As I mentioned in the midst of other recent new Makita tool coverage, Makita is coming out with a new 18V X2 cordless miter saw. The new miter saw will join an 18V X2 circular saw, chain saw, rotary hammer, and several other dual-battery cordless power tools.
The new Makita 18V X2 cordless miter saw sports a brushless motor, making this the first brushless cordless miter saw to hit the market – at least that I know of.
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As you might recall, the X2 part means this is essentially a 36V saw that makes use of (2) 18V battery packs that are connected in series. Double the voltage means the machine has twice the available power compared to if it were designed to work with a single 18V battery pack.
The only other recent competition is Dewalt’s 20V Max cordless miter saw, which while excellent, is powered by a brushed motor. Dewalt has good reasons for not designing their new miter saw around a brushless motor – mainly how the brushed motor already provides good power and runtime – but it’s still nice to see Makita pulling out all the stops with their 18V X2 model.
Well, at least they pulled out most of the stops. Rather than stepping up the blade size to 10-inches, which is one of the two most common sizes in corded miter saws, they decided to stick with a 7-1/2″ size blade. That’s in the overseas DLS714 model, but Makita’s 18V cordless miter saw, which is available here, also features a 7-1/2″ blade size.
Makita says that the new 18V X2 cordless miter saw enables you to cut as fast as if you were using a corded slide compound miter saw.
Features & Specs
- Max cutting capacity of 52mm deep x 300 mm wide (~2.05″ x 11.8″) at 90°
- 5,700 RPM no-load speed
- LED battery indicator
- Automatic speed control adjusts to load condition
- Dust bag with port for optional dust collection vac
- Electric brake
- Bevel angle range: 45° left, 5° right
- Miter angle range: 47° left, 57° right
- Weighs 27.8 lbs with 2.0Ah batteries, 28.9 lbs with 5.0Ah batteries
- Built-in slide-out support rails on both sides
Price: TBA
ETA: USA launch TBA
Compare(Makita 18V Saw via Amazon)
Compare(Dewalt 20V Max Saw via Amazon)
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First Thoughts
Although initially wowed at Makita’s 18V X2 technology, I find single-battery tools to be much more appealing. Despite the Makita’s brushless and 36V-powered motor, I’d rather use Dewalt’s 18V cordless miter saw.
With two batteries, that means you need to invest in Makita’s dual battery charger ($128 via Amazon) or a second charger, or spend a little extra time babysitting your sole charger.
I have yet to test any of Makita’s 18V X2 cordless power tools, but it seems to me that you must use two matched battery packs. Otherwise, wouldn’t performance and runtime be limited to that of the smaller or weaker battery?
I don’t believe you could pair a 5.0Ah battery pack with a 2.0Ah battery and still see runtime benefits of the higher capacity battery. Maybe you would or could pair two dissimilar batteries together in a pinch.
If I were fully invested in Makita’s 18V system and had a bunch of same size battery packs lying around, I’d be more welcoming of this and other 18V X2 power tools.
I don’t quite understand why Makita went with a 7-1/2″ blade size with this saw, when the 36V brushless motor should be plenty powerful enough to work a 10″ blade.
I’m also annoyed that they went with a 7-1/2″ blade size. There is no shortage of 7-1/4″ circular saw blades to choose from, and there are far more 10″ saw blade options that are meant for general and specific cross-cutting applications. But 7-1/2″?? Makita’s other 7-1/2″ saw has a 5/8″ arbor, so you might be able to use a 7-1/4″ blade. You won’t see the same max capacity, and you’d be using a blade the saw isn’t designed for at your own risk.
There’s no word as to how much this saw will cost, but it’s not going to be cheap. Makita hasn’t specified any runtime specs, but I would expect for the saw to last through very many cuts.
The automatic speed control also looks to be a quite interesting feature. It shifts to high speed mode for light duty cutting applications, and then to low speed for heavy duty and higher torque cutting applications. Makita didn’t mention why this is a good feature, but I’m thinking that it should help prolong runtime even further.
Looking back at Makita’s 18V cordless miter saw, which came out more than 4 years ago, the new 18V X2 saw seems hardly different, at least on the outside. Going back and forth, the two saws look identical, except for the battery attachment part. I suppose that the X2’s motor casing is going to be a little bigger as well.
I suppose that tried and true might come into play here, but after seeing Dewalt’s spiffy new design, with its comfortable side handles, huge top handle, and weight-saving base, I wish Makita incorporated similar features.
Makita’s 18V miter saw is currently priced at $550. I wouldn’t expect for the 18V X2 saw to be priced lower, only higher. And that’s for the bare tool! A charger and the required batteries are sold separately.
2 x 2.0Ah batteries is $79 at Amazon, and 2 x 5.0Ah batteries is $219 there. Other battery sizes are priced between those extremes. Makita’s dual charger, at $128 via Amazon, is going to be the best charging option.
So, assuming the X2 is also released at $550 in the USA, you’re looking at buying-all-new cost of $757 to $897, depending on the size of batteries you wanted. Dewalt’s 20V Max cordless miter saw is $319 for the bare tool, or $399 for the 1-battery kit. Since this saw has a brushless motor, which typically costs more and requires pricier control electronics, I would not expect it to be sold at the same price as the brushed motor 18V model.
