Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsNice - but lacking in power
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2014
I love Makita drills, and my first impression of this saw was that it was a keeper. I had purchased a Dewalt DWE575SB circular saw from a local store but second guessed myself after reading the great review about the Makita. They basically the same tier saw, both 7-1/4" with dust blowers and electric brakes. A really nice feature of the Makita is that it has LED lights that shine on the spot where the blade meets the wood. If the saw is plugged in then the lights are on, which is a great safety feature so you don't leave the saw plugged in accidentally (in addition to nice illuminating your cut). I wish the Dewalt had this feature. Each saw felt slightly different in your hands when ripping or cross cutting, but both cut extremely well.
I couldn't decide which saw I liked better, but I was leaning towards the Makita due to both the light, and my faith in Makita products in general, BUT then again the Dewalt had a three year warranty while the Makita had only a one year. The Makita had a better depth of cut gauge with 1/4" markings while the Dewalt did not, but the Dewalt had a detailed bevel setting allowing you to [more] accurately set an exact bevel, while the Makita only showed the three most common settings (22.5, 45, and 57 I think).
I was at an impasse once again. Both appeared to cut well at a 45 degree bevel when cutting through 3/4" pine. The winner became apparent when I decided to through one last test at the saws; cross-cutting a 45 degree bevel through a pine 2x4. To do this the saw had to be set close to its maximum cutting depth. While the Dewalt cruised through the cut like a champ, the Makita slowed, choked, and ultimately forced me to stop the cut and remove the saw. I tried again in a different spot but experienced the same lack of power. I even tried switching the blades between the two saws and was surprised to see that the Makita was able to make it through the cut with the Dewalt blade, but just barely. The Dewalt, now fitted with the blade from the Makita, was still able to get through the cut, but with noticeably more difficultly than before.
The bottom line was that, when put to the test, the Dewalt circular saw was more powerful than the Makita, and the Dewalt stock blade performed better in a deep beveled cut than the stock Makita blade. While blades are relatively inexpensive, and I probably won't be doing many deep, beveled cuts, I can't see spending $140 on a saw and just keeping my fingers crossed that it won't get stuck in something down the road.
I wish the Dewalt had a light and a better depth of cut gauge, but head to head its a better saw then the Makita.
