Makita battery saw

Nigel

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Joined
Apr 1, 2009
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636
Well ,I've always been a bit skeptical about battery powered circular saws but decided to get one anyway seeing as I've got the batteries. What a handy tool,wish I'd got one before. Great for breaking down long planks etc. Hardly any dust because the blade is so thin. Even cuts through Oak!

Makita battery saw

 
Oh!  Can you return it?   Its an okay saw but for the cordless circular market the Makita lacks power!

I have two joiner mates and a plasterer who all own the Makita and I found it isnt very powerfull, apart from the Plaster they all agree with me about the lack of power (what does a plaster know hey).      I decided not to buy the Makita one and went for the Milwaukee cordless one and it has alot more power.    My mate who owns the Makita tried my Milwaukee cordless one and now he owns a Milwaukee cordless circular saw.
The only two things I loved about the Makita is that it has a LED light and a dust blower

JMB
 
I also got one because I had the batteries.

I'll seldom use it, but it will come in handy if I have to cut something at the Borg before puting it in the SUV.
 
my buddy and i both use the makita on the job daily. we often only have those on sight. it feels less powerful than the milwaukee but they cut good and for a lot longer than you'd expect. if your going to use a big cordless saw just use a corded saw. i recently had to rip down some 2x6 studs to match old rough cut studs. i put the edge guide on and ripped 6 studs on one battery. can't go wrong with these.
 
Deansocial said:
i bought the hilti 24v and it has some real good power and fits the festool rail

I have the 22v Hilti cordless saw... great saw  [smile] and it also fits on the Makita rail....

John....
 
when the batteries die i won't bother replacing it mind you. it doesnt get used much. i'd rather get power out
 
Nirvanabartez said:
Ive often wondered how long the batteries would last? how have you found them??

I was surprised how long they last but I've only used for crosscuts so far.I expect long rips would soon suck up the power, though duburban ripped 6 - 2x6 studs on one battery which is pretty good.

jmbfestool said:
Oh!  Can you return it?  Its an okay saw but for the cordless circular market the Makita lacks power!

I have two joiner mates and a plasterer who all own the Makita and I found it isnt very powerfull, apart from the Plaster they all agree with me about the lack of power (what does a plaster know hey).      I decided not to buy the Makita one and went for the Milwaukee cordless one and it has alot more power.    My mate who owns the Makita tried my Milwaukee cordless one and now he owns a Milwaukee cordless circular saw.
The only two things I loved about the Makita is that it has a LED light and a dust blower

JMB

Return it! Are you crazy? It's brilliant little saw,weighs about the same as handsaw and cost 100 quid. Another thing it has an electric brake as well as light and blower.I mean it's got to be a bargain - no? It's just so handy you could put it in your pocket! Almost..

Your Milwaulkee  might be more powerful but how heavy is it? How much did it cost?
 
Nigel said:
Nirvanabartez said:
Ive often wondered how long the batteries would last? how have you found them??

I was surprised how long they last but I've only used for crosscuts so far.I expect long rips would soon suck up the power, though duburban ripped 6 - 2x6 studs on one battery which is pretty good.

jmbfestool said:
Oh!  Can you return it?   Its an okay saw but for the cordless circular market the Makita lacks power!

I have two joiner mates and a plasterer who all own the Makita and I found it isnt very powerfull, apart from the Plaster they all agree with me about the lack of power (what does a plaster know hey).      I decided not to buy the Makita one and went for the Milwaukee cordless one and it has alot more power.    My mate who owns the Makita tried my Milwaukee cordless one and now he owns a Milwaukee cordless circular saw.
The only two things I loved about the Makita is that it has a LED light and a dust blower

JMB

Return it! Are you crazy? It's brilliant little saw,weighs about the same as handsaw and cost 100 quid. Another thing it has an electric brake as well as light and blower.I mean it's got to be a bargain - no? It's just so handy you could put it in your pocket! Almost..

