Makita LS1214FL 15 Amp 12-Inch Dual Bevel Compound Sliding Miter Saw with Laser and Fluorescent Light

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Product Description

Amazon.com Product Review

Makita's 12-Inch Dual Slide Compound Miter Saw delivers smooth, solid, and adjustment-free accurate cuts for a range of applications including woodworking, cabinetry, deck building, framing, and more. The LS1214FL has dual steel rails supported by linear ball bearings to ensure stable, accurate cutting, with a built-in laser and powerful fluorescent light clearly indicate the line-of-cut for improved visibility and accuracy.

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LS1214FL Features PRECISION - Laser clearly indicates line of cut and is located in blade housing for precise cuts ACCURACY - Dual rails supported by dual linear ball bearings for a smooth and accurate cut POWER - Dynamically balanced direct drive motor eliminates burning DURABILITY - Precision-machined aluminum base INCLUDES - T.C.T. blade, sub fence, extension wings, vertical vise, triangular rule, wrench and dustbag

Tool Specifications Blade Diameter 12" Arbor 1" No Load Speed 3,200 RPM AMPS 15.0 Size (L x W x H) 28-1/2" x 20-1/2" x 28-1/4" Net Weight 52.9 lbs.

15 AMP Motor and Large Cutting Capacity
The LS1214FL has a dynamically balanced 15 AMP direct drive motor to minimize burning, and is engineered to never slip or bog down like belt-drive units. The electronic speed control maintains constant speed under load, and the soft start technology delivers more controlled operation. The LS1214FL has 4-1/2-inch baseboard cutting capacity (vertical), and a 12-1/8-inch capacity at 90°/90°, with 2-5/8 x 8-1/2-inch at 45°/45°. In addition, the LS1214FL has dual rails supported by linear ball bearings to precisely guide the blade for a "dead-on" cut.

Precise Miter and Bevel Cuts
The LS1214FL has a dynamically balanced 15 AMP direct drive motor to minimize burning and is engineered to never slip or bog down like belt-drive units. The rear-handle bevel lock is easily accessible with positive stops at 33.9° and 45° (left) with 45° (right).

The LS1214FL is engineered with a single-piece, precision-machined aluminum base that remains flat and true and never needs alignment. The fluorescent light works independently of the blade rotation to clearly illuminate the work surface. The built-in laser indicates the line of cut whether the blade is turning or not, and can be adjusted blade left or blade right using micro-fine adjustments to ensure precise cuts.

Best in Class for a Range of Applications
The LS1214FL is engineered for a broad range of trades, including finish carpenters, professional woodworkers, case and base installers, cabinet installers, cabinet manufacturers, closet installers, decking and flooring applications, siding installers, stair installers, and general contractors seeking a best-in-class 12-inch dual-slide compound miter saw for the jobsite or on the benchtop.

About Makita's Miter Saws
Makita's LS1214FL miter saws are engineered to deliver smooth, solid, and adjustment-free accurate cuts. The dual rails are supported by linear ball bearings to ensure stable, accurate cutting, and the built-in laser and powerful fluorescent light that clearly indicates the line-of-cut for improved visibility and accuracy. In addition, the dynamically balanced 15 AMP direct drive motor minimizes burning, and never slips or bogs down like belt-drive units. The electronic speed control maintains constant speed under load, and the soft start technology is engineered for more controlled operation.

About Makita
Makita is a worldwide manufacturer of industrial quality power tools and offers a wide range of industrial accessories. Makita applies leading-edge innovation to engineer power tools that are more compact and energy efficient, yet deliver industrial strength power and results. Makita U.S.A., Inc. is located in La Mirada, California, and operates an extensive distribution network located throghout the U.S. For more information, please call 800/4-MAKITA (800/462-5482) or visit makitatools.com. Makita is best-in-class engineering.

Warranty
Every Makita tool is thoroughly inspected and tested before leaving the factory. If you are not satisfied with any Makita tool within 30 days of purchase, return it and Makita will provide a replacement or refund. Each Makita tool is warranted to be free of defects from workmanship and materials for the period of ONE YEAR from the date of original purchase. Should any trouble develop during this one-year period, return the COMPLETE tool, freight prepaid, to one of Makita's Factory or Authorized Service Centers. Please see makitatools.com for complete details.

What's in the Box
Makita LS1214FL 12-Inch Dual Slide Compound Miter Saw, 12-inch x 70T.C.T. blade, vertical vise, dust bag, triangular rule, socket wrench, sub fence and two extension wings.

Product Description

12", Dual Slide Compound Saw With Laser & Fluorescent Light, Built In Laser With Micro Fine Adjustments Clearly Indicates Line Of Cut, Independent Switch Allows Laser To Be Seen Independently Of Blade Rotation, Built In High Output Fluorescent Light Illuminates Work Area & Lasts 2,000 Hours On Average, Dual Steel Rails Supported By Linear Ball Bearings Ensure Stable, Accurate Cutting, Powerful, Direct Drive 15A Motor Never Slips Or Bogs Down, 9 Positive Stops At 15 Degree, 22.5 Degree, 30 Degree, 45 Degree Left Or Right & 0 Degree For The Most Common Miter Cuts, Additional Positive Stops At 33.9 Degree Left For Model LS1214FL, Electronic Speed Control Maintains Constant Speed Under Load, Soft Start Feature For Controlled Operation, Single Cast Aluminum Base Has Built In Wrench Storage For Operator Convenience, Long Slide Track & Wide Pivot Angle Allow Cross Cuts Up To 4 x 12 Material, Large Turn Base & Adjustable Pivot Fence Supports Larger Stock.

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Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 22 x 18 x 17 inches ; 75 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 74.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• Note: Gift-wrapping is not available for this item.
• ASIN: B000GJS6X8
• Item model number: LS12124FL
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,311 in Home Improvement (See Bestsellers in Home Improvement)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

89 of 91 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice saw.... so far!, December 4, 2006

By	B. Farnham (Aspen, CO) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a trim carpenter in the market for a new slide saw I did a lot of homework and asked alot of others in the business. My old axe was a 10" bosch which was nice but not nearly accurate enough and it was a single compound. So after much deliberation it came down to the hitachi or the makita as these are both the highest recommended in the trade for accuracy, dependability, and solid reputations.

First off... 10" or 12". I do a lot of 6" baseboard and mostly stain grade. Given the poor quality of wall straightness today i'm constantly shaving off small bevels and it's quite the pain laying flat compared to upright. Even the double compound isn't going to be as easy as keeping the board straight. But there isn't a lot in the 12" market for accuracy which i really wanted. So... of the two 10" saws... the hitachi and makita came out about the same.
Hitachi was lighter, belt driven, but no easily adjustable depth stop and the laser was blocked by the rubber dust collector.
Makita was perfect except for that most absurd of designs: the up-against-the-fence side miter scale... GRRRR. Both saws have the most ridiculously small fences.

If i would have stuck with the 10" it would have been the hitachi....
But their 12" saw is a MONSTER of plastic gimicks with no relation to the 10". It's a fantasically overpriced framing saw at best.

So that left the Makita 12. [...]... it's only gonna cost a little over half.... PLUS it comes with the right side subfence. So... how could i say no? lol

It arrived complete, undamaged, and right on schedule.

Setup took 5 minutes. Adjusting the laser was a little more difficult. It was dead nuts on... but on the right side of the blade??? For some reason it disappears moving it left and then comes back. Finally able to get it correct. I can't see moving it back and forth. Would have been nice to make a little lever that moves it back and forth a set distance. Ahh well. Table is flat and fence was aligned properly. The pointers on the bevel scale had to be moved a little.

First off, this blade cuts amazingly for a stock blade. I'll put it up against my frued's any day. Very smooth and no wobble. Saw has soft start which is weird when you're not used to it. This is a VERY precise machine. All my worries about a 12" are gone. If i let the saw do the work it's amazingly accurate. Laser works well but i'm not quite used to it and am a little nervous about how accurate it's going to be. The florescent light will work. Some say it's junk but i've been in plenty of jobs with little lighting and/or late day (night) work and i can see it coming in handy for sure. As for the stupid miter scale. We'll i'll just have to get used to it. The dust chute actually works pretty well but i could really care less. That's what laborers are for! haha

I'd actually only give this 4.5 stars because makita should redesign the miter scale and 2. Throw in a couple of plastic kerf blocks. All in all i'm ready for the next trim job!
UPDATE: after 2 weeks of daily use i have a beef on this saw and that's the stupid blade guard. I've already hacked thru it on bevel cuts... it's just too flimsy. It bends into the blade. So now it's wired up like all my others. Other than that... it's awesome.

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FINEST 12" TRIM SAW AVAILABLE, December 2, 2007

By	strangersfaces (MA./KC/OR./Santa Moinca) - See all my reviews

I've been doing the finish on my high end projects for close to 30 years. During that time I've had the opportunity to use most of the saws on the Market.

When you're picky about results and spend much of your time cutting trim, the Makita Dual Bevel Compound Sliding miter saws are as good as it gets. I've had and used the 10" version for a decade, and it'll do 99.99% of trim jobs without challenging one's creativity. I bought the 12" this time as I've recently been encountering projects where the larger blade helps.

If you're a fan of, and are satisfied with your Hitachi or Dewalt saw, stop reading now. Don't spend time on the Makita and you'll remain perfectly happy. Good results may be obtained with any of these saws. To me, the Hitachi always felt clunky, and the handle design causes my wrist to ache after a few hours of continued use. The Dewalt is a monster... a strong saw I've spent many hours using recently and trying to love, but it too lacks the finesse of the Makita, and the handle hurts my wrist in another location. Watch out for the torque upon braking... keep your work-piece AND FINGERS well away from the blade before releasing the trigger.

The Makita saws shine. The table is BY FAR the most stable. The fence adjusts easily to just how you need it and the clamp adjusts quickly to help secure the work-piece when wanted. Unlike on the other saws, the guard is brilliant... the most cleverly engineered guard ever... it almost reads your mind by almost never getting in your way regardless of the miter you're cutting, and in those rare times where the fence would interfere, it's easy to slap a piece of tape on to keep it up and away during that cut. That's a big deal to do on the other saws. The extension wings are useful and also handy for carrying the saw from setup to setup. The saw glides smoothly on the slides when cutting, and I've never given a thought to the handle... no pain, no strain... it's just naturally in the right place. I like these saws.

Tips for peak performance on any of the sliding saws... Use a very sharp "regular" thickness blade on miter saws when working hardwoods. The additional thickness and strength reduces "walking" in the center of the compound miter cut. Save the thin-kerf blades for your table saw. Periodically clean the dust and dirt from the swiveling surfaces between the table and body, and lubricate with a DRY lubricant... I use the spray on Bostik Top Cote. Great stuff. You'll be amazed at how easily the table will turn when adjusting angles. Use the Top Cote on the table top and guard also... Just spray it on, wait a few minutes, then wipe off the dried residue with a rag or paper towel. The greatly reduced friction will then allow your work-piece to glide smoothly and quickly into position for cutting, and save having to "jiggle" the piece up to the blade. Think about it... Top Cote will not affect finishing. The painters will love you. Even the fussy waterborne lacquer finishes I often use are unaffected. WD40 and the like attract dust and dirt, can cause problems with finishing, and should never be used on tool tables.... if you care.

If you're considering buying the Makita saws, I hope this helps with your decision. Should you already have one, enjoy, and know you're working with the best.

43 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of several good saws, May 27, 2007

By	T. Long "J Long" (Tullahoma, TN) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I recently bought this saw from Amazon. It's a great saw. As I was shopping for the saw, I read a lot of reviews to try to figure out which one to buy - perhaps like you're doing. One reviewer would love a saw and another would think it was junk. I read one or two in which the reviewer complained that this saw or that one wouldn't cut a straight line. Don't listen to that stuff. Makita, Bosch, Dewalt, and perhaps a few others are great saws. I'll bet I can cut a straight line with any of them. And I'll bet I can warp the cut with any of them. Sliding compound miter saws aren't hard to use, but there is a little basic technique to use. Your manual will tell you about it. You may or may not like one feature or another, but used properly, they all do a great job. The Makita certainly does. If you know how to use one of these things, they'll work for you. I recommend the Makita. Everything works - even the laser. I took the time to set it up and it saves a lot of time for me. You have to use it a while to understand how to use it accurately. A guy I was working with the other day was using a different brand - I can't remember which. He was doing good work and he was faster than I was.
If you buy a saw - you'll need a stand. Here again, a number of them are good, but I'll talk about two. I bought a PortaMate PM7000. Once set up on the job, I love it's utility and versatility. For my work I thought that would be more important than mobility. But I have to admit - done over again, I'd get the Rigid stand (AC9940) that folds up and has the wheels. Other folks I have worked with have that one and I've decideded that mobility trumps utility. But that will depend on how much you expect to have to move your saw. If my PortaMate had better mobility, it would be everything I could want - and it would have cost another $100. I'm not going to send it back to Amazon. If I ever get too tired of lugging my current rig around, I'll buy a Rigid too. Here again, you'll find folks that will trash any of them in a review - and folks that will love them. And there's four or five really good ones out there.
So read the reviews. They can be helpful, but don't take everything they say too seriously - You'll be able to do good work with whatever you buy. With the general quality of the equipment being sold today - it will mostly depend on you.