My journey to find the Best Miter Saw

Who makes the best miter saw? Bosch? Ridgid? Delta? Metabo? Makita? In this video I'll show you the saws I've used and my new favorite.
What's the best miter saw in your opinion? I'd love to hear about it!
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[@surfmarko]

one of the best reviews i've seen. straight to the point and good information!

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thank you

[@drbarchitect]

Gotta agree. I've got the Makita 12" and absolutely LOVE IT!!

[@TheDesertRat31]

So no issues with curved cuts? The reviews talking about the parallelism problem has kept me from buying the makita. I have tons of other makita tools and the design of this miter saw makes so much better use of space. It seems like for every great review, I find a bad review...

[@willyzook]

Very helpful! I was planning on buying the Bosch in a few weeks, but now that I know it has that much play in it, I’m going to check out the Makita. Thank you for sharing this!

[@danield9257]

Same here. Thank you!

[@Felix9lives]

Always go with the one that has less moving parts. It will last longer. The Bosch looks prettier but a lot of moving parts (the arms), while the Makita only has the sliding bars. My two cents: ))

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I gotta agree with you.

[@richardjones990]

I'll need to keep an eye out for another sale on that model. Thanks for the review.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thanks for watching. I bet they could sell a ton at that price haha

[@richardjones990]

@@ChrisPowellFSD You could purchase two Mak's or one Festool at current pricing.

[@makerphin]

Just grabbed a 10" one for 450$cad on sale, I have been hesitating with the Bosch for so long and randomly found the Makita. Glad I found your video, it makes me more confident in my choise!

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I wouldn’t mind getting a cordless 10” one if I could find one for a good price.

[@joelmalerba]

Jeeeez, where did you find it for 450? It's like 550USD everywhere I look 😑

[@ocjohnweber9698]

Thanks Chris, I was looking at the Bosch and the Makita for a new job site saw. Nice to see that the Makita is so tight...

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

They’re both super heavy, so make sure you get a good rolling stand or a strong apprentice haha

[@ocjohnweber9698]

@@ChrisPowellFSD I’ve had the Rigid saw for 18 years on a rolling stand, so I’m used to the weight…

[@mihaelachiscovici]

I had a 10" Dewalt compound miter saw for around 12 years (light duty). It still works great kzbin.infoUgkxPeGkHOMe05FySypTOvYumxMn-xi39oRe but I wanted something bigger. My only complaint about the 10" was the location of the motor, and this version fixes that issue. The XPS system works well. My only request for future versions is a dust collection port (or adapter) that fits large shop vac hoses (or standard PVC pipe fittings) a little better. But that's not a complaint, just a request.

[@whales302]

Yeah got this one too, I would comfortably say one of the few miter saws capable of the accuracy needed for furniture making.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Definitely

[@kylehardin6523]

Thanks for this video! I've been taking a hard look at the Hitachi 12" sliding you used to have, but I also love Makita tools...so you made their saw look extra tempting haha. A tough decision ahead for me still!

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

The Hitachi/Metabo was decent for the money, but that Makita really wowed me.

[@tomt9543]

Don’t buy anything branded Hitachi, because Metabo discontinued all the Hitachi parts! I’m stuck with a nice Hitachi scroll saw that’s useless because I can’t get parts, inexpensive ones at that, to fix a minor breakdown! Going to make a boat anchor out of it I guess!

[@linsen8890]

I have the 10" Makita miter saw, and I think it's an awesome saw. Mine was dead square out of the box, and I've never needed to adjust it. I don't move mine around, so that no doubt helps keep it aligned. Some people say that the Festool miter saw is better. I've never used one, so I can't say. But the Festool saw is 2 to 3 times more expensive than the Makita saw, and I very much doubt that it is 2 to 3 times better than the Makita. So for the money, I'd definitely put the Makita miter saw at the top of the list, even if the Festool saw is better (and I don't agree that it actually is).

[@supersproodle]

Great review, thanks. I am between the Makita and a Dewalt DWS780.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I haven’t had the chance to try the dewalt

[@snoww2009]

Good to know Makita works well . I bought one on sale last year, but never got a chance to open it. Will get the ridgid miter saw stand this Black Friday.Hope to use it sometime next year .

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

That’s a nice stand. I had a couple saws on them.

[@MattySlayEm]

Just throwing this out there because I haven’t seen any reviews with them same experience. I’m a trim Carpenter and my mitre saw needs to precise. My dewalt, died so I finally made the jumó to the Festool Kapex. I’ve used it for a week, and highly highly disappointed. The motor sounds really rough, the guard action is really clunky and hard to use compared to others, but most of all it is probably the least accurate saw i have used. The mitre cuts with the festool 80 tooth, come out really poor for wjat im used too. No matter what technique used, it leaves saw marks rather than a clean cut mitre im used to with a dewalt with a 100 tooth. Put it aside and used my buddies makita 10” sliders and instantly that even gave better results. Just a warning for anyone wanting to put out a few thousand for that saw. Thanks

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

That’s good to know. Thanks

[@aaronoconnor606]

I love bosch and makita saws personally I have the small jobsite 40v makita and 12" bosch in the shop. It's been a long time sense festool has updated there miter saw I would say the best thing about the festool is how good the dust extraction is. I have used festool saws though and found they cut quite nice perhaps there's a defect is that saw?

