Makita recently showed off their new XSL06 18V X2 cordless brushless miter saw, which features a 10″ blade size, vertical sliding rails, and Bluetooth trigger that will wirelessly trigger a Makita dust collection vac.
There’s not a lot of info out there on this new saw yet, but a few things caught my attention, and enough of it to where I’d hold off on buying a cordless miter saw right now if I were in the market for one.
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Images by Coptool. Check out their event coverage here, their Instagram post on the saw, and their preview video is embedded at the end of the post.
The new Makita XSL06 cordless 10″ sliding miter saw is engineered with a 4800 RPM brushless motor that’s powered by (2) 18V Li-ion battery packs in series, effectively making it a 36V saw. Just going based on that, the saw should offer strong performance and reasonable cutting capacity.
Next, there’s the Bluetooth dust collection trigger, which I am very eager to learn more about.
In the demo/preview video shared by Coptool, it’s shown that the new miter saws work with a version of their X2 dust extractor vac. It looks like that might be a new version. It’s unclear as to whether existing X2 vac users will need to buy a new vacuum, or if it can be retrofitted to pair with the saw’s Bluetooth trigger. We hope to know more soon.
As if Bluetooth-activated dust collection wasn’t enough, there are 2 dust ports for greater dust-collection efficiency. There’s one port just below the blade, and another at the rear of the saw.
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There will be a corded version released alongside the cordless version, but no hybrid corded/cordless version. The dust collection should work similarly, which is why we’re showing this image of the corded saw.
ETA: July 2017
We wouldn’t have this early look if not for our friends at Coptool. I encourage you to pop on over there to see what they have to say about all the new tools Makita just showed off.
More Info(via Coptool)
First Thoughts
I am a big, big fan of Dewalt’s FlexVolt 12″ sliding miter saw. It’s a FANTASTIC cordless miter saw, powered by (2) FlexVolt battery packs for 120V Max power. Plus it has an AC adapter that allows it to be plugged in for continuous runtime.
Dust collection with cordless tools is a big challenge, and one that still needs solving. Miter saw dust collection is usually a joke, more so on some saws, less on others.
For Makita to make dust collection a high priority is a big thing. The potential for on-demand dust collection from a cordless saw to a cordless vac is huge. It’ll likely be costly, too, but more convenient than having to manually turn a dust collector – cordless or corded – for each cut or cutting session.
With the new saws due out in July, if I were in the market for a new cordless miter saw, I’d put my purchasing decision on hold until more details came to light.
This new Makita saw looks like it could be a big deal.
Even for users with no intention to buy a new dust vac, the 2 dust ports might provide for improved dust collection efficiency with any dust extractor, Bluetooth-connected or otherwise.
Joe
Looks nice, my other crew has the 2 battery 7 1/4 cordless Makita mitre…this looks promising
James C
I like the compact style rail system. What’s “vertical sliding rails?” Is that just how the two rails are positioned? Does that offer better accuracy?
Stuart
They’re positioned with vertical alignment instead of horizontal.
I’m not sure what the benefits are – maybe it makes things more compact.
jtr165
Probably, if you swing the table all the way to the right (so that the rails are to the left), it’s probably a little more compact overall than traditional rail systems.
Tim
They are over the plane of the saw instead of under and on the back.
These saws can be pushed up against things and still cut and are usually very accurate and less succeptable to being banged around against walls and such.
See KAPEX saw.
Cr8on
Ryobi is also coming out with a dual battery 10′ brushless miter….
https://www.ryobitools.com/power-tools/products/details/18v-one-plus-one-10-in-brushless-dual-bevel-sliding-miter-saw
Benjamen
Yep, I’m working on the preview.
Pete
OMG! I WILL have that as soon as i see it.
Bolt
From the sounds of that release they’re going to be making more two batter tools than just the miter saw.
I hope they come out with a chainsaw.
Adam
Makita’s miter saws have always been excellent. I’d seriously consider this if I was using their cordless system.
