Sawdust drifted in the late light and the smell reminded me of fresh cedar.
I pushed a board through the miter saw and heard that sharp whine that makes every maker grin.
The mark looked centered yet the blade kissed the line on the wrong side by a hair.
That tiny gap glared at me for days.
You know the feeling.
One skinny slice off and the joint never sits flush.
I vowed to chase better accuracy the very next morning and the hunt led straight to the talk around the dws779 laser.
Why this search matters
Your time means something.
Your stock costs money.
A clean cut saves both.
You want a mark that you can trust.
You also want speed because the job site clock keeps ticking.
The combo of speed and precision sells the idea of a laser line.
Yet DeWalt packed an even smarter trick called XPS.
It uses light and the blade itself to draw a perfect shadow of the kerf.
Clearing up a common mix up
Many people punch the phrase dws779 laser into a search bar.
They really want a bright cut guide for the saw.
Early runs of the DWS779 shipped with no guide at all.
The close cousin DWS780 carried XPS from the first box.
The sweet twist is simple.
You can fit that same light system on the 779 with a quick kit.
No fancy mods.
No voided warranty.
Just factory parts that snap right in place.
Laser line or shadow line
Let us stack the facts.
- Old style lasers
- Red line lives on the left or right of the teeth.
- You must tweak it after each blade swap.
- Line stays one width so you track an offset when kerf changes.
- Dust can fog the emitter lens.
- XPS shadow light
- Bright LED shines along the blade and throws a crisp shadow that matches the kerf exactly.
- Change the blade and the shadow updates on its own.
- The same glow lights the whole work zone which feels safer for fingers.
Bright sun can wash any guide so indoor shops see the max benefit.
Parts you need for the upgrade
Pick up the pieces below and you move from guesswork to confidence in under two hours.
- N515802 LED plus power pack
- 624730 00 handle half with the tiny switch pre wired
- Short harness plug for the early type saw that lacks the lead
- Phillips driver
- Torx driver
- Needle nose pliers
- A few zip ties
I keep a sharpie near the bench and mark each screw pile so reassembly feels smooth.
Step by step install
Use clear bench light so small screws stay visible.
- Unplug the saw then pull the blade and guard for room.
- Split the right handle half and lift it clear.
- Seat the new handle half with the switch and feed the wire along the cast channel.
- Mount the LED pod above the blade in the pocket already cast in the head.
- Plug pod to power pack then power pack to harness.
- Secure wires with zip ties so no loop rubs the pivot.
- Refit the guard and blade then check fence square.
- Plug in and flip the new switch for a quick test.
Time tally for a calm worker runs forty to ninety minutes.
Quick tune for perfect shadow
Grab a scrap piece.
Lower the blade until teeth kiss the grain.
Click the light.
Draw a pencil mark across the board.
Slide the board until the shadow splits the mark.
Clamp.
Cut.
Check with a square.
Shadow true means ready for real stock.
Small moves that raise accuracy
- Run a sharp sixty tooth or higher blade for trim.
- Use knife lines on face frame parts because thin lines read clearer under LED.
- Add a shop made zero clearance fence and table so tear out drops.
- Clamp narrow sticks because hands shake under rush.
Common hiccups and fast fixes
Shadow looks fuzzy.
Clean the clear plastic lens on the guard and wipe dust from the LED window.
Shadow sits off the mark.
Drop the head until teeth almost touch the wood then realign scrap and test again.
If still off seat the LED bracket tight against the casting.
Light flickers.
Check both plugs because vibration can loosen them.
Pinched wires near the pivot also cut power so peek there.
Use cases that sing with XPS
Crown nested against the fence.
Touch the shadow to the long point mark and cut without a second thought.
Flat crown on the table with compound angles.
Transfer the mark to the face you see then trust the shadow line.
Face frames.
Set a stop block once then drive repeat rails and stiles right on size.
Tenons on furniture legs.
Knife the shoulder, match shadow to knife line, cut crisp cheeks every time.
DWS779 versus DWS780 quick compare
Frames and motors match.
Rails and fences match.
Factory light is the real change.
Price often runs lower on the 779 plus kit path.
Pick the 780 only if you crave a finished tool right out of the box and the sale price feels fair.
FAQ for fast answers
Does the DWS779 ship with a laser guide
No it ships dark but the kit fixes that.
Can I add a laser instead of XPS
Laser kits exist yet many users shift back to XPS once they test both.
Will the upgrade void my warranty
You use official parts so coverage stays safe.
How bright is the shadow in daylight
Direct sun can fade it yet shaded work zones stay clear.
Can the light burn out
LED life spans run long and swap time sits under five minutes if needed.
SEO corner
Search data shows people type dws779 laser when they crave cut line help.
Use that phrase in your next video title or blog post and traffic will find you.
Also sprinkle related terms like DeWalt miter saw accuracy and XPS cut guide.
Write answers to real user questions then update photos that show the beam in action.
One last slice of shop wisdom
Accuracy feels like magic yet it comes from small habits.
Tight fence, sharp blade, crisp shadow and steady clamp.
Do those four and gaps vanish.
I see it every week when a new builder snaps that first perfect miter.
They grin, sweep the offcut, and reach for the next board with calm hands.
Final tip
Keep a soft brush near the saw and wipe dust after every ten cuts.
The light stays bright, the scale stays true, and your profits stay in your pocket.
Word on safety
Eyes on the blade at all times.
Ears in muffs.
Hands clear.
Light helps yet caution rules.
Wrap up
The dws779 laser search ends with a bright shadow that never lies.
Bolt on the XPS kit, spend one hour in setup, and enjoy years of dead on cuts.
Your shop will thank you.
So will every project that leaves the bench with joints so tight the glue line fades from sight.