Makita has announced two new XGT cordless circular saws, KS003G, and KS004G, which are described to be dustproof.
While “dustproof” might not be a perfect translation, but of the new Makita XGT circular saws do feature large clear shrouds and a top-mounted vacuum, dust collection port.
The KS003G circular saw, shown above, is designed with a dust box that can be used with or without a dust collection vacuum.
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The KS003G, shown here, has a smaller dust cover that requires a dust collector vacuum to be attached.
The saws are identical, except for the shroud design. The KS003G has a front-mounted dust port, while the KS004G’s shroud has its dust port is in the rear.
A dust collection vacuum can be used with the KS004G, and Makita marketing language suggests one must be used with the KS003G.
Both saws have a 125mm (5″) blade with a 40.5mm (1.59″) maximum cutting depth. This means it can cut 40mm thick wood in one pass. That’s about the thickness of 2x construction lumber.
From translated descriptions, both saws are designed for high cut-line visibility, a narrow profile, and also “excellent center of gravity balance.”
The “center balance” has been optimized, with the battery and handle moved closer to the saw blade.
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There are 2 performance modes – a speed mode for high-speed cutting of plasterboard and siding, and a “quiet eco mode” for “peace of mind even in places where noise is a concern, such as outdoors or at a renovation site.”
Both saws have IP56-rated protection from dust and water.
The new circular saws are AWS-compatible, for wireless activation of compatible and equipped dust extractor vacuums. Optional AWS modules are required, and sold separately.
At this time it is uncertain whether Makita will be launching the new XGT 40V Max cordless circular saws in the USA. There’s also no indication about whether there will be an 18V version of either model.
Discussion
I think that track compatibility would make these perfect, but they seem highly compelling as-is.
Both saws are depicted cutting a range of construction materials, and it’s not clear from the product details whether there are different application recommendations for the two saws. I take it that one must be used with a dust collection vacuum attached, and the other has a collection shroud that could be used with a dust collection vacuum.
PETE
Reminds me of the 90’s when they had clear electronics where you could see the insides of the corded phone.
Cool, but it doesn’t seem like it’d be as durable.
JoeM
You saw that too, huh? That’s where it confuses me.
ITCD
I don’t find it to necessarily be confusing. Their claim is about having great dust collection and I suppose having a see-through collector is to show it off.
Stuart
They’re translucent dust boxes. I don’t get the indignation over it either.
ITCD
Or those Atomic Purple Nintendos.
PETE
I still have a clear purple Gameboy lol
MM
Back in the late 90’s and early 2000s I recall companies selling aftermarket colorful transparent plastic housings for consoles like Playstations and N64s. They were definitely popular at a time!
Jared
The saws both looked really tall at first glance, especially the KS004G, but then I realized they only have 5″ blades. Their footprint is probably just fine for that size.
They look like pretty good saws overall. I like that cutting guide.
eddie sky
You mean at 1:15? Yeah…I can’t find it on their site. Wonder anyone know what that cutting guide with handle is? AHA…its not a Makita guide, its a Shinwa guide! Check it out… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbhSSevsDgo
I did find a new Parallel guide kit.. https://www.makitatools.com/products/details/1913K7-3
Koko The Talking Ape
Yep. I know a smaller blade can be an advantage in specific situations, but for me, I could use just a slightly bigger blade. I have DeWalt’s 6 1/2″ blade-left brushless circular saw, and I love it, but the dust collection just doesn’t work very well. My Fein vac is beautifully quiet, but when connected to the DeWalt’s dust shroud, it becomes a screaming banshee. Which tells me the air flow isn’t well designed. It has constrictions or turbulence or some other issue. And sure enough, I still get covered with sawdust. In 6 1/2″, this Makita would be perfect.
JoeM
Okay, clear? Why? This is Makita, an acknowledged tool company. They don’t need the clear plastic thing to draw people in, if anything it’ll push people away. As PETE above mentioned, it looks like a 90’s era throwback, to when they had deliberately clear electronics and such. Also, if anyone remembers the company anywhere other than Canada (where they’re still going strong) the company Vileda? Easy to grip plastic and rubber mechanisms, stainless steel, or aluminum blades, remarkably durable clear containers for the gadget’s output? I’m being vague here because the vast majority of their products had these features.
