Corded or Uncorded: You Choose
DeWalt’s 120 Volt Max 12” Sliding Compound Miter Saw (DHS790) can run corded or cordless. Talk about flexibility and convenience! The key is its FLEXVOLT battery system. Two 60-volt FLEXVOLT batteries power the Miter Saw with 120 volts when not plugged in. Users can expect unlimited run time with a corded model. DEWALT reports the saw will deliver 289 crosscuts of 3-1/4” base molding on one charge with the two batteries.
Capacity and Accuracy
The saw has a maximum horizontal cross-cut capacity of sixteen” (with back fence), a vertical cut capacity of 6-3/4”, and a nestled crown cut capacity of 7-1/2”. The saw features a Cutline Blade Positioning System where a light on the blade creates a shadow indicating exactly where the cut will be made on the workpiece.
FLEXVOLT: The Battery Breakthrough
The FLEXVOLT system features the world’s first battery that automatically changes voltage when the user changes tools. This allows you to take the 60-volt batteries and use them in DeWalt tools at varying voltages. For example, you can use the 60V battery in a 20V tool, giving it four times the runtime. On the other hand, when two 60V batteries combine, you can now use batteries with power tools that previously needed to be plugged in via a cord attachment.
A FLEXVOLT Miter Saw Real-World Test
We dropped the saw off with Roger, who owns a sign company, and asked him to run it at its pace. He constructs and installs large billboards and signs, requiring him and his crew to cut a variety of stock, including thick posts, in the shop where there is plenty of power and on-site where often there is no electricity. They need plenty of power to get through posts and accuracy when making the sign’s trim and aprons. He reported that the saw was ready to go out of the box. All the factory pre-sets were spot-on. “I expected to see a watered-down tool but was thrilled to see all the features of a full-fledged sliding miter saw,” said Roger.
He particularly liked the Cutline Blade Positioning System with its high-visibility shadow line indicating precisely where the cut will be made. The adjustable stainless steel miter detent plate with ten positive stops – 60 degrees to the right and 50 degrees to the left – gave them enough capacity. They found the bevel scale easy to see, making bevel adjustments easy and accurate. The angle stops for 22.5 and 33.86 degrees were also easy to use. With the coded saw in his shop, Roger gave two thumbs up to accuracy and ease of use. He threw the saw in the back of his truck and took it to several job sites to evaluate the FLEXVOLT Miter Saw using battery power.
DEWALT’s FLEXVOLT Miter Saw Impresses
Eyebrows were raised when the DEWALT Flexvolt Miter Saw cut through four-by-four posts without hesitation, all while the saw was under battery power. The saw ran all day on one charge, and the convenience of battery power served as a “huge benefit.” The mobility of not being tethered to an outlet or generator was refreshing. He was impressed with the cutting speed and quality of the 60-tooth, 12-inch blade that the saw provided. DeWalt’s new line of accessories features a design that makes the FLEXVOLT tools run more efficiently, including the blade. Moreover, Roger also praised the saw’s battery performance while in the field.
