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Useful Makita LS1040 Review – Can It Help You Make Splinter-Free Cuts? (2020)

jonsguide

Updated on July 22, 2020

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The Design

As a classic pull-down miter saw, one would expect the Makita LS1040 to compromise on accuracy (as is always the case with non-sliding saws compared to sliding ones). That, however, isn’t the case here and we attribute that to the well-designed layout of this machine. Its robust aluminum body is designed to allow for stability when the saw is in action. Remember, any blade movement, especially at 4,600 rpm, can easily cause a poorly built saw to waiver and this can significantly affect the quality of the cuts made. Once again, that’s not the case with this machine and that’s because the good engineers of Makita designed this one to be rigid. At the same time, this saw remains flexible enough to allow for a flexible cutting experience when needed. The fact that this unit comes with a solid body might make it sound like a bulky machine until you take a look at its weight. Indeed, at 25 pounds of weight, this saw is just light enough to carry with you to your workstation, any day. On top of that, the fact that it’s compact means you don’t need lots of space to keep it safe.

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Precision and Performance

Most saws give up the ghost when subjected to tough working conditions – and this is where professionals raise questions about the quality of motors used by manufacturers these days. As a budget drop miter saw, this unit runs on 240 volts, 1650 watts motor which clearly supplies it with loads of power. Generating a whopping 4,600 rpm, this motor powers the bevel to slice through wood fast and without causing a fuss. What’s more, this miter saw offers a maximum cutting depth of 95mm (or 3.7 inches). That’s just enough to sustain you through outdoor woodworking tasks, indoor finishing as well as light construction projects. As far as the width of the cut is concerned, this saw delivers an incredible 90.5mm (equivalent to 3.5 inches) which once again is adequate for most regular jobs. Add that to the fact that this miter saw can be set to multiple angles leftwards and rightwards and you have one of the most flexible units a quality-conscious buyer can find.

Pro Tip

Owing to the small size of this machine’s dust collection bag, we’d recommend checking its content every so often so you can empty it before it fills up.

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Jon

Safety Features

One of the notable features of this machine is that it comes with a transparent blade guard which protects you from saw dust, thereby leaving you to focus on making precise cuts. There’s also a dust collection bag in place, to ensure that most of the dust is collected safely. Regarding safety, we’d rank this as an OK device as there are no fancy or impressive safety features in place.

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Makita LS1040 vs Dewalt DW713

The battle between these two non-slide miter saws is so closely fought that it’s difficult to determine who the ultimate winner is. That said, a closer look at the features offered by each one of them reveals that the Makita LS1040 enjoys a slight advantage owing to the fact that it provides a large cutting capacity. In addition, the LS1040 comes with a 40T carbide tipped blade which is pretty sharp and accurate. Both saws come with 15Amp motors although the Dewalt DW713 delivers 5,000rpm which is 400rpms more than what the LS1040 offers. It’s also worth keeping in mind that the two competitors come with machined bases for enhanced cutting accuracy. That said, the DW713 from Dewalt comes at a friendlier price tag although that also means the machine offers fewer features as compared to what the LS1040 delivers. So, if you’re looking to save your bucks, the DW713 would be the best bet but if you’re looking for good value for money, go for the Miter LS1040.

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General User Experience

Generally, this saw tends to attract lots of positive reviews from DIYers and hobbyists. It’s not really popular among professionals. That’s not because it doesn’t live up to expectations but that it doesn’t offer as much power as some of the units within its price range do. However, if you’re looking for stability, consistency, and ease-of-use, this unit is, for sure, capable of holding its own. Likewise, this would be a great saw for electricians and plumbers who may need to make occasional cuts of plastic or wood during jobs that demand perfection. In a nutshell, the Makita LS1040 is highly portable and stress-free to operate giving you more time to focus more on what matters the most to you – the quality of workmanship.

How we tested

Circ saws are an important tool in the box of many construction jobs. They have become popularized over the last thirty years, so we decided to test them out to see if we can find the best ones out there. We compared the Makita LS1040 and the Dewald DW713 and put them both to the test. They are both miler saws that are non-slide, so there have been many opinions surrounding them. We’ve decided to pick a winner once and for all. In our test, we analyzed performance, affordability, comfort, and durability.

We realized that the two machines had different ripping times. However, a couple of seconds does not make a huge difference, so we let this slide. The two machines also come at different price points, so if you are on a strict budget, this may be an important factor for you.

Next, we tested the comfort. This is arguably the most important aspect for construction workers. Many of the triggers were well positioned. Others may have tired up a hand when using for long hours of time. This test is necessary for those that need to use the machine for work all day.

Lastly, the construction quality is something that should be noticeable as well. Durability can sometimes be a difficult test, but it shows which tools are more vulnerable and have the possibility of breaking after a short time of use.

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