Smooth as silk
Written: Mar 23 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Very smooth operation. Low noise levels
Cons: No rip fence included. No case included.
The Bottom Line: I'm very pleased with this product. My gripes are minor.
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| chretiensucks's Full Review: Makita Jig Saw 4323 |
After my brother took an old Black and Decker jigsaw that I owned since I was 11 years old, I thought it would be time for me to purchase a new one. I didn’t want to spend an inordinate amount of money but I also didn’t want a poor quality product after purchasing a less than satisfactory Ryobi table saw.
After looking at DeWalt, B&D, and Makita jigsaws, my decision finally rested with the Makita 4323 jigsaw.
About the middle of the pack in terms of pricing, I had an unexpected experience. This jigsaw came with nothing! Unlike my previous small power tool purchases where a carrying case is the norm, this jigsaw came with only one blade for cutting wood and a hex key which stores in a notch at the back of the tool. There was also no rip fence included. I think a the addition of these would have increased the retail price only nominally and may have been worth Makita’s while but I think they probably wanted to stay price competitive with other manufacturers guessing that the Makita might be a person’s second purchase rather than their first and hence may not need a rip fence. I purchased this with full knowledge of this going only for the quality of the tool and was definitely not disappointed. Please note that you want to purchase the Makita rip fence because the screws included with other types of rip fences may not have the same type of thread required to hold it properly.
Features
With an adjustable variable speed dial located on the front of the handle, 500 to 3100 spms can be attained. The jigsaw base can be adjusted to tilt to a maximum of 45 degrees on either the left or right side using the included hex key. There’s also a transparent dust cover at the front that can slide up and down (for protection). It is difficult to slide in and out of position and hopefully with a little time, it will work itself in. It may also be difficult to slide so that it doesn't move around during normal operation.
This Makita does not have a keyless blade operation but I normally would not be changing blades frequently so this is not much of an issue.
The trigger has a lock button for long cuts (a feature that many jigsaws have).
There’s also a exhaust port at the back for a Makita vacuum attachment but it will only work when the saw is in non-beveled operation.
Operation
Upon starting this jigsaw up for the first time, I describe the operation of the 3.7Amp motor as “smooth as silk”. There’s no better way to describe it. This is a quiet (82db), low-vibration, precision machine that is unlike any of the other non-Makita power tools that I’ve used. No other manufacturer that I’ve checked seem to have a posted db rating on their products.
Not that this is a fair comparison because of the age difference but my old B&D jigsaw vibrated so much that my palm actually felt very numb after using it.
Recommended to cut maximum wood thicknesses of 2-9/16” and ¼” steel, any thicker and I’d be using a circular saw. This particular Makita’s relatively short 11/16” stroke is touted as being used for controlled cutting versus its other 1” stroke jigsaws or DeWalt’s heavy duty 1” stroke jigsaws. The blade roller assists in keeping the blade straight and perpendicular during operation.
Warranty
The Makita comes with a One-year manufacturer’s warranty and a parts list is also available online at http://www.makita.com
Conclusion
If smooth operation and quietness is important to you, this is the jigsaw for you. If you require more power, go to a more expensive Makita or a DeWalt. Although this is only my first Makita purchase, I've worked with their belt sanders and table saws and definitely see myself making more Makita purchases in the future.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
chretiensucks
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Member: joe unpronounceable
Location: GTA, Ontario, Canada
Reviews written: 42
Trusted by: 3 members
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