Back in June, I had the opportunity to try out Dewalt’s new DWS780 12″ sliding miter saw, an impressively nice saw (more on that later). What really stood out and amazed me was its integrated XPS (crosscut positioning system) work light module, which performed far better than any miter saw laser system I have ever seen.
Dewalt’s integrated XPS work light is not an entirely new concept, as an add-on XPS module first appeared a couple of years ago, and this was my first time seeing it in action.
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Let’s talk about lasers
Some miter saws feature built-in laser systems, and for those that don’t you can often purchase an add-on accessory. Lasers must be perfectly calibrated, or else their line positions may be off, throwing off your cut accuracy. Laser line width is also often fixed, and may not match up with the thickness of your saw blade.
How does the XPS system work?
In a nutshell, the XPS module projects LED light along both sides of the blade, forming a shadow of the blade on the workpiece. As the saw blade is lowered towards the workpiece, the width of the shadow sharpens, darkens, and closely matches the thickness of the saw blade’s kerf.
Position your cut-line to the laser-like shadow, and you will have perfect alignment every time. Changing to or from a thin-kerf blade? No problem, the width of the shadow is created by the saw blade, so the shadow will thin or thicken accordingly.
Whoever it was that came up with this design definitely deserves recognition. I imagine that a bit of trial and error and design engineering went into developing this feature, but the underlining concept is beautifully simple.
During our brief time with the saw, it was clearly evident that the XPS work light feature can help users make very accurate cuts with minimal effort.
Dewalt DWS780 Miter Saw via Amazon (with built-in XPS module)
Add-on Dewalt XPS Module (compatible with several Dewalt miter saws)
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Added note: In the comments below, Joel brings up a good point – how effective will this be outdoors in harsh sunlight? Will the LEDs and shadows be completely washed out? I have looked into the matter, and was told that some users rotate their saw stands until they are in position to block some of the incident sunlight with their bodies.
A couple of more photos:
Joel
This is great if you’re in a shop, but when in direct sunlight on a job, I am guessing that those LED lights are going to be worthless. I’ll stick to my laser lines which will still be (barely) visible.
Ken
Try it. You’d be surprised how much you like it in the light. Also, lasers go out of whack often. Shadow line is the best
Mark J Skiba
You guessed wrong
Stuart
Joel, that’s a very good point. I would think that the shadow would still be distinct enough, even when the saw’s used outdoors, but I have not yet seen any photos attesting to this. I’ll take a look to see if I can find out more about this.
jeff_williams
In that last photo the blade is stopped (or the shutter is really fast). Can the light be triggered without the blade spinning? That would be great. That’s what I hate about the laser on my current saw (Ridgid 12″ slider).
Stuart
In the last photo, the blade is stopped. I have a few other photos (not posted) that confirm the XPS lights can be on when the blade is stopped.
greg e
I also have a concern with the LED lights accuracy when used outside. Maybe add a laser calibrated with the saw to sit on the outside of the saw-blade for use when outside. I have never had to many issues with miter saws with no lasers in the past as far as job site accuracy is consurnd but this is definitely cool for the shop. love to feel it in action for myself hopefully the boss reads this, b/c the shop definitely needs a new miter. lol Due Date for the saw?
Eric Renkiewicz
We have the dwmiter saw light on our saw. Its great. 90% you can see the shadow line. No alignement issues to worry about. Purchased the light seperate from the saw. A couple screws and plug it in and your done. Well worth it… And yes the light has a switch that we just leave always on. Kinda nice when you plug it in you know that the outlet is working, so many houses in a week.
Stuart
Greg, I imagine that adding a laser on top of things would add to the complexity and cost unnecessarily. Also, the saw is already on the market. I can set up an anonymous “check this out” email-nudging form if you would like to subtly point your boss in the saw’s direction.
Eric, thanks for sharing your experience with the XPS light with is! Would you be able to comment on the light’s performance when the saw is used outdoors in full sunlight?
