What is the BEST Sliding Miter Saw? Makita vs Festool

[@731Woodworks]

▼EXPAND FOR TOOL LINKS and INFO▼ Watch Next: Festool Dust Collector - kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5e5lqZ9a52Ajas Makita Miter Saw - amzn.to/3AiIYpB Festool Kapex Miter Saw - amzn.to/3Pb5V3V Festool 36mm Hose - amzn.to/3RaVaPt Festool Dust Extractor I Use - amzn.to/3IhEdyN 📲 Never miss another tool deal. Sign up for my Tool Deals SMS Alerts - NOTE: I text out tool deals so you don’t miss any! text DEALS to 1 [phone] Be sure to add DEALS to your text to me so you get added to the proper list. You can also click this link my.community.com/731woodworks Important to add the word DEALS to the text! 🇺🇸 Join the Tubafour Nation on Patreon to get an exclusive Tubafour Nation sticker, access to exclusive member-only behind-the-scenes videos, member-only livestreams, discounts, and other cool member-only perks! www.patreon.com/731woodworks (If you use one of these Amazon and other affiliate links, I may receive a commission) Some other useful links: Daily Tool Deals on my website: www.731woodworks.com/tool-deals Subscribe to our email Newsletter: mailchi.mp/7e44c16eefdc/731-woodworks-email-newsletter Check out our easy-to-follow woodworking plans: www.731woodworks.com/store Outlaw's Board Butter - So Good it Should be Outlawed: www.731woodworks.com/store/boardbutter

[@conditionsunknown9384]

Man I love watching your videos !! You do An awesome job and have a great speaking voice nice and clear and you review really nice tools. You look like an identical twin to a guy I work with !! Anyway keep up the great work subbed and fan for life here !!

[@joemarks8417]

I’m a professional carpenter, 33 years experience. I bought that makita 5 years ago. It’s traveled around in a van the entire time. I bought it mostly for its incredible cutting capacity. I’ve abused it by cutting everything from 20’ 5/4x6 ipe garapa and many other iron wood decking, framing, to crown work. It has been an incredible saw! However, we mentioned the deflection, and that is definitely a problem, when cutting hardwood stair treads that are the usual 10.5-11.5”. Other than that, it’s the best saw I’ve ever used.

[@miloh7871]

Of just those two, definitely the Makita. I only had the $ to choose 1 and I went with the Bosch 12”. Absolutely no complaints with it over the last few years.

[@731Woodworks]

Just to clear things up, I purchased both of these miter saws. I purchased the Makita first and tried it for a few weeks. After going to Woodcraft and seeing the Festool in-person, I decided to return the Makita and purchase the Festool. A good friend of mine knew I was retuning the Makita and buying the Festool, so he decided out of the goodness of his heart to bless me with half of the money for the Festool. So I paid for half and he paid for half. I told all of this in the members-only video that was released previous to this video, but it got left out of the edit on this one, and I missed it when reviewing the footage for this release.

[@Tripring2000]

I’d keep the Makita. They make solid dependable tools. I don’t like the handle configuration on the Festool saws.

[@techguy38]

The handle is designed that way to reduce flex caused be the leverage you have from your arm. It does reduce flexing the saw and you don’t have to be mindful of it as you do with the traditional miter saws

[@eriklarsson3188]

@German Mejia The handle is an ergonomic fail.

[@starseeddeluxe]

Do you really have to turn the handle 10 times to do a bevel on the Makita? That seems really extreme and unnecessary?

[@nigelboucher2014]

I know Festool makes great tools but to me there’s to much plastic. Which to the eye makes them look cheap. I’ve got a 25 year old Makita drop saw that is still going great to this day and just recently purchased the 10” sliding saw and that gets a little kiss from me every day. It’s brilliant.

[@rocketmunkey1]

What do you mean plastic everywhere ? You do realise those gray white areas which make up the majority of the saw, are anodised cast magnesium alloy not plastic don't you ? Its litterally just the top cover and the buttons and levers, which are fibreglass reinforced plastic, which is the same on most saw

[@georgedavall9449]

@@rocketmunkey1 Take it easy funkeymunkey! You’re gonna stroke out dude! He did not say there was plastic everywhere, but your point is taken. I’m a big Makita fan, but I think the Festool is just a well thought out and polished design, that is hard to beat. One just has to ‘buy once , cry once,’ with regards to getting a Festool. I have always thought the Festool sounds a little underpowered, and the motor has a funny sound, but that is of course, subjective. Now that makita has killed off the Makita/Dolmar chainsaws, as well as the rest of their gas powered stuff, I’m not such a fan currently. I would probably buy the Festool. As far as Dust collection goes, they all suck (no pun) in one way or another. face it, drop saws gonna throw the dust! Peace!

[@Smokeyr67]

I’m a Makita guy, all my battery powered stuff is, and will be Makita, but if it’s got a cord on it I go for Festool, they’re superior to most other brands, maybe not as superior as the price…

[@rocketmunkey1]

@@georgedavall9449 I'm perfectly chilled thank you. I'm not a die hard festool fanboy, I have a few festool tools but I also have dewalt Milwaukee and Makita tools, I just buy whats best in class, at the right price, I'm currently looking at a 1/2 router, but am shying away from festool because the 1400 is too underpowered and the 2200 is obscenely overpriced. I could see why you might think they are all made out of plastic with the black and white colouration, but they're just not, they wouldn't still be in business after nearly 100 years if they were 5 hit and made of plastic, especially not at those prices.

