my Makita LS1220 went bad so I’m off to get a new SCMS saw.
I would love the get the LS1013 since I’ve heard nothing but good things about it.
Anyone own a yellow 12″ SCMS. The Specs on this seem better than the Makita LS1212 which I was thinking about getting also. I know Hitachi is another one I should check out but I’ve had good luck with Makita. Their service dept sometimes doesn’t even charge me if it’s a “small” repair.
Replies
You just started a thread that has had many responses before. The past threads say the Makita is a smoother machine , but doesnt have the fence size , and ajustments features of Dewalt. There is still Dewalt bashing going on too. I believe the concenus of the threads before put Makita and Dewalt running together toe to toe . Every one that had either was happy. Nothing but great reveiws of the two.
Tim Mooney
Alan, what are your thoughts on the 1220? Just got one. Any quirks or things I should look out for?
Nothing Specific in Mind. Not as useful as a SCMS....but it's still a great saw.
The only thing that annoyed me was that the last couple of times I would use it, there would be some slight kickback and the left side of the kerf board shows it.....the plastic got chewed up by the blade when the blade kinda jumped to the left. Overall, it's a very solid saw but limited when working was wider pieces.
Thanks for the comments. A SCMS wasn't in the budget ...........someday. Been pleased with it so far and for $250 (a recon model) it was too hard to pass up.
Hitachi!
They were first and still are!
Everyone else are just imitators.
JMNSHO
T
Do not try this at home!
I am a trained professional!
In what test did they recieve number one over all?
I see a low back fence and a vertical handle . If they got number one , how did they get by with that fence ?
Why do you think their number one ? Im not knocking the tool. Ive heard they are nice saws , but we are talking number one here !!! lol
Tim Mooney
It is simply a better made tool!
What cheese said.
It takes a licking and keeps on ticking!
Any Half-way decent carpenter can make a taller custom fence in less than an hour.
Mr T
Always being right is it's own Reward!!!
:^D
So the great debate goes on . Thats what I was saying in my first post . Its like chevy and ford . Its never going to be settled. And by the way if no one had figgured it, Dewalt is my choice on this tool, but I am a Makita lover if given a heads up option. I dont think this decsion is heads up. Ive got dewalt by three lenghts across the finish line . Makita needs to get off their butt!!!
Tim Mooney
Tim,
Makita vs. Hitachi is like chevy vs. Ford. But Default is like a Yugo!
TDo not try this at home!
I am a trained professional!
I enjoy your humor .
Tim Mooney
I can see arguing Hitachi, Makita...maybe even allow for DeWalt...but Chevy and F*rd? No comparrison there, Tim. That's just going too far.
Brinkmann for president in '04
Jim you are right !!!! What was I thinking ?
I do know better,
Tim Mooney
Hitachi=Toyota/Lexus
Makita=Nissan
Dewalt=Yugo
Milwaukee=Ford
PC=Chevy
Metabo=Mercedes-Benz
Skil=M1A1 Abrahms Tank/ Humvee
Craftsman= Little tykes cozy coupe
Bosch= Audi 5000
Ryobi= Hyundai
........To be continued
TDo not try this at home!
I am a trained professional!
So, you think that nothing is as good as a Caddy ?.
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Unionville, Ontario
Philllll,
Chevy was about halfway down the list!
TDo not try this at home!
I am a trained professional!
One factor that hasn't been discussed is weight. I think the Makita and Dewalt are both really nice saws and I know I would have been happy with either of them. Because I work alone, however, I went for the Makita because it weighs about eleven pounds less than the Dewalt (46 lbs vs. 57 lbs). It's very easy for me to carry and set up the Makita by myself.
Very good point John. I leave my dewalt home most of the time and just use the chop saw. Same reason .
Tim Mooney
Tim, Like you, I use a 10-in. miter saw most of the time and only bring in my SCMS when I need it. My miter saw, which is a very civilized 25 lbs., handles about 95% of my crosscutting needs. I recently sold the Rockwell with the particleboard table that appears in my article in FHB #149. I bought it in 1987 for $185 and sold it last month for $40. I replaced it with a 10-in. Delta that cost an incredible $99. In the late 1970s, when I was paying $90 a month for rent, I gladly forked over $175 for a Black and Decker miter saw with a partical board table. My carpentry career goes back to the Iron Age of tools, so I greatly appreciate the light weight, precision and quality of the tools we now have.
I will further make my point . Makita is still riding on their little winner table saw . [great saw hands down] Why dont they make one of the bigger ones ? Why dont they make a better fence to compete with Dewalt . Dewalt offered an even higher fence in a chop saw, in doing that , now they have the best price on their old chop saw. [269.00 every day ] The prices have beat competition. They are thinking of features we buy. You may not like them , but they are kicking butt .
Tim Mooney
I wouldn't be surprised at all if Makita came out with a $400-$500 TS to compete with Dewalt, PC, Bosch, and Rigid.
Ken Hill
If your a professional Makita and Dewalt are pure crap-been there done that (2 Dewalts and 3 makitas). The only chop saw available right now is the Hitachi 10" slider. Its cheaper, has dual bevel(something I use on a daily basis), lasts a lifetime of abuse and cuts better than anything out there. Hitachi =profit. However the fence is not high enough for crown so I do keep a 12" dewalt running to use on the occasionall crown job.
I dunno, I tried the Hitachi not that long ago and didn't like it. On the other hand, I've used a couple of different DeWalt 706's (dual bevel mitre saw) and really appreciated it..
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Unionville, Ontario
I'm a hobbyist Alan, and I love my Makita, I looked and reaserched a lot before buying my SCMS, and I bought the 10" model. It's smooth, and cut's beautifully!!! I also looked at the Dewalt, and the Hitachi. The Makita was on sale and that clenched it.