I am annoyed at those who would let 6 different people use a saw that don't have the foggiest notion of how it works, then get critical of it when it breaks. This saw has a dual release on the front to set the miters. One is a lever that is spring loaded and easily moves aside in order to not click into the detents at 90 or 45 degrees for example. (So you can set it at 90.5 and not have it fall into the 90 degree detent) The other release is a large knob that screws in to tighten, and screws out to release. If you leave it tightened in and force the saw to change it's setting, you are for sure scoring, stripping, and breaking the setting mechanism. br br Pertaining to the fence; With any tool you use, like a router, or a saw, you have to be careful to start the tool spinning fast before you enter it into the work. Have you ever experienced the run away router that was touching the work when you started it up? Well the same holds true of the Makita saw. Once or twice on my LS1212, I rushed into the cut before the blade was spinning, and the power took the piece and tried to force it through the fence. Spin first, plunge second. After that happened twice, I had to realign the fence. When someone does this on a regular basis, and then has to take the saw back for a replacement fence, it's the operators fault, not the saw. The fence is thick aluminum. Humidity has no effect on it whatsoever.br The adjusting lever for the bevel is located on the back of the slider, and of course it extends beyond the back of the stand. br I guess I am venting, because some have chosen to abuse this stellar piece of equipment, then return it trashed, and then try to convince others that the saw is at fault. I had to say something. So enough of the confusion, let's talk about the beauty of this saw. br The LS1013 is a brute workhorse, while at the same time an unbelievably perfectly accurate fine tool. Consider what Popular Woodworking had to say about it. "We can't recommend this tool enough. It's won every award this magazine gives out, and has earned a permanent place in our shop because it's tough and accurate." br Workbench Magazine gave its brother the LS1212 their editors choice award. Here is some of what they said about it. "Makita LS1212 proved to be the superior saw in this test on almost every count. It is compact, powerful, and dead on accurate. The saw made perfect bevels, miters, and compound cuts using only the factory detents for setup." br In ToolsOfTheTrade.com Tool test for sliding compound miter saws, without going into all of the elaborate criteria they used for each and every aspect of DSCMiters, they said in their Winners section; "Without a doubt, my overall favorite saw is the 10-inch Makita LS1013. The company's engineers really thought the design of this model through. br Personally I own the Makita LS1212 and it is a cornerstone of my shop. I used the Bosch Digital Protractor, which measures in tenths of a degree (equal to 3600 dots in a circle, no matter how small the circle) and measured the results in terms of accuracy right out of the box. This is it: The saw was dead on accurate, whether it was cutting a miter, a bevel or a compound miter-bevel cut, and wasn't off by even one-tenth of a degree. It is so quiet and smooth, I smile every time I use it. br Think of the engineering: Getting a saw to bevel both ways is a problem because when you tilt it to the right to bevel, the motor would normally get in the way. Some manufacturers put the motor at the back of the saw, and run belts to it. What Makita did, was still keep a direct drive by simply tilting the motor upwards at a 45 degree arc. Direct drive gives you the maximum amount of power, and zero vibration. br I could go on for hours about this saw. It comes with a blade that is such high quality, their is no need for an expensive replacement. It creates a glass smooth surface. With the dual bevel capability, and the Bosch digital protractor, you measure the real corner angle of the wall, (they are rarely a perfect 90) and it calculates the miter and bevel settings for cutting crown moldings. You lay the molding FLAT on the Makita, and cut a perfect crown the first time. No having to run up and down the ladder to keep tweaking it in. br Some may complain that the dust bag doesn't work very well. I throw my arms up in frustration hearing that also. How do you get a saw that is cutting forty million different angle combinations, and get it to throw all those shavings into a little throat. Production shops have a large collector behind their saws to catch all of the dust. It is amazing that the bag does the job that it does. Mine fills up with dust, but sure it doesn't get it all, none of them do. br I did a ton of research before buying my saw. I could tell you about the cheap plastic used in some of the competition. I could tell you about the saws that don't cut accurately, even on a simply 90 degree miter. Or the ones that cut the miter accurately, but falls short on the accuracy of the bevels. The ones that throw small pieces of wood flying at a 100 miles per hour, but I would rather just tell you that the Makita sliders are Simply the Best Compound Slider Out There. With the special going on right now, makes this a no brainer. I am so crazy about the Makita sliders that I ordered the LS1013 for portable use, even though I already have the LS1212 on a stand in my shop. Some reviews rate the 1013 higher than the 1212, due to a larger platform-work surface. It also has the crown detent, which the 1212 does not have. I love them both, now that I have been using them. Highly recommended. Triple AAA plus 5 stars.

I received my new saw a couple months ago and am extremely happy with it. I read through all the reviews of issues some people have had and ran into a few of them myself. They are good issues to have as it is important to recheck the mechanics and accuracy of the equipment before doing any detailed jobs. My saw kept losing it's positive stops angles when I was testing it out.
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br /My advice is when you get the saw - turn it over and tighten every screw and nut you find underneath. Then go through the maintenance steps in the manual and realign the blade tilt and fence - whether it needs it or not. Now you will have a great saw that is dead on accurate and confidence to maintain it's accuracy when ever needed.
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br /Enjoy!!!

You'll find me somewhere down the list about a year ago. I use this saw every day. I cut and/or cut and cope large base, large case, and large crown even 16" bullnose shelving on custom homes. I even flip the shelving over because it is wider than the cut, still dead on. I even straight cut cope joints, and the blade follows the bevel perfectly. In some houses the preference is Oak, and the cuts are knifejoint. Everyone I work with has one, swears by them. Just as good as the day I got it. It is not stationary either, it rides around morning and night on a shelf in my trailer. I couldn't begin to count, even in a day, how many times the base has swiveled, rails have slid, bevel has been changed, and the saw has started,and it's just as accurate as the day I got it. I make my living with this saw, I am very satisfied and I am still Impressed.