[@georgedavall9449]

@@rocketmunkey1 Hey dude, thanks for kind reply! I agree with just about everything you said in Your reply. And for the record, I did not say they had a lot of plastic, that was ‘Nigel Boucher’s comment! Notice I said I would probably get the Festool over the Makita, if I were in the market for one, and could afford it. Yes, Festool has quite the Heritage, and reputation. As you noted about prices, One has to shop Festool wisely. You might look into Bosch on Routers? I have a couple of Bosch’s that do very well. Take care! ✌

[@harrydoherty8299]

both look great but i’m a guy that does projects around the house . for me the hercules 12inch sliding miter saw at $ 320.00 on sale and member discount . works great after 3 years of use . as for the dust collection, it’s not an issue . i do all my woodworking in spring summer and fall. it’s mounted on the ridged rolling miter saw stand and all my cuts are done just outside of my garage. hook up the shop vac . the rest of the saw dust is blown off with my leaf blower . no problems . this system work perfect for me. 😊

[@jr.3407]

The Festool is twice the price of Mikita but not twice as good, I'll take the makita any day.

[@saiiiiiii1]

It all boils down to how much crooked cuts I can afford, this easily gets more expensive than the saw itself. Precision is another league on the Kapex.

[@MMMS75]

I have wanted to sell my 10 year old Dewalt 12” sliding mitre for a while after seeing both of these. Probably won’t get much for my old saw, but love that these rails come forward. My Dewalt rails go behind the saw making space in my workshop a real hassle with it.

[@badboyboydc6779]

What you don't have a spare foot - or a hole in your wall - for the rear travel? (Ask me how I know...)

[@mkbcoolman]

Excellent video! I love your attention to detail. I looked at both the Festool and the Makita when I was looking to upgrade my Ridgid 12" compound slider. It was a beast that was perfectly suited for a construction site, but I had a hell of a time getting it tuned in to my satisfaction. I ended up going with the Bosch 12" with the knuckle arm after seeing both Drew Fisher and Jon Peters use the same saw. If it's good enough for those guys, it's good enough for me! I love the knuckle vs. rails...it saves so much space against my wall! It took a little tuning but nothing unexpected. Plenty of tutorials here on YT to show you how it's done. Dust collection is horrendous, but I copied Drew Fisher's video and built a small dust collection housing right behind the blade that collects 95+% (Drew calculated 96%) of all the dust when the blade isn't extended. I've NEVER seen a better solution for dust collection at a miter station. Even when my saw was fully shrouded with a 4" hose to my dust collector I didn't get anything near the efficiency. I don't know any way to get decent dust collection on a sliding miter at full extension, so maybe this solution is as good as it gets? I use my miter station pretty much daily, and I only find myself having to clean up a minor amount of dust about once a week. That's good enough for me!.

[@anchua6396]

I think Jon Peters use Kapex since last few years.

[@1averageamerican]

I'd go with Makita. Superior capacity and dust collection are big deals in my book. Plus I've used a festool and find the handle awkward and uncomfortable.

[@morrist938]

I hesitated before buying my Kapex. I can tell you that most of the time a 12” saw is more of a hazard than a help. I know the price is a killer but I saved up for a while after trying one at a Woodcraft store. I found that the festool grip was more ergonomic and less strain on the entire arm and shoulder. Also the repeated accuracy without have to dial it in or find a sweet spot is a huge benefit, time saver and money saver. I only wished I learned that lesson before I shattered my thumb because I would not take the time to evaluate the tool instead of finding reasons to not like it. It only takes once for that added deflection or one bad “dial” and it leaves years of pain. Eventually we all learn that you can’t put a price on safety when the justification of money makes you pay dearly in pain and injuries. Trust me when I tell you that I check and double check and all it took was for the stars to align and I now have a permanent reminder that the extra money was worth it weight in gold. Besides when I have taught people that have never used a miter saw, the Festool came more naturally because everything is a straight line vs the age old paw grip. So in a nutshell, when you learn to unlearn what you have been taught and told to learn what can be we all go a lot further.

[@Emaildbk]

Did you hurt your thumb on the kapex or another saw?

[@JesperMakes]

That was really interesting. I have the Makita mitersaw, but also got a lot of Festool stuff now. I'll definitely get the Kapex when I'm switching miter next time. And a sidenote, the Festool 5M tape measure is the best tape measure I've ever tried.

[@sumosprojects]

Festool is evil mate 😱🔥😜😁😁😁

[@JesperMakes]

@Sumo's Projects In that case evil has taken over my shop... 😅

[@DRJoe100]

@@sumosprojectswhy?

[@kirklund962]

2 big drawbacks I have against the kapex is the wide opening of the fence and the pistol grip handle, and if I remember right the safety trigger was awkward to use but they may have changed that, it was a long time ago I used one. Most of the festool tools I don't care for the feel of them. I always ran DeWalt but am thinking of going with a Makita this time.

[@scottmacgarvey6733]

My 25+ year old dewalt 12” compound miter saw finally died about a year ago. I bit the bullet and bought the Kapex after watching numerous KZbin videos. Long story short, I took it back 2 weeks later and bought the Makita 12” sliding compound miter saw. I’m perfectly happy and impressed with this saw. There ARE some minor advantages to the Kapex, but NOT worth the money. The Makita dust collection is excellent, the cut is precise and the slide works extremely well. The laser is accurate, but I do wish it had the double laser like the Kapex. It IS a large machine. Had to rework my miter station, but worth it. I appreciate your tool reviews, but disagree with you on this one.

[@RB-tm6ui]

I'm with you on that, the Makita is perfectly accurate and slides extremely well. I Put a tenryu blade on it. If mafell made a compound saw I'd give it a look.

[@linsen8890]

I have the Makita miter saw, and I love it. Given that it's 1/2 (or less) of the price of the Festool, it's a great saw for the money.

[@731Woodworks]

I agree, it is a great saw

[@johnmooney9016]

Great review! I have the 10" Makita and love it!

[@bmak5405]

It's important to keep in mind that the Festool product will cost two to two and a half times the cost of the Makita. Also, the reason the Makita stands out farther is that it has a much wider cutting capacity. Not sure if Festool even makes a 12" sliding miter saw, but if they do, it too will stand out farther. Personally, I have the Makita and am very pleased with the performance of the saw.

