Customer Reviews

Makita 5377MG Magnesium 7-1/4-Inch Hypoid Saw

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

all the best things from the older makita hypoid, plus all new features and magnesium for reduced weight. every framing saw needs to bevel to at least 50 degrees. well this one goes beyond that and bevels to 51.5 degrees. every saw needs a sky hook. i like the top handle too.

this saw is so sweet to use. it's so powerful AND lightweight. i like using this one over the bosch. that cord thing bosch has going is good in theory, but my cords don't fit it. it's a hypoid so you never have to change the oil like you have to on worm drive saws. it has a lower blade guard, so it wont hang up while cutting shims and bevels.

I bought this saw to cut all the pressure treated lumber for my deck since my other tools (except handsaws) were not going to be up for the task. I picked this saw over the others available based on reviews from several woodworking sites. Every review site seemed to like a different saw but in general all agreed that the Skil was the best overall.

I passed on competitors models for several reasons: well reviewed Skil saws were too heavy and had overlooked faults that bothered me. The Dewalts, Boschs, etc all had quirky features. The Ridgid was excellent but had a diamond arbor which limited the blades you could use. The Makita was new and it replaced the outgoing model which was well received so I went with the 5377MG.

Pros:

- accurate cuts
- angle stop easy to set
- lightweight
- excellent ergonomics
- nice blade included (a Makita trademark)
- reinforced baseplate

Cons:

- no rip fence included
- startup kick
- heavier than a sidewinder
- slightly underpowered

I'm hesitant to call the saw underpowered because it's more powerful that my other equipment but I would bet that the heavier saws have more power when the saw is pushed hard.

Always get the black A-94530 blade. It's sharp, lasts a long time and is coated to prevent binding.

The Makita 5377MG uses a heavier duty rip fence that is gold colored. For some reason, Makita does not include a rip fence or securing screw with the 5377MG. These are the part numbers you'll need for that saw:

- Rip Fence 165153-3
- M6x15 screw 251858- 2

The screw is black and matched that older style Makita saws not the newer padded blue screws. Do not buy the skinny 164095-8 rip fence by mistake.

Note: if you buy this saw in the 5377MGX version, you'll receive a ballistic nylon blue carpenter's belt instead of a case. There is also a Makita 5477NB now available that is a stripped down version of this saw.

I'd love to know what parts that other guy had magically fall off, because I can't find a single fit or finish flaw with mine. This thing is built like a tank, but doesn't weigh you down too badly. I'm a bit concerned about the longevity of the lower guard spring, but for right now, it works fine.

I chose this over the Bosch worm drive model purely because of the lack of need to drain and flush any oil out of the gearbox with kerosene, and I have no regrets. It ploughs right through wood, doesn't jump around when it starts up and has a really steady base. Not sure what else you'd need a circular saw to do.

"TOOL XPERT" Pretty much covered it, cutting PT wood is so smooth. I'll post again when I have the diamond blade on it, but so far I'm extremely happy with it.

Powerful and smooth and yet not noisy! cut through wood like butter. Just wish it comes with edge guide, otherwise I will give it 6 stars.Skil claims their worm drive saw last 5 times longer than hypoid. I am not sure about that. Anybody can verifiy? and explain why that would be?

This is a really good hypoid saw. The magnesium makes it very lightweight, it's got an integrated rafter hook, the over-sized adjustment handles are easy to use, the lip on the blade guard doesn't catch or grab even on angle cuts, 15 amps is plenty of power and the balance is good.

So why only four stars? I'm a bit tweaked that this saw doesn't come with a rip fence. There is a slot for a rip fence and other Makita saws I've purchased have come with a rip fence. If it came with the fence I'd give it five stars.

I was thinking that this was going to be too heavy for most of my applications, but it is NOT! You don't have to be The Hulk to use it. It cuts through wet lumber like butter, keeps a very straight line without the guide. It looks like a 57 dodge or chevy. It has the beam hanger (if you set it on ground it rolls over) which is awesome. I freaking love this thing! Nice thin kerf blade comes with it. I don't think I'd go with the other top brands for this, it is super light comparatively.

Went out on a limb and bought this saw without even seeing it in person. Since then I have been doing some serious framing and I'm pleased with the results. But don't trust the presets for the depth gauge and bevels. Not 100 percent accurate.

I just finished cutting my first couple of 2X4's with this instrument. This is not a tool. Using this saw was like the feeling you got when you used your first air compressor and nailer. It was like stepping into the future. Now for my humble comparison. I'm a do-it-yourself kind of guy and I'm driven by the need to safe money. So, when I decided to make the investment into a new saw I took my time and experimented with the standard of the construction industry: The worm drive Skil saw, with the extension cord disconnect feature. I used it for about 32 weeks in my basic framing class and in my homeowner remodeling classes. It worked well, however, I didn't appreciate the kick back or the the weight. Nor, was it fun putting on and taking off the extension cord. I never really had a feeling that the cord was fully engaged and it always seem to be a surprise when I turn it on and it work. If you know what I mean. This Makita does have a kick back, but not nearly as bad. I don't know how to gage kick back. However, if 10 is what you get on the Skil, 3 is what you get on the Makita. The weight of this saw is very manageable, one does not struggle to hold and cut a 2X4.

I'm a carpenter, and I've been using worm-drive saws for 20 years, of which there has always only been one choice, the Skilsaw. And while that is a fine tool (I've owned 3), this one is better. It's lighter. It hardly torques in your hand on start-up. The base is much more solid than the stamped steel one on the Skil. And it has a built in joist hook which is especially handy when you're up on roof cutting rafter tails to length...for example. I'm kind of a negative nellie on most new tools, but this one is worth it.

My only complaint after using it for a year is that I still am in the habit of instinctively breaking out the center of my saw blades for the diamond arbor. Seriously, I do this all the time, and then end up giving my new, and then useless-to-me, blades to the guys with their old Skilsaws. Good for them....bad for me; But if that's my only complaint, they've definitely improved upon the classic version.