Please disregard the 1 Star rating. I don't even own this saw. It's just that I'm sick and tired of reading manufacturers advertisements and rebuttals to their competitors "reviews" in these forums. Jay Concepcion, please clarify for me: You reviewed both the 1013 and 1013L less than a month apart. First you say you have no use for a laser as part of your 1013 review, then less than a month later you're writing a review for the 1013L (same as 1013 but with a laser). By the way, when you write your review for the next Makita saw you might as well just include a link to the Makita website. Let's see now....how many Makita saws do you own now? 42? I'm sick of all of these manufacturer's reps. convoluting "consumer" review forums everywhere. I need to buy a sliding dual bevel miter saw right away. I don't have time to weed through all of the bogus "reviews" to find actual end-user reviews. I don't know that I can trust any review, any where, any more. How can anyone rely on any of the reviews on this website or any other for honest, unbiased and objective information from actual end users? I'm curious, why are these reps. so quick to discount all of the professional review sources that use actual craftsmen to test their saws in head-to-head comparisons? What better way is there to separate performance and quality of fit and finish issues than a hands-on comparison? If tools are tested against one another and rated based upon the results, then the only thing left to determine is their actual durability in the field over time.
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br /A true "end-user" of a tool should give me real, useable feedback that would be useful in making a purchasing decision. I don't need a manufacturer's rep. to cut and paste from their brochures and try to pass it off as a review. This is a note to all of you reps.! Please let the real consumers use forums like this to exchange true information regarding our actual experiences with the tools in question and let the best tools win.

I did a lot of homework before settling on this saw. Actually, I settled on the saw before even begining my research. I had used the Makita 10" saw at a couple of different jobs, and knew I wanted one. I just had to check out the field before dropping $400.00.
br /I have many friends in the construction business, guys that use and abuse tools for a living. Every one of them reaffirmed what I already knew: Makita tools in general, and Makita miter saws in particular stand out above all others. The old guys at every hardware store (always talk to the older guys) I visited recommended the LS1013, or the LS1212 above the other brands, and usually the 10" Makita over the 12". I have a friend that uses a Hitachi miter saw, but even he prefers my Makita.
br /I own an entire fleet of makita tools, and have never had a single problem with any of them. Everything Makita makes kicks butt. I will give the jigsaw category to Bosch, though, and the nod in the worm drive saw category must surely go to the venerable Skil Mag 77. All my air nailers are Porter-Cable, and they also make some very good drills and sanders (but I like the Mak sanders better). Milkwaukee makes a great impact wrench and of course the ubiquitous Sawzall. Other companies make some good stuff, but Makita is always at the top in every category. If all you buy is blue, you'll probably be OK.
br /Operation of the LS1013 is incredibly smooth and very precise. All the parts are well made, solid, durable, and function well. It's like a sports car for woodworking. Nothing on it feels flimsy at all. The Bosch saws that I looked at in the store all had broken plastic pieces from just being handled on the display table! This saw has no laser guide, but I think most woodworkers consider a laser guide on a saw to be unnecessary at best, and at worst a silly gimmick or even a liability. I for one don't trust lasers more than my eyes and my square. It is so ridiculously easy to line up a cut with this saw, that laser could not help at all, and would simply be a potential weak point in the system. I read a review from a fellow who seems to think the Makita saw is responsible for injuring his hand. This guy could maybe benefit from a laser. If the little red line is on your hand- don't cut! Actually, this guy should probably stick to prefab, snap-together Walmart projects and leave the sharp tools alone.
br /My LS1013 was dead-on accurate right out of the box. Cuts are right on target, adjustments are easy and intuitive. Markings are clear and the action is flawless and glass smooth. I didn't even bother to try the dust bag, instead I simply inserted the hose from my smaller ShopVac into the dust collector outlet on the saw. Very little dust escapes this system. The stock blade cuts very nicely, and does not need to be immediately upgraded, as on many other models. That'll save you another hundred bucks right there. Still, as easy as the machine is to use- read the manual, so you will not accidentally bugger up your machine or yourself being stupid. The guys that complain about the adjustments or locks going out have obviously done something wrong and misused the saw. There is simply no way that the adjustments can fail under proper use. Even years of heavy use. It is high performance tool, let it do the work. You don't have to wrench down on the locks or throw the table through adjustments and into detents. You don't have to baby it, either-just treat it right and it will do the same for you.
br /Bottom line: Save yourself some time and maybe money by buying this saw. You don't need to read the reviews- go handle the saws at the store. The Makita will simply feel like a rock solid, precision instrument, because that is what it is. The competition really only are in competition with each other, not the Makita saws. You really can't go wrong with this saw. Best $400.00 I ever spent. You know you want it....
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If you do quite a bit of wood working/cutting, having ANY sliding compound miter saw is a 'must have' tool. I've found this Makita saw to be a joy. It's extremely sturdy when making the cuts, the cuts are clean, and, overall, the tool is built with quality parts...nothing seems to be 'cheesy' or 'cheap'. I've had a chance to use a couple other miter saws and noticed the difference in feel; the cuts were good but they didn't feel as sound and sturdy. Although it's priced on the high side for 10" [sliding] compound miter saws, if you can spare the extra money for it you won't be sorry...it's a great tool, a great investment.

I have a small shop where I make furniture and childrens toys. I shopped around for a while in search of a good compound miter saw. I was looking for a saw with the least lateral deflection, and that could accurately crosscut wide boards. After visiting my local home center stores, I wasn't very impressed by the quality of the Rigid, Hitachi or the Dewalt. They seemed to have a lot of deflection, and the Hitachi handle had a plastic creak that I didn't care for. They were also 12" blade models, which is overkill for my small shop, and the price soars around $600.
br /After ordering my saw from amazon, I recieved it within a few days using the free shipping. I unpacked it, and tried it out. The 90 degree cut was off a degree or two. I found the screws that hold the positive stop, and set it perfectly.
br /Now I have completed three medium sized projects, and I am very happy with the performance and value of this saw. I am able to cross-cut one inch planks that are over 12 inches wide. The table and the fence are ample, the slides work well, and the angle settings are easy to read and adjust. The cut quality even with the factory blade is superb with hard and soft woods. The saw is very quiet, easy to use, and even has a small lamp to help see your cut lines (No laser though).
br /I love this saw, and it has become part of the family of tools in my shop. I would recommend it to anyone.