[@Smokeyr67]

Festool’s biggest mitre saw is the 10 inch, and it’s just a squidge under double the price of the 12 Makita, $2250 Aud for the Festool, $1200 for the Makita.

[@ThekiBoran]

I had the kapex 10" and sold it. I now have the Makita 12". Fit and finish of the makita is equal to the festool and in some ways better. Where the kapex shines is the bevel adjustment knob and the bevel scale is super easy to read. Where the kapex blows is the handle. I like the kapex handle right over/in line with the blade but the safety button is annoying. Carpal tunnel anyone? Also, it's a 10" vs 12" and also Festool USA service blows.

[@ThekiBoran]

I'll say this, the makita is a great shop saw, but out in the field I'll take a 12" Dewalt all day long.

[@jeremyalbright9517]

@@Smokeyr67 I just purchased the makita a little over 2 months ago and its 799.00 plus tax so the festool is almost 3 times the price.

[@ThekiBoran]

@@jeremyalbright9517 Here in the US the 10" kapex is twice as much as the 12" LS1219L Makita, $1600 vs $800.

[@randyp792]

Been in wood working all my life, I agree that all the features on the festool are fantastic, I have a lot of their tools. The only thing about the kapex that was a downfall I think is it seems to lack power. I teach classes at woodcraft and have used a few years worth of demo and classroom kapex saws and they all seem as I said to lack a bit of power. Thanks for all your content and wisdom

[@georgedavall9449]

Good comment Randy. I concur, and mentioned it in one of my comments. A lot of great tech and thinking went into the Fsetool, but it always sounds/ seems underpowered to me as well. I like the soft start, if not a little too soft. The price is the kicker. And, they HAVE had motor issues. Not having owned one, I have no idea/experience as to what the warranty experience is like. Peace

[@MatSmithLondon]

I've always thought power is less important... if you are driving a blade through a thick slab of hardwood, you are going to go slowly... it will still cut - just takes longer. Besides, if you want a quick cut, then you're onsite not in the workshop. And you'd use a smaller Dewalt if you want to cut quickly and in anger... I certainly use a cheap dewalt for majority of structural timber where I don't care about accuracy of cut

[@louiesworkshop2023]

I am a cabinet maker here in the UK, I have had a dewalt mitre saw,, a reliable workhorse of a mitre saw, we did use the makita model to which you have reviewed, a beautiful saw to use in the workshop but I found that often while cutting at full reach the saw blade would along its rails cup alittle, the saw blade would enter and leave perfectly however as the blade travelled it would approximately run out by a millimetre. I opted to upgrade to the kapex, by no means is the kapex perfect, there is a surprisingly large amount of plastic, it does create a disappointing amount of saw dust even with the large dust shroud, is the saw overpriced, yes I believe so, however, I have never used a saw as sweet to use and as accurate as the kapex, cut after cut after cut, the kapex just keeps delivering perfect cuts, is it the best mitre saw in the world, I would say without hesitation YES, it maybe over priced, it may create more saw dust than what is claimed it catches but if you have deep pockets and want the best, the kapex is the only saw that will deliver an outstanding cut over and over again, thank you for the very informative and video.

[@jimfeaster4837]

I like the makita ! Better value you can buy 2 makitas For the same price of the festool When they parts Makita has more service centers and Are one of the best Companys to get parts and repairs !

[@andrewnewman2695]

As a Carpentry and Joinery lecturer I get to see how these saws stand up to apprentice use and abuse. We have the Makita, Dewalt and Festool saws in the workshop, that are in constant use. The Dewalts are bombproof and make great site saws, downsides are the lack of soft start and the sticky blade guard roller when cutting compound mitres, which rules it out for finishing work. The Makita is a good all-round saw, but does not stand up to the constant abuse from apprentices and requires constant part replacement. The Festool is the saw we use for all our finish/joinery work, its well built and accurate with little to fault.

[@Heddo2200]

How do you cut larger crown molding using the 10” blade?

[@monroeleticiagalvan8174]

Cut the crown laying down like prod do

[@tr0llhunter101]

@@Heddo2200 cut it flat, i can even cut large crown on a 8 1/2" since i need a light weigh saw to go from job site to job site some times two or three job sites.

[@tr0llhunter101]

only thing i don't like about Festool is the low RPMs

[@asbrand]

I have a Makita LS1016L 10" sliding compound miter saw. The two fences can slide left or right. All you had to do was move the right fence over an 1/8 of an inch or so. Had mine since 2011, and all I have ever had to do with it is put a new blade on it. Just something to consider. :)

[@731Woodworks]

Nope. The fences don't slide. They drop in place into a pin hole.

[@asbrand]

@@731Woodworks - Oh, how weird. The ones on my Makita do slide. What model Makita was the one you had here?

[@bmak5405]

@@731Woodworks They do adjust on the back

[@731Woodworks]

Oh okay. I missed that

[@Pattington22]

@@731Woodworks Perhaps older versions have that adjustability, but my LS1219L bought 5 weeks ago does not. It has one pin on each fence with no lateral adjustment. Unless there is some trick of which I am unaware.

[@zundapp529able]

You cant go wrong with both of them. I love my Makita DLS111.

[@purplecouchproductions8657]

I love my Kapex so much! I have used many mitre saws and I can say with an abundance of certainty that the festool is by far and way the best to operate!

[@timmccarthy94]

Two important points: the Festool costs more than twice the Makita; for the angle, simply adjust the wing.

[@731Woodworks]

the wing on the Makita doesn't adjust. It drops into a pin.

[@photographingwildlife8779]

@@731Woodworks I can adjust mine and I'm just a girl. 🤣

[@jonathanpruitt7393]

That soft start looks sweet

[@kosinskiarek]

Anyway you can test/describe how long the Makita is. I'm considering switching from 12 inch dewalt slider to Makita. This saw has few adventages on my DeWalt and one thing I would hope it's quieter. My DeWalt is a loud bastard. Thanks

[@carlmclelland7624]

Yep! Festool is the way to go! If you've got the $$$$$, that is. I used my nephews saw - the same one you just demo'd here - when I was back at the ranch last month. I told him, before I came home; "Damn good thing it won't fit in my suitcase!"

