The Makita LS1040 10″ Compound Miter Saw
Makita LS1040 10" Compound Miter Saw Review | |
 | Makita LS1040 Review Highlights
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| For the Professional Contractor | 5 out of 5 |
| For the Do-It-Yourselfer & Weekend Warrior | 5 out of 5 |
| For the Hobbyist and Beginner Woodworker | 4 out of 5 |
| For the Serious Woodworker | 4 out of 5 |
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The Makita LS1040 10″ Compound Miter Saw Review Summary
So you’re looking for a miter saw that is simple, basic, functional, but more importantly accurate, sturdy, and powerful while retaining a lightweight? Well if that’s you, then look no further than the Makita LS1040 10″ compound miter saw.
This saw was built by a pioneer in the power tool industry, Makita. Time and time again, they release innovative products while focusing on build quality and ease of use.
Practicality is big deal for some. This miter saw is exactly that, practical.
No bells. No whistles. It doesn’t even come with a laser.
If you’re looking for a solid, basic compound miter saw, for home projects, construction projects, finishing work, or just about anything else, this saw will do you justice.
It’s lightweight so you can carry it around easily.
It’s got very few moving parts, so there’s less to adjust, and less to worry about.
It still offers plenty of miter and bevel capacity, as well as a combination of them both.
This impressive saw is built to last and has retained a very impressive high rating for a long time in the online marketplace.
Out of the box, this miter saw comes with a blade change wrench, dust bag, triangular rule, crosscutting carbide tipped blade, and a hold down clamp.
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Makita LS1040 10″ Compound Miter Saw- Why Choose It?
Cutting capabilities
The Makita LS1040 can handle just about any job you throw at it.
While it doesn’t offer a massive cutting capacity like sliders and larger 12″ blade miter saws, it still performs plenty good for most of your crosscutting needs.
It’s got a standard cutting surface, not oversized, but at the same time, it’s kept minimal to retain its low weight of only 24 pounds.
The miter adjustment handles your standard 45°, but with an additional range to the right, going up to 52°.
The bevel capacity is like many other standard compound miters and goes only to the left. This particular saw stops at a 45° bevel. While I would prefer one that goes beyond 45 for special cuts, it’s still going to handle the vast majority of bevel and compound cutting needs.
Dust collection performance
While you may relate a Makita to an above-par dust-collection system normally, this particular model uses an industry standard setup.
It’s got a single port on the back where you can attach the dust bag or a shop vac.
This does not collect the majority of the dust created by the saw. This is typical of standard compound miter saws, and you should not expect to keep a clean environment when using a miter saw.
Dust typically flies in all directions from these saws, and without a proper dust shroud and evacuation system, you will find yourself disappointed if you expect the dust to truly be controlled by this little bag.
If you’d like to learn more about building a proper dust collection system for your shop, check out this article over at WoodMagazine – Installing a Dust Collection System.
Versatility
This saw was made for many different purposes. It’s not the cheapest of the basic saws, but that’s understandable considering it does fare a bit better than most when it comes to versatility.
The higher-than-average fence allows for better vertical board support. This is key when doing jobs like baseboards and crown molding.
Not only does this fence help with cutting taller baseboard, is also supports better when cutting 2x4s that are stacked. In contrast, when using a saw with a standard or short fence, stacking dimensional lumber for multi-cutting can become dangerous and ill-advised.
Quick and easy setup and use is the name of the game here. If you’re building decks, installing hardwood flooring, framing up a house, remodeling a room, installing finish work like base and trim molding, or even if you are getting into woodworking. This saw should suffice, assuming you’re looking for a basic compound miter with its basic limitations.
For many guys out there, this is more than enough to handle any job you want to throw at it. You can do compound miter/bevel cuts, you can cut through hardwood with ease, which is important for doing flooring or custom furniture, you can easily handle dimensional lumber when building a new room in your basement, and tons of other jobs.
Who it’s made for
The fact that this Makita compound miter saw is so lightweight, and it has the ability to clamp crown molding in place with ease, I would suggest this as a great long-term job site saw for the professionals out there.
But as light and easy-to-carry as this saw is, I would also strongly suggest this model for DIY projecters who probably have a long list of needs for such a practical and basic saw, without spending an arm and a leg.
Not to say it wouldn’t work really well for all you woodworkers out there. As I’ve already covered, it’s a very versatile saw that was built to last.
But for a low to mid-priced saw, the target market is going to be contractors and DIYers who need a dependable saw that is easy to carry. This saw is exactly that.
Opinions Based On Real User Experiences
Positive Reviews
- Users find this saw very sturdy and well built – very solid for such a lightweight saw
- Cuts really accurate for using on hardwood flooring jobs
- Found to be a very smooth cutting and accurate saw, great for trim work
- Described as a lightweight budget saw that over-performs and is simple to use
Negative Reviews
- Not made in America – this upsets some users
- Some people found that the painted indicators on the saw are sub-par
Review Summary
Most users that have reviewed this saw find it to be at or above a 4.5 out of 5-star rating. The general consensus is that this miter saw is built well, very easy to set up, and feels really solid in use.
The saw is accurate right out of the box, and you should have no troubles learning how to use it properly since there’s really nothing complex about it.
Users generally suggest it’s one of if the not the very best miter saw they’ve ever owned. I would suggest this saw for just about anyone, beginner, casual, or professional.
Is This Basic Compound Miter Saw Worthy?
This saw is made for professionals due to how easy it is to carry around from room to room, and job to job. It also does great with do-it-yourselfers because of it’s versatility and somewhat low price.
I find this saw to stand against many competitors and shine.
For what it is – a basic compound miter with simple to use mechanics and solid construction – I think this saw is perfect for doing many kinds of jobs.
Whether those jobs are for your home, your job site, your investment property, or your next piece of furniture, Makita has truly built something that can handle a lot.
Unless you’re needing a specialty saw that can specifically handle wider boards in one pass or really tall crown molding, I would suggest this as a great compound miter saw for just about anyone that wants quality without paying top dollar.
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