I have the larger 12" C/Miter saw. I needed something LIGHTER for job site, crown / base etc... I thought about the Hitachi but I want the ability to bevel both ways so this was my choice. First the soft start is AWESOME! My older 12" starts like your trying to hold a gyro, shut off is even worse. Not this one. My first thought was "Oh great something's wrong". The action fore and aft is smooooth, bevel detents that are strong enough that I don't bother to tighten the bevel clamp I can swing it over from 45R to 45L. The fence is pretty short but that's what you get with a compound miter. So far it has not been a problem. I did have some really small pieces of birch trim to miter I simply made a fence using 1/2 birch ply to keep the little pieces from flying.
br /As far as transporting someone did there homework. There is a handle on top that is very well balanced making it quite easy to pick up and travel. All in all I had to swallow at the price but after using it on site and in the shop, (I prefer it to the 12") I would buy it again.
br /BTW I have friends that use the Hitachi 8 and 10" they all agree the Makita is a bit better saw for our trade (Cabinetry).
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I used to have a Bosch, the Bosch positive stops were 1/16" out of square on 12". Also, the switch gave out, and the motor got weaker with 1 year of use. I decided to sell it b4 it conked out, and replace it with this one. After owning this one for 6 months of every day use (in a professional cabinet shop) here is my take.
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br /Pros:
br /Quiet smooth operation
br /Very accurate
br /Soft start a must for detail work
br /Motor angled, allows easy viewing of work
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br /Cons:
br /Wimpy miter lock knob/slide lock knob
br /Inadequate fence system, I've wished many times over it has a flip-down fence system at least 2-1/4" high on both sides of the blade. Flip down fence stop on right side broke when saw blade jammed on a small piece of wood. Would not have happened if it wasn't aluminum.
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br /I'm not sure yet if there is any sliding miter saw that has it all, I've used Dewalts from other contractors on installations and they aren't really "my cup of tea." I don't have extensive experience with the Hitachi, my uncle-in-law has one and he seems to like it.

There are a couple of reviews that just do not fit! This saw is built and it functions as advertised. As smooth as you could ever imagine.... the slide -the table -the bevel adjustments. It is precise, durable, fast and it even looks good!
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br /It Is a high quality well constructed tool. You will appreciate everything about this saw.

I have had the saw for about 3 months now. I have found it to be very capable in all applications. I am still not sure that i like the angle guage on the side, all of my other saws have had the scale on the front and I think that I may like that a little better. There is plenty of power, the table rotates easily and tilts just as well. The blade is as good as the other reviews have indicated. But as I see time and again in these reviews there was some minor shipping damage to the table and miter scale. They were obviously caused by the way the saw was packed by Makita, not amazon's fault, I just decided to live with it, no big deal.
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br /Basically for the price it is the best sliding saw out there, the rebate offer is an added incentive which just sweetens the deal.

I'm a contractor who demands a lot from my tools. I've owned the Makita LS1013 for 3+ years and am in the market for a new saw. I really liked the saw's features when I first purchased it, but I had to bring it in to a Makita repair shop within the first year. Ever since it has been on the road to ruin. I've had it worked on five times having had the miter locking mechanism replaced twice, the safety switch replaced twice (it falls out and gets lost - I now have a screw in its place), the fence replaced once (now needing its second replacement), switch replaced; miter bearing track under the table replaced twice (again the aluminum against steel thing); etc....pPositives of the saw: Tilted Motor (convenient powerful), self cleaning sliders, wide base.pNegatives: Miter locking mechanism is a threaded steel rod going into aluminum housing which quickly strips (I'm on #3); aluminum fence warps (I'm on #2 and now need #3 - I think this is due to seasonal temperature changes it experiences in the back of my pick-up truck); rear bevel lock requires clearance deeper than the table; slop in the miter angle detents (they wear out).pI would recommend this saw to cabinetmakers, picture framers and those who have a shop set-up. For people like me who need a saw to hold up from job-site to job-site, this isn't your saw. Beware of too many features and too much aluminum, it just means there is more to go wrong. I'd gladly trade in the weight of a cast iron base and fence saw like they used to make because they hold up. For now, I'm going back to the Hitachi (not the version with the laser). pKeep in mind, power tools made today are priced low because they are considered disposable. I suppose 3 years of everyday use might be considered a decent life span against the money it has allowed me to make. Still, I'd prefer fewer features for longevity and toughness.

My saw arrived 7 days after date of order, in good order and needing only minimal set up. From the first it has performed well above my expectations. The slide is smooth as silk, the cuts with the included blade are so smooth that sandpaper would damage them. Of great use is the depth stop, which has allowed the cutting of half lap joints in long stock with ease. I am very pleased.

