Replies

1. 
   Mooney | Jul 28, 2002 03:58pm | #1

   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

2. 
   jc21 | Jul 28, 2002 04:45pm | #2

   Alan, what are your thoughts on the 1220? Just got one. Any quirks or things I should look out for?

1. 
   chefwong | Jul 28, 2002 04:52pm | #3

   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.

1. 
   jc21 | Jul 29, 2002 04:35am | #6

   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.

3. 
   MisterT | Jul 29, 2002 01:15am | #4

   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!

1. 
   Mooney | Jul 29, 2002 01:47am | #5

   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

1. 
   MisterT | Jul 29, 2002 01:55pm | #9

   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

1. 
   Mooney | Jul 29, 2002 03:12pm | #10

   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 

1. 
   MisterT | Jul 30, 2002 01:08am | #13

   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!

2. 
   Mooney | Jul 30, 2002 03:30am | #14

   I enjoy your humor .

   Tim Mooney

3. 
   jimblodgett | Jul 30, 2002 04:04am | #15

   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

4. 
   Mooney | Jul 30, 2002 04:27am | #17

   Jim you are right !!!! What was I thinking ?

   I do know better,

   Tim Mooney

5. 
   MisterT | Jul 30, 2002 02:10pm | #18

   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!

6. 
   PhillGiles | Jul 30, 2002 04:04pm | #19

   So, you think that nothing is as good as a Caddy ?.

   Phill Giles

   The Unionville Woodwright

   Unionville, Ontario

7. 
   MisterT | Jul 31, 2002 12:25am | #20

   Philllll,

   Chevy was about halfway down the list!

   TDo not try this at home!

   I am a trained professional!

8. 
   JCarroll38 | Aug 05, 2002 03:44pm | #21

   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.  

9. 
   Mooney | Aug 05, 2002 05:24pm | #22

   Very good point John. I leave my dewalt home most of the time and just use the chop saw. Same reason .

   Tim Mooney

10. 
    JCarroll38 | Aug 05, 2002 07:23pm | #23

    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.

2. 
   Mooney | Jul 29, 2002 03:21pm | #11

   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   

1. 
   KenHill3 | Jul 29, 2002 08:52pm | #12

   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

4. 
   cheezdic | Jul 29, 2002 05:57am | #7

   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.

1. 
   PhillGiles | Jul 29, 2002 09:09am | #8

   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

5. 
   Fabrizio | Jul 30, 2002 04:10am | #16

   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.