[@kizzjd9578]

@@aaronoconnor606 makita has better dust extraction

[@markmall7142]

You must be one of the very few people who complain about the Kapex and not the price. I think the makita could well be better but i have a kapex for now.

[@thooney2934]

I can’t believe people thinking festool are great. I would never buy a festool product even if it was 90% discount on it.. looks shit and sounds shit

[@ligngood3787]

Thank you for an awesome video! Very helpful! Since the laser is lousy, can you pull back the guard and hold it with your right thumb and still operate the trigger with your right hand so that you can sight along the blade? Or is the arrangement too awkward and that would require holding back the guard with the left hand? Or can you see through the guard?

[@StevenDavisPhoto]

I have the makita 10" and love it.

[@patrickwoodco]

Great video per usual Chris. I have the Bosch. It definitely has some play in it. The glide is awesome, but still lets it have a lot of play. That Makita looks like a beast.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I really wanted the Bosch to be the one.

[@Felix9lives]

@@ChrisPowellFSD The Bosch Axial Glide is prettier but has a lot of moving parts (the arms), while the Makita has only the slide bars so it will definitely last longer than the Bosch.

[@george200099]

I started with Makita Drill and Impact. Then the Brushless Track Saw. Now into their blower, weed eater, trim router, grinder, rear handle circular saw and just ordered the 12" 36V dual bevel slider. I've found out that the batteries still exceed my expectations, the power is always there and the build quality is top notch. I sort of came to the decision that if it is a tool that is going to see frequent use it's going to be Makita Brushless 18V almost without exception. With the new miter saw coming, all my old DeWalt are dead or retired. I'm not missing any of them. Makita might be marginally more expensive, but I've yet to experience buyer's remorse with anything with the Makita label.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Love my cordless track saw. I just ordered their new oscillating multi tool. It’s supposed to be really nice.

[@Tomc12345]

Yeah I had a combi drill and and then sds and now I have chainsaw and co Concrete saw and about to buy one of these makitas

[@smnkm4ehfer]

I have an original set of brushless impact and driver from makita almost 10 years old, same original 3ah batteries still hold a charge like a beast

[@jayrama24]

My 20 years in trades I find the dewalt the most reliable for miter saws and bosch for table saws. Mikita for skill saws. Ridge for vacuum..

[@zombieapocalypsecherokee9224]

I got the 12" 36v Makita miter saw and there is no comparison. I too bought the Metabo/Hitachi Miter saw could not get a straight cut out of it returned it right away and after watching many many videos I got this monster Makita miter saw and beside the weight 70lbs and that it has a laser and not a shadow line it really is the best saw you can put your money on consistent accuracy and precision cuts everytime smoothest miter saw iv ever used highly recommend it 😁👍

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I agree 100% with everything you said.

[@Jenito120]

It was a long journey but at the end it psid off. I use the bosch and as for the dust, u r completely right

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Miter saws don’t seem to have great dust collection anyways, but that one is just extra bad.

[@maxthedaytrader]

Short sweet and to the point. Great video!

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thanks!

[@hokaidosax]

Thank you for this review. I find the Bosch has too complicated swing arm structure that implies plays while the Makita has straight forwards structure that guarantees ease of use, durability and ease of tuning. It’s design philosophy is a clear winner. I am buying a miter saw today, and your review puts a period to the search. I’ll go for the 10” LS1090L for its small footprint. Thanks again.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thanks for watching. I feel the same way about the Bosch.

[@michaelmancini5773]

I have the Bosch 10" axial glide, it's a much better saw than any Slide saw, and I've used many of them, the Bosch is incredibly smooth and accurate , the arms are very adjustable, and you can also adjust the slide action, and they are zero clearance . you can put it right up against the wall.

[@Vid_Master]

I am also buying a miter saw today and I will be buying a Makita as well! Every time I have used a Makita tool, its easy and feels very high quality.

[@hokaidosax]

I have been using the saw for more than 3 months now. I am happy that I bought it! The only issue that I got is the laser line which is very difficult to line up to the cut line. So I decided to switch it off and live without it.

[@luliluli1471]

Answered many many questions. Thanks a lot!

[@DrunkenKnight71]

Thanks for the video; I was deciding between the Bosch Glide and the Dewalt 780 and hadn't even looked at the Makita; it's over £150 cheaper too than the others here in the UK so it may end up in my cart very soon!

