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. 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.

DEWALT 216mm Mitre Saw | DEWALT

This is where DeWalt’s patented safety lever comes into its own. When you engage the safety lever with the palm of your hand, it physically moves the blade guard up and out of the way. This happens before the blade meets the work. It’s simple, it’s clever, and ensures a smooth cut every time. 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.The telescoping slide is smooth and confident and allows you to make several passes when cutting timber to try and avoid tear-out. The only fault I can think of when using this saw is that the handle isn’t that comfortable. I prefer mitre saws with horizontal handles like the Evolution has, but it’s a matter of personal preference, that’s all. XPS Shadow line cut indicator provides fast accurate alignment of the blade while illuminating the work piece for increased productivity no adjustment required.

DEWALT DWS774 216mm Corded Sliding Mitre Saw - 1400W

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. 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: 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. 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.

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Some users might even complain that DeWalt have added too many safety features to this saw. There are times when you might want to use a non-standard grip to operate the saw at an angle, for example.

DeWalt DWS774 216mm XPS Slide Mitre Saw | Powertool World

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. The base and fence have been machined to meet the accuracy requirements of the most demanding applications 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:To make sure you’re using this saw in as safe a way as possible, it’s important to read all the safety instructions in the manual. Always wear the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) and never allow your hands to come within 10 cm of the spinning blade.