That transparent plastic is painfully familiar to anyone who has ever seen, or owned, a Vileda product. Or a children’s toy made in the 1990’s as well. It’s toy plastic, and doesn’t scream durability very well.
If this is a change made solely to be “Different” than other brands… That’s a huge mistake. They already have the Makita standard livery, and that does the job very well already.
Their choice to be entirely enclosed to collect dust is a technology I would trust, because… Makita… I take some minor issues in their reasoning for the transparent housing. It’s a Makita, it should work just fine… With that body plastic, I’m not sure for how long, but it will certainly work to Makita levels, right?
Frank
It’s just the shroud that’s clear. The actual machine-holding part of the tool is still plastic Makita teal. Almost every shroud built onto a tool from any of the major brands is also clear plastic. You need to be able to easily see if a large splinter is blocking a mechanism or clogging the port. You can almost certainly be able to run the saw with the shroud removed entirely.
What makes this clear plastic less durable than any of the colored plastic surrounding any other tool?
MM
I assume the purpose of the guards being clear is obvious: so you can see the dust collection which seems especially important if you are using the 004 model without a vac.
I too recall cheap transparent electronics from back in the 90’s but I don’t associate this with them. There are many kinds of transparent plastic which are extremely durable: polycarbonate aka Lexan comes to mind, it is used to make safety glasses, machinery guards, and even bulletproof windows. There is no correlation between plastic being transparent and it being brittle–some kinds are, some kinds are not.
Koko The Talking Ape
I agree. To me, transparency doesn’t imply fragility.
MM
These look like really nice saws. I really like the focus on visibility and a narrow footprint. I like the low-speed mode option too, that’s a great idea. I want to see more innovation in this type of tool. These look great, and as I’ve said before Flex’s “Inline” circ saw is fantastic. Hopefully other companies like Dewalt and Milwaukee will offer their own takes.
MM
I just watched the video, and these look even more appealing with the extra-long and double supported rip fence visible at 2:15. That is also a brilliant idea.
One thing I’m curious about. What is that “feature” at the top of the dust collecting shroud on the model 004 located above the “Makita” logo and in front of the fitting for the vac hose? In the photo where the saw is shown making a cut it is just to the right and slightly below the user’s thumb.
Big Richard
To hold the dust cap. In the picture you can see the dust cap is covering the dust port, but when you connect it to a hose, you remove the dust cap and that keyhole looking slot guy holds the cap.
MM
Makes perfect sense, thank you!
NoDak Farming
I also am a fan of Flex’s “Inline” saw. I haven’t actually gotten to cut 2x lumber with it yet, but it’s been very nice so far. The forward port and narrow shoe, along with the extra deep cut, were big selling points for me. The forward saw dust ejection is just really nice. A minor detail, but the LED light shines perfectly in front of the blade, to light the area you are cutting into. I think I am going to be happy with the saw in the long term.
Jamie Lee Davis
Agreed
Jimmie
I wish more US-sold tools would take dust-mitigation seriously. I didn’t NEED a tracksaw but I reluctantly bought one because they were among the only saws whose designs seemed to care about dust-management.
Mike
I’m not sure where these type of saws fit in. A 5″ blade would make this very light and maneuverable, but not with a hose on it, then it’s awkward and unwieldy. If it requires a hose like KS003 it probably has excellent dust collection with hose, and clogs without. I wonder how much KS004 sacrifices DC performance for being able shoot dust everywhere (often ok for me outdoors).
Another issue with these short blades is tracking. They tend to wander in the cut i.e. hard to cut straight, especially without a straight edge.
I could see using this to cross cut hardie clap board etc. against a speed square but are bearings, etc. designed for this? Rips would be awkward because of short blade.
I also don’t really see the advantage of cordless saws with hoses attached. A hose is so much more cumbersome than a cord and cord can easily be plugged into DC, foregoing expensive Bluetooth switches, etc. Cordless DC power vs runtimes seem like such a compromise – 20 min on high, is that right? Anything involving sucking or blowing air just seems like occasional or minor use with cordless without endless battery switching/charging.