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Do it!

[@Hvn1957]

Really good discussion. It's clear you're an experienced user, and you have a practical approach to using the saws (love that miter accessory you made.) I have an old Bosch slide/compound I bought around 15 years ago, and it's getting pretty ragged. I've had my eye on all the "zero clearance" saws because my home shop is small. I am not surprised that the Makita is really good. I use a 12" at work. I've also had some experience with Makita vs Festool. I use a Makita tracksaw at work, and a Festool tracksaw at home. I really think the Makita is just as good as the Festool. So, I think the 1019 will be perfect for my home shop, and save me enough to buy some other cool tool :-). Thank you for the excellent review.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thanks for watching and I appreciate the feedback. I have a Makita track saw also. I haven’t used the Festool, so I can’t compare, but I am super happy with the performance of the Makita. I’d like to try the Festool miter saw one day just to be able to compare.

[@Hvn1957]

@@ChrisPowellFSD Lol, I found your channel and this video precisely because I’m trying to find saws that are comparable but more affordable than the Festool. There are many things I’m willing to pay extra for, but I can’t find it in me to justify $1500 for a chop saw. But yes. I’d love to try it out too…

[@johnnycorn7225]

Did you get the Makita sliding 10in I'm looking at that one along with the eight and a half inch for finer finish work

[@Hvn1957]

@@johnnycorn7225 Wellllll…. No 😂. I did some work on the old Bosch, to keep I going a while longer. And believe it or not, I bought a small DeWalt 20V slider. I love it, even if it isn’t super amazingly accurate. It’s light, takes up less space, and I can carry it around! I use it in my shop for a lot of simple quick cuts. If I need a really accurate repeatable cut, I go to my table saw and my 5-cut sled.

[@johnnycorn7225]

@@Hvn1957 honestly I have avoided table saws because I've seen them hurt badly many people. How would you rate the safety of the sled on the table saw I've always stayed away from them because I've seen the damage they can do, but I'm getting to where I really want to use one with a sled

[@feelingtardy]

makita needs to update this saw with the shadow line. i think the only saw that has it is the new 40v cordless. i think a great feature of the saw is the soft start, avoids the saw 'jumping' as you start it, allowing for greater accuracy as there's no sudden movements to compensate for

[@bazajow]

Bought the 10 inch Makita double bevelled this month. Perfect in every way except the 45 tooth blade supplied is average. The mitre cut is not the best but 80 tooth good quality blade received today will be more than enough for my needs. Never used a mitre saw before but highly delighted with the performance accuracy and sturdy build.

[@nore8141]

I’m in the market to buying a sliding mitresaw and was thinking about the Ryobi 10” but after looking at your video I think I’ll be look the Machita thanks for the video

[@ammogiant824]

Yea i have the makita in the cordless 10" absolutely amazing and great battery life.

[@harrydoherty8299]

because my a home owner is don’t need fancy or really accurate . however i bought the hercules and its been great for compound miters when i was putting in crown molding ls and building a new fireplace mantle. as far as dust collection , i only do wood working in spring summer and fall . outside of the garage with the shop vac hook up . the rest of the dust is blown off with the leaf blower . it’s that easy and no mess. the 12 inch blade makes easy work of cutting 6x6 landscaping lumber. the price of $320 on sale and being a member can’t be beat.i mounted it on the rigid rolling miter saw stand . large wheel and easy to mount any 12 inch miter saw on. saw . very mobile.

[@steven.woodward]

Thanks for a brief video that covers a lot of information.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thank you

[@Thoughmuchistaken]

I've got an older 10" Makita compound slider, I don't do precise work with it but I like the saw overall. Doesn't hurt that it was $60 CAD from an auction.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Sounds like a good deal.

[@enggwahaj]

Just bought this mitre saw. square it up. did some cuts. love it. Just need some tips on how to maintain it, like lubrication and clean up. thanks heaps

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Honestly, I haven’t done anything to mine.

[@jonathancianci2539]

First off good discussion and review. Have you checked the blade alignment to the rails? Can you try something for me? set up a wide board and then pull your saw all the way out to make a 4-5 in cut. then lift the blade and push the saw all the way in and make a straight down cut for the rest... Now do your cuts line up? I just bought this same saw and it felt amazing until I realized there was a significant misalignment from the blade to the rails. I did the test above and the two cuts were almost an1/8" out.. I don't think there is any fix for this but am wondering if I got a lemon or if it is common to all saws

[@markevans7584]

I have been using the Bosch for years for remodel work, I like it more than the makita personally, although I do like the makita. I do lots of angles on specialty projects and trim work and have never had a problem with a miter being off. Tighten your locking mechanism slightly so that you don't have any play with the miters, it'll spin exactly like the makita. As for some of the comments about it being off on 14" cuts, you need to get a better blade, slightly score your cut and take it slow also square up your blade

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

There seems to be a lot of quality control issues with the Bosch. Some are great, others, not so much.