I researched saws for months and read the reviews here at amazon. We decided on the makita and purchased it prior to begining an extensive trim job. My initial review of the saw was very very good. The only concern I had was that the miter did not lock as tightly as I would have liked. As we used the saw daily, the saw began to deteriate. One thing to mention is that the saw was on a job-sight being used by a number of different employees my self included. Not in a controlled environment or by people that necessarly baby tools. The saw worked fine throughout the base and casement work. Then came the 600 lin. feet of 8" crown where the saw was being mitered and beveled all day. Here are the problems that developed.br1. The miter lock eventually did not lock at all no matter how tight you turned the knob. We took apart the saw to find that locking was produced when a steel bar presses in on an aluminum slot. The aluminum had worn away and the steel had nothing left to press on. This problem makes a difficult crown job all the more difficult. We ended up jamming a shim along the side to lock the miter.br2. The center bolt that the miter pivots on loosened. We dicovered this not only by the wobble, but also by the grinding the saw made when the miter was moved. We removed the plastic and attempted to tighten the bolt. But it only then loosened every time the saw was swung to the right. The problem is that the only thing holding the bolt is a dab of lock-tight from the factory. This can be temperarly fixed, but we didn't have lock-tight on the job that day. The wobble left, but the grinding didn't. br3. The pre-set miter positions loosened beyond the accuracy needed for crown molding. Again the problem was the steel eventually wore the aluminum sloppy.pThese are design issues. Some other anoyances are as follows:br1. The miter lock knob requires to many turns to snug.br2. The bevel lock design allows it to become sticky with saw dust after a short period of use.br3. At steep bevel/miter cuts, the plastic blade guard hooks on the materiel preventing the saw from moving.br4. The bevel degrees are aligned on the side of the saw not the front. You have to then blow the saw dust off to read them.pIn conclusion, The motor and slides worked flawlessly. With the freud blade we used, the cuts were smooth. For long term durability, this is not the saw to own unless you don't do bevel and miter cuts often. We returned the saw and I am on the hunt for another.

I purchased this saw about 6 months ago after hemming and hawing about the price and whether to buy new, used, or another brand.
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br /finally I bit the bullet, getting the $25 standard Amazon discount and selling the included drill to a friend for close to $100, it turned out to be a lot cheaper than used and reconditioned saws were selling on ebay.
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br /Boy am I glad I did. This tool is effortless to use and makes very clean, precise cuts. My only complaint if any is that it would be nice if they offered an adaptor to connect the device to your shop vac or dust collector as cutting a lot of wood you can create a lot of dust. Instead I'll have to figure out how to rig one up.
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br /Overall I can say this is the best tool in my shop.
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Out of the box precision. Large work area. Great cutting capacity. Beautifully constructed. A pleasure to work with. pI originally purchased the LS1212, but did not like the smaller working surface though it is slightly quieter with a somewhat larger motor (15 amps vs 13 amps). This saw is marginally smaller and cheaper by over $150. That savings will be put into a Rousseau stand. The cutting capacity of this saw is for all practical purposes the same as its larger brother. pI would recommend this saw over its bigger brother UNLESS you have a specific application requiring the larger saw.

After a couple of years of researching sliding miter saws, I settled on the LS1013. Using this saw has definitely been a pleasure. After receiving the saw, I checked all the factory settings and they were right on. The blade cuts the smoothist crosscut I've ever seen. It can handle 4x4 stock with little problem. Dust collection is adequate. I hooked mine to a vacuum and seems to collect the majority of the dust, more than other miter saws I've used.
br /If I had a complaint, the right hand fence is pretty short(about 1 inch in height) and getting used to the right sided miter gauge. If you are undecided about a miter saw, you will not be disappointed with this one. I could not find any drawbacks other reviewers have noted.

I passed the Bosch 10 incher up for this one for two reasons--I've used it before with fantastic results, and it's made in the USA! You won't be disappointed--the other reviews here with 5 stars have said it all.

Woodworking has become a new hobby of mine. In addition, I have recently bought a house and have tons of home improvement projects on my list. I bought this saw based on many of the top reviews I have seen; I was not dissapointed. It was indeed almost perfect right out of the box. The blade that comes with it is fantastic. I have already done some moulding projects and it was an ease using this saw. It is a great addition to my growing workshop. I would recommend this to anyone. Granted you could probably get a saw cheaper but I firmly believe you get what you pay for. And here you get a great saw!

Thanks to all who have contributed past reviews of the LS1013. Yourinput weighed heavily in my decision to go with this model and I ammore than satisfied with that decision. The saw cuts 'glass smooth', as advertised, and was adjusted perfectly, out of the box. I love the soft start motor and positive detents in the miter carriage. I always feel in complete control of this saw, unlike other mitre saws that I have used in the past that did not employsoft start and the exceptionally smooth sliding rails. So thanks again.

I spent a considerable amount of time handling and researching the SCM saws currently available. Most were disappointing for various reasons. The Makita LS1013 is not perfect. However, it seems to be very well engineered, manufactured, and assembled. The table turns with little effort, there is minimal head deflection, and the the rail design produces smooth as silk operation. I have checked 45 (including compound cut) and 90 degree accuracy with a Woodpeckers Precision Aluminum Square (tool is guaranteed accurate to within .001 inch) and found the saw's settings to be correct right out of the box. The 13 amp motor is plenty powerful and provides an illustration of the ingenuity found in Makita's engineers. Look at the orientation of the motor. It is mounted on an angle to increase cutting capacity and allow direct drive. Some of the other manufacturers use belt drives which can slip and cause unwanted vibration. The LS1013's cutting capacity is nearly identical to most twelve inch SCM saws on the market. Whether cutting trim or wide boards this saw has tackled the job with aplomb, producing very accurate and easy cuts. The low right side fence is the primary reason I say the saw is not perfect. A taller right fence accessory can be purchased if necessary. The brackets for a DeWALT DW723 Miter Saw Stand will fit the Makita LS1013. Overall, I am very pleased with this saw.

I own many Makitta tools and have yet to be disappointed in a single one. I do not buy by brand but do research and try every major tool before I purchase it. I selected the Makitta 10' sliding compound from both reviews and use of the saw. It is by far the Mercedes of miters. Smooth operation and a start up that definately puts it in the Mercedes class. No better on the market. Mine was purchased to replace a radial arm saw. Would not like to have the old radial back, this new boy does it all!