Eric Renkiewicz
90% of the time you can see the shadow line. If the sun is on your back you can see the shadow line of the saw kerf. I miss the light on our sliding saw, ridgid. If you happen to have a dw saw that will retro-fit or if you plan on buying a new saw i highly recommend the xps light system. Some newer old models you can just buy the light and plug it in like i said in my first post. The saw that i use it on is just over a 1.5yrs old
Eric
Stuart
Thanks Eric, for sharing that with us!
I just heard back from Dewalt, and they also conveyed that in their tests laser guide systems were as equally washed out as the XPS shadow in direct sunlight. Some professional users working outdoors were seen rotating their miter saw stands so that they provided shade over the miter saw and workpieces. Using their bodies to shade some of the light allowed the users to better see the XPS shadow and cut line.
Darryl
Hi all
Does anyone know if you can add a XPS7085 work light to a DW718XE 240Volt??
Matthew Fant
I absolutely love the xps worklight from Dewalt. It’s worth noting though, On the dws780 this is a very cool standard feature, and on a lot of their other saws, you could put this on as an accessory. Dewalt, for the past year, has been silently eliminating this feature from their saw lines. Anybody know why? THis is the single greatest feature to be added to the saw, since someone put an led on drill drivers, and impact drivers. I feel it’s a step in the wrong direction, and i’m very concerned about it. Am I alone here?
Walty
I spent an hour at Lowes yesterday looking at miter saws. Had the DW716 in my cart, ready to purchase. I wanted to confirm whether it was a type 1-4 (the only ones that work with this light). The salesman didn’t want to open a boxed one up, he said the display model shows it works with the LED light (first off, he didn’t even know what the LED light was…)
I pointed out that his display model was manufactured in 2008, 6 years ago!!
Opened the box up, and not surprisingly, the DW716 was a Type 20. Salesman asked if I still wanted it. “Nope.”
Back to researching more miter saws. Really wanted the DW716 with the LED light, but without the light, I don’t see any justification for paying $150-200 more over the competitors pricing.
Ken
I own the 779… best miter saw dewalt makes…will the light fit it?
Stuart
I don’t think so.
Ken
I know this is an old post but I bought the DWS779 in 2019 and bought the shadow light to install on the saw. Works perfectly.
Jules Darras
I purchased a DeWalt 12″ Miter Saw with the XPS system at Lowe’s a month ago. Manipulating the XPS switch doesn’t give me a light. What am I doing wrong? Should I return the saw? Help, please. I don’t think it is a matter of washout, or there would be at least some difference observable between switch on or off, I would think. Is the light defective? Should I return the saw to Lowe’s? I would appreciate your help. Thank you.
JULES DARRAS
Jules Darras
Dear Readers: This is Jules. I called Dewalt on the XPS light not responding to the switch. I followed the tech’s instructions and still got no light. The tech said not to fool with it, simply return the whole saw back to Lowe’s where I purchased it. Which I did, no problems, on a swap basis. Of course, I checked the XPS light on the new saw. It responded immediately to the switch, so there was a defect in the returned unit. Note: The xps uses the same energy as the saw. It won’t light up unless the saw is plugged into 120 volts.
JULES
Mike Stritch
How do you tell which type 716 you have re the XPS add on?
Thanks, Mike
Mike Stritch
Never mind, found it on the saw and mine is a type 1
Thnx, Mike
Gerry Murak
Does this light fit on the DeWalt DWS709?
Phil
Did you receive an answer?
Victor Castillo
I can’t find ligth S7085 model any budy know another model can use?
Dem
I’m not sure if anyone reads comments on older blogs but I was wondering if this light can be used on other miter saw brands like the hitachi 10″ single bevel. From what ive read, the shadow line is superior. I might have to jerryrig something. Thanks
Dem
Repeating to receive alerts. I’m not sure if anyone reads comments on older blogs but I was wondering if this light can be used on other miter saw brands like the hitachi 10″ single bevel. From what ive read, the shadow line is superior. I might have to jerryrig something. Thanks
Gary Phillips
Does the light fit a DW708. I think it is an older model saw.
