Makita LS1019L vs DeWalt DWS780: My Real Test

Makita LS1019L vs DeWalt DWS780 is a hard choice to make. I test tools all day on my own work site. I want to share my real thoughts with you right now. Both of these big saws do a great pro job.

Makita LS1019L Review

I put the Makita to work in a small tight shop. The rails sit on the front of the big saw. You can push this saw right up to a back wall. This saves a lot of room in a tight space.

I cut thick oak and wide pine boards with it. The ten inch blade cuts fast and very clean. The motor feels smooth when you pull the main switch. The slow start keeps the saw from jumping at you.

The saw base stays flat on the wood bench top. It does not rock or shake when I cut down. The slide feels like it glides on smooth wet ice. This makes each cut feel safe and very true.

This saw picks up wood dust the best I know. It has two holes to catch the flying wood chips. I hooked my shop vac up to it all day. The air stayed clean while I cut all day long.

The red light line is just one small tool flaw. The light shows where the blade will drop right down. If you bump the saw, the red light will move. You have to fix the light by hand to align.

I spent a few days just cutting fine wood trim. The cuts fit tight with no gaps at all. The fence holds the wood straight and quite firm. It is a joy to use on small fine tasks.

DeWalt DWS780 Review

I took the DeWalt to a huge house build site. This twelve inch saw is made for big tough cuts. The belt drive gives big power to the sharp blade. It cuts wet wood and thick trim with no stop.

The cut size is a huge win for this strong tool. You can cut a large wide board with a trick. It also cuts tall crown trim with pure sheer ease. If you build big decks, this tool is your best bet.

I used this saw out in the hot bright sun. The dark line still marks the cut quite well. You do not have to guess where it will chop. The bright light works well in the dark room too.

The best part of this saw is the sharp dark line. A bright light shines down on the steel tool blade. The blade casts a sharp dark mark on the wood. This line stays true and needs no fix at all.

Dust is a big problem for this big strong tool. It has just one hole to catch all the chips. When I cut fast, dust went all over the room. You will have to sweep the floor a lot more.

The slide tubes in the back take up much room. They stick far out when you push the saw back. You can not place it flush flat to a wall. This is a bad thing in a tight small shop.

Detailed Comparison for Makita LS1019L vs DeWalt DWS780

Now we look deep at both saws side by side. I look at how they feel in my own two hands. I test them on real wood to find the sheer truth. Let us see which tool does the best job for you.

I check how they hold up to hard day work. Both tools use good parts that last a long long time. They do not break down on a tough work site. I have seen both tools run for years and years.

You must know what you need in your own shop. A big saw is good for big large house jobs. A small saw is great for fine tight room trim. We will look at each point to help you pick out.

Core Capability Comparison

We start with the main things these saws can do. Both tools cut wood fast and cut it quite straight. Yet they get the job done in their own distinct ways. I will show you what I saw in my tests.

The blades turn fast to make a clean smooth edge. They plunge down deep to cut thick block wood boards. The base spins left and right for slant angle cuts. You can tilt the top to make tilt slope cuts.

Both tools let you stop the base at key marks. These marks help you find normal cuts with great speed. The locks hold tight so the base does not drift. I hit the marks dead on with both big tools.

Accuracy

Both saws cut straight when you set them right. The Makita stays true if you check the light line. The DeWalt dark mark stays true all the time. It is nice to trust the tool on each cut.

Design and Practical Use

The two saws feel quite off from each other now. The Makita fits snug in a small tight shop space. The DeWalt needs two feet of space in the back. You must plan out your bench room for this tool.

Build Quality

You can feel the strong parts when you touch them. Makita uses smooth parts for a clean straight slide feel. DeWalt uses thick hard steel to take big hard hits. Both tools are built to last a long long time.

Power and Motor

The motor feel changes how you cut your hard wood. The Makita starts slow and runs at one fast speed. The DeWalt kicks hard and gives a huge raw push. You can feel the sheer brute force in your hands.

Ease of Use on Actual Tasks

Small traits make a huge shift in your daily work. The Makita lets you change slant near the front end. The DeWalt makes you reach far in the deep back. You have to stretch your arm to lock it down.

Both of these big saws do a top notch job. The Makita is a great pick to save shop room. The DeWalt rules for huge cuts and raw power force. You just need to pick the one that fits you best.