After reading several reviews on-line, and visiting with my local tool suppier convinced me the extra money for the Makita was a wise choice. I'm not a contractor by trade but as a weekend warrior, I get into plenty of differant projects to keep me busy a long time. I seriously looked at the Dewalt DW706 for its capacity and double bevel feature. I found that the Makita has almost the same depth of cut as any 12" saw out there and a much wider cutting capacity than a non-slider 12". Couple that with the fact that its as light as any 12" saw, is more versital, and replacement blades are cheeper to get. I bought the saw. I found that after the first use, the locking handle for the table turn lock would bind with the slide lock handle when used. When I locked the table the slide would bind up. A quick trip back to the store for a tool swap cured that problem. The second saw did not have the same problem as the first, it was probably a fluke that I got a defective one. Hey, it happens sometime. I soon put it to work installing a couple hundred feet of crown molding. I found the cuts to be flawless. This is one of those stock blades that you don't have to replace before you use the saw. The angle and bevel cuts were right on the money and the double bevel feature made it easy to cut the trim without flipping the boards around all the time. I would recommend this saw to anyone. One thing to watch out for. I found that when a small cut is made, about an inch or so, the small piece of wood, would get thrown back behind past the saw. Make sure no one is standing behind the saw when its being used. I never had this problem with any of the other saws I've used in the past. All in all, an excellant saw.

Just got this saw and have only made a few cuts, but I love it already. The cuts are incredibly clean, even when using the blade that came with the saw. The action is very smooth. The big table is definitely a plus, The miter adjusts easily and smoothly. The bevel adjustment could be a little better, but it is not bad. A couple people said the saw does not do both right and left bevels, but that is not true. It was a little off right out of the box, but it was easy to get aligned. All in all, I think I made the right decision.

Simple and easy with a very smooth operation. I very much like the way the blade guard covers entire blade.

Simply the best slider out there! To the wood burner guy: you probably have the blade on backwards!

After a great deal of research, my choice was down to the Bosch 4410L 10 in, The Dewalt DW 718 12 in, and the the Makita LS1013 10 in. Unless your task often calls for crosscutting 12 in boards w/out flipping, a 10 in saw is sufficient for 99% of the jobs you'll do. As I compared the saws and ruled out the extra expense of the 12in saws, it was down to the Bosch and the Makita. After test driving both, I decided on the Makita for several reasons. 1. the price was right ($389) 2. I really liked the soft start (No torque on trigger pull), and 3. I really liked the minimalist design. At only 46 lbs and a powerful 13Amp motor, the Makita won. Quick and easy set up right out of the box, I began cutting crown molding at 22 1/2 and 45 with surgical precision. The clamp for holding work is a great touch and the adjustable fence moves easily from right to left. Dust collection is somewhat sketchy however but not very important to me. Save the trouble of flourescent lights and laser guides and do yourself and your wallet a favor and go for the Makita LS1013! You wont regret it!

I love this miter saw, my only problem with it is that I have to keep truing the fence, and it seems a little to fragile to take on the job site. I think one of my carpenters is forgetting about the soft start and plunging the blade into the wood before it comes up to speed. The price has dropped and I would definately recommend it.

This is a dead-on accurate piece of art right out of the box. I use it in shop for many fine furniture cuts that need to be tuxedo accurate instead of using my radial arm saw. In the rough construction field, it works all day long on a small honda (2000) generator with no complaints. If you knock it out of alignment from roughing it up too much in the field (all saws will suffer from this fate,) just take the time to square it up, and you're good to go again! I have found absolutely no issues with this product

I BOUGHT THE MAKITA LS1013 DUAL BEVEL SLIDE MITER SAW FROM AMAZON, AND I COULDN'T BE MORE PLEASED.I GOT AN EXCELLENT DEAL AND THE SAW ARRIVED EXACTLY WHEN THEY SAID IT WOULD. IT ARRIVED IN EXCELLENT SHAPE AND WORKED PERFECTLY. I HAVE USED THIS MODEL OF SAW BEFORE, AS WELL AS HITACHI, DELTA, SKIL, CRAFTSMAN, AND OTHERS. IN THE HITACHI I'VE USED THE 8 1/2" AND 10". HITACHI DEFINITELY WOULD BE MY NEXT CHOICE. HOWEVER, MAKITA IS MY FAVORITE! THANKS FOR A GREAT SAW!