Your Milwaulkee  might be more powerful but how heavy is it? How much did it cost?

£100 including batterie?    Milwaukee including batteries is/was £320    Yeah it is a heavier saw.    Milwaukee also has electric brake I think all new cordless circular saws have electric brakes.

£100 is cheap so suppose its a keeper for that reason.  When I used it I just found it lacked power cus when a cordless circular saw struggles slightly the battery drains very quickly. So a blunt blade or your not cutting bang in straight causing the blade to bind drains the battery very quickly.  The Milwaukee just coped with them problems bit better.

Jmb
 
No, naked no batteries. Batteries are about 60 quid each.

I can see you would have to keep a good blade though to prevent battery drain.

 
I was also suprised when I first got one of the LXT Makita cordless saws.  Im no cordless saw hater, like all the old dogs who say that any saw without a cord is no saw at all either...

But, coming from the Bosch 18volt NiCad model, the Makita was a welcome suprise.

Machined aluminum saw base ( instead of a simple pressed steel or a rougher cast alum/magnesium.

And the power is decieving - at first, it seems like its already out of juice, but it keeps cutting away.  The motor's sound and rpm are quite subdued.

The LXT lineup has the largest variety and utility and overall quality of any of the manufacturers currently.

Makita has some real nice "oddball" workaholic gems:
- right angle impact
- right angle drill ( tiny - but chows thru 2x lumber with a 1" spade bit all day.)
- metal cutting 5 3/8" saw - will easily cut 1/4" plate
- cordless blower - handiest tool I own!  Great for clearing sawdust from a driveway or clearing off your sheetgoods in between cuts, and ultra handy to stoke a campfire.
- cordless grinder/cutoff tool
- small radio - how many cordless tool radios did I have to buy before I realized small size was the only important requirement to assure daily use.  Darn HUGE Bosch radio was given away...

Nice setup.

Julian
 
I'll say that makita cordless kits are the most widely used here in the film industry. Of course these trends change over time but the vast majority of Union guys are using makita. Their cordless LXT saw is really handy to have in the studio. Often running power to where you need to work is an issue, and stationary tools can be quite a distance to get to and there can often be line ups for these things so a quick little cordless circ saw is a handy piece of kit to have on you. The majority of quick and dirty snips we need to do are in 3/4" either plywood or pine so mucho power on these things aren't a major concern. Of the cordless circ saws I've seen and used on set the Makita seems to be the best I've come across for our purposes. That being said I don't own one and probably wont be buying one either as personally I'm not fond of Makita tools as a whole, but if you have a combo set you're happy with (Makita) and looking to expand, IMO this is one of their better offerings.

Certainly wouldn't be using it all day to cut rafters or stair stringers as you have makita batteries to contend with, but a good little rapid quick fix saw.
 
Nigel said:
Any of you guys experience of this LXT 18v or 14v pinner .

http://www.lawson-his.co.uk/scripts/details.php?variation=trs&cat=Cordless%20Nailers%20Makita&product=94372

I've got a corded thing that needs to thrown as far as possible....and I've always liked Makita and their batteries so it's next on the list.

I've often wondered about that little radio too [scratch chin]

Not used one my self so can't comment about the makita nail gun.

If I was you I would go with bostitch Nail gun.    The makital radios are sound nice little radios!

Jmb
 
The makita skill saw is wicked, I've got all the li-ion stuff, jig saw sawzall hammer drill brushless impact drill driver grinder, just need the planer, and for them to cum out with a biscuit jointer  [big grin] and a battery adaptor so I can have a 36v battery in the impact drill

I swear by them all, and there customer service

5 of my 8 battery's went down and they replaced them with brand news ones within two weeks

THANKS MAKTIA
 
Deansocial said:
you got the adapter to use 2 18v in a 36v drill?

No I've only got the 18v hammer drill, I know what your talking about though I saw it in the ITS Book that is stupid my tool belt is heavy enough at 16lbs :) and I'm not jokinG
 
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