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How to use a DeWalt mitre saw

Updated: 21 October 2026

The first time you use a DeWalt mitre saw, the risk is a fence that is not square and a cut made on the wrong stroke. Reviews in this set include a DWS777 that arrived out of square, and a DWS774 whose blade bolt would not undo because the leaflet and the helpline disagreed. Isolate the saw, prove the fence, and push the head back through one board. The [DeWalt mitre saw comparison](/hub/power-saws/de-walt-mitre-saw) is where the three listings sit. Products Compared used the DWS774 manual, DeWalt's support note, and those reviews, not a lab test. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

The first time you use a DeWalt mitre saw, the risk is a fence that is not square and a cut made on the wrong stroke.

Our top picks

DeWalt DeWalt DWS774-GB

Best overall

DeWalt DeWalt DWS774-GB
8.5/10about £269.90
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DeWalt DeWalt DCS365N-XJ

Rank 2

DeWalt DeWalt DCS365N-XJ
7.0/10about £333.99
View offer
DeWalt DeWalt DWS777

Rank 3

DeWalt DeWalt DWS777
5.1/10about £324.85
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Make it safe to touch
  2. 2.Square the fence before you trust the stop
  3. 3.Change the blade without forcing it
  4. 4.One board, pushed, not pulled

Make it safe to touch

Unplug a corded saw, or take the battery off the DCS365, before your hands go near the blade, the fence screws or the guard. The DWS774 manual specifies a 13 A fuse for the UK 230 V plug. Confirm that fuse, and confirm the lead is a BS 1363 plug. If the release sticks, stop and follow the manual in your hands rather than holding the guard up with a spare finger. Hearing protection belongs on before the first cut. The DWS774 manual quotes about 92 dB(A) under EN 62841, an emission figure rather than a measurement of your shed. The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 set action values at 80 and 85 dB(A) and a limit of 87 dB(A). HSE wood-dust limits are 5 mg/m³ for softwood and 3 mg/m³ for hardwood. Capture dust at the blade. HSE's WIS23 says not to dry-sweep it up afterwards.

Square the fence before you trust the stop

A mitre stop at 0 degrees is a detent, not proof. One DWS777 review says the saw was out of square from the box and had to be corrected before a finished edge was safe. DeWalt's support note uses a fixed order. Isolate the power first. Then put a square on the fence and the table. If the fence is out, loosen the detent screws and tap the handle until the square sits clean, then lock it and check again. The manuals.co.uk summary of the DWS774 sheet adds a hex key on the front and rear alignment screws. After any adjustment, cut a scrap, flip one half, and see whether the joint closes. The buying guide is where you choose which saw you are squaring.
DeWalt DeWalt DWS774-GB

Testsieger

DeWalt DeWalt DWS774-GB
8.5/10about £269.90
View offer

Change the blade without forcing it

Disconnect the mains or remove the battery, and keep the spanner on the arbor nut only once the blade has stopped. On one amazon review the leaflet and the DeWalt helpline disagreed about which way the DWS774 bolt undoes. Follow the manual that came with your saw. If the nut will not move with normal pressure, stop. Match the bore. The DWS774 and the Screwfix DWS777 page use a 30 mm bore. Screwfix's DCS365 page uses 16 mm. A 216 mm blade will not substitute for the 184 mm cordless blade, and a blade with a hook angle over 7 degrees, or with deep gullets, is outside the manual's cross-cut rules.

One board, pushed, not pulled

Bring the blade up to speed, then push the head back through the work so the cut finishes with the blade behind the fence line. The DWS774 manual tells you not to cut on the pull stroke. Keep hands at least 100 mm clear of the zone behind the fence. Cut one piece at a time. Support a long length so the offcut cannot droop, pinch the blade, or fall on your foot. Board height against the 82 mm claim sits on the skirting page.

Common questions

What do I check before the first cut on a DeWalt mitre saw?
Isolate the saw, confirm the guard returns, and put a square on the fence and the table before you trust the 0 degree stop. Check that the blade is a cross-cut pattern, the teeth face the way the manual shows, and the bore matches. Cut a scrap.
How do I know the DeWalt mitre saw is square?
You know after a square sits clean against the fence and the table, and after a test joint closes. One DWS777 buyer found the saw out of square from the box, so a new saw still needs the scrap.
Which way does the DWS774 blade bolt undo?
Use the manual supplied with your saw. A review of the DWS774 says the leaflet and the helpline gave opposite directions, so a remembered turn is a poor guide. Isolate the power, use the proper spanner, and stop if the nut will not move.
Do I cut on the way towards me?
You bring the head through on the push, with the blade travelling back into the work, once it is at speed. The DWS774 manual says not to cut on the pull stroke. A pull lets the teeth climb and lift the board.
Where do my hands go?
Both hands stay on the handle and on the workpiece, outside the blade and at least 100 mm clear of the area behind the fence. Do not cross a hand in front of the blade to catch a short return. If the board is long, a support takes the weight.
When do I stop and call someone?
Stop when the guard fails, the blade bolt will not undo, the saw will not hold square after the support adjustment, or the material is metal. Stop when the work is for employees and there is no assessment for wood dust and noise. A seized arbor, a defeated guard, or a paid job under COSHH is the point where a competent person takes over.

Related pages

Best DeWalt mitre saw

DeWalt mitre saw

DeWalt mitre saw buying guide: socket, height, XPS

Corded or cordless DeWalt mitre saw: battery or plug

DeWalt mitre saw for skirting: 82 mm is not height

Sources

Public UK sources and the amazon.co.uk listings compared on this page. Prices captured 19 October 2026.

  1. HSE: wood dust (retrieved October 2026)
  2. HSE WIS23: wood dust extraction (retrieved October 2026)
  3. Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 (retrieved October 2026)
  4. DeWalt UK DCS365N-XJ (retrieved October 2026)
  5. DWS773 and DWS774 instruction manual (retrieved October 2026)
  6. Screwfix DWS777-GB (retrieved October 2026)
  7. Screwfix DCS365N-XJ (retrieved October 2026)
  8. amazon.co.uk DWS774-GB, DCS365N-XJ and DWS777 (retrieved October 2026)