After getting fed up with all of the gimmicks and hype of most of the current mitresaws, I finally decided it was time to get a saw that could do the job consistently and accurately. I purchased the Makita ls1013 and won't go back to any other brand period.
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br / Let me start off by telling you why this saw is the one of the best selling saws of all time (with good reason)! This is the only saw on the market with three bearings that support the slide rail system. Everyone else uses one linear ball-bearing and one bushing, while Makita uses all linear ball bearings plus one more than the competition! So with (all bearing construction, no bushings) nothing to wear out and adjust, its no wonder why this saw continues to be regarded with the best "slide action" available today! They are also self-cleaning rails as well. The turn-table is big, larger than about 90% of the saws available! The only saws with big tables are Porter-Cable, Ridgid, and Delta, etc. DeWalt, Hitachi, Bosch, etc. all have small turn-tables. The advantage of this is to help support larger stock. It has the deepest saw extensions available (distance from fence forward, not the length of extension). Most saws have saw supports that attach to the side(s) of the saw (made of usually steel rod). This is good, as it adds more support to a work piece. Unfortunately, most are only 3 to 4 inches deep, while Makita's are 7 to 8 inches deep. So the saw can support wider boards easier than most others. For example if you look at the Bosch 4410L extensions vs. Makita's you'll see the difference! By the way, the Makita extensions are standard, most everyone else is like a $40.00 add-on. The turn-table turns really nice and smooth; it allows easy positioning of mitre angles. A lot of other saws tend to bind and screech after prolonged use (smoothness is appreciated).
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br / The bevel action and stops are second to none. Out of the box the accuracy of the bevels and mitres are right on the money. I have used all other slider brands and have found Makita's consistency impeccable! The fence, and no one has this feature, allows the vertical clamp (comes standard) to be positioned in 5 places. This is great for when having to make a variety of cuts. It actually makes cutting safer. I bought another vertical clamp so both sides have one. The right-sided mitre scale is a little weird, and takes time to get used to. But since the degree markings are big, it allows for easy adjustment. I have found that the saw does not slip into the detents when wanting to make 1/2 degree cuts off detent mitres (e.g. 90.5 degrees)! This is great for finish work. The left-sided flip fence is good for doing 4 inch crown moulding; and flips out of the way when not needed!
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br / The handle position is nice for right and left-handed operation! Power-head deflection (side-to-side) movement is non-existent. This is great because having a saw that makes wavy cuts due to head-slop is not a good thing. Adjustments: bevel, fence, blade changes, can be made quickly and efficiently using the handy (provided) 13 mm wrench; I can change the blade in under a minute flat-all with one tool, not two or three. The front knob is great for stopping the slide action if need be. I can turn the slider into a chopsaw at the turn of a knob. It is the only saw to come with a small plastic triangular set-square to help calibrate the saw when needed. Use this square to setup the bevel (90 degree) and 45 degree left / right bevel; with this square and the 13 mm wrench it takes only minutes to calibrate, not hours like MOST other saws. If you have ever noticed how some saws tip when you use them; the large footprint of the Makita prevents such issues.
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br / There are a couple of downers with this machine though. The right fence is only 1 1/8 inch tall, so for large work you may need to add a piece of RUSSIAN BALTIC BIRCH as a fence, or buy the Makita sub-fence if you want to. Also, the saw does not go up to 60 degrees! But other than that, the saw is as close to perfect as one can get! There is the version with the laser, LS1013L (15 amp motor not 13 amp), this the same saw but with the laser, you cannot go wrong with either. I personally found no use for the laser so that is why I bought the jus the LS1013; I admit though that it is a nice feature!
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br / I put a Ridge Carbide RS-1000, 80 tooth, slider blade on and the cuts could NOT be better! Even better than a Forrest Chopmaster and Miter Master! I own all three blades! I have cut everything under the sun: 5/4 walnut, 19 mm Baltic birch, 2 x 12's, 4 x 4's, and even teak, with absolutely no bogging down or struggling-this saw has the muscle and endurance to go the distance! I have owned belt driven sliders (dewalt and bosch)before and from my own personal experience, they do NOT have the power of direct-drive saws. Where Makita's hypoid (45 degree angle, direct-drive motor) provides ample power for even the most demanding jobs. And at 13 AMP it won't trip your breakers either. It is also quieter than most sliders too! Do yourself a favour and buy the right machine for your needs; getting the MAKITA LS1013 will actually enhance your woodworking experience!
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br /** I am NOT a makita rep. I just give honest opinions of what I think about the saw's characteristics. I do apologize if I am too pro Makita, but as compared to what is currently available, I personally feel it is the best saw (for the reasons that I have stated). Also, the technical information I give is not in any other on amazon.com!

I bought the first model of this saw when it came out. It started to have parts come loose and fall off. The first thing to come loose was the two screws that are on the base of the saw that hold deten rod so the saw would not go direct to 0 or any of the stops, easy to fix. Then the rubber feet came out, I’m a finish carpenter so it gets moved a lot. Then the screw that holds the handle for the compound tip handle fell out. I could have got a lemon. Having the miter angle indicator on the right is a real problem, if you have a board on the table it covers the indicator, if you are doing a left hand miter you have to walk over to the right to see the indicator. If you are doing left hand miter with the compound tipped to the right it hard to see the indicator. On miters say a 45 degree cut the first cut you make is fine but if you need to trim little off and stat the cut with saw blade all the way out and cut in to your work the guard hangs up on the point of the work. It does the same thing if you miter and have a compound on it. Moving the saw to compound is all so not as easy as some saws, it takes more than a quarter turn and sometimes a three quarter turn to get the saw to tip. The slide release has to be tighten extremely tight to keep the saw slide in place. The saw cuts well even on compound, it is very durable. The compound stops can be adjusted to go over 45 degrees is a handy. It’s not a bad saw, and it gets a lot of use, and I have done a lot of good work with it. As much as I use it the negative that I mentioned gets annoying. I’ve used the Hitachi C10FSB and it is a better match for the way I work and doesn’t have the things that annoy me. The saw has not needed any repair and will probably last for a long time with just a change in brushes. It still slides well and the bearings seem fine (no blade wobble).

Let me get my one complaint out of the way right up front. The box this thing comes in has no padding in it. There are a few chunks of cardboard around it, but that's it. I was surprised it wasn't beat up when it arrived. Luckily, the only damage was a few scratches on the back of the table from the two metal wings that were free floating around in the box.pOkay, with that out of the way, let's get to the good stuff. Dang, this is a NICE saw! I am very pleased with the feel, fit and finish, all very high quality. Right out of the box, the only adjustment I had to make to square it up was a slight tweak to the bevel angle. Which brings to me to one point of caution, I did not find the instructions for fixing this to be too helpful, in fact they occurred as misleading. Perhaps I was just reading them wrong. Once I gave up following them and realized what needed to happen, it was trued up in seconds. The process is much simpler than is written about.pOn to the cutting. I'm sure the factory blade is very nice, but I put Freud blades on all my 10" saws. I have an 80 tooth finishing blade and a 24 tooth ripper, both are SOOOOOO nice. The 80 tooth produces a cut that is incredibly smooth, absolutely no sanding needed.pI've cut pine, red oak, maple and some funky Asian hardwood and it glides right through on crosscuts like the wood's not even there. Ripping is similar on softer woods, though maple let's you know how dense it is. No real effort, just slower cutting.pAs others have mentioned, the dust collection is not great. Mine is always attached to my shop vac, which grabs ~maybe~ 50%. I have discovered that bringing the blade down at the front and pushing into the wood causes better collection. Just dropping the blade down like a chopsaw sprays dust everywhere except into the dust chute.pI sprung for the right sub fence, extra vertical vise as well as the horizontal vice. I've used them all quite a bit now, which is good concidering the cost. My only concern here is that you can't place the vices where ever you want them, they only go in pre-designed spots. This limits their usefullness on small work pieces.pOh, a word about clamping. When I first got it, I cranked the vices down fairly hard and this tended to pull the wood off-square. Lately, I've been barely using any clamping force, just enough to keep it from sliding plus an extra twist and haven't had this problem since. pIf the other 50+ reviews haven't sold you, I don't know what will. This is a fantastic tool that has become my first choice in saws around the shop. If I can cut it here, I won't even look at the table saw.pRight now they are giving away a 14.4 drill/driver with it. How great of a deal is that???

