I am a full-time builder of 20 years and have owned and used a variety of miter saws over the years. I've personably always owned DeWalt miter saws and have used other contractors' Makita saws and always liked them, but wasn't sure how they would hold up for my particular work. I, like many others, was interested in this saw because I liked the small footprint in my garage workspace compared to my DeWalt, knowing also that I would be transporting the Makita to/from the job site at least half the month. My decision after extensive research came down to this saw or the Bosch axial glide.
You should know I was extremely hesitant to purchase this saw -- from Amazon, for sure, based on some of the reviews and unboxing/shipping mishaps photos on here; but also, based on reviews elsewhere online, which indicated this saw might have a manufacturing problem with regards to zeroing it out and getting accurate cuts when the saw is fully extended (having to do with the slide bars not being coplanar to one another, it seemed). I decided to order the Makita anyway (the Bosch looks nice and is less expensive as of this writing, but I just felt the Makita might be the better bet over time based on my knowledge of Makita's heritage). Amazon's return policy helped make that decision. And I couldn't be happier that I ordered it.
Maybe I was just lucky, but my saw arrived in an undamaged box with an undamaged saw within. The packaging was robust and they had styrofoam and padding where it should have been to protect it from rough shipping and handling. Maybe they changed this packaging system since those negative reviews? I don't know. I just know mine came totally intact.
Putting the saw together took all of five minutes, and then checking/adjusting all the tolerances took another hour or so, with only minor adjustments needed to get it perfect. The saw fences were perfectly aligned and plumb out of the box, as was the the head's/blade's squareness to the fences -- all the way out to 15". That's amazing! The zero-degree bevel was a half degree off, but the adjustment for this was painless and quick (the instructions tell you exactly how to adjust this, and it requires the same Allen key that changing the blade requires -- handily stored in the tool itself). Once the zero-degree bevel was adjusted, each 45-degree bevel were perfect as well. The table was about perfectly flat as well, and I could only barely slide a sliver of very thin paper under my straightedge in a few spots on the right side of the table. Use feeler gauges if you're keen. I didn't bother. I'm a carpenter and woodworker, not a machinist, so for me, the paper method worked fine.
I tested it outside of the usual squares and straightedges, too, using actual 2x and 4x material and checking the material after a cut. Perfect and accurate cuts once adjusted!
What can I say other than I am thrilled with the saw and also with how it arrived.
Per negative reviews: Yes, the tall fences cannot be slid out (only removed) for large bevel angles. That's not an issue for my work: I don't cut large crown. My work involves wide pieces of trim, wide fascia and wide pieces of hardwood, so the tall fences come off for large bevel angles and that still leaves plenty of fence for 2x material. Needing tall fences for 4x material in my line of work may indicate the need for me to have a more precise miter station and/or to joint and plane the material better. Your common material usage will determine if the fences are an issue or not. They are not for me.
Also common in negative reviews was some play in the saw head when extended all the way out. Well, I figured there would be at least some play in this Makita (all my older DeWalt sliders had some small degree of play as well). But I have zero play in the blade and saw head when the saw extends. Zero. It's surprisingly stiff through its range of motion. Maybe this will loosen in time? I don't know. Couple these tolerances with good sawing techniques on my part, and proper transporting practices, and I expect this saw to deliver excellent cuts for years.
And yes, as other have noted, the detent plate is a concern of mine (it's aluminium). I'll have to wait and see how this holds up. I think NOT being aggressive with adjusting the base's angle should help considerably. Time will tell. At least Makita will send a new one if it looses accuracy. And then it takes all of ten minutes to install the new one and square it up. No big deal for me, personally.
And yes, this saw is heavy and will be a mild burden to move to/from the job. It's a 12" sliding compound-miter saw: they are ALL heavy. If weight And transport are concerns and hefting 65 pounds is a burdeos, I would say look for a smaller saw and don't knock a 12" slider saw for what it is.
What else is there to say? Despite the several online criticisms of this saw and its packaging and shipping, I ended up with what I had hoped for and what Makita has built its name around: a quality tool that should last years before it needs any repairs. It's a great saw!
Things I needed to see and use to really appreciate and which set this saw apart: I really love the detent override switch at the thumb, and the bevel adjustment knob is a fantastic solution to not having to reach behind the saw to make adjustments. And of course, the footprint is incredibly small in my garage. It easily fits on a 24" miter station. Angling the saw over to 60 degrees when not in use, and it doesn't protrude past the station at all. Nicely done, Makita! And Amazon, for the fulfilment and shipping!
| Brand | Makita |
|---|---|
| Color | Silver, Blue, Black, Orange |
| Blade Material | High Speed Steel |
| Surface Recommendation | Wall |
| Power Source | Corded |
| Special Feature | Brake |
| Included Components | Triangular Rule (762001-3), Hex Wrench (781044-6), Vertical Vise (126617-2), 12" x 1" 60T Micro-Polished Miter Saw Blade, Dust Bag (122852-0) |
| Product Dimensions | 14.25"L x 36"W x 81.6"H |
| Voltage | 120 Volts |
| Item Weight | 81.6 Pounds |
| Speed | 3200 RPM |
| Blade Length | 12 Inches |
| Number of Teeth | 60 |
| Cutting Angle | 90 Degrees |
| Current Rating | 15 Amps |
| Manufacturer | Makita |
| Part Number | LS1219L |
| Item Weight | 81.6 pounds |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Item model number | LS1219L |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Style | Miter Saw |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Special Features | Brake |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
| Warranty Description | 1-year limited warranty |
