 110 volt version for those wanting to use the DWS774 on site. Unfortunately there is no cordless option, you will need to spend a good bit more to get this feature.
The 1400 watt motor upgrades the power of the 1300 watt input of the DWS773, so the DWS774 delivers plenty of power to cope with tough hard woods as well as cutting metal (provided you have the correct blade). This is a little less powerful than the new DWS777 at 1800 watts. For most the 1400 watt input will be sufficient, if you are very heavy saw user then maybe look at the higher power. Otherwise with the upgraded power of the DWS774 vs DWS773 you should be fine.
Cutting Capacity
At the maximum this model will cut through a maximum of 250mm (9.8 inches) by 62mm (2.4 inches) at a 90 degree by 90 degree angle set up. This angle decreases to a minimum cut of 198mm (7.7 inches) by 48mm (1.8 inches) at a 45 degree by 45 degree angle. The maximum cut depth is 70 mm (2.7 inches) is pretty standard and will allow you to easily cut 2 by 4 lengths of wood.
Cutting Angles
The Dewalt DWS774 sliding mitre saw has a pretty standard range of cutting angles for this price point. The single bevel saw will cut to angles of 48 degrees on the left and right. For speed and more versatility you could look at a double bevel saw but again not at this amount of money.
The Blade
The blade provided is designed for cutting wood. It is a 216mm TCT diameter blade with a bore size of 30mm. The diameter and bore size make it easy to purchase spare blades to cut different materials. Many blade brands will make blades or radiators for this bore. If you are comparing this model to some of the Evolution sliding mitre saws you would have to say the Evolution’s do have a more versatile blade which will cut plastic, wood and aluminium. Not a big negative for the DW774 but something to consider.
Portability
This has been thought about a lot. The weight at 12 kilos is not the lightest saw we have reviewed but is still pretty light for the capacity. Add to this the grab handles at both ends of the saw and it is pretty portable model. The footprint is kept to a minimum with a clever hidden sliding mechanism that saves space on the width at 490mm and protects that sliding bars against damage. With a depth 05 500m and height of 590mm this is an easy sliding mitre saw to store and move.
Dust collection
The new Dewalt dust collection system is a great new feature that pics up the dust from directly above the cutting surface. This reduces dust and mess without having to carry around a seperate dust collection machine. For small amounts of cutting it will help on the clean up time.
Accurate XPS Shadow Line Guide
This shadow line system is on most of the new Dewalt models and provides a brilliant upgrade. It give a super accurate cutting line out of the box. As the shadow is generated by the blade itself it doesn’t need any alignment like a laser system needs. A far superior system to the previous laser guide systems available.
What The Customers Say
This is a real customers favorite with many fantastic reviews on the likes of Screwfix, Amazon and Reevoo. Lets have a look and pick out some of the general themes of the feedback.
Accuracy
The XPS shadow feature really adds to the accuracy of the cut. Beating the previous laser systems this a big added benefit especially for those that are working on finer cuts and doing a lot of finishing work around the house.
Lightweight
Quite a few comments about how light the saw is and how portable it is. A great addition to any large chop saw where a smaller one is required to move from job to job. For most of us we tend to move the saw from job to job rather than having a permanent work shop so definitely a big factor.
Great Value
For a mitre saw of this quality this is a great point. For a lot of people buying a mitre saw for the first time the brand reputation is important. To have a Dewalt competing against the likes of Evolution for price is a big factor in the good reviews. While you can get much cheaper models like Parkside in places like Lidl, it’s unlikely that you’ll get the same quality, so will need to head to stores like Machine Mart and Toolstation to get the premium brands.
Easy To Store
For those of us that are pushed for space this is an easy sliding mitre saw to store in the garage. A lot of the lower price mitre saw models are clumsy and large making them hard to store. A big plus point for many customers.
Conclusion
Well we have to say this a great saw for the money. Aimed at the more occasional use market for this has all of the essential features for a general use mitre saw. This could be for the DIY user or for the tradesmen out there. The extra additions like the XPS shadow line and the improved dust collection make the DWS774 stand out form the crowd a little and make it a brilliant buy.
With a brand name like Dewalt and the number of positive customer reviews we would high recommend this saw at this price. A definite competitor to some of the budget brand that are emerging.
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