[@pokeba3299]

Thank very much sharing this valuable experiences so we don't need to go through it again! Very much appreciate!

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thanks!

[@abayit]

I was a Bosch fan until I bought the Bosch gliding miter saw, the experience With the machine was no good, Beside this issues you had mention, the bas was not dead flat it had a play of over 1/2 mm, it was still under warranty sent it in for repair, it came back with the same issue, don't know if they bothered to fix it, or they just sent it back after inspection, I called customer service they said this machine is not made for fine woodworking, it's for ruff cutting, so therefore up to 1mm is not considered as as inaccurate, after days of calling I spoke to a top manager he agreed to take the machine back and send me a new machine, I finally got the new machine just to find that the new machine has the same problems, so it was not an issue only with 1 machine. could be this inaccurate in the Bosch machines started from when they stopped production in Germany and now they do it in China, maybe only the machines selling in the USA. Thank you for your review my choice after that experience with Bosch was also the Makita.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Sorry to hear you had so many problems. It really is disappointing.

[@tk421tt]

great roundup. thanks

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thanks for watching.

[@Tom-mi4mi]

Great review. I'm just wondering if it has adjustable depth stops for trench cutting?

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thanks. Yes it does.

[@ChrisPuttick]

Thanks for the review - the saw was already top of the shortlist but this convinces me. NB the laser comment - is it not straight to the blade or is it to one side? If the latter that's "a feature not a bug" where it's intended to be one side or the other depending on your cut, so that you can always see the laser line (rather than it disappearing when you lower the blade).

[@tomt9543]

That’s always been my gripe about the laser line! Granted, I’m old school, but I want it ON my cut mark, not the middle of the kerf! But many saws can’t be aligned like that! At 61, I’ll probably continue to do what I’ve done since high school shop on their radial arm saw (remember THAT!?), and not even use the light or shadow!

[@wildpat03]

@@tomt9543 I have the 10" corded version.The laser line can be adjusted to the left of the blade at the cut mark. One needs patience and finesse to dial this just so but it can be done.

[@John-ye4nv]

I had the 10 inch Makita and loved it. Laser on mine was dead nuts on. I have recently upgraded to Festool Kapex and it’s like night and day difference. Yes the price difference is worth it. Super precise and repeatable and hands down best dust collection. Time spent cleaning up has more than paid for the price.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

They do look really nice. I have to get my hands on one to test

[@smnkm4ehfer]

The difference between the kapex and flagship makita isn't much, except you lose 3' of cut capacity with the kapex

[@aaronbebeau]

I owned the Bosch glide saw and wasn’t happy with it. When pulling the glide to make a full 14”cut, it would be off by an 1/8 inch. Does this saw stay true 90 when fully extended?

[@huffiehuffie4863]

Just picked one up we'll happy with it. Thanks for video. Used for

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thanks for watching!

[@jimlofaro5695]

I love my 12" Makita. Precision.

[@davidbarrett658]

Hello - great video. Did you ever consider any of the Milwaukee sliders including the older corded version? Thx

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thanks. I never had the opportunity to check one out. They do look nice, just never see them in person.

[@thekinarbo]

I have the new 12" Makita. Fit and finish is great, although the upper fences don't align properly with the lower fences. The miter scale is aluminum, not good for durability. I think someone was offering stainless steel replacements. The laser on mine is worthless, although even if it did work I wouldn't us it. I have the LS1219L in my garage but in the field I really like the Dewalt 12" Flex Volt.

[@ajmedeiros77]

I have seen some guys add the shadow line themselves, is this something you might experiment with? Thanks

[@pepperman9]

Love my Makita, it was a good saw for 10 years+ but the blade wobble makes it not the choice for fine woodworking. I just got a new Milwaukee and all the issues every video I see here raises, the Milwaukee passes yet none of them talk about the Milwaukee. I always get, "it's too expensive"; but then they talk about Festool. Just get the Milwaukee, you'll love it. I did the blad wobble test today, single cut the cut was 0.1135 and after 10 wild fast cuts in the same spot the cut was 0.1235. No one has even come close to that yet except Festool

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I don’t have any blade wobble issues with mine. I would like to check out the Milwaukee.

[@enggwahaj]

I also have the same issue with the laser. i have difficulty in lining up the laser very next to the blade.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

They need to come up with a better adjustment

[@fredhermansen6167]

Very nice. I agree with your stance on the Bosch, I was excited for that one but it was super clunky and outdated. I am disappointed to see that the Makita uses a laser as opposed to a led shadow light like the DeWalt. I too have been on a quest to find the perfect miter saw. For cutting mdf on the jobsite, the DeWalt is fantastic and ergonomic, but for doing precise hardwood carpentry, the new DeWalt saws are too inaccurate and have a lot of shaft vibration. The new Ridgid design (similar to Bosch) makes me want to try it out.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I’m just concerned that the clunkiness is just due to the design of the gliding arm. Make Everything did a video on how to add a shadow line to a Bosch miter saw. I think I might just do that on the Makita.