I purchased this saw 8 years ago to do a few deck jobs. Not only was it great for doing the decks, it is also an excellent saw for doing finish work! Never before have I been able to do near perfect finish work until I got this saw. I'm now on my 4th carbide blade, and this saw still works flawlessly. Unlike my DeWalt circular saw, where the saw brake no longer works, the brake on this saw still work perfectly even after 8 years of use, and yes I have to admit abuse too. If you are looking for the perfect saw that can do rough work the beginning of the week, and one to do finish work the end of the week, this IS the saw you want. Yes I've used some of the other BIG brands, but they don't compare in the ease of use of this MAKITA Dual Slide Compound Saw. If something ever happened to this saw, I definitely would buy it again!

best buy for a long time. this saw is truely a job site handler. thanks for the quick response.

I purchased a used one for a song on ebay with a few parts missing and a few contractor modifications (a nice way of saying paint splatters, missing parts and a nail being used as the safety button). I was delighted to see that the saw still cut like a champ with a new blade put on it and that parts were easy to find and buy online! The saw is accurate, it has to be the best 10" CSMS on the market! Get one new, get one used -- but get one!

a light or a laser would give this saw 6 stars. very precise saw. Arrived by ups in great shape !!

I finally bought one of these after lusting in my heart after one for about four years. A buddy of mine had two of them and they were great saws. The one I recieved in the mail has held up to all of my expectations so far. I have only done a few square and miter cuts in some trim, but it seems to be cutting accurately right out of the box. The positive stops actually work. The Included blade cuts smooth as butter, leaving little to no tearout. It is rather quieter running than most of the other chopsaws that I have ever used.
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br /highly recommended.

I absolutely love this saw it is smooth and does everything a miter saw should well. The blade it comes with is a true finish grade blade( i would recommend buying a cheaper blade if you plan on using this to cut framing lumber with and using this blade exclusively for trim as thats what its made for and it does it very well and you quite frankly you would be wasting it on framing lumber.) The motor is silky smooth and quiet yet it has plenty of power. The slides are smooth, the table shifts places and detents effortlessly, and the dual bevel works flawlewssy. I use this saw strictly for trim which is what it does best because even though it has plenty of power this is definetly a finesse saw and I think if you can afford it youd be better served with another saw for rough work and keeping a good blade on this and using it for trim. Its so percise i wouldn't risk banging it up on a framing jobsite. All in all this is a true percision machine only two things stop me from giving it 5 stars. The fence could stand to be higher, wider and just plain beefier also bevel detents at 33.9 would be nice but hese are small complaints for such a precise machine.

This is the best saw I have ever owned! I don't have alot of fancy talk, But I have this saw!
br /I am a finish carpenter from the jersey Shore. The builders and homeowners are very demanding about quality. There is no hurrying up here. The real carpenters take the time to make the extra cut to make the mitre perfect.
br /With this saw, the extra cut doesn't take that long. The first cut is so perfect. If it takes a second cut, it is usually because you put the header slightly off level.
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br /Thi saw is quiet, smooth, accurate and in addition to that realy good looking.
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br /I am glad to have spent a most of a weeks pay to own this saw

my name is robert.i donoit know if jay is a makita rep or not nut i agree with his comments on the forest blade vs ridge and also regarding the makita saw.my personal experience with forest vs ridge is ridge is significantl better.regarding miter saws i have a hitachi and makita.both are nice but i like several makita features especially the large flat turntable.i own bosch products but the bosch miter saw with all its plastic and little gimmicks feels cheaper compared to the metal on the makita.does anyone really need several different angles for their handle and bevel adjustments upfront.for years i am comfortable with a vertical handle and adjusting angle in back.also who really needs a laser.it doesnt really improve accuracy.i do not have a single contactor friend who has a laser.they all have makita or hitachi although i know of some who i think have dewalt.one thing that sounds nice on the bosch is the microadjust angle feature for when you want tocreep up a portion of a degree.so personally i would recommend the makita or hitachi.the dewalts may be good but on a personal basis they just dont feel as quality but i have noexperience really using it to base it on.i buy almost everything on amaszon cause you cant beat the price and service.but tools are diffent than clothes.even great companies can send defective tools.the bosch plunge router i bought sevral years ago on amazon just felt jerky plunging. got a new one right away from amazon witout that problem.so check your machgine out right away for accuracy,fence and blade alignment and smoothness.also remember even if you have to tune it doesnt mean it is defective.in fact you should learn how to because it will need tuning some time.good luck on your purchase.

Great saw so far (owned it for 48 hours). I agree with the reviewers who mention this comes with a much better blade than most saws. Set-up was dead on out of the box with no tinkering neeeded. I bought the saw factory reconditioned through Amazon which saves about $80 and still has full manufacturer warranty. No wear tear or other issues noted; it looked brand new.

This saw is great! I don't know how I lived without it for so long. It is easy to use and has a great dust collection system once you get an adapter to attach it to a shop vac.

A really good product, works well. Excellant low price on amazon for this saw. Good service from amazon, good feedback and item was shipped as promised.

The first saw I recieved was damaged somehow. Most likely in shipping. I recieved another unit and noticed one thing. It looks maybe like all the models after 01/05 are painted/powdercoated aluminum. The replacement saw I got had a build date of 09/04 and was just bare alum. No big deal. Worked great out of the box. The Makita smooth cut blade it comes with is nice. Very very smooth cuts. I was cutting some chair rail and one small piece did get cought and kicked back. It kinda split the kerf board on the right side. It happed again and broke even more. Good lesson, used the supplied work clamp. The clamp works well, but as you tighten the knob on your work, it wants to pull the whole clamp assembly out of the base. This is because it is held in by a thumb screw on the base. I would hate to tighten the thumb screw to much and break it.
br /Over all, very nice saw. Well worth the money.