[@scottmorris4914]

Doesn’t matter how good the Festool is, can’t afford it, so it isn’t an option.

[@spok209]

Feel the same ! I usually skip right through the festool reviews hehe

[@chad630]

I roll my eyes when somebody says “it all boils down to preference” with a Festool.

[@briansooy3125]

You can afford it. Find someone that takes affirm or make a bunch of picture frames with it.

[@briansooy3125]

@@chad630same. You either get festool, or you get cheap, marked up Chinese sweat-labor junk.

[@jwatson181]

​@@briansooy3125i like sweat shop tools.

[@Tool_Addicted_Carpenter]

Man I'd love to see a cordless 8 1/2" Kapex. I have a 32 year old Hitachi 8 1/2" miter and a newly purchased but older design cordless Bosch and even with a dozen miter saws of varying sizes there's just something about the 8 1/2" accuracy that keeps me coming back. I got my cordless Bosch reconditioned for $270 and it showed up with a single scratch on the plastic of the motor housing but brand new otherwise and absolutely dead accurate. Paired with a freud blade and DeWalt battery adapter, I couldn't be happier. Kind of weird that you had originally disliked the Makita dust collection but with all those superior Festool features I would definitely have made the same move as you. As far as the Makita fence hitting at 60° I would say 2 minutes with a grinder and flapdisk would no doubt solve that problem. I've modified many tools and that's an easy one. Nice head to head review sir, very thorough. I'd say when the cordless 10" Kapex comes to the states it will be at the top of my list.

[@davids8493]

They do make a smaller one for the European market. It may make it to the US market at some point.

[@dbredeson77]

A new cordless Festool miter saw is coming soon. Keep your eyes open...

[@woodlifenwa5983]

OK I love cordless tools but hear me out...if using dust collection with the miter saw...it's no longer cordless. Figured that one out with my cordless Festool track saw real quick 🤦‍♀️

[@Tool_Addicted_Carpenter]

@@woodlifenwa5983 That's my exact thoughts as well. In the case of a miter saw being a stationary tool on the job site or in a garage, it's operation is not hindered by a hose the same way a cordless tracksaw or sander would be. I'd say Makitas AWS and Festool both automatically turning on and off with the tools is a great system. I just haven't dropped the $2-2,500 to achieve that yet. My Bosch cordless has the best dust bag I've seen and it catches a lot more than I expected it to. Depending on where I'm working, I just throw down a tarp under my saw stand to catch stray dust and then sweep and fold it up and shake it out at a safe location. I'm fortunate not to have to prioritize dust control on 99% of my job sites.

[@dbredeson77]

There are jobsites that have limited or no power and there are cordless dust collection units. I understand you saying that you are still tethered but it adds flexibly and you still have the power of corded.

[@timking1050]

Both my sons have the festool, but got the bosch and love em, my marital, accuracy is right out the windows,,,hahaha

[@Saw-IT]

Really good video thanks, I have been looking at both saws and am getting the Makita.

[@731Woodworks]

The Makita is a great saw

[@stuartmorton3083]

Have you looked into the milwaukee. I have the 12 inch and have loved it. Has a dial in the front for micro adjustments on setting the miter angle. It doesn't have a laser but 2 LEDs on both sides of the blade and casts a shadow line on where the blade will hit.

[@alan36753]

Great video thanks. I’ve just pulled the trigger on the makita over the festool. There’s not much in it on quality but Makita seems to have more metal and less plastic and I’ve read reports of switches failing on the festool because of complexity and the astronomical price on replacement parts. I’ve gone for robust for my rugged day to day tool.

[@cloggedpitot1]

Makita is fine. Plenty of quality

[@RunarMagnussen]

I picked up the smaller Kapex KS60 used, it had been used for cutting bricks and a bit beat up. After a bit of cleaning, lubrication, calibration and a new blade it makes excellent cuts! It sure is a durable tool.

[@RunarMagnussen]

Also I'll try to turn down the speed for better dust collection, thanks for the tip! I do find it to work great as is, but it could always be better.

[@JimmySpencer-z1x]

Thank you so much for the wonderful video. I'm gonna buy one of them I don't know just yet❤

[@redtop03]

Makita in my opinion is probably the best brand tool on the market but I can't justify the price for my hobby purposes, from what I've seen and read from people who use the Festool saw, the major complaint was the angle of the handle being less comfortable than how other handles are oriented. I'd love to own either saw, I fairly certain both are way better saws than my old Delta shopmaster. LOL

[@TRAXRIPPER]

I have the makita. The clamp has a quick slide clip on the thread holder that allows you to slide the threads quickly and then tighten to lock in so you are not twisting all day. Its up under the bottom of the front of the thread holder.

[@brettleisy356]

the laser lines are nice, but I am really liking the new LED shadow lines on most of the miters coming out now,.no guessing kerf and is less likely to be "out of alignment".

[@Tensquaremetreworkshop]

Yes, shadow-line is by far the best.

[@robertbamford8266]

I’m priced out of Festool, but the chop-saw configuration capacity is impressive. Wound up with a 12” dewalt non-slider years ago to get the same capacity.

[@andrewphillips302]

If it’s a DEWALT compound miter saw bought within 2019-2022, it has a defect in the guard that will make it break into pieces when using. DEWALT issued a stop sale and removed 4-5 models from retailers.

[@robertbamford8266]

@@andrewphillips302 Thanks for info. I’ll check, but it’s from 2017 so 🤞 it’s ok.

