Following his video review Roger looks at the Makita DLS110Z Twin 18v Cordless LXT BL Slide Compound Mitre Saw in more detail.
I have always had my reservations about cordless mitre saws and that includes all makes and sizes. It isn’t that they don’t work, it is just that they don’t work as well as mains powered machines and, for the most part, I am not in a situation where I can’t plug into a bit of A/C. If you do work without mains power or simply feel that mains power is a difficult option involving the running of a long extension lead then this 10 inch Makita 36 volt double bevel mitre saw is a good option.
I guess I am just a sensitive kind of guy who doesn’t readily abuse his power tools but it is the job of a reviewer to find the outer limits, to boldly go where nobody goes
For the most part cordless saws rely on thin kerf blades to reduce the load on the battery but the accuracy of a mitre saw depends upon a stiff blade and this machine comes with one. There is real pleasure to be had from using a brand new blade, it cuts with no effort and hardly any noise, but, like most of life’s pleasures, it is short lived. So in fairness, I could not simply run a few pieces of softwood through the saw and judge it on that. My first impression was ‘Wow!’ followed by a tinge of guilt for my prejudice against cordless mitre saws but I stuck with it and as the blade started to lose a little of its edge I settled down to a more realistic work rate. Wet timber is always a little more of a challenge than dry so I was sure to include some. I also put through some 7 X 2 inch treated softwood and the saw went through with no real trouble. The little indicator lights change from green to red when it doesn’t like what you are doing and I rode the green wave. I guess I am just a sensitive kind of guy who doesn’t readily abuse his power tools but it is the job of a reviewer to find the outer limits, to boldly go where nobody goes. So I pressed on and cut all the solid blocking on the 7x 2 inch joists and I then cut all the dwangs for the ceiling so I could pick up the edges of the plasterboard.
As for run time I would like to tell you that I counted how many cuts I got from two fully powered batteries but some pieces were wet and some were dry and there were different sizes. It certainly ran into 50 cuts but I also used this saw during the cold spell when the daytime temperature never reached above minus 3 and the number of cuts was fewer. So if you have to work regularly in these kinds of temperatures I would suggest that battery power is not the best option.
There is no doubt that this is a very nice saw and I would love to own it, especially if it came with a lead and plug.
If you do go for this saw you will need a good charger which takes two batteries, or you will need two ordinary single gang chargers.
There is no doubt that this is a very nice saw and I would love to own it, especially if it came with a lead and plug. The technology exits to give you hybrid machine with an adaptor that slides into the battery slot to provide a main supply from a small transformer.
There is a lot more to say about the saw and the controls which are very well thought out. I am particularly pleased to find that there are now no vulnerable linkages on the underside of the table that could get damaged as you chuck the saw in the back of the van on top of a load of tools. It was a problem with previous models but the bevel locks etc. are now above the table with some kind or rack and pinion mechanism in the rear housing. The two sliding arms have also been moved to contain them within the length of the arm so you can use it closer to a wall or, in my case the edge of the scaffolding when I was cutting the PVC roofline boards. It also makes it a more compact unit to carry around but still not a lightweight saw. You will need your Shreddies (other breakfast cereals are available).