[@fredhermansen6167]

@@ChrisPowellFSD good idea! Have you seen the new Rigid 12” miter saw? It’s very similar to the Bosch but with two arms, I’m tempted to buy it just to try it out. I also purchased a Milwaukee 12” electric miter saw…I was very disappointed, it seems to make precise cuts but it’s an absolute elephant to pack around and is uncomfortable to use.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

@@fredhermansen6167 yea I’ve seen it. It’s a rebranded Delta.

[@sachadagnino9675]

LOL been debate on what mitre saw to get. Watched countless reviews and was getting just a little P-ed off with all the BS reviews out there. Anyway finally made up my mined on the Makita LS1219L. wish i had watched your review a long time ago would of saved me a lot of time. Ya live an learn HAHA and you my fine furry friend just got your self another Sub..

[@billhorrigan4388]

Sounds like you should find a good used radial arm saw. Those were heavy, stationary, and way more accurate than today's sliding miter saws. I personally use a miter sled on my table saw for accurate cuts. I use the miter saw to make longer boards shorter with a square end. Or for trim work.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I have a Dewalt from the 50’s that’s in need of a resto.

[@stacystarnes1449]

Not even close.

[@WontSeeReplies]

The first person who spoke in ways I can truly trust.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thank you

[@Todd-W]

damn you Chris! :-) I thought I was done when I bought the bosch.. nope, found the same things you did with it. Moved onto the delta cruzer.. absolutely love it but it's not as accurate as I'd like. since I've trusted your opinions over the past couple of years especially with CNC related topics, as of today, new owner of the makita.. i'll see it in a few days!

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I know you’re gunna love it.

[@Todd-W]

@@ChrisPowellFSD well.. in typical CP fashion, your recommendations are still spot on! You recommended it, I bought it, arrived Saturday, put it together today, cut about 40 pieces of cherry cabinet face frame with it and I'm highly impressed with it and the stock blade that came with it. Best miter saw I've owned yet and I've had both the bosch and delta articulating arm saws.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I was really impressed with the factory blade too. This thing really is a joy to use. Still really impressed and happy with it. Glad you’re liking yours.

[@ericschleppenbach3519]

I'm intrigued you went from the Bosch to the Delta Cruzer. I assumed the Delta was a lower quality copy and the Bosch would have less lateral play at full extension due to the vertical/horizontal orientation of the swing arms. What was your experience?

[@tonymarrazzo354]

I have the 12" Makita and I wouldn't trade it for anything. So smooth and accurate. And the factory blade even did awesome till someone hit a nail in some recycled wood.....

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Yup the factory blade worked great for me too

[@howardbedford7534]

Hi Chris, Thanks for the review. I just purchased the Makita LS1019L, I am having trouble finding an adaptor to connect my vacuum hose to the saw. Can you tell what you used for yours?

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I ended up 3d printing one because I’m using a Bosch vacuum.

[@HighCaliberCraftsman]

That makita looks pretty slick!

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I love it.

[@philandlyra3365]

Sold, justified all my concerns

[@SynQ86]

Crazy how much cheaper US prices are compared to EU. I bought the LS1019L today with stand for 738€, that's 850$. And what I payed is actually a deal because most dealers just sell the saw by itself for +700€ lol.

[@Liquid_Haze]

Got the 12" Bosch and love it...must be a few fkd up one's getting by quality assurance

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

It just seems to be a design issue with the detents. Maybe they fixed it at some point.

[@brendaboyce9967]

Good to know!

[@MrToms427]

I've had mine for a couple years and agree with everything you mention except the dust collection. Did you modify yours. Or is it stock. Its different than mine. Mine only exits down.from the dual port

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

No this was stock on mine. They must have changed the design at some point.

[@ajmedeiros77]

Add a shadow light and it’s unbeatable. The new 40 volt makita miter saws have the shadow line thankfully!!

[@alexandruflorinpuha7365]

Hey Chriss. The video is very comprehensive. Would you recommend this saw for fine furniture making? How is the accuracy on the machine after some months of usage? Thanks!

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

It’s holding up well. I added a table to mine that allows me to keep the saw in one position, and angle my workpiece. I’ve been using it to build all of my kitchen cabinets.

[@alexandruflorinpuha7365]

@@ChrisPowellFSD Great. Thank you for your response. I will order mine today, keep my fingers crossed. All the best from Romania!

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Best of luck. Let me know what you think when you get it.

