Maktia “Hypoid” saw… any good?
Scored a Makita magnesium “hypoid” worm drive saw at my local HD… brand new, in-box for $75. As list price was I think almost two benjamins, I snapped it up, ran to the register and bought it before someone had a change of mind. There was a second one there but the guy next to me grabbed it before I could after I exclaimed out loud “wow, that’s a heck of a deal for a new saw”. Stupid out loud talking!
Anyways, I had been looking for a new corded circ saw… the Craftsmen 13 amp I got in my early 20s (almost 20 years ago… yikes!) was serviceable (and was free) but it needed replacing. I like left bladed saws (my 18v Hitachi Lion 6-1/2″ circ is left blade.. I guess I just like seeing the blade on the line without having to contort myself). The cordless was okay for limited duty building a couple of decks, but it’s better suited to trim and decking than, say, wet PT 2x material.
On first glance the Makita seems pretty powerful… and noticeably heavier than my old circ saw… I better increase my 12 oz. curls to compensate… 🙂
I read the review on FHB when I got home… they pretty much gave it a kick in the manhood by calling it “good for trim work” (ouch…..)
Seeking other opinions. Have it and love it? Had one and gave it to your worst enemy as a present?
I am starting the framing for a finished playroom/toddler jail in my basement in a week or so and then it’s on to a 12×16 shed this spring plus I’m helping build two other decks (payback for labor help on mine) and a stand alone garage (building up my labor IOUs) this summer so I want to either keep it or toss it on craigslist (maybe even make a small profit?) and get my second choice (left blade porter cable).
Thoughts?
Replies
I've never owned one, but one of my employees had one that I used on occasion. It was a bit lighter than the Bosch/Skil wormdrives I have, seemed to have a bit higher blade RPM and was noisier than the worms.
For the price, I think you got a good deal and it should last you a good while.
Next time, keep your mouth shut in the store! :-)
I have one, it is not magnesium but it is a nice saw.
Smooth and powerful. It is a hypoid geared saw and the first non sidewinder I have had so I can't compare to other 'worm' drives.
One thing I noticed is the gaurd on mine is a little fussy. You need to set the depth of the sawblade to just clear the stock if you have the blade set to deep the gaurd hangs up and wont ride up over the stock.
If they were 75 bucks at my HD I would have bought one. They are 150 at mine currently.
Webby
Edited 1/1/2009 5:45 pm ET by webby
Thanks for the input and the tip re: the blade guard.I think that for $75 I will keep it... heck, I can probably use it for a bit and if I don't like it... craig's list it for about what I paid.You don't see many non side-winders around here though... so maybe a limited pool of buyers..it is $150 at other depots... the manager at my usual one must have had temporary insanity...I keep hoping he has it on some other things I've been eyeing! (portable planer, good auto leveling laser, etc....)
Good luck at HD.
I like the saw just have to remember to adjust the blade depth which I do anyway.
During a landscape project I used it to cut thru several large railroad ties, then finished with a sawzall. Went right thru them. You could tell the motor was loading up, but the saw never seemed to think about stalling. The blade was new though. Webby
I have one. I bought it on ebay and like it except for the weight. It's my first worm drive saw so I don't know how it feels compared to other worm drive saws. I've always used sidewinders. I wouldn't use it for finish work though. For that I use a 5 1/2" Skill.
Definitely not for finish work... that was the quote from FHB review... that's a bit of a beyotch slap to the face of the Makita as the rest of the article was about how manly worm drives are. The Author didn't seem to like either Hypoid geared saw... preferring the old school Skil (in magesium)."The Makita is a nice saw, and if I did more finish carpentry than
framing, I would buy one. The motor is relatively quiet, with
hardly any startup kick. The handle and especially the bevel
and depth lever locks are easy on the hands. On the downside,
the hypoid setup is underpowered (about equal to the
DeWalt), and the baseplate bent with even a mild impact. In one test, where we ripped through 4x beam stock with the saws beveled to the maximum setting, this saw could be pushed so hard that the blade bound. At a less aggressive pace, however, it did fine."Power • • • • • • • •• • • • B
Balance/handling • • • • • • B+
Bevel/depth • • • • •• • • • B+
Baseplate • • • • • .• • • • BExtra
features • • • • • • • • • • A
Overall • • • • • • • • • • B+The comment on the baseplate strudiness (or lack thereof) is disconcerting... but for price paid...[.s. I hope it wasn't a no-no to cut/paste that.I won't be framing every day, so hopefully this will hold up for me. I'll be careful not to wail on the baseplate...
Edited 1/1/2009 10:30 pm ET by GraniteStater
Still my favorite.
Forrest
I don't see the big difference between 'hypoid' and 'worm' drive saws. It's just one little gear . . . I love'd my hypoid saw--Dewalt--light, powerful and ergonomic. It was the armature which gave out after three years, not the 'hypoid'. Now I have a Bosch/Skill, though I've heard of armatures wearing out on them, too. I'd just like the armature to at least outlast the brushes, wouldn't you agree?
Brian
I have one and think it is a great saw, esp. for that price.