[@philvale5724]

Hi , I am new to your work shop, A good review on the two machines, And I think the Festool is overpriced you’re paying for the name, I purchased my Makita chopsaw back in 2003-4 I think it is a superior piece of machinery then festool , Due to its cutting capacity, The only thing that has ever is the fluorescent light that is on it I’ve replaced it twice now, then of course that it cuts Position compound angles, I do have festool router and track saw 75m , and there sander, I do have MAFELL jigsaw this is the best on the market, and the router EO65 Ec , in my opinion is the best bit of kit on the market as well, I am now 71 years young English gentleman retired issh, I live in France and still working on my moulin/ mill. I look forward to your next reviews, Phil from the dark side of the moulin.

[@atv2373]

👍

[@nmancini]

Funny seeing your old videos one of the major reasons you were getting rid of makita and going with festool is you didn’t think the dust collection was adequate. But in comparison the makita is actually better.

[@barryinn1778]

I have had this saw for 10 years and love it. The best $1300.00 well spent. Time is everything for a woodworker and adjustment on the makita for locking the blade is a poor poor design. I love everything about the Kapex and the miter gauge is fantastic. On the makitas, well they are my second choice. All the rest miter saw brands are for chopping wood. Festool is for professional woodworkers who make fine woodworking! Great consice review.

[@ChrisHornberger]

Well that's a bit much.

[@agent7agent759]

After watching countless videos about the kapex I bought the last version of the makita 40v 12" mitre saw oh boy this is a very accurate saw and very refined mitre saw and I own the red and yellow brands too and in comparison Makita is on another level , as for kapex I couldn't justify the price as for my needs I needed bigger capacity, after testing the kapex in the store I vas disappointed with the kapex all tho I own about 10 tools from festool and they are second to none , but in mitre saw category I will give it to the makita and I am so happy about my choice

[@riverbuilder2251]

I have had two kapex saws for the last 19 years or since they came out, I’ve had or used all the other brands. The Kapex is far and away the better machine. My first one developed some issue, I forget what it was, after 6 years or hard work and Festool replaced it with a brand new saw, which has been excellent in the years since. Recently they did a recall to fix something,at no cost to me, and the saw came back with a new power cord, a new guard,and everything was adjusted perfectly,even the lasers. Can’t beat thst service.

[@mikecampingforfun5226]

I have the 10 inch Makita miter saw and I love it and it does move. With the festival is twice the price or more is it really worth it for the extra price?

[@rebeltoharriganjr6158]

I have Makita LS1019L 10" Dual-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw with Laser, it is heavy and I do have a bad back. To be honest I have two of them if you believe . They are a great saw, but, the but is the abhor lock is left handed. I destroyed a nut turning it like highhanded thread . everything else on the saw is right handed! Everything you saw on the 12 inch is the same except the handle turned 180 to the right and not ambidextrous, because the trigger button is on the left of the grip. This saw cuts like butter and if you move up to a 80 tooth blade, well I don't have to tell you. The miter is like a cnc machine and flawless for a home worker, the complaint is that they wear out, just buy a new miter plate and keep it moving. The saw is heavy, real heavy, that is the main draw backs, happy to have it and Festool is beyond me and outside of my budget.

[@gregghernandez2714]

I'm with a few other posters. I went with the Bosch 10 inch and don't regret my purchase at all. It is dead accurate and due to its design is super smooth. You can even adjust how smooth you want the blade to travel. Wouldn't recommend for a saw to carry from worksite to worksite though. Pretty darn heavy.

[@garyroxene]

yes.. and so is the Makita .. the Kapex is very lightweight!

[@markevans7584]

I use the Bosch 12" for jobsites. Super easy to travel with on the gravity rise stand

[@woodsmithohio]

Like the review... I would like to see how it compered to the 10 inch Makita. I am sure the results would be similar.

[@Jeedehem]

Love my Makita. I had an unprecedented deal on the 36 volts, here in Montreal, just a few months ago in an hardware store. Although I wanted an electric saw (firstly because I have a smaller one for job sites, secondly, because the one I use in my shop won’t go anywhere - especially the Makita! Sooo heavy; don’t know why they even produced a battery version), I couldn’t pass this incredible deal : 500$ for the beast with two 5 amps batteries. Damn, the machining quality is second to none. I tested the deflection, and found out that the results are all function of the pushing speed. My sole problem is that I will have to wait for the warranty to expire before I install wiring in the handle, so it can signal a dust extractor to power on. Otherwise, it is a no nonsense quality choice for woodworking, fine or bulky.

[@bobp3738]

An alternative to these good products is the Hercules sliding miter saw from … yes, Harbor Freight. I was skeptical when a friend bought one but the more I looked at it the more I was impressed. I finally got one to replace my 30 yr old Craftsman relic. As with my friend’s unit, mine was spot on square and true right out of the box! It comes with a decent 12” carbide-tipped blade and was just over $300 on-sale. I love the shadow line cut indicator vs. the laser line. It’s easy to adjust miter or bevel and the stops are positive and correct. The fence is decent and also easily adjustable. I also got the companion mobile folding table, which is also solid and makes the whole unit mobile and easily stowed. I was almost ready to buy the Milwaukee cordless unit when this one got my attention. Hey, it might not last 30 yrs. or have the panache compared to the other brand names, but I would advise giving it a serious look. Surprised me.

[@paulhopkins1905]

Not an alternative at all for a shop used saw as its not a compact design. You need way more wall clearance with it than these two saws. The only other option I know of is the Hitachi/Metabo HPT

[@bobp3738]

@@paulhopkins1905 Good call. I hadn’t considered that as I have my saw on a dolly-like folding stand for portability. If mounted against the wall as Mr. 731 has done here, it will definitely require more space. My point was as an overall tool, it’s performance and accuracy vs. cost of ownership is hard to beat.

[@paulhopkins1905]

@@bobp3738 Yeah, on a jobsite saw it's not critical. I will probably upgrade my Hitachi one day to the Bosch or the new Ridgid which is the same as the Delta Cruiser. That Makita is really nice as well.