[@alexandruflorinpuha7365]

@@ChrisPowellFSD Thank you. I will, as soon as I'll make some test cuts.

[@giuseppecastaldo644]

Hi, congratulations! I would also like to buy Makita ls1219, but I'm undecided with festool kapex 120. which one do you recommend?

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I just upgraded to the Kapex, and it’s pretty amazing. I probably wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t get a really good deal on a really nice used one. It does have a lot of cool features though and the build quality is top notch.

[@vincentwhelan2484]

Was thinking on the Bosch but I'm starting to sway towards the Makita, any advantages/disadvantages with the 12" vs 10" ?

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Just the ability to cut larger material. The construction seems the same.

[@RonKillian]

Awesome review, thank you! Big question for me, is it dead on 90 degree cut for a full 15" cut? If not can it be adjusted? My Kobalt is like 1/8 to 1/4" off at max capacity. Seems like so many saws are off for that.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Let me test it tomorrow and I’ll get back to you. It feels pretty tight, so I’d like to say it holds square, but I’ll try it out.

[@RonKillian]

@@ChrisPowellFSD Thank you very much. No rush. Sure appreciate it! When I use my Kolbalt, like 16" ply, set up a stop. Cut as far as the saw will go. Flip the piece over and push up to stop, the cut is off :( I've asked about other saws, like the Bosch folding, same problem. Seems might just be slight slop in the rail systems. That or I need to make sure I don't put sideways pressure when cutting.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Sorry I meant to respond back the other day. So I did a similar test ti what you were talking about, where I cut a piece that had to be flipped. It ended up being off by less than 1/16th of an inch. Now I did add an additional fence that acts as a zero clearance one, but I don’t think this would make it more accurate than stock.

[@emudan1]

I've been considering the Bosch axial glide because I don't think I can afford the festool k-pax at this time. I'm just curious if this Makita would be a good compromise to the high price of the festool? Thoughts?

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

The Makita has been great for me.

[@breaktime919]

When you drop the hitachi into the miter detents there is some play in there?

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

It felt more like it was something in the lock mechanism that had play.

[@philstevens9914]

Dust collection is only good close in. There is a lot of play in the saw when extended. I'd say it's better than Bosch or the rest. I've tried hard to find an alternative to the ridiculously expensive Festool, but I'm gonna have to buy one I think.

[@ceretomer5987]

How is the accuracy and is there any blade deflection?

[@chrisbrumfield9944]

Have you noticed any issues with side deflection? Many saws will just not hold the same position if you were, to say, do trench cuts. Have seen saws easily off by 1/8” at full extension

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I did some tests with this. I think I posted the results in another comment. The deflection at full extension was minimal.

[@mattbiallas]

How is the noise level with the Makita? I have a Dewalt 10 inch non-sliding miter saw that practically makes my ears bleed because it is just so darn loud. I used the battery powered version of the Makita you have and was blown away at the noise difference.

[@threeinone3782]

Hi Chris, I have being watching reviews of sliding miter saws and now leaning toward Mikita. Thanks for the review! However, just one thing that I could not make up my mind is that between 10” and 12”. I understand the cut length of 12” saw but I am a 5’3” female, handling 12” seemed taking effort with my arm strength when I tried it in the store. I got a Mikita 6 1/2 for its light weight in stead of 7 1/4 for the same reason. Would I regret down the road that I did not get the 12” for its cutting power? My upcoming projects are building kitchen cabinets, workshop benches, patio furniture etc. Thanks for your advice.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Honestly, it’s pretty rare that I have to extend my saw to it’s full length. I usually just leave the slide locked. If you have to cut anything really wide, just use a circular saw with a carpenter square. You’ll probably be fine with the smaller one.

[@threeinone3782]

@@ChrisPowellFSD thanks for your reply! I definitely feel the 10” better fits my strength. I also watched another woodworker who got a 10” and happy with it. He particularly selected the 10” for its smaller footprint in his shop and don’t feel that he needs anything bigger than 10”.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

@@threeinone3782 I wouldn’t mind getting one of the smaller ones in a cordless version so I can take it to the project I’m working on if I need it. The 12” is SUPER heavy.

[@antigay4123]

I have to choose between Makita LS1219L and Bosch GCM 12 GDL. Makita review comments don't show as good feedback as the Bosch's one does. There are people who have used the Bosch for years and it just lasts. The Makita is difficult and needs constant calibration, also it has this aluminium miter angle scale that wears out.

