I need your thoughts

[chris s]

I have a 20 year old Kapex that has no problems. I am thinking of getting an 8.5 inch battery powered miter saw . The two that have my attention are the 36 volt Kapex and the 40 volt Makitia. Price and feature wise they are both in the same group. I am asking for your thoughts please.

 

[tjbnwi]

I have and use both model Kapex’s, both perform very well. The only Makita I used was very poorly maintained, would not be fair for me to comment on it.

Tom

 

[ChuckS]

This is what Google AI Overview suggests:
Which one to choose?

• Choose the Makita if: You need a powerful cordless saw for general use, and your budget is a major consideration.
• Choose the Festool if: You are a professional woodworker who demands the highest precision, needs superior dust collection, and is willing to invest in a complete, high-end tool system.

Google Search

 

[waho6o9]

I have a corded Kapex and a 36V Makita. Both work with a high degree of accuracy.
Either one of your cordless choices would serve you well.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I have had the Makita 36V for a couple of years now. It has been great, even in a professional setting. I bought it to replace the DeWalt, which had the sliding rails out the back. The DeWalt did what I needed it to do, but it was huge. The choice of 36V Makita was because of the other tools I already have, in that same platform.
I can't see the 40V having any major differences, engineering-wise. The motor itself might be a little bigger, and obviously the batteries, but the mechanics of the saw can't be that much different.

 

[Mike Goetzke]

I have had the Makita 36V for a couple of years now. It has been great, even in a professional setting. I bought it to replace the DeWalt, which had the sliding rails out the back. The DeWalt did what I needed it to do, but it was huge. The choice of 36V Makita was because of the other tools I already have, in that same platform.
I can't see the 40V having any major differences, engineering-wise. The motor itself might be a little bigger, and obviously the batteries, but the mechanics of the saw can't be that much different.

I too have had the Makita 36V for several years now. Only issue I had was with the laser alignment light. I modified my saw with a shadow-light and like it much better.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I too have had the Makita 36V for several years now. Only issue I had was with the laser alignment light. I modified my saw with a shadow-light and like it much better.

I had to adjust mine too. It was way too far to the left, out of the box. It took me a while to get used to even having one though. I have always used a measured stop system, rather than cutting to a line.
I used Kreg stops for 20 some years and switched to the Woodpeckers Stealth Stops, in my new shop.