The Makita 10-inch sliding miter saw is a professional grade saw at a homeowner price. Makita is one of the most well known names in carpentry tools, and the LS1018 has become a mainstay of woodworkers all over the world.
What makes the Makita LS 1018 worth it?
It features heavy-duty construction, but it’s light enough to easily transport to and from the job. The Makita has a very powerful motor that spins a 10-inch carbide tipped blade at 4300 RPM, but its soft start feature makes it less likely to trip circuit breakers that competing models. The Makita can make combination bevel and miter cuts, and can be set for both left and right bevels using an easy bevel lock lever.
The Makita’s powerful motor is capable of cutting through even the toughest hardwoods without bogging down. The 10-inch blade spins at 4300 RPM, but the soft-start motor helps avoid tripping circuit breakers when you power up the saw. It also keeps the blade from jumping when you turn it on.
The electric brake is an important feature if you’re doing repetitive work. The Makita has a plastic blade guard, but it’s never safe to reach under a bade that is still spinning. The automatic brake stops the blade almost immediately after you take your finger off the trigger, so you can reach for your cutoffs faster which makes your work go more quickly and safely. The big, clear blade guard lets you see the marking on the work without lifting the guard, and swings smoothly out of the way as you cut.
The Makita can cut large boards. It can crosscut a full 12 inches at 90 degrees, and can accept lumber that’s up to 3-1/2” thick. The tall rear fence allows you to cut big crown moldings without using an auxiliary fence, and the fence hinges up and out of the way to make bevel cuts from either side. The platen has detents at commonly used miter angles that make setting up cuts quick and accurate.
There are a few cons, of course
The Makita LS 1018 has a limited amount of dust collection. It uses a small bag to collect sawdust and wood chips that needs to be constantly emptied if you’re working steadily. You can remove the bag and hook up a shop vac for better performance and fewer interruptions.
What is the full specification list?
No review is complete without a spec list. Here is that for the LS 1018
- 10-inch diameter blade
- 13-amp 120-volt direct drive motor
- Soft start motor
- Electric brake
- 34 x 22 x 20 inches
- Adjusts for miter cuts from 0-47 degrees
- Positive stop detents for popular angle cuts
- Can cut up to 12 inches at 90 degrees
- Cuts up to 8-1/2 inches at 45 degrees
- Can cut up to 4” nominal thickness lumber
- Two-button safety lockout on switch
- Adjustable hold down clamp
- Weighs 43.7 pounds
What do customers think?
Users love the Makita LS 1018 Slide Compound Miter Saw. Over 85 percent of reviewers give the Makita four stars or more, with almost 65 percent rating it at five stars. Reviewers like the ease of setup and smooth, accurate cuts. Professional woodworkers appreciate how light the saw is despite being so sturdily built, and say they appreciate the saw’s big capacity.
Pro woodworkers often cut boards that are 12 inches wide, and up to 4 inches in nominal thickness, and the Makita can handle both. Users like the soft start and electric brake. They report that the Makita’s motor powerful enough to cut any kind of wood, but the soft start keeps the tool from jumping when the trigger is depressed. They also like the way the brake stops the blade from spinning sooner, allowing you to reach for your cutoff sooner without putting your hand near a coasting blade.
What are our final thoughts?
The Makita LS 1018 Slide Compound Miter Saw offers excellent value for the money. It’s sturdy enough to take constant use, and you can pick it up and take it with you to the job without worrying about flimsy parts breaking off. The saw adjusts quickly and accurately to all the favorite miter angles, and the fence swings up to allow bevel cuts without removing it, a real time-saver.
The main working areas of the Makita are made from aluminum instead of plastic, so the saw is bound to be outlast less durable models with plastic parts. Very few woodworkers require the ability to cut lumber thicker than 4 inches (nominal) and wider than 12 inches, so the Makita LS 1018 Slide Compound Miter Saw could be the only miter saw that you’d ever need. It’s highly recommended.
