Photo: Makita
What We Like
- Powerful motor with soft-start technology
- Easy blade changing shaft lock system
- Wide miter range with multiple positive stops for easy use
- Electronic speed control
- Sturdy precision machined aluminum base enhances cut accuracy
What We Don’t Like
- Non-sliding arm
- Only bevels to the left
- No laser guidance
Bottom Line
If you are looking for an easy-to-use miter saw, Makita’s LS1040 is the ideal tool to buy. It packs in power and versatility/practicality in an easy-to-use setup, which makes cutting and maintenance a breeze.
In this post:
Introduction
Makita is a well-known Japanese brand that has a wide array of power tools under its portfolio. One of these tools is miter saws and the LS1040 stands out from its lineup because it has an easy-to-use design.
The tool also relatively affordable yet it delivers fast cutting performance because it has a 4600 RPM motor. There’s a lot more that this tool has to offer so let’s get down to its review.
Makita LS1040 Review
Photo: Makita
Performance: Powerful and Smooth
Makita’s LS1040 is powered by a 15-amp motor, which is quite powerful in miter saw standards. This gives it a no-load speed of 4600 RPM, and it delivers super-fast cutting performance that is ideal for cutting through any wood density.
Apart from speed, the motor has a soft start feature that gives you smooth startups. It drives the blade directly, which eliminates slipping or belt replacement due to wear and tear.
Additionally, the tool has electronic speed control that ensures you get a constant cutting speed regardless of being under load or not. This helps to stabilize its cutting performance.
All in all, these features combine forces with the saw’s 10-inch blade to deliver a maximum horizontal cutting capacity of 5-1/8 inches and a maximum vertical cutting capacity of 2-3/4 inches when making crosscuts.
With both angles adjusted to 45˚, the cutting capacity reduces to 3-5/8 horizontally and 1-3/8 vertically.
Design: Ease of Use
This Makita LS1040 has several features that make it very easy to use and maintain. For instance, it has a shaft lock that simplifies the blade changing process if the current one wears out or if you want to cut a different material other than wood.
The saw has 9 positive stops on its miter range that give hassle-free adjustment when making angled cuts at the most common angles. These include 0˚, 15˚, 22.5˚, 30˚ and 45˚ on its 0-45˚ left and 0-52˚ right miter scales. The blade also bevels up to 45˚ to the left for compound cutting.
Other than that, you get a precision machined aluminum base that holds the tool steady and enables you to make accurate cuts at any of the above angles.
Additionally, a fluorescent light illuminates the working surface and this makes it easier to cut with high accuracy.
Safety Feature: Very Safe
The LS1040 offers very solid safety features and these include a blade guard that keeps the spinning blade covered before it penetrates the workpiece. This eliminates the chances of your hand coming into contact with the sharp blade, which can cause serious injuries.
This blade guard is transparent and it enables you to supervise the cutting action from outside. If an anomaly occurs, you will be able to spot it and react quickly.
Other than that, the saw is equipped with electronic brakes that stop the blade in a short time after releasing the trigger. This adds on a safety layer that keeps the blade from causing any harm in case the blade guard gets stuck.
A dust collection system is also built-in and a dust bag is included as part of the accessories. This results in a cleaner working surface with little to no dust flying around, which would otherwise get into your nose and eyes.
Note: You should still wear protective gear such as goggles for maximum safety.
Portability: Compact and Lightweight
Measuring in at 20 x 10 x 21 inches, this LS1040 is very compact. With these dimensions, the tool can be easily transported to a worksite and is a perfect addition to a small workshop.
This is because it can be easily moved into and out of storage as you use different tools in the cramped space.
Other than that, the saw is very light because it weighs only 27.3 pounds. Therefore, if portability is an important factor, the LS1040 is an ideal miter saw to buy.
Price: Very Affordable
Considering that it has a powerful 15-amp, 4600 RPM motor, the Makita LS1040 is very reasonably priced. However, it does have a small 10-inch blade with a non-sliding arm, which reduces its horizontal cutting capacity.
Within Makita’s lineup, there is no other non-sliding miter saw and therefore, this one is unique and is also very affordable.
Read More: The Best Budget Miter Saws
Verdict
A powerful, affordable, practical, portable, and easy-to-use miter saw that is suitable for beginners and DIYers.
Makita’s LS1040 has a wide miter range with 9 positive stops for hassle-free angle cutting. It also has a shaft lock for easy maintenance when changing blades. This makes it practical and easy to use.
Other than that, the tool packs in a lot of power due to its 15-amp motor though it is limited in some aspects such as the cutting capacity. However, it is quite affordable and this makes it the ideal choice for beginners and people working on small DIY projects.
Specs
- Product Name: Makita LS1040
- Product Brand: Makita
- Power: 15 Amps
- Max Speed: 4600 RPM
- Blade Size: 10 inches
- Positive Stops: 9
- Dimensions: 20 x 10 x 21 inches
- Weight: 27.3 pounds
- Warranty: 1-year warranty
Key Features
- Powerful 15-amp, 4,600 RPM soft start motor.
- Shaft lock for quick blade changes.
- Electronic speed control.
- Miters 45˚ to the left and 52˚ to the right with 9 positive stops.
- Bevels 45˚ to the left.
- 10-inch carbide tip blade.
- Precision machined aluminum base.
- Compound dual post pivoting arm.
- Fluorescent work area light.