[@ChrisAustin-e2g]

I have the 10 inch version of the Makita and even with extreme pressure it deflects less than what the Festool looked to in your video...I believe that 12 inch saws in general will deflect more when slid out to full capacity. I would say on my 10 inch Makita, blade deflection is never going to be an issue. The Festool looked to be the same as I doubt you would put that much pressure on a normal cut. Also, you are correct, you have to remove the high fences to make bevel cuts and extreme angle miter cuts on the Makita. Another thing I noticed and maybe different on the 10 vs 12 but I only need to turn my bevel lock 2--3 times before I can bevel the saw...a lot less than you were experiencing on the 12 inch. For 1/2 the price...I'll take the 10 inch Makita all day. .

[@Northeast_Mainiac]

My 12” Makita LS1219L was $749, the Festool is $1,500. Seem like a no brainer to me! I don’t need to spend $1,500 to make me feel better about my self, and I think the makita is just as nice if not better

[@KHworkshop]

It's actually much better 👌🏼 if I had thr Festool I would of sold it and buy the Makita

[@Damon_Barber]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on both saws!

[@DKWalser]

You were massively unfair in your judgement of Makita's fence. The size of the gap between the left and right fences is adjustable. It came from the factory in the setting that gives your work the most support when cutting at 90 degrees. If you want to make a cut at 45 degrees, simply adjust the gap between the fences. This gives the user the ability to get the most support from the fences no matter what angle is being cut. You might not appreciate the flexibility to set the gap to meet your needs for a particular cut. That's fine. Just slightly widen the gap and you're good to go. But, other users, take advantage of that flexibility. Perhaps they're cutting thin materials that benefit from as much support from the fence as possible. The point is, this is a feature, not a flaw. This was an example of intelligent design. You made it seem like an example of poor quality on the part of Makita.

[@kevinr1704]

How do you make that adjustment? I'm not familiar with that saw and he said that his fences sit on pins. I wouldn't mind to have the Makita and if there's a way to adjust it, it would be nice to know how to. Thanks in advance.

[@Carloschernandez]

@@kevinr1704 you can’t

[@Pattington22]

@@kevinr1704 I have that exact saw and you cannot adjust the fences laterally. I had the same issue with contact at 60 degrees, and the only solution was to remove the fence (the upper portion that is removable), which has its own drawbacks. FWIW, I cannot keep the Makita blade square to the fence. Needed adjustment out of the box, and if I ever move it or even bump into it, boom, out of alignment and I have to bring out the engineers square again.

[@kevinr1704]

@@Pattington22 Thanks for that information! I think I'll look at a different saw.

[@adgieem1]

I own the Same makita saw as in video. FYI. the fence is fixed position . You either use it or remove it. It does NOT slide left n right. …

[@lastditch727]

"Best" is subjective. 12 years doing production trim and never seen either of these saws on a jobsite.

[@peternatoli2555]

Hi again Matt. I read of special glasses which actually correct colour blindness. I do not know the full particulars. May I suggest you check with your optomertrist.

[@rbrown2925]

I would have liked to see a few comments on the quality of the base and fence, regarding flatness and squareness. I have a 12” dewalt and the upper sections of the fence don’t align with the lower ones and there’s no adjustability-or cut quality. I’ll never buy a 12” miter saw again, regardless of who makes it. They can’t possibly be super accurate between rail and blade flex, but okay for rough carpentry.

[@GeeDeeBird]

Soft start is nice, but I have NEVER had my Dewalt jerk out of my hand. Thanks for sharing your thoughts though.

[@siberian13]

I really want to like the Makita, but I just don’t know if I can get past the fact that you can’t slide the upper fences. Maybe I’m over thinking it and perhaps it’s not that big of a deal on tall bevel cuts as long as you only remove one side and leave the other side in place?

[@whatever_12]

For the laser light, try putting an orange transparent plastic (like those colour filter for photography flash) in front of it to change the color

[@georgedavall9449]

Excellent recommend and comment!

[@Angel283]

What will this do??

[@patrickhouchins9074]

I just got the 12" Bosch with those folding, mainly because I'm low on space but I did think it was the best one one the market. I'd like to see it compared to these

[@BB-wj8dv]

I still love my Bosch. I would like to see a comparison between it and the Festool. Honestly the plastics on the Festool have me worried about longevity, one of the very few plastic pieces on my Bosch broke last summer, very thankful almost the entire thing is metal. Although the downside is it's a heavy beast at 65 very awkward pounds.

[@Tensquaremetreworkshop]

The Kapex is very much a workshop saw. It would not survive long as a site saw...

[@H0kieJoe]

The Bosch is a better saw, IMO.

[@evictioncarpentry2628]

My buddy does finishing on multi million dollar mansions exclusively. 100% Maple trim. He uses a 10-15 year old non sliding 10" dewalt with a thick kerf blade. Said he's never found anything better and won't use a slider because every rail had deflection. I'd personally take the Makita in this situation. (I've got Makita, a Milwaukee fuel and dewalt miter saws myself)

[@ChrisHornberger]

He's not wrong; I picked up a close-out non-sliding 12" from harbor freight one day while working at a job site where I didn't initially think I'd need a miter saw - it was quicker to just go buy a cheap one than to go back to my shop and unbolt mine. That thing is now in production in my shop, and my old DeWalt slider is with its new owner. Deflection is my biggest problem with sliders. For $1600, the fact that the Kapex deflects at all is a non-starter.

[@peternatoli2555]

Hi Matt. I just received my first kapex from Festool. I asked for the forward fixed rails and no deflection and I disagree with you, under normal operation or small in use sideways movement of the motor assembly, there seems to be no deflection. I have to wait for a house move to really get into this beauty. In fact I may just get it out of the box again to power on with some new ideas.

[@aofpickering]

I just ordered the Delta Cruzer 12in saw, I'm upgrading from a 12in ryobi but I looked at both the Makita and could only wish I could aford the Festool.

