Professional Builder’s Tibby Singh finds the Makita Cordless Slide Compound Mitre Saw XGT LS002G comfortably makes the cut.
A chop saw is a must have tool for any carpenter. I’ve used many throughout my career, so I was looking forward to testing out Makita’s 40V 216mm Cordless Slide Compound Mitre Saw XGT LS002G to see if it’s cut above the rest.
I was surprised to see how compact and feel how light the mitre saw is, which is ideal for many uses and making it particularly convenient when it comes to taking it through tight gaps like a loft space. Thanks to the rail forward design, which allows the saw to be placed close to the wall, it’s also space saving.
A cordless machine maximises portability and means there’s no trailing leads. That doesn’t, however, mean you have to compromise on power because it delivers a no-load speed of 4,800rpm, and cuts through the timber with ease under load. Considering just how compact the tool is, it can still crosscut up to 312mm with a cutting depth of 70mm and that makes it ideal for most carpentry and joinery tasks.
An important feature from a health and safety perspective is the soft start feature with an electric brake. In addition, as it clicks into place at the standard increments, you can really feel the quality of the saw. There’s no play or movement ensuring an accurate cut every time. At the same time, you can set it to any angle and lock it into place from the knob at the front. There’s an LED work light to improve visibility. I personally prefer an LED light as opposed to a laser line as it gives you a true accurate line to work to. Something that surprised me was that the knob for the bevel adjustment is also at the front so, unlike like other saws, there’s no need to reach to the back, avoiding straining your back.
The Auto–start Wireless System (AWS) connects to a compatible dust extractor via Bluetooth. I connected it to the Makita Cordless M Dust Extractor and, like a corded extractor, it does a very good job of sucking the dust. Like the saw, this extractor has some great features, such as the plastic tank with water drain, so it can be used as a wet/dry extractor. It also allows you to turn it on and off manually from the saw. This is perfect when you finish, so you can give the saw a quick clean before wrapping up.
Cutting to the chase, Makita’s 40v 216mm Cordless Slide Compound Mitre Saw XGT is impressive. It might be small but it’s certainly a mighty Makita machine that can undertake most tasks at hand!
For further information on the Makita Cordless Slide Compound Mitre Saw XGT LS002G visit LS002G – Slide Compound Mitre Saw XGT® (makitauk.com)