[@machninety7334]

From what little I do know, the Makita brand carries a different type of cut indicator. Not sure if thats what the technical term is, but I'm referring to the laser you mentioned you had issues with. The Makita I seen had a "Shadow" line that showed where the cut would be. It is generated by providing light over the blade, and where you see the shadow, is the exact spot your blade will be. Its the most ingenious invention for a cut indicator I've ever seen. The guy who had it was a big fan of DeWalt miter saws because they used this method for cut indicators. However, he found a Makita miter saw that utilized it as well. It was very expensive though. He was a pro though I guess if that matters and he said he needed everything the saw had. It was over 1k for the saw. I want to say over 1200, but possibly not quite 1500 if I remember correctly. To me, when I purchase tools, I want to buy the one tool I will use for the rest of my life and hand it down to my son. With today's current technology, there is no reason that any tool I purchase become either obsolete, or out of commission from normal wear and tear. Providing I follow the manufacturer recommendations for proper service and operation according to the manual. I can't wing it like a lot of people can. I'm not as skilled or as experienced so I must rely on my point Dexter abilities of reading the manual and my patience of contacting foreign customer support for tools over-nighted from Japan. (Fast and furious reference there) I wrote enough to the point where I believe youtube should pay me for this. Even if its garbage I spent a lot of time writing this novel of a comment. Lol (humor for those who made it through)

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

They need to bring that back. I might just make my own for now.

[@Sly_Wolf_1]

@@ChrisPowellFSD I believe the shadow line is only available on the 40v Makita platform, but i am in England where specs are always the crappiest. Great video though, thanks for sharing.

[@ThekiBoran]

I think lasers and shadow lines are a bit over rated. For me I always line up a blade tooth with a .7mm pencil line. I prefer the led shadow line only because it makes seeing the blade tooth and pencil mark a bit easier. With that said I have the Makita LS1219L in my garage. I'm looking for a 12" job site saw. I like everything and I mean everything about the Dewalt 12" flexvolt except the clearance in the back. If you've ever set up your saw in a hallway on a job site you'll know that having a zero cleance saw is nice.

[@aaronoconnor606]

@@ThekiBoran I do that as well on use a mechanical pencil or score with a razor for my cut line and line the blade up. The shadow line is nice but only really good for framing.

[@aaronoconnor606]

@@ThekiBoran get the small makita 40v saw its amazing. or get the 12" if you are installing crown molding.

[@robw2379]

Do you find that it trenches consistently? I bought a Makita 10" SCMS about 15 years ago and loved it except for the slop in the tranching mechanism.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

It has a slight bit of flex depending on how hard you push. If you could always put the same pressure on it it wouldn’t be an issue, but that’s not really easy to do if you’re doing a lot of stuff

[@handle1196]

Does the makita have any stops or fine adjustments on the bevel? Some have a 0 indent.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

There are adjustable stops.

[@MNwineboy]

Chris, Does your Makita have a stop at 0 degrees after you have come back up from tilting it to the left 45 degrees? Mine doesn’t seem to, so the stop adjustment for 0 degrees seems worthless. Please help!

[@chrisc3866]

Also have the Makita. Wondering about this vs the Kapex.......

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I haven’t gotten to try one yet

[@billdavis174]

I have always had good luck with Makita tools I have been Trim Carpenter/Furniture maker since 1990 so I have wore out a few saws I actually prefer the Dewalt 12 inch The only drawback is that the older I get the heavier the saw becomes I thought I would change to Hitachi but it was a piece of crap I gave it away and went back to Dewalt Semper Fidelis The Gunny

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I might have to check the Dewalt out. A couple people have mentioned it now.

[@andrerousseau5730]

I don't know whether all these power saw manufacturers get by in stealth mode but whenever I try to ask a reasonable technical question they turn all evasive - that's even if they bother to answer. To the point: I'm trying to find an electrical circuit diagram that describes the electronic braking system used in the MAKITA and BOSCH mitre saws. Do you know anyone that can supply this information? (By the way, how did you find this feature compares?).

[@worstdayofmylifesofar.just7477]

The ls1219 is much nicer to use than the 10 inch. I use tenryu blades mostly negative take. It's much nice balanced and the sliding function is very smooth . It has huge cut capicty in all directions and perfectly accurate ( it took me an hour or so to calibrate out of the box) if you want to know how accurate your saw is try cutting a 3 dimensional octagon! Or pentagon. Someone in comments asked if it will cut dead square over full rail length... Yes evertime if set perfectly. One thing I have noticed is if you do a full depth slide half cut then lift the saw to do a chop to finish , you might notice it doesn't line up but this can be adjusted by the Allen key at the end of the rail. Biggest downfall for me is it's 30kg.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Yea it’s not something I’d want to have to carry around.

[@gtarbmx]

It's nice that the blade angle can be adjusted in relation to the rail. Many saws don't have that option and when the blade is not aligned with the rail you're pretty much stuck with it.

[@gtarbmx]

@@ChrisPowellFSD still lighter than my dewalt dw708

[@erichdifranco9398]

Did did Makita come out with a new 10 inch miter saw corded? I’m looking to buy one because I already have the Milwaukee 12 inch cordless.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

They have a new 40v, and I think they slightly updated the design of all of their models.