[@travisharrilchak7222]

I love my Makita and for the price and what i can do with it cant go wrong… its still the indian and not the arrow… but that makita arrow is pretty great

[@lehon107]

I think it is clear. The festool is the absolute premium product. Very costly but a Dream to use.

[@keithtimelessacres]

Makita is the way to go for me. There isn't enough to the festool for the major price difference.I have a Makita miter saw right now in use that is over 30 years old and I've replaced only brushes in it one time and it is use almost everyday.It has been on no telling how many job sites and the last 10 years it has been in my cabinet shop. So with that and their other saws I've owned Festool has a lot to prove before I would switch from Makita.

[@carbb5760]

On and off job sites as a pro carpenter and I’ve been running the kapex for the past 3 years. I will say the saw is good and I like it but it’s nothing special until you get the integrated stand. Imo that is what sets it apart from other tools on the market, it’s light, super fast to setup and brings huge functionality and there is basically nothing else on the market that compares. You can get reliable repeatability way faster and your setup and tear down time is greatly reduced

[@keithtimelessacres]

@@carbb5760 Still the cost doesn't justify the difference. Either one of my stands take about a minute to setup. There is nothing wrong with buying the festool products.I have some of the sanders which is worth the cost difference. I've been a carpenter for 35 plus years makita saws have been my go to most of that time. In this case the cost doesn't justify the means.

[@HyperactiveNeuron]

I'd like to see the Bosch in a comparison like this. That's something I've looked at a bunch of times but you do make some good points about capacity but don't know if that would be a problem. I am a Bosch fan but I LOVE Makita. I'm jealous that you actually have that. I will probably end up with the Delta or Ridged miter saw solely due to price unless a miracle happens LOL! It takes a while to be able to upgrade and it's scary to commit to a big purchase. I just recently, on faith, bought a pro grade airless paint sprayer... Without a job to justify it 😬 so who knows if it was a good idea but it took a bit of money out of my hands. I currently have a 10" Ryobi miter saw which is ok but it's meant for small job, general carpentry and not really made for woodworking. It also takes up A LOT of room because of the beams in the back which I HATE! It seemed like a good idea at the time but I have a bunch of complaints. Some times it would be great to hop in a Delorean and go back and change things LOL! C'est la vie 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@BB-wj8dv]

I've been using the 12" Glide for a few years now, other than one of the only plastic parts having to be replaced (a knob, which I just super glued back on) it has been a solid work horse. Dust collection isn't fantastic though, and it could use a clamp like the kapex comes with, but that is about it. I wouldn't trade it for any other saw on the market right now.

[@gregghernandez2714]

@@BB-wj8dv I saw the guys from Microjig do this video on some really innovative ways people are using their dovetail clamps. One guy built a miter saw table top with grooves in it for the clamps. This does away with the need for the factory hold down clamp. Pretty neat.

[@BB-wj8dv]

@@gregghernandez2714 Very nice, I'll have to look that up. I'm in the process of building my new shop, and I'm planning on a super long cabinet where my router table, mitre saw, and drill press all live. I have plans for T-track to be imbedded for a similar purpose for what you have described.

[@TheDesertRat31]

How did/does your makita cut? That model has had negative reviews regarding a possible issue with the alignment of the slide rails. Some people get "scooped" cuts in the middle portion of a long crosscut using the full range of the slide capacity. Richard at finish carpentry TV recently got the new 40v cordless version and I haven't heard him complain. He's a busy snd highly skilled trim carpenter so if there were a problem, he would find it. I love the design and the space it saves since I like mine on a bench. I have a dewaltv12" slider and that thing takes up a huge amount of space, as you probably well know. Plus I have tons of other makita tools and they are all top notch. Their new miter saw looks like a game changer, but the cut problem has caused some (many?) to go back to another brand. That gives me pause.

[@chrish3682]

I'll stick to my corded dewalt 780 love it 🥰

[@TheMasterkiller24]

This is a great video.... You been cranking out a bunch of nice videos..... One question... Does that Festool angle finder tool work with any miter saw or just there miter saw.... Thanks in advance

[@kuladeeluxe]

I like my Makita LS1013 quite a bit. So used to operating it. Just bought a 2nd one in mint shape for $200. All the parts are availble for them still. These two new ones look very interesting, but I'd put the money saved towards a band saw.

[@danray104]

I had both of these saws. Sold the festool a few months ago. Not a bad saw, but I found myself always going to the makita station 99% of the time. Not sure why, I just prefered the makita. Maybe the handle placement??

[@SavageDarkness]

I Own the grand daddy of all miter saws, The Rockwell international Motorized Miter box model 34-010 Type 1. This thing came from the factory with a sacrificial piece of MDF that only recently just died. I put new brushes in it and it started right back up with the brake and all still functional. Which means, This thing had enough time for it to wear out Festools "10 year" parts guarantee, and then kept going for an additional 40 years. There is ONE piece of plastic on this entire machine. The guard. It does not bevel, it does not slide, it gets Crotchity when it can't watch "Bonanza" and "M.A.S.H" But I have never seen a piece of stock it could not power it's way through. I am sure those two things you are showing are great. But I think we all know where they will be in 50 years.

[@tomkearney2122]

looks like it'd have about 5 inches of cross cutting capacity ahahaha

[@SavageDarkness]

@@tomkearney2122 more like 4.5 subtracting the arbor.

[@jennitsu12]

How Festool double laser !! Impressive Any brands with digital readout???

[@Themuskychannel]

Makita 10”18v for me, the 7 1/2 is nice but buster they made a proprietary blade for that one but yeah makita cordless and stick a ct autoclean and cyclonic separator and a fastcap bestfence and other than the 1/4 ton of weight, it’s the bees knees

[@peternatoli2555]

Hi Great t shirt messages and great reviews. Thank you, mate.