I've owned this saw for three + years now. I thought it was great out of the box but it never was dead on accurate. I use to try and square the fence on a regular basis, but now I just live W/ it and mark my material. I've learned over time where the blade falls so I cut close move the material for final cut. After 3 years of hard use it still holds up well except the flip of the double bevel is becoming very stiff when jumping from 45 left to 45 right or vise versa. I love the bigtable work area I added a self adhesive tape measure to the fence so I can quick chop anything left or right up to 10" ( all chop and table saws should have this feature. ) I'm in the market for a new saw so I'm looking to either buy it again or try the bosch, but the reviews didn"t sound to good + I thought I read that it is being discontinued.
br /Good luck keep those fingers clear.
br /Handymanrandy.com

All the benefit of a radial arm saw, with angle adjustments many times easier. Ease of safety trigger, view of cut, stability of table are excellent.

I just got the Hitachi C10FSH a week ago, everything is good ecept the noise. I don't know what went wrong in design process,brthis saw is only 12amp but the noise is much louder than the DeWALT 708 and MAKITA LS1212 they are both 15amp. My ex boss have 2 MAKITAS they works really good. I stopped at the local store to take a close look at the MAKITA LS1013, it is a good saw,it has everything the Hitachi does, it is Made in America.You'll get a 14.4-volt cordless drill/driver kit free after mail-in rebate when you purchase this miter saw. The reason I didn't give it a 5 star rate because it isn't belt drive which the other reviewer said that the motor touch the work piece when you make right bevel, I don't know it is true or not, you'd better take a look yourself. If I had a second chance , this saw would be my choice.

This is a great saw if you do not need a 45 degree bevel. Hitachi is a dual, this is a one way bevel saw.. The bad news is: The motor housing hits.. yes hits the work piece at a 45 degree bevel.. stops dead.. and is a horrid design flaw. Thought you'd like to know..! This occured on my first 45, a rake wall.. 12x12 with a 45 degree 2x6 cut. This is when all the reviews .. just don't add up! Sent Back and ordered the 10" Hitachi dual slider. Owner home builder.

I have owned this tool for 3 years. I finally give up. After having to re-adjust the tool to square almost daily, after using an angle, I can't justify the wasted time and screwed up project pieces any longer. I ordered a Hitachi.

This has been, plainly put, the least reliable power tool I've owned. It was okay for the first year or so when I used it to install crown molding and cabinet trim during a kitchen remodel. However, one day it started running intermittently, cutting out and then powering up again, and then it just quit. I went to the local authorized Makita repair shop, bought a switch, and installed it myself (not a tough job). That switch worked for awhile, then it quit as well. I let the saw sit while I bought a third switch, but before installing that switch, I tried the second switch again. It worked. It continued to work for a couple of months, then the saw quit altogether, this time during a fencing job. I ended up doing all cuts freehand with a Skilsaw Mag 77 (now there's a good tool!).
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br /I installed the third switch in the Makita, and it didn't work at all. I'm about to give up.
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br /I asked the guy at the shop if this type of problem is common. He retorted with, "Why do you think I have so many switches in stock?" Really, the saw is accurate and ergonomic. It's also frustratingly temperamental, and no one has time for this kind of problem. Time to get rid of it and get a DeWalt or a Ridgid.

Didn't want to review until I used both this and the Hitachi laser dual slider (Hitachi C10FSH 10" Dual Bevel Slide Compound with Laser) for at least a few months. Both saws are great. However, I give Hitachi the extra endorsement because:
br /1. Hitachi can bevel to the right and left (dual bevel). The Makita can't. If you do trim often, you will appreciate this feature.
br /2. No laser on the Makita. The laser on the Hitachi is dead on. No need to lift, check and recheck. This is a time saver and it is very accurate.
br /3. Slide action on the Hitachi is smoother than the Makita.
br /4. Hitachi has a softer start and is quieter.
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br /This is a good saw, but the Hitachi a better saw for an extra $30 which gets you a better saw plus dual bevel and laser.
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br /I have been cutting laminate flooring, trim and cabinet faceframes with both for a few months. All my contractors prefer the Hitachi.
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br /Good luck shopping!

...we ordered the makita ls1013.br I ordered this one based on the reviews here, and on the recommendation of a friend. I waited anxiously for my saw to arrive....got it on Thursday....I spent Thursday night and Friday making trim molding on my router table, so that Saturday I could cut the miters and install the base to the dresser. Saturday morning, cup of coffee in hand,I entered my shop with the notion that I could complete both the dresser and changing table (with the exception of sanding finish)by the end of the day....At least that is what I told my wife....I wanted to begin by cutting some very small trim molding ; I needed the miters to be perfect. The soft start of the saw was reassuring as I cut the first miter, slicing through the 5/16" molding like butter, with no tear out.....big smile....2nd 3rd cuts, just as before...just one more small cut and I can glue up the trim, but wait!!!! Right in the middle of the cut, the saw powers down...I pull the trigger again and again, the saw does not come to life...Is the power off? Is my extension cord too long/not big enough?After running down all of these possibilities, I thought that maybe the saw overheated? Cutting 5/16" molding?!!!! RIDICULOUS.....so I unplugged the saw and got a fresh cup of coffee and watched "BOOK OF POOH" with my daughter. Returning to the shop, I plugged in my saw, and pulled the trigger.....nothing. What was wrong? I read the manual again...How could a 500.00 saw with such great reviews be defective right out of the box? I unplugged the saw, threw my coffee cup against the wall, and locked up the shop.I was very dissapointed to say the least. I went right to the computer to find the Makita website...I was going to email them a thing or two....no email address...just an 800 #....no one available until Monday....Ahhh but there is Amazon!! So here I am....I feel better now....got to leave work early today to take the saw to the nearest repair facility. I am sure that my opinion and rating of this saw will improve once I get it fixed...but until then, Makita? Take that!!!!