I love the lightweight power of modern 7 1/4 cordless circ saws for most 2x and rough 3/4 plywood etc. Even the 10 1/4 saws can easily zip off 4×4 posts tops with no cord dragging down. The 6 1/2 saws are so light weight and handy for 1x and plywood, osb.
The ~6 1/2 track saws are so portable for breaking down sheet goods and making nice clean straight cuts – much safer and easier to wrestle with plywood or cut right off pile with some spacer 2x. I really only see a sliding table saw as an alternative/upgrade. Table saw, even a big cabinet saw is preferable for smaller and narrower cuts or fast repeat cuts of small-medium stuff.
If I’m outside, I often try to get away with not using dust collection for limited track saw cutting, but the dust port often clogs without the DC. Dust collection is awesome, especially indoors, but the track saw is much easier to use without the hose getting caught, dragging, weighing things down. This is a corded saw by the way, cordless would be even more tempting to forego hose.
Maybe some of the newer cordless ~6 1/2 track saws with or without a sander bag attached have better internal fans and don’t clog. Can anybody chime in?
Mike
It would seem dust port placement at front of guard, closest to source, like KS003 would offer best collection with hose and also clog most easily without. Maybe requirement to use DC on this model is also related to how elbow would tend to shoot dust right in user’s face without hose. KS004 would tend to be lower (spray arm and shirt?) but still inferior to conventional saw that sprays straight down or low and to waste side.
I don’t know, maybe dust port outlet plug shaped to match guard radius interior would keep most dust exiting under saw. KS004 would seem trickier because of large volume at top rear of guard. Maybe a saw that has good hosed DC performance and also non obnoxious/non clogging dust ejection without hose is too much compromise?
Ben
I do not speak a word of Japanese. That said, did it seem to anyone else like the voiceover in the video was very odd, perhaps AI-generated? Just did not sound like a real person’s cadence or inflection.
MM
I don’t claim to know Japanese well enough to tell a good AI voice from a native speaker–I am not a native speaker– but the cadence didn’t seem unusual to me–for a Japanese commercial that is. It’s hard to put into words but I’ve heard that kind of cadence many times in Japanese commercials going back well before AI. So it might well be AI, but the cadence didn’t stick out as odd to me, it feels like a fairly normal Japanese commercial “announcer voice” to me.
Bret
This article really failed to mention the main point of these saws is not to just cut wood but more for finishing work , for gib , kitchen cabinets, bathrooms etc, where mess might be an issue and materials would be harder on normal skills as and blades
Stuart
There are many applications where dust control is a priority.
Rog
I like the “eco mode” option; I’m assuming the saw just runs slower and therefore quieter? A nice option for those times I don’t want to p off the neighbors
Nathan
I assume the idea here is to make a tracksaw replacement. I don’t know I like it but it’s interesting
blocky
I’m pretty serious about dust collection bc I’m frequently working in clean or contained environments. One of my most used saws is a tiny Makita CXT SH02 that I modified in a similar manner to the KS003G with a dust port coming off the front, top of the blade guard. Paired with a dust extractor, I get slightly better dust-collection results than with my makita track saw.
I’m pretty excited to see this. Would be even more excited if it were available in LXT.
Mike
Hey blocky,
What are you typically doing with this saw?
Do you often prefer it to the track saw? Is this because of the light weight, better DC, lack of plunge or something else?
Do you usually use it with some sort of straight edge? Does the hose make it hard to keep such a light, short saw cutting straight?
Thanks.
blocky
Hi Mike,
The SH02 is sort of absurdly small and low-powered, which is sometimes advantageous – and I’ve experimented with it a lot. It does have a native dust port attachment that can be ordered by part# from Europe or Asia, but that attachment port functions pathetically.
I have used it with great precision for cutting thin molding with a speed square for a straight edge. I have not needed to bring a miter saw for small trim jobs.
I have also used it for processing concrete form tubes to dimension on projects where I needed a clean 90 cross-cut on ~100 tubes. It produced far less tear out than standard circ saws, and even without an extractor, with lower rpms, it doesn’t completely suffuse the air with dust.
During the pandemic lockdown, I did a lot of woodworking with plywood and scraps in my small apartment — building shelves, furniture, a lofted play-area for my daughter. I usually strike a pencil line and follow it by hand and eye. I usually put a scrap of rigid foam board under my cut line to stabilize and minimize tear out – this is a common track saw technique. This is still my primary saw for home-use since I also maintain a workshop at my job.