[@realworldcarpentryremodeli5868]

Thanks for the video comparisons. I’ve been considering a kapex and probably will buy one when they are cordless. I had the makita 10” and got rid of it. It was a nice saw but there were a couple of things not to like. The laser is just ok . The beveling knob is awful and the aluminum detent plate is cheap. I have gotten rid of the makita 10” and moved on to the 40v 8 1/2”. Although the capacity is smaller I find it to be a solid and accurate saw with improvements over the 10 and 12”. I would use the dewalt dw 780 if space wasn’t an issue for me.

[@badboyboydc6779]

On the Makita the top of the fence comes off so you don't hit them. There is even a place to store the fence on the side during miter cuts.

[@dougsaunders8109]

Kapex is brilliant bar one thing. The trenching facility, (depth adjustment), does not have enough adjustment.

[@akaredcrossbow]

On my Makita it had the fence contact with the blade. I just took a palm sander with 80 grit and sanded it down and then used 220 grit sand paper and cleaned it up, I then used some aluminum polish, doesn’t look like it was touched. Unfortunately you shouldn’t have to do that, for the price it should be 100% perfect.

[@jayschuon8330]

I just bought a Maki 0:04 0:04 ta Ls1219l. When I first tried the saw at 60+ degrees it touched the fence in both directions. However after removing the upper fences and re-installing them and using the saw for straight cuts for a while it clears the fences fine. I didn't cut them or modify them at all. Maybe the motor had to be run in a hair or the fences just weren't sitting correctly from the factory. It's a beautiful saw Just replaced a well used Milwaukee 6955 Also a very good saw that served me well every day for 15 years.

[@ceballosmarcos1]

Thank you for the side to side comparison. It gives me an idea of what to expect of I decide to purchase either product.

[@ozcampnhuntdan7858]

I have extensively used both and found myself reaching for the makita most times, the festool annoyed me but that's just preference.

[@ivanradas6044]

I never used the makita but I’m sure it’s good. I have a Bosch which I absolutely love only thing that’s negative about it is the depth stop should be designed better and dust collection is not that good, but very precise and smooth. I don’t like the festool because of the handle design it’s super awkward to me, and you have to press the button in order to just see where the blade will line up on the surface of the wood, if they had a traditional handle I would probably be open to buying one but that handle is a dealbreaker for me

[@Heseblesens]

I never liked Festo/Festool’s design for their drills in the early 2000s when I was working at a construction company (not sure how their Line is today since I cannot afford them), but I can attest to the quality of the tool after using it and vitness someone abusing it forvweeks and months without a malfunction. That drill went through more abuse than anything else I have seen in my 40+ years in construction! And same with a plunge/track saw. It was a delight to use and it took every rough treatment that the construction team could throw at it. And they were a rough bunch when it came to tools. I would not hesitate to recommend Festool to anyone, but it is also worth to mention that premium quality comes with a premium price. But you get what you pay for.

[@Brentaaron300]

My first festool drill AND batteries are still going strong since 2004....still amazed at how long the batteries last and how quickly they charge... Well worth the price....actually cheaper in the long run!!!

[@walterrider9600]

thank you

[@michaelnichols7669]

Interesting you say Makita's dust collection is better, I had always assumed Festool would be better. Does the Festool dust extractor hose fit in the Makita without an adapter? I'm planning on getting a festool midi in the next few months and wondering if they work together out of the box. Thanks for the comparison. I have the 12" Makita and I love it. The festool looks great but one, the price is almost double the 12" makita and two and more important for me as a carpenter, I like the cut capacity of a 12" when doing finish work. Much easier to cut base vertical and crown nested than on the flat. My makita can do full cross cuts with a perfect 90 degree cut just keep your arm straight like you say.

[@731Woodworks]

Yes the regular hose fits nicely into the dust port of the Makita

[@codacreator6162]

Is 12” overkill for the kind of woodworking we do in a small shop?

[@731Woodworks]

I don't think so. I loved my DeWalt 12" and used that extra capacity a lot.

[@SupaDave63]

I've used many of the name brand tools over the last 40 years and really like makita for design and durability. On the job I setup my bench with a makita 10 " on one end and 12" on the other. ( still didn't spend as much as for the kapex) Don't get me wrong I LOVE Festool and own almost everything they make.( best track Saws, routers, sanders vacuum/ dust collectors ) I also own almost every power tool makita makes with many duplicates and they make great tools. I really didn't want a kapex in the trailer and the job site. Ether way tune your saws and use high quality resharpenable blades!!! Festool makes a good blade and so does Makita ( Which I beleave is made by Tanryu.

[@antzanton4842]

The depth gauge on the Festool is limited,where Makita has a much bigger range in height

[@rickcollins4762]

What do you think about the hercules 12” sliding from HF. Just curious.

[@731Woodworks]

I haven't used that one but hear great things about it

[@rickcollins4762]

@@731Woodworks I’ve got one. So far so good. Dust collection is horrible. Only one port and the soft rubber shoot collapses when vacuum applied. I use a fast cap for collection.

[@JamesGreenbaum]

Fantastic Review. If Makita is the Rolls Royce ... Festool is the Lamborghini ! Anyone working in a shop would do well with either. However, FESTOOL undeniably is a better saw.

[@bjmxd]

How the kapex uses the micro adjustment, does makitas miter have the same thing since they have a knob at the front also? Also i think his name is cam from shop greatness makes dust chutes for a variety of miter saws you should hit him up and ask him if he has custom dust chutes for either saws

[@TheBenjammin]

I hve the makita. I mounted it to the roof of my truck fo transport to jobsites and i use my ladder rack as material support.

[@Michael84W]

Nice shirt, amazing Psalm!! Be blessed!

[@DylansDIYWorkshop]

If you take the tall fence pieces off the makita it collects the dust EVEN BETTER. Like almost all the dust.

[@dgarnush]

Subscribed due to what I observed:) its not about saws:)