[@giuseppecastaldo644]

good morning, I'd like some advice. which models do you recommend, Bosch GCM 12 GDL or makita LS1219L. Thanks!

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I prefer the Makita. The accuracy and repeatability was better.

[@giuseppecastaldo644]

@@ChrisPowellFSD Thanks!

[@martinmaluf2440]

Hi !. Its difficult but not imposible to get the makita were i live.. but not the same with the bosch and is cheaper.. you definetly dont recomend the bosch?? i dont know what of the two buy.. THANKS !!

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I wasn’t a fan of the Bosch

[@sowardsconstruction]

Ever herd of calibrations you could make any those cut the same

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Sure. If you don’t mind adjusting something every single time you want to use it, you can get anything to cut good. I however do mind.

[@paulsmith1981]

Festool is extremely accurate, this includes the laser, but the dust collection is very poor. The Makita dual dust collection system looks really good. I will probably buy one just for that.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

This definitely seems to have the best dust collection out of any I’ve tried so far. I’d like to try the festool out one day just to see the accuracy.

[@ryane6719]

Every kapex I know of has had the motor fail. Major pain if you don’t have a backup. Makita is the standard for me now.

[@Eyehearttravels]

@@ryane6719 yup I know 2 friends had to send it back for service. Festoon is pretty but naaaa overpriced !! Headache

[@ryane6719]

@@Eyehearttravels all my festool stuff (sanders,vacs) has been stellar

[@Eyehearttravels]

@@ryane6719 god is good to you 😀

[@redcloud9700]

Is this the Makita LS1219L? Just discovered your channel. I love the projects and your editing style. Very entertaining!

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Yes it is. Thanks for watching!

[@redcloud9700]

Coward? What’s the problem?

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

@@redcloud9700 I blocked them. Not sure what that was all about. They did it on a bunch of my posts.

[@SkyForgeVideos]

You just sold me. Thank you!

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thanks for watching

[@pjohnsonj]

Anyone know what the dimension from the back of the saw to the front of the fence is? Thanks in advance.

[@ramellin]

I called a Mikita distributor in Sacramento and he measured 15”.

[@stevendouglas3860]

Lovely

[@ronimex007]

Hi liked the vid. I’m after an accurate 12” miter saw for trenching. How does the Mikita compare to the Bosch axial flow?

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I think the Makita is much better. I wasn’t too impressed with the Bosch

[@ronimex007]

@@ChrisPowellFSD Thanks, that is helpful. I think that was the way I was leaning anyway. I would appreciate your thoughts on the Milwaukee 12” as a comparison, only because I have a lot of Milwaukee batteries? As good as the Mikita for trenching accuracy or not even close in your opinion?

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

@@ronimex007 I haven’t had the opportunity to even see one of those. They look nice, but I don’t have a real opinion on it.

[@ronimex007]

@@ChrisPowellFSD Thank you, I really appreciate the feedback. I’ll let you know which one I end up with but still leaning Mikita.

[@danielhill9080]

SOLD!! I couldn't decide between the Bosch and Makita. ;)

[@Danish-ADV]

Is it possible to put a multiblade on it, so it Can be used for steel also ?

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

You probably could in a pinch. I cut aluminum on mine with the factory blade. I’d probably buy a dedicated metal cutting saw as they seem to be a little heavier duty. Rpm will also be a factor to consider. Most wood working tools are going to spin much faster than metal working tools.

[@PowerToolsForBeginners]

thanks very helpful

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thanks

[@jeffranck6080]

The problem with the Makita is that the detent plate is made of stamped, soft aluminum. This will wear over time and introduce all kinds of play in the saw and make angle cuts not repeatable. This could easily be fixed if Makita used steel for the detent plate. But they haven't.

[@michaelmancini5773]

I'm a professional trim carpenter/ cabinet maker, I have the Bosch 10" axial glide, I had the Makita, great saw, but not as good as the Bosch, my partner has the Festool Kapex, NOT REMOTELY WORTH THE MONEY, but the best dust collection in the industry

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I’d still like to try the Kapex just so I can say I did it. It sure is a big price difference from all of these other saws.

[@michaelmancini5773]

@@ChrisPowellFSD Its a well engineered saw for accuracy and dust collection, but it's handle is counter intuitive , and you can't cut large crown moulding on the flat with positive detents at 31and 33 degrees on mitre and compound scales, at $ 1570.00 come on, really??

[@TheMaluff]

Hi! What about the DeWalt ? Thanks !

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Never tried one

[@darknessfierce4209]

Thank you!

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

🤙

[@michaelshelnutt3534]

Does it have soft start and electric braking?

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Yes and yes. Just make sure you verify the specs on the exact model you’re looking at, because it looks like there’s a few different ones available.