Whenever I can get away with a circ-saw rather than a track saw, I prefer the circ-saw. This is because I’m lazy, and I hate setting up the tracks, which are stored in cases, and the saw, which is stored in a case, and a work table. I’m quite good at cutting reasonably straight lines, and it takes 5 seconds to kick open two plastic saw horses. I do use a board or guiderail when perfectly straight is critical.
I do not find the hose to be a challenge. With this saw, I use a lightweight pvc hose – the kind that has a metal coil inside to keep its structure. For long cuts, I make sure the extractor is near the center of the cut, and drape the hose back over my arm.
The SH02 is still sort of a toy saw, and my mod was pretty hacked up. These new XGT ‘dustless’ saws I’m sure would give me faster, better results and. be more versatile with depth of cut. I use the XSH03 6.5″ saw a lot and as a righty, blade-left, that thing has a dust chute that just dumps into my lap.
Mike
Thanks for detailed response blocky.
I finally watched video which answered some questions about KS00xx saws. Even 003 seems to spit a bit of dust with hose, maybe it’s just that I’m not used to watching saws in person this closely.
I wonder if this size/form factor would be better with a compact 18v 5 cell battery? LXT seems like a separate budget sub-brand of Makita at this point, though.
Perhaps part of what draws you to your 12v is the combo of light battery and saw. Obviously you’re losing power and run time, but with a max depth of cut of only 1″ how much would you need?
Would this actually be more or less pleasant and efficient for extended cutting sessions vs a 6 1/2 saw? Or is this best for awkward cutting positions and handy to have around for occasional cutting?
Maybe a flawed analogy, but a pocket pistol is easy to carry around but difficult to shoot accurately.
blocky
Appreciate the analogy. I’m quite accurate with all kind of saws. I think it’s more about having appropriate stopping, or in this case, cutting power.
If I have thicker, longer, or harder material, I will almost always use a larger saw, especially if the project is more than 2-3 rips. I would never use the baby saw for processing a lot of lumber, but it’s very pleasant to make cuts in the home with almost no dust to cleanup. A little dust on the work table is typical and acceptable, dust in the air would not be.
With regards to size, the baby saw is also a pretty good option for building slat-crates on location. I might need to make a only a few dozen cross-cuts in 1×6″ and a miter saw would make a mess.
For me, awkward cutting positions are resolved by handsaws and jigsaws.
If you’re considering a primary saw, 6.5″ is a good general purpose size with good blade options; it’s my preference.
If you’re specifically looking for a small saw, the Bosch 12v has more torque and a better shoe which translates to even smoother cuts. It’s also compatible with their tracks.
I would not be surprised if Makita translated the KS00xx saws to LXT at some point, though I wonder whether it will reach North America. I might still seek one out.
Another Bob
I’m not a Makita user but these saws look pretty sweet. The edge guide is really pretty slick. LED light seems super bright and I’m a sucker for a polished saw base. Seriously did they chrome plate that thing? Mounting orientation of the battery makes it nice and compact. I wonder how well it works with just the dust box not an actual vacuum attached? If it works well with the dust box it’ll be a home run as vacuum cords are quite cumbersome.
Is AWS only a Makita thing or do other brands do that? Seems like a great idea to me.
I know Makita is struggling this would be a good one to bring to the USA market.
Paul
I’m wondering if this is the saw Scott Brown on Youtube uses, he ordered it from Japan. He can remove half of the bottom plate on his so the blade can get right up against something, a very cool feature.
Saulac
Stuart, is there anything in particular make you think about track compatible? Makita is the best in this regard with a few circular saws compatible with rail guide with and without adapter.
Stuart
It doe not look to be track-compatible.
Chip
I bought the black 6.5 with a plastic sliding blade guard,while cutting a vinyl fence panel it caught and broke the guard.
Japanese tools seem to mimic the culture of cartoons.
I prefer a durable tool personally.
Aaron
I wish they would of made this saw like a mafell or festool crosscut saw with a track that locks to the base with a 6 inch blade. They could do that and come in 300 dollars cheaper then festool and mafell and it would sell well.