You need a good saw whether you’re crosscutting lumber or trimming molding. Makita has a reputation for excellent tools with thoughtful extra touches. Let’s look at these two compound miter saws to see which one will be best for you.
Makita LS1016 10-Inch Dual Slide Compound Miter Saw
First off, the carbide blade that comes with the LS1016 has sixty teeth. This is unusual for a stock blade included in the box. That is the first indication that Makita cares about the quality of their product and the satisfaction of the user.
Of course, the blade is replaceable. But what about all these other details that show Makita’s attention to detail? The rigid fencing system on the LS1016 has four parts, compared to the one on the LS1018 which has only two parts. The upper and lower sections can be adjusted independently. There are four steel sliding rails that run on six ball bearings so the saw glides into action and stays true while cutting. It can handle twelve-inch-wide crosscuts at 90 degrees, and up to 6-5/8-inch crown molding vertically nested.
The LS1016 miters through wide arcs: 0-52 degrees left and 0-60 degrees right. That’s more than the LS1016 offers. The scale has silver markings on a black background with a large pointer. The miter lock is easy to use, just push it in and turn. There arepositive stops at common angles.
The saw bevels 0-45 degrees left and right. There is a push-button handle lock at the rear of the saw under the sliding arm, which means most people will want to use two hands for beveling.
The 15amp motor runs at 3200rpm, so the LS1016 has slower rotations per minute but higher current draw than the LS1018. It has a soft start and an electric brake to stop the blade when the trigger is released.
Some other nice touches are the transparent blade guard and an extra-large trigger. Makita includes a dust bag, vertical vise grip, hex and socket wrenches, and a triangular rule.
More features of the Makita LS1016 saw
- 30-day satisfaction guarantee and 1-year warranty
- Blade arbor 5/8”
- Miter positive stops at 0, 15, 22.5, 31.6, and 45 degrees
- Bevel positive stops at 22.5, 33.9, and 45 degrees
- Can make dado cuts but not with a dado blade
- The saw weighs 53.1 pounds and measures 28-1/4 by 25-1/4 by 26-1/32 inches
Makita LS1018 Dual-Bevel Slide Compound Miter Saw, 10-Inch
The LS1018 is another great ten-inch compound miter saw from Makita. They point out that ten-inch blades are cheaper than twelve-inch blades, and the LS1018 can save the user money because it can handle a lot of what a twelve-inch saw can do. It can cut a 12-inch width at 90 degrees and it neatly handles 4×4 lumber.
This saw has some key differences from the LS1016 described above. For starters, the motor runs on 13amps, so it draws less current than the other saw. That means it’s less likely to trip your breakers. It operates at a higher speed of 4300rpm under no load.
It miters less to the left, 47 instead of 52 degrees. The beveling angles are the same, 45 degrees left or right. The two-part sliding fence on the LS1018 is less adjustable than the four-part fence on the LS1016.
The handle to control the blade is different. Instead of a horizontal grip on the front like the LS1016, the LS1018 has two grips along the blade arm. The one closest to the user is vertical, like a pistol grip. This is unlike a lot of similar compound saws on the market.
A bonus on this saw is the extension wings that support longer work-pieces. This is great if the user is cutting a thinner material that might bow and cause the saw to cut inaccurately. The saw can also make dado, or groove, cuts, but not with a dado blade.
Finally, the LS1018 comes with a 40-tooth carbide blade, a vertical vise grip, dust bag, triangle rule, and hex wrench.
More features of the Makita LS1018 saw
- 30-day satisfaction guarantee and 1-year warranty
- Weighs less than the LS1016 with only 43.7 pounds and measures 21-1/8 by 32-1/2 by 25 inches
- Blade arbor 5/8”
- Transparent blade guard like on the LS1016
- Machined aluminum base
Recommendation
If you anticipate needing a larger miter angle range, consider getting the LS1016. You’ll get that sweet 60-tooth blade in the box and you’ll have the ultimate in adjustable fences.
If you plan to work with a lot of longer work-pieces, you can’t beat the extension wings on the LS1018. It’s also a lighter-weight saw to carry around in case you don’t plan to leave it in just one spot.
Click here to purchase Makita LS1018 on Amazon!
Click here to purchase Makita LS1016 on Amazon!