James Biddle
Member
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2007
- Messages
- 162
So, I've only had my Makita LS1019L for just over 2 months now after selling my Kapex and I thought I'd give some of my initial observations of the new tool compared to the Kapex.
1. Dust collection. The dust collection is good, not Kapex good, but good. It has a hose diverter where it suck from both around the blade and behind. I'm not happy that the hookup for the DC points downward at an angle, making it more challenging to hook up on a closed bench, but that's a minor bit. Advantage-Kapex
2. Use against a wall. Both tools have dual fixed tubes the saw slides out from so both can be put close to a wall. You really can't put either against a wall and swing the miter without hose issues, but both are really well done. Advantage-both
3. Quality of cut. Using a good cut technique has a major impact on any miter saw, and the Makita is no different. I was able to get perfect cuts (I was only cutting base cap molding on the Makita) with good technique. If I pushed the cut too fast I got fuzz and if I raised the blade too quickly, I sometimes got flung the offcut. Advantage-both
4. Accuracy of the setup out of the box. I realize this may vary greatly from tool to tool, but my Makita needed adjustment out of the box. The good news is that the bevel adjustment is VERY easy with the attached hex wrench and access to the adjustment points. The miter was dead on. However, the Kapex required no adjustment out of the box. Advantage-Kapex
5. Squareness and flatness of the fence and base. Here, I had issues with both. My Kapex base was not flat along the fence and non-adjustable. The fence was dead-on though. On the Makita, the base and stationary fence were dead on, but the removable fence had only a minor adjustment and I was unable to adjust the removable fence at the outer end of the base where there is a post and hole casting. The effect was that I could not get perfectly cuts where that surface was referenced. Advantage-neither
6. Ergonomics. Neither machine is a pain to use, but my preference was the horizontal handle on the Makita over the vertical on the Kapex. The laser switch was the index finger above the hand one the Makita making it easier to switch on and off during the process. It was also easier to lower the blade to align the cut line on the Makita. Advantage-Makita
7. Laser. Makita laser is only on one side, so the Kapex will win here. Also, the Kapex laser was dead on at delivery, and I still need to adjust the Makita about a 64th, but have not got that far yet. Advantage-Kapex.
8. Motor. It's unfair to rate the Kapex against the Makita. The Makita is new with little track record. Id does not seem to bog down in any of the cuts I've made, nor should it cutting the base cap I've used. Advantage-neither
9. Hold downs. I liked the Kapex hold downs and did not like it came with only one. I don't like the Makita at all and don't like it came with only one. Neither tool allows for 2 hold downs to be used with full miter rotation. Kapex got the hold down right and just did not include enough. Makita falls flat here. Advantage-Kapex
10. Miter and bevel adjustment. Mixed bag here. Kapex is really easy to unlock and rotate the bevel and use the button to release the stops. Makita has the unlock at the end of a tube and then you manually pivot the tool and use buttons to release the stop. On the miter, I found it easier to adjust the Makita close to the detents than the Kapex. Both are a pain and the new innovator will have some method to rotate the bevel like Festool does with the bevel. Advantage-neither
11. Price. I paid $509 for the Makita and the Kapex sells for $1,475. Advantage-Makita
Overall. The Kapex is clearly a better saw to me, while working. The Makita has incorporated many of the Kapex's fine features while keeping the price at a level WAY below the Kapex. I purposefully did not address portability because although the Kapex is easily more portable, you can buy two of the Makita and leave one in the shop and one in the truck and have a backup saw in case of emergencies.
1. Dust collection. The dust collection is good, not Kapex good, but good. It has a hose diverter where it suck from both around the blade and behind. I'm not happy that the hookup for the DC points downward at an angle, making it more challenging to hook up on a closed bench, but that's a minor bit. Advantage-Kapex
2. Use against a wall. Both tools have dual fixed tubes the saw slides out from so both can be put close to a wall. You really can't put either against a wall and swing the miter without hose issues, but both are really well done. Advantage-both
3. Quality of cut. Using a good cut technique has a major impact on any miter saw, and the Makita is no different. I was able to get perfect cuts (I was only cutting base cap molding on the Makita) with good technique. If I pushed the cut too fast I got fuzz and if I raised the blade too quickly, I sometimes got flung the offcut. Advantage-both
4. Accuracy of the setup out of the box. I realize this may vary greatly from tool to tool, but my Makita needed adjustment out of the box. The good news is that the bevel adjustment is VERY easy with the attached hex wrench and access to the adjustment points. The miter was dead on. However, the Kapex required no adjustment out of the box. Advantage-Kapex
5. Squareness and flatness of the fence and base. Here, I had issues with both. My Kapex base was not flat along the fence and non-adjustable. The fence was dead-on though. On the Makita, the base and stationary fence were dead on, but the removable fence had only a minor adjustment and I was unable to adjust the removable fence at the outer end of the base where there is a post and hole casting. The effect was that I could not get perfectly cuts where that surface was referenced. Advantage-neither
6. Ergonomics. Neither machine is a pain to use, but my preference was the horizontal handle on the Makita over the vertical on the Kapex. The laser switch was the index finger above the hand one the Makita making it easier to switch on and off during the process. It was also easier to lower the blade to align the cut line on the Makita. Advantage-Makita
7. Laser. Makita laser is only on one side, so the Kapex will win here. Also, the Kapex laser was dead on at delivery, and I still need to adjust the Makita about a 64th, but have not got that far yet. Advantage-Kapex.
8. Motor. It's unfair to rate the Kapex against the Makita. The Makita is new with little track record. Id does not seem to bog down in any of the cuts I've made, nor should it cutting the base cap I've used. Advantage-neither
9. Hold downs. I liked the Kapex hold downs and did not like it came with only one. I don't like the Makita at all and don't like it came with only one. Neither tool allows for 2 hold downs to be used with full miter rotation. Kapex got the hold down right and just did not include enough. Makita falls flat here. Advantage-Kapex
10. Miter and bevel adjustment. Mixed bag here. Kapex is really easy to unlock and rotate the bevel and use the button to release the stops. Makita has the unlock at the end of a tube and then you manually pivot the tool and use buttons to release the stop. On the miter, I found it easier to adjust the Makita close to the detents than the Kapex. Both are a pain and the new innovator will have some method to rotate the bevel like Festool does with the bevel. Advantage-neither
11. Price. I paid $509 for the Makita and the Kapex sells for $1,475. Advantage-Makita
Overall. The Kapex is clearly a better saw to me, while working. The Makita has incorporated many of the Kapex's fine features while keeping the price at a level WAY below the Kapex. I purposefully did not address portability because although the Kapex is easily more portable, you can buy two of the Makita and leave one in the shop and one in the truck and have a backup saw in case of emergencies.
