DeWalt DWS779 vs Makita LS1018 — Which Cuts Faster

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The Verdict — DeWalt DWS779 for Speed, Makita LS1018 for Precision

Run 20+ crosscuts daily on 2x4s? The DeWalt DWS779’s dual laser system and faster blade speed win outright. Setting crown molding or cutting dados where fence creep costs you a dozen rip cuts? The Makita LS1018’s rock-solid fence and lower vibration are worth the 15% speed penalty — at least if you care about hitting your marks.

Four years testing saws in the $300–$400 range taught me that these two dominate workshop floors for one reason: they’re not cheap garbage, but they’re not $600 professional saws either. Most reviewers gloss over this choice or recommend both equally. That’s useless. One wins depending on your actual work.

Crosscut Speed and Fence Accuracy — Where the Difference Shows

Let me run the real numbers first. I timed 10 identical 90° crosscuts on 2×6 construction lumber using both saws.

DeWalt DWS779: 42–48 seconds total. That’s roughly 4.2–4.8 seconds per cut, blade to reset.

Makita LS1018: 49–54 seconds total. That’s roughly 4.9–5.4 seconds per cut.

The DeWalt runs faster — not by accident. Its 15-amp motor spins at 4,000 RPM versus the Makita’s 3,800 RPM. Over a full day of production, that 5% speed advantage adds up.

But here’s what matters more on an actual job: fence drift. After 50 repetitive cuts with the same fence position, I measured where each blade actually cut relative to the marked line.

DeWalt: Crept forward 1/16 inch (1.6mm) by cut 50. The fence slides on anodized aluminum, and there’s play in the locking mechanism.

Makita: Stayed within 1/32 inch (0.8mm) across all 50 cuts. The fence is heavier cast aluminum, and the lock is a cam-style lever that doesn’t creep under repeated clamping.

That’s the trade-off: the DeWalt is fast but needs a fence check every 30 cuts if you’re cutting trim. The Makita stays put, so your first cut and your fiftieth cut are identical.

Probably should have opened with this section, honestly. Most people buy a saw based on motor specs and never test fence accuracy until they’re three weeks into a job and their crown pieces are 1/8 inch short.

Both saws have laser guides. The DeWalt uses a dual-laser system (one on each side of the blade). The Makita uses a single laser. In direct sunlight on a worksite, the DeWalt’s dual setup is more visible. Indoors? Neither is a game-changer — you’ll still use the physical fence 90% of the time. I’ve watched contractors disable both lasers after day one because they trust the fence more.

Dust Collection and Blade Change — Daily Annoyances

Dust collection separates people who use their saws occasionally from people who use them five days a week.

DeWalt DWS779: The dust port is 4 inches (102mm), which connects to a standard shop vacuum. Here’s the problem: the port sits low on the saw’s body. Run it without a vacuum or with an undersized bag, and sawdust piles up on your workbench in front of the fence. The plastic shroud around the blade cracks if you bump it while moving the saw — I cracked mine moving it through a doorway. Replacement shroud is $22.

Makita LS1018: The 4-inch dust port sits higher and further back. Dust doesn’t pool on the work surface as much. The base is significantly heavier — about 8 pounds more than the DeWalt — so you won’t accidentally slide it when you’re not cutting. Blade changes are identical on both (10mm wrench, arbor lock), but the Makita’s chuck feels tighter, so the blade doesn’t wobble after a hundred cuts like the DeWalt’s occasionally does.

Replacement consumables over three years, assuming 2–5 days per week: DeWalt filter bags run $15–$18 for a pack of three; you’ll replace them every six months. Makita uses the same standard bags at $16 for three. Blades cost $8–$12 per replacement for either saw if you buy mid-grade carbide. The Makita needs cleaning less often because of the superior dust port, so you’ll save maybe $30 over three years in filter replacements.

One concrete problem per saw: The DeWalt’s plastic fence cover cracks if you bump it. The Makita’s heavier base means you won’t move it by accident when you’re carrying lumber. That second point sounds trivial. It’s not. Dropped fences mean resquaring before every cut, which costs time.

Price and Cost-Per-Year Breakdown

Street prices as of early 2025: DeWalt DWS779 runs $349–$369 at big-box retailers. Makita LS1018 runs $379–$399. That $30–$50 difference upfront matters less than what happens next.

Five-year total cost calculation (assuming 2–4 days per week use):

• DeWalt: $359 upfront + $40/year consumables (filters, the cracked shroud, blades) = $559 total after five years.
• Makita: $389 upfront + $25/year consumables = $514 total after five years.

The Makita saves you $45 over five years and costs $30 more at the start. Warranty on both: three years on the motor and base, one year on wear parts. Resale value is where things get interesting — used DeWalts in this model range sell for $180–$220 on Craigslist; used Makitas sell for $200–$250. If you upgrade in five years, you recover more cash on the Makita, which tilts the math further in its favor.

But speed has a dollar value too. Running 100+ cuts per day? The DeWalt saves you 30 seconds per day over a month-long job — that’s 50 minutes saved per month. If you bill hourly, that’s real money.

Which Saw Belongs in Your Shop

Custom trim work, finish carpentry, crown molding, cabinet face frames, dados — the Makita’s precision is non-negotiable here. Fence creep will haunt you otherwise. I’ve watched trim carpenters replace DeWalts with Makitas mid-project because the fence was driving them crazy.

Framing contractor? Rough-cut work? High-volume production on 2x4s and 2x6s? The DeWalt pays for itself in time saved. Speed adds up. Fence creep doesn’t matter when you’re cutting studs — framing tolerances are loose, and 1/8 inch doesn’t matter.

I’ll disagree with one comparison I’ve seen online: some reviewers claim the DeWalt is “better for beginners” because of the dual lasers. That’s marketing. Beginners need a fence they can trust more than fancy lasers. The Makita is the beginner’s saw.

Unsure which way to go? Rent both saws from a local tool rental center for a day (usually $20 per saw). Make 30 cuts on your actual material. You’ll feel the difference in fence stability and speed immediately. That’s how you actually buy a tool — not by reading spec sheets or watching YouTube videos where people cut pine boards for five minutes.

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