Makita DLS110Z

[notenoughcash]

as some people know I have bought the Makita DLS110Z.  i aim to make it as fair as possible.  i am comparing to a kapex 120 and my old evolution R210sms btw

despite it being cordless it hasn't disappointed me on power.  there has been instances where i have has to back off on a cut but only because the blade was getting pinched.  the blade guard isn't metal, something that my old evolution R210sms had, and there is no blade guard release.  it is just, how do i put it, free to go up and down.  there is however a trigger safety that is fairly comfortable to use, in fact, it's the most comfortable one i have used.  now to compare it to the kapex for a bit.  i have only used it for one day a while ago, and my opinion is that it is overrated. 

handle - makita a clear winner, the horizontal handle is just so much more comfortable.  my old evo had a horizontal handle as well but i have used evo's that have horizontal handles.

accuracy - probably kapex, but you dont need huge amounts of accuracy to do framing.  i wont even move onto the accuracy of evolution saws.

weight - not sure,  didn't have to pick up the kapex, but i do know that the makita is [censored] heavy.  my old evo is a clear winner, but it did have a 210mm blade rather than a 260mm blade.

power - both about the same. but you have to remember the kapex is 240v and the makita is cordless, 36v to be precise.  evo struggled to go thru 3 3x2's at the same time.

practicality - makita.  any day.  just because it is cordless, granted the kapex is designed for a work shop and not for a building site.  evo was just meh.  corded. but it didn't go to any sites, because it just wasn't practical on site because it was so small.

size/footprint - kapex, makita, evolution 210sms.  the evo had rear sliders, and the kapex and makita have rail's over the bed.

value - makta, kapex, evo.  makita is £545 +- without batteries.  kapex 120 is £1000 + and the evo is £110.  but it is gutless.  ok for the odd pallet wood slat but not much else.

dust collection - kapex, makita, evo.  kapex is brilliant, makita is good, and evolution, well, the less said the better. [blink] [eek] [scared]

i hope that this review is good enough to come on par with some of the reviews on here.

 

[Mike Goetzke]

I bought this cordless saw two years ago. It replaced my corded Makita 12" SCMS. Loved the old one and the new one.

My son just ordered one. In the US they are $529 with four 5.0AHr batteries and charger right now.

 

[ChuckM]

Fair analysis. The handle is a personal preference, and there is never a right or wrong.

However, life span for batteries (in regular shop site usage) (factory warranty is is usually 2 - 3 years) and replacement costs are seldom included in the reviews I came across for cordless tools. Batteries aren't cheap, and if they need to be replaced every four to five years (?) (assuming you need to keep two at the same time as a tradesperson).

 

[Mike Goetzke]

Fair analysis. The handle is a personal preference, and there is never a right or wrong.

However, life span for batteries (in regular shop site usage) (factory warranty is is usually 2 years) and replacement costs are seldom included in the reviews I came across for cordless tools. Batteries aren't cheap, and if they need to be replaced every three to four years (?) (assuming you need to keep two at the same time as a tradesperson).

Reason I've stuck with Makita is battery life. I got 10-12 years life out of my first 18V batteries. Plus lately they have been having come great deals on tool - like HD had a circ saw with four 5.0AHr batteries and dual smart charger for $250.

 

[ChuckM]

That's pretty long lasting for a decade of use. New battery technology certainly helps. I have a bunch of old cordless drills and batteries that aren't used anymore because they don't hold a charge long enough, meaning every time I want to use them, they're only good within the first 5 minutes of the job.