Stuart
I believe they discontinued the light. Now, it seems you can only buy it built into a new saw.
hotkiss
I failed. I only light up when I start running. I don’t know where I am wrong?
Nial Ball
The xps is good if you want to cut to the centre of the blade. If you use the left or right edge of the shadow line with the blade turning, the cut will be off! I found the only accurate way to use the shadow line is to position the piece for a left or right side cut before starting the saw in which case you can see the edge of the blade teeth in the shadow.
tony
i make cuts without using a pencil with my laser. i would rather have a dewalt though. i think i would need a pencil if i have to lower the blade to see the line.
Loy Archer
I just ordered the XPS light & it worked perfect for a week then last night I went to use it and it seems the brightness has dimmed down. I swapped the 5VDC supply with another 5VDC supply and it didn’t seem to make any difference. I just sent an email to the manufacturer for assistance.
Loy Archer
After installing this led light couple weeks ago, it has dimmed down to 1/2 the brightness. The 5 volt supply is working fine under the load of the light, but the led is not near as bright as first installed.
Robert
Clean the sap and or saw dust off of the light. Especially when your cutting a lot of pines, spruces and fur. There will be build up that get worse at a slow enough rate that you don’t realize it until it’s filthy.
Kyle Stelly
Can anyone tell me if you can install the xps light on a dws 713 saw?
Ian
Hey Stuart. Not sure if you’re still responding to these threads, but I would like to ask a question in follow up to Nial Ball’s post that the shadow line does Not line up with the left or right of the blade when actually making the cut. In your picture, “Cut in Progress”, it shows this clearly, with the actual kerf a good 1/32” proud on each side of the shadow line. It was what first jumped out at me before I even got to the the posts. Can you comment as to the accuracy of these statements? Thanks.
Stuart
In my experience, with more recent experiences being with other brands’ miter saws with shadow cutline guidance systems, alignment has been very good.
Let’s say I have a straight line marked on wood board. If I bring the stopped blade down to the work surface, and align the widest part of the cutline shadow to the right of the straight line mark, the cut will be perfectly aligned.
I don’t (and wouldn’t) try to align things with the blade running.
I get the best results with the blade stopped and lowered to where it’s just touching the workpieces. Otherwise the shadow will still be centered but its width could be off.
I’ll try to take updated photos, but it might take a while.
Tony Price
I’m a pro trim carpenter and am currently using a dw717 saw with the 7850xps led and a dw716 saw with the 7187 laser, I’m usually able to set up indoors on new work and from time to to time i have to set up outdoors on additions and remodels. Both the led and laser work great indoors. On outdoor setups the xps led is basically useless. The led which i keep clean is washed out by outdoor sunlight, bright or cloudy. The only time it’s usable outdoors is when it’s time to load up because of bad weather. The laser works well outdoors and is only washed out in direct sunlight that can’t be shaded. If my setup is capable of putting any shadow on the workpiece the laser is there. On indoor setups the xps led is great. It never needs calibrating and is always spot on. It shadows the whole kerf and you can line your cut mark to either side. However you’ve gotta pull the saw close to your workpiece with one hand and position with the other. The laser has to be calibrated on initial setup and adjusted often. This can really test your patience! If you don’t throw it in the garbage, you’ll do it enough to get good at it. The laser can only put a line on one edge of the kerf. You decide which on initial setup. The laser casts a great line without lowering the saw to your workpiece so you can position with both hands. This is definitely faster. You’ll have to cut a couple of slits in your saw gaurd with a dremel for this to work. I’m glad i have both and I wouldn’t wanna do without either. Just my 2 cents on the subject.
RaymondRaines
I have dealt 780 miter compound saw light went out order replacement installed still want work can’t get any answers
Stuart
Have you contacted a service center?