The New 10” Miter Saw from Makita LS1016L is now available and I was lucky enough to get a chance to demo this unit. I had seen different marketing and press information on this unit and to be honest I had pretty high expectations when I finally got my hands on it.
Freakin Laser Beams
The unit I had was the LS1016L, which I am assuming the L is for Laser. Makita did some nice things here where they put a micro adjust on the handle, so you can control if you want the laser on the cut edge or left or right. They also put an on/off switch so you can simply turn it off, brilliant. Let’s spend no more time debating lasers usefulness and simply turn it off if you don’t want to use it.
Sliding Rail System
By having 2 pairs of independent rails, this 4 rail slide system is incredibly compact and does not require a huge work area behind the saw. I tested this unit out on an outdoor workbench behind the shop which would be way to shallow for any other sliding miter saws. This also makes the saw much more compact for travel and easier to carry around. Total weight out of the box is only 52lbs, so that also helped make it easier to lug around. Also either set of rails can also be locked if you don’t need all that travel. Each rail features 6 linier ball bearing and while I’m not sure what other saws have I can tell you the sliding motion on the Makita is exceptional smooth and very sturdy.
Working the Angles
The one touch miter locking system is very clever and easy to use. There are the standard set positions but it is also incredibly easy to lock the saw into any other measurement simply by letting up on the trigger once you have it in position. It does a real nice job of holding the angle, even before you tighten it down. The scale has also been moved to the front, where it should be. The bevel angle is also very easy to adjust using the large rear handle which is very accessible from either side of the saw. The 4-3/4” dual sliding fence features a top and bottom adjustment on either side to really get the perfect support when making beveled cuts.
Making the Cut
This is a of course a 10” saw but is has some features that make it work as good as or even better than a 12” in some cases. The clearance height allows for 4-3/4” vertical clearance or 6-5/8” nested, for crown moldings. The powerful 15 amp motor is angled and out of the way for a clear line of sight on the work surface. The slide action allows for the LS1016L to cut a full 12” wide cross cut at 90 degrees. The electronic speed control maintains the 3,200 RPM speed under load and the Soft Start feature made it very smooth to operate.
Added Touches
Some additional features that make the Makita saw easy to operate are the little extras like the vertical clamp. This clamp can easily be moved around to several fixed locations on the saw and you do not need to secure it to the saw in anyway. As you tighten the clamp to the material it automatically tightens itself to the saw. I could lift the whole saw by the clamp but the second you loosen the material, the clamp is again free to move to another location on the saw. Also I thought it was pretty cool that they made the work surface 4.5”, the exact height of 3 stacked 2”x4”. So for about $2 you can make yourself an extended work supports in a pinch.
Conclusion
Overall the Makita DXT 10" Miter Saw LS1016L lived up to my high hopes. I was really impressed by the quality of production with the heavy base and just an all around solidly built tool. This has got to be one of the best 10” miter saws on the market today and could hold its own against many 12” saws. Priced at $589 on OhioPowerTool.com, which is very reasonable for a professional quality miter saw like this.
