Cuts lIke a hot knife through butter
Written: Jun 08 '00 (Updated Jul 14 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Accuracy and ease of set up
Cons: Could use taller fence
The Bottom Line: A saw to dream about! Does everything a compound miter saw should, and does it with accuracy and power.
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| dalesky's Full Review: Makita 10" Slide Dual Compound Miter Saw LS1013 |
I was recently visiting the local Holy Grail of hardware stores in my area. It's known as Ace Seven Corner's Hardware.
It's Unlike any place I've seen elsewhere. Two floors of hardware, with the second floor being devoted entirely to power tools. I'm kind of listening in to a salesman recommending a compound miter saw to a customer. He takes him right to the Makita LS1013 Slide Dual Compound Miter saw, and says "...this is the best currently being made. It's got features, power and accuracy that other saws only dream of."
The customer bought one! Good salesmanship? Sure, but the point is that an expert, who works with pros and amateurs every day,said it was the best available. Want more? How about Popular Woodworking magazine saying the same thing? They gave it their Tool of the Year award when it came out.
I bought mine about a year ago. I was doing some deck work, and needed to cut wide boards. Cutting a 2" x 12 at 90 deg? No problem for this saw. Want to compound miter a 2 x 8 at 45 deg? Again, this is the saw to do it.
This is a dual miter saw, which translates to the saw blade swiveling to either side, as well as being able to cut angles at the same time. The type of cut is known as a compound miter, and is especially needed with moldings, such as crown moldingw, which require two cuts be made at the same time. lumber such as that used for deck building a straight or simple angle cut is generally all you need to make.
This saw handles 4 X 4 lumber, and crosscuts 2 X 12 boards. Perfect capacity for deck building.
The dual rails are self-cleaning, and ride on linear ball bearings. The handle for the saw is vertical, with a thumb activated safety switch, and long paddle switch. It's easy to operate with either hand.
The entire table pivots, which is unusual as well as a great design feature. What this means is that instead of the saw moving, the entire assembly, saw and table moves together. Makes for a more accurate cut. Also, the saw motor is angled, for better and smoother power transfer to the blade.
A 13 amp motor ensures plenty of power for cutting heavy stock. It also means that you need an extension cord rated for 15 amps, not an 18 gauge or even 16 gauge cord. I make sure to plug any power tool drawing 10 amps or more into a heavy duty 14 gauge cord. Faster startup and less slowdown/stalls are the result. Also, you are less likely to trip a circuit breaker if the cord is sized correctly.
Two things set it apart from most saws. The first is dual rail slides for the motor, which makes cuts extremely accurate, and allows the wide boards to be cut. The smoothness of this saw because of the rails is extraordinary also. It glides back and forth easily, adjusts quickly, and is just plain simple to set up.
The other unique feature is that it comes with very good clamps and stops. You can clamp from both sides, and set stops easily for repetitive cuts.
My neighbor, who was recently rebuilding his deck discovered that I had this saw, and he is so impressed that I can't get it away from him.
Do you need to be an expert craftsman to buy a saw of this quality (and price)? I say no! Just someone who appreciates fine tools, and wants those that work best and easiest.
It comes with a 64 tooth blade, which is excellent, but put an 80 tooth Freud in it and it is a dream to use.
So buy one already!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
dalesky
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Location: Murrells Inlet South Carolina
Reviews written: 133
Trusted by: 11 members
About Me:
Love to cook, explore the Internet, read and watch movies on DVD. Ain't technology Grand?
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