Miter Saw Reviews

Makita LS1040 Review by Jack Henderson

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If you ask any professional who works with miter saws, they’ll most likely know exactly what the Makita LS1040 is, and probably have many positive things to say about it. This 10-inch compound miter saw weighs only 24.2 pounds, which makes it one of the most portable saws in its class. Built with a machined aluminum base, dual aluminum base, dual slide rails, and carbide tip blade, the Makita LS 1040 is of the utmost durability.

The dual-post pivoting arm is extremely sturdy, and the pivot fence allows extreme versatility because it can support large stock or flip back for bevel cuts. The bevels go 45 degrees to the left or 52 degrees right, which means there’s a wide variety of cuts. The bevel has 9 positive stops at 15, 22-1/2, 30, 45 degrees left or right, and 0 degrees, which means your most frequent cuts are easy to achieve.

However, all this accuracy means nothing if there’s not power, and the Makita LS1040 packs that, too. With a 15 amp motor and an electric brake, the saw is extremely powerful and easy to use. There is a shaft lock that makes it simple to switch blades, and the smooth-action swivel and vertical grip design make the machine easy and comfortable to use.

To ensure safety, there’s a thumb-activated safety switch and a paddle trigger, so that you can use the saw comfortably with both the left and right hand, and can always squeeze the trigger no matter where you are holding the handle. The Makita LS1040 combines power, durability, and accuracy into one amazing tool.

Perfect for:

1) Hardwood floors

2) Cabinet building

3) Interior trim work

4) Those that need a portable, yet powerful compound miter saw

Great features:

• 15 amp motor
• 9 bevel stops
• Bevels 45-degrees left and 52-degrees right
• Shaft lock
• Electric brake
• Thumb-activated safety switch
• Vertical grip design
• Dust Bag

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Pros:

• Extremely lightweight and portable
• Can use with either hand
• Easy to squeeze trigger

Cons:

• Smooth-action swivel more time consuming than newer cam-lock designs

The Makita LS1040 might not seem very powerful due to its light weight and compact design, but it packs tons of power with its 15 amp motor. This compound miter saw’s dual post pivoting arm, large pivot fence, wide range of bevel with 9 positive stops, and shaft lock promise both accuracy and safety. It’s important that you’re comfortable while sawing too, which is why the vertical grip design with safety switch and paddle trigger are ergonomic and highly comfortable. The Makita LS1040 is the choice for you if you need a portable yet powerful saw.

Owner of a hardwood flooring business, Daniel Scott knows what he’s looking for in a saw, and believes he has found it with the Makita LS1040. His entire crew prefers this saw to any others, which proves the versatility and usefulness of this tool. Take a look at his review here:

“I own a hardwood flooring business and we have 4 of these saws in use and 3 Dewalt 10″ and 1 Hitachi. I had the Milwaukee Magnum 10″ but sold it because it was too heavy and hard to use. These Makita 10″ saws have a great feel to them and are prefered by our crews. We have never had a repair problem with them except for truing the fence which gets knocked out of square after extended use as is typical with all miter saws I’ve used. Overall the best 10″ saw out there. ”

Click Here to read some more Makita LS1040 Reviews.

Makita LS1016L Review by Jack Henderson

Looking for the best price on this Makita compound miter saw? Click Here to check it out on Amazon.

When you find yourself looking for a new miter saw, don’t forget about the Makita LS1013. This dual sliding compound saw has a unique horizontal double-rail system that allows for increased stability. These rails are self-cleaning and slide on linear ball bearings. The saw also has an extremely wide range of cutting area with bevels that turn 45 degrees in each direction.

The Makita LS1013 has a vertical grip design, unlike some saws with a horizontal, and has a thumb-activated safety switch and paddle trigger. Although not always as comfortable as a horizontal handle, the vertical design allows for use of both the left and right hand, and the paddle grip makes it easy for you to squeeze the trigger whenever.

One of the unique features of the Makita LS1013 is that is has a large depth capacity, which makes it able to cut four-by-four material with ease. It can also crosscut a two-by-twelve at 90 degrees, which is something that many people desire. There is a large amount of workspace so that you can make extremely wide crosscuts due to the saw’s large table. With nine positive stops, it’s simple to lock in common miters. Although the miter lock has a screw handle instead of a cam-lock design, it ensures complete safety.

Due to all of it’s unique features, this saw is extremely user-friendly to anyone, whether you’re an experienced woodworker or a first timer. There’s a pivot fence that can support large stock or flip back for bevel cuts. However, it’s important that you are safe at all times when sawing. The Makita LS1013 has a work clamp that lets you make precision cuts on a small piece without risking your finger getting chopped off. The depth-stop mechanism allows you to make quick cuts while working on the job, and the release safety button to lock the saw off is ideal for when you’re working at home.

Perfect for:

1) Deckbuilding

2) Woodworking

3) Carpentry

Great features:

• Positive locks
• Dual steel rails
• 45 degree bevels in each direction
• Vertical paddle grip
• Safety switch
• Depth-stop mechanism
• Screw handle on miter lock

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Pros:

• Extremely precise blade
• Angles are set perfectly
• Blade brake stops the blade very quickly
• Large table

Cons:

• Fence is not as long as some others

No matter whether this is your first miter saw purchase or a new one to replace your old, the Makita LS1013 miter saw is perfect for anyone at any time. If you need a saw with accuracy, precision, safety, and power, you’ve found it. The double-rail system and exclusive depth capacity allow for a wide variety of jobs to be done, and the nine positive stops promise an accurate cut. This saw is easily one of the best available, and with all of the great features, it’s not difficult to see why.

A professional woodworker who has been working with saws for the past 25 years, Mike Schmidt understands that a good saw is one that is able to do difficult jobs while still being safe, which is exactly what he claims the Makita LS1013 does. Here is his review:

“I have been woodworking for the past 25 years and have a substantial investment in tools. I’ve used an 8.5″ SCMS for 10 years and spent the past year shopping all the new larger sliders on the market. My purchase of the Makita LS1013 was based on precision, quality, ergonomics and value. Of the 30+ top brand power tools in my shop, the 1013 has it all!

The one word that comes to mind is “SMOOTH”! The glide of the sliding rails, the ease of the miter table swing and bevel adjustment, the solidity of the saw head and blade guard in the cut and the smooth but powerful and quiet motor all give the feeling of a machine with precision and finesse. Don’t get me wrong. This tool is solid and very well built. I know it will last for many years to come. The miter and bevel settings were square right out of the box and the blade run out was a negligible .001″.

I was ready to purchase a Forrest Chopmaster blade but found the stock 64-tooth carbide blade gave a “glass-like” finished edge with no tear-out on several types of wood. The supplied accessories and the add on accessories are great and give the saw the features to perform all the task I’ll ever need. Overall, the saw “feels” right. A lot of thought must have gone into the design and final production of this unit and in my opinion, there’s not really any competition out there in the SCMS market!! Although I haven’t yet performed any crown molding projects with it, I’m confident that it will be up to the task. Makita has a real winner here. It’ll be hard to better it in the future!”

If you would like to read some more Makita LS1013 reviews, Click Here.