Mike
This is what Milwaukee should have done two batteries. 18 volts isn’t enough for a 10 in miter even 36 isn’t really enough but better then 18
Kindurcarpentry
I own the Milwaukee, and frankly don’t care for it. One issue it doesn’t have is a lack of power. For normal trim work (cedar,fir, pop) it will get 2+ days on a 9amp. It’s not accurate enough for hardwoods, so no experience there. It’s at its best doing siding or exterior trim, especially up on staging.
John
Why is it you don’t care for it. I’m interested to know as I’ve seen fairly limited criticism and was looking at probably picking one up.
Adam spiller
36 volts is not enough power, wuy aren’t makita doing something like Dewalt, with 60 volts battery’s , and Bluetooth connection to a vac, how reliable will that be, on a job site.
Madnyss
36v is not a measurement of power. You are only using half the formula for power, P = V x I. A 108 watt motor is just as powerful if it supplied by 54v x 2a or 36v x 3a or 18v x 6a. You have to remember all brands are using 3.7v lithium ion cells and the only difference is number of cells and how they are configured in series ( increase voltage ) or parallel (increase current). Generally if all manufactures are using equal quality cells then the tool with the most cells will be the most powerful.
Adam spiller
Surely if the Dewalt, has two 60 volt flexvolt battery’s , and the makita has two 18 volt battery’s the Dewalt the Dewalt will have a lot more power, I don’t think 36 volts On the Makita is enough power, for a 10 ” miter saw.
Chuck
You’re missing the point. If each battery contains six cells, and each tool has two batteries, then each tool has twelve cells of equal size, which will provide equal power. Full stop. The only difference is how the cells are arranged.
Stuart
2 FlexVolt batteries have 30 battery cells.
2 Makita 18V packs have 20 cells.
So just apples to apples, that’s 1.5x watt-hours.
Sam
Power = voltage x current.
Voltage is the number of coulombs of charge per second.
Current is the number of joules per coulomb.
1 watt is 1 joule per second.
2 coulombs with 0.5j is the same as 1 coulomb with 1j
Power is the same with different voltages and inversely proportional current
ktash
Love the two dust ports! I’ll be eager to see how it works in real life. If it works well and is somewhat reasonably priced, it would be at the top of my list.
Przemek(Poland)
I’m curious why Makita in 45 degree angle miter cut burn wood? The blade leaves its paint or maybe Makita isn’t that precise as should be.
Also I’m a fan of Dewalt, but I like some of ideas in Makita, Milwaukee or other brands. Good idea is still a good idea. But if Dewalt want to build much more power consuming tool it must create dual battery system-cheap, dual voltage battery sytem-double voltage or last of ideas … greater capacity – much more money to spend and bigger battery pack. In some ways FlexVolt has its own limitations.
How about FlexVolt with 30 cells 20700? Real deal battery brick.
Travis
I am very excited for these! I hope they release a 12″ version as well. I can’t wait to see how the dust collection works.
Any idea of weight for the saw?
Stringer Ell
please find out a release date and pricing and the 12″ option!!
Nathan
the comments about 36 v not being enough to power is sort of funny really. I will agree however for something to spin a 10 inch blade and do it with any authority – more than twice – a dual battery setup makes much more sense. Current vs voltage – doesn’t matter a whole lot but there is a point where a motor needs the voltage to have the torque. But then you have gears.
Anyway – look good and I like their idea about using a BT wireless trigger system – I think it’s overkill but at least they thought to use a standard. Thus it’s feasible some day other BT enabled vacs might work with this device. Good thinking would like to see more of that.
I like the vertical bars with the offset – sort of the best of both tradeoffs when it comes to stability and versatility of setting the bevel. Double vertical makes more sense with respect to setting bevel angles and spacing – but double horizontal is more stable for sliding and flex within the plane of the blade. (reacting to any bending) . So I think it’s a good tradeoff for portability without also using thicker bars.
I admit I still think I like the dewalt better but I do like this widget
Chuck
Note that I’ve read elsewhere that only the corded version will be available in July. The cordless saw “should arrive somewhere around September”.
https://www.protoolreviews.com/news/makita-media-event-in-dallas-2017/31112/
Bill
What ever happened to the Bluetooth dust collector remote this was supposed to have?
JOSEPH RAMIREZ
When will the Bluetooth version be available? I have not seen it in stores or available on line, not even on Makitas web site.
415 Builders, California