As good as the handle feels, it has one of my least favourite design features. The safety button, that you need to press to allow the blade to spin, is only on the left-hand side. I can’t believe that the company who invented the saw won’t fit an ambidextrous safety switch. If you’re left-handed, or you just want to perform a cut with your left hand, it takes a lot of finger gymnastics to press the little button. To assess the saw’s ability to cut accurate mitres and make compound cuts, I made multiple repeated cuts into standard CLS timber. It’s the sort of material used for stud walls and other building projects thanks to its strength and durability. The object was to see if this saw cuts the same way at 0° and 45° every time.

DEWALT DWS774-GB 216-mm 230V Slide Mitre Saw with XPS

XPS Shadow line cut indicator provides fast accurate alignment of the blade while illuminating the work piece As a bonus, it’s the easiest to carry around thanks to the two big handles that also help to extend the table. I wouldn’t think twice about unbolting it from the workbench, throwing it in the car, and taking it with me to a job.The base and fence have been machined to meet the accuracy requirements of the most demanding applications The rear fence is made from a pair of solid pieces of machined aluminium. They feel rigid and dependable, and thanks to the clever design of the telescopic slide they don’t need to be removable. Compared with the Bosch GCM8SJL it feels more compact and a bit less fussy. The pillar to which the clamp mounts drops into its mounting hole and, when rotated, cannot be lifted free. The action of the clamp then lifts the pillar up and eventually enough pressure is applied to keep it tight. This setup limits the clamp’s ability to secure thinner material, and makes the whole assembly more of a hindrance than a help. Aside from the odd situation where the clamp does come in useful, it is best left to languish at the bottom of a toolbox.

Dewalt DWS774 Mitre Saw 240V Slide with XPS 216mm | Toolstop Dewalt DWS774 Mitre Saw 240V Slide with XPS 216mm | Toolstop

Base and fence have been machined to meet the accuracy requirements of the most demanding applications The mitre action is as you’d expect from a brand like DeWalt, everything’s chunky and solid and the action is as smooth as butter. It’s smooth to operate, if a little stiff, but I’m sure it will become easier with use or even a bit of grease.

Before I got down to the business of chopping up some perfectly good CLS timber, I wanted to find out whether the saw was sent from the factory in a good state of adjustment. It does have a sliding rail section for those extra-sized bits of timber, but the whole saw telescopes towards you, saving precious space behind the saw. The only time you’d need clearance behind the saw itself is when you attach a dust extraction hose. The DWS774 has a retracting blade guard for safety with a two-part trigger system. The rear lever sits between your thumb and first finger, and when squeezed raises the guard. With your hand in the correct position on the handle, the pad of your thumb rests on the trigger safety switch which when depressed allows the first and second fingers to depress the trigger. I have heard many complaints of users catching the webbing between their thumb and finger in the trigger lever, but I never encountered this issue and I don’t see how it is possible if you are holding the handle correctly. Lefties will probably found the saw difficult to operate however as the trigger safety switch is on the left-hand side of the handle and is nigh-on impossible to operate using the saw left-handed. Not only do you get a work light that illuminates the workpiece but because it’s positioned behind the blade it casts an exact shadow onto the timber. It precisely shows where the blade will touch. It’s extremely useful as you can be sure that where the shadow falls, the blade is going to cut. I absolutely love this system and prefer it to a dodgy laser line on any day of the week.

DEWALT 216mm Mitre Saw | DEWALT

With a maximum capacity cut at 90° of 250 x 60 mm, I was surprised at the impressive capacity of this saw. On first inspection, I didn’t even see the hidden slide mechanism that improves the capacity without increasing this tool’s overall footprint. XPS Shadow line cut indicator provides fast accurate alignment of the blade while illuminating the work piece for increased productivity no adjustment required. The DeWalt DWS774 216mm Mitre Saw has a classic saw design improved and updated for the modern user. New 1400 Watt motor for powerful cutting in all materials (1400 Watt Low Voltage version UK Only)XPS Shadow line cut indicator provides fast accurate alignment of the blade while illuminating the workpiece for increased productivity no adjustment required The Dewalt DWS774 is a new and improved sliding mitre saw designed for use on wooden materials. It has a powerful 1400W motor making it ideal for the most demanding tasks. The XPS shadow line cut indicator provides fast accurate alignment of the blade while illuminating the workpiece for maximum precision. The improved dust extraction efficiency helps to maintain a clean, safe working environment and side carry handles ensure the ease of transportation. Features: The Dewalt DWS774 is a new and improved sliding mitre saw designed for use on wooden materials.It has a powerful 1400W motor making it ideal for the most demanding tasks.The XPS shadow line cut indicator provides fast accurate alignment of the blade while illuminating the workpiece for maximum precision. Theimproved dust extraction efficiency helps to maintain a clean, safe working environment and side carry handles ensure the ease of transportation. Features: