Feature: If you’re used to lugging a backbreaking fullsize slider in and out of the truck every day, this 28-lb. minimiter is going to make you feel like Zeus. Still, this saw’s dual-sliding tubes make it capable of crosscutting a 2×12. I was able to use the saw for 150 sq. ft. of trim cuts on a prefinished oak-flooring job before I needed to swap batteries—longer than I had expected and more than enough time for a second battery to recharge. Plus, this is one of 40 Makita tools designed to run off the 18v LXT battery.

Flaw: I wish the extension arms slid into the base of the saw. They take up too much room when not in use, but are clumsy to store separately from the saw. Also, the saw’s low fence and 71?4-in. blade effectively rule
out making cuts with the stock in an upright position or crown molding in the nested position. Finally, got disposable income? This saw costs about the same as a corded 12-in. sliding model ($520 for the tool only, $690 with two batteries and a charger).

Bottom line: The convenience of being untethered makes this saw perfect for quick cut-and-go jobs, remote setups like siding work done from scaffolding, or any job where a full-size miter saw and stand are overkill. That said, I would hesitate to buy this as my only miter saw, and I would not expect more from the saw than an 18v battery can reasonably provide. Small trim, flooring, and punch-list work? Yes, and then some. Framing, large stock, or stacked cuts? No; choose a corded model instead.