Now that this saw is out, at least overseas, hopefully Makita’s engineers will start working on a less expensive 18V cordless miter saw, or better yet – a brushless one.
What do you think? Is this a very welcome addition to Makita’s 18V and 18V X2 cordless power tool product lines?
Nathan
I’m disappointed with the specs of this saw for the 36V hype. Granted I’ve also said I’d love to see some hardcore Dewalt tools come out that use their 40Vmax packs from the garden systems.
but if this had the 10″ blade – or they claimed it could make 450+ cuts in 2x lumber or something major. I’d have thought this would have been in line.
I just expected more. brushed vs brushless – doesn’t impress me much. hell they might as well advertise what bearing and gear shapes they are using. that’s equally important.
Jason
I was wondering if we would see crossover between the 40v outdoor packs and construction related tools. It would make sense but trying to figure out tool companies can be confusing at times.
tim
I use 7-1/4 blades on my old pod battery 18v makita miter saw to no ill effect.
If its like the circular saw you have to run two matched and fully charged batteries which makes it a pain in the butt but I do think in a pinch you can run it on one battery.
Stuart
Festool’s cordless circular saw – https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/festool-tsc-55-cordless-saw/%3C/a%3E – allows for mixed and matched batteries, and even single battery operation, but I don’t think the same is true with Makita’s.
JF
I have used this saw at a trade show and yes you can mix and match.
Blew me away with the power it has.
And compared to a single battery saw this is a lot faster with a LOT more power
josh
I’m afraid you are wrong mate in the 36v circular saw you can use any amp hour combination and a half charged and full charged battery it makes no difference! The lowest will run out first that is all. As for the mitre saw it will be amazing as 36v I first and second fix with the 18v every week and it is flawless and plenty big enough! I look forward to upgrading 🙂
Garrick
My guess on the price is that it would be not much more than the 18V model ($550), since there is nothing added, but a more powerful motor. The weight is the same for instance. They may even have to charge a little less to compensate for the extra 2 batteries and charger costs. (or not).
A lot of money for a 7 1/4″ (really, where am I going to get 7 1/2″ blades) mitre saw.
I wish I could justify the cost. I want one of these so bad.
Dominic van Lievenoogen
I don’t think this will ever be someone’s first Mitre saw they buy.
Most people will buy a 10 or 12 incher first.
But for someone invested in Makita buying this saw without batteries as your second saw makes perfect sense. For 90% of your mitre needs this saw will suffice. It can cut a 2 by 10 without problem.
Phil
I think the small blade size makes sense, especially with the sliding function. Cordless tools are generally most useful when they are light and portable, otherwise why make them cordless? If you can’t easily toss it around you aren’t going to, so why not have it plugged in? I can say this saw would absolutely have been a go to for me on a small to medium job… if it were 300 dollars (and since I have other Makita cordless tools)
Garrick
I used to have a Craftsman Pro 8 1/4″ that was a very nice slider, and I think I only paid about $300 (in todays money). I do have 4 Makita 18V batteries and two chargers, and still would have a tough time justifying the price of the Makita. The cost of making the saw shouldn’t be more than any other slider, not including the batteries.
Makita has very high prices on some of their tools. I guess they are trying to capture a small market, at large margins.
Travis C
I much higher price point and not much in the way of performance gains over the 20v DeWalt cordless. Actually, the DeWalt cordless sliding miter cuts thicker material.
pete
I would rather own the dewalt miter saw. Im a Milwaukee guy And I own a couple Makita tools still, they do only sit in the tool box. And I would still rather buy into dewalts platform IF I had a need for a cordless miter saw. BUT I don’t lol if I did I think I would bug Milwaukee every day until they released it into the US market, that paired with a 9.0 would be awesome!
Rory
Here in Australia these saws are fairly popular with timber floor layers, fix-out carpenters, shop fitters, cabinet makers and kitchen guys.
This particular saw works really really well. What everyone has failed to notice is two things; the RPM of the motor has increased significantly and the saw weighs no more! They will work with mixed capacity 18v batteries and a different charge statuses but they will not work on just one.
These 36v Makita tools work like electric tools… you do not need to use them gently like a cordless tool.
glenn
I was looking at this on Sydney Tools and was surprised by the high rpm, 5700 for this compared to 2200 for Makita’s own 18v version. That’s a massive increase.
For further comparison, the Metabo 18v is 4200 and the Milwaukee 18v is 2700rpm both of which have a larger 216mm blade but still significantly lower speed at the teeth.
Toolpig
There is a significant advantage with the Makita over the Dewalt in crosscut capacity. 8″ vs 12″. That in itself seals it for me. I will be looking at the Makita. I have had the old pod style slider for about 13 years. I bought a lion adapter on eBay for it. It still works like a champ. It is slow compared to the new one and it only cross cuts 8″ but it’s smooth and does what it is supposed to. I wish these cordless offerings were dual bevel though. I am more interested In The Milwaukee 10″ coming out though. I will hold off buying any cordless miter saw until it is available.
Chance
Vertical handle, twist to lock miter angle handle, and automatic speed control. No, no, and no.
Chip
The twist to lock is confusing when your constantly changing miter angles.
I learned on a makita circular saw,and a bosch round wood handled router,and they still fit my small racooned hands the best.
i guess ergonomics,and familiarity are my go to…or Im to stupid to learn the twist lock way.