Review: Makita LS1019L Sliding Compound Miter Saw

The Makita LS1019L sliding compound miter saw is a very capable 10 inch miter saw with plenty of features built in to make it a go-to saw in your shop or on the job site. There’s also some drawbacks to consider as well. Let’s take a closer look.

Cutting Power & Motor

This saw has really good cutting power and it can make smooth cuts through harder and thicker materials. It’s powered by a 15 amp motor and the blade spins at a max no-load speed of 3200 RPM. This model also includes a soft start features and an electric brake which helps to both startup the blade with less noticeable torque and to slow the blade down much more quickly after making a cut. These features work well and help improve efficiency when using this saw. With it’s stronger cutting power the noise this saw makes isn’t overly loud, which is great.

This saw uses a 10 inch blade and it has a 5/8 inch arbor. The 60T blade that is packaged with this saw is decent. Many people who own this saw find the blade to be sufficient but a blade upgrade will also help this saw cut even more smoothly.

Cutting Capacity

The cutting capacities of this saw are as follows:

Maximum Size

5-1/4″

6-5/8″

Maximum Height x Width

2-13/16″ x 12″ or 3-5/8″ x 11″

2-13/16″ x 8-1/2″ or 3-5/8″ x 7-3/4″

1-7/8″ x 12″ or 2-3/8″ x 11″

1-1/8″ x 12″ or 1-11/16″ x 11″

1-7/8″ x 8-1/2″ or 2-3/8″ x 7-3/4″

1-1/8″ x 8-1/2″ or 1-11/16″ x 7-3/4″

2-13/16″ x 6″ or 3-5/8″ x 5-1/2″

As you can see, this saw can do larger crosscuts and it also has enough vertical capacity behind the blade to handle cutting taller baseboard or crown molding.

Miter Adjustments

The miter features on this saw are pretty good and it’s easy to use and dial in common cutting angles. This saw can miter a full 60 degrees both left and right. There are positive stops at 0, 15, 22.5, 31.6, 45 and 60 degrees in both directions. The miter measurements and stops are located on an aluminum plate that is mounted onto the frame with screws. The plate can be removed which is nice since it can get damaged or worn over time. The stop points in the plate seem to wear with extended use and it’s best to be careful when making adjustments using the stops to prolong their life.

The miter can be moved easily by first raising the blade all the way. Then turn the knob on the end of the miter handle to loosen it up a little and use either the releasing lever or the lock lever to free the base and move it around. The releasing lever needs to be held down to keep it free but the lock lever will lock it free when it’s activated. Do the reverse to tighten it back up after making adjustments.

Bevel Adjustments

The bevel action on this saw is solid and has dual-bevel capability, meaning it can tilt either to the left or the right. The ability to go both ways is very useful. The bevel can tilt up to 48 degrees either left or right. There are positive stops at 22.5 degrees and 33.9 degrees on both sides.

Sliding Action

This miter saw uses 2 steel rails for it’s sliding system and it’s designed to glide smoothly during cuts while staying true and accurate. There is a single stopper pin that by default is in a locked position. It can be pulled out and rotated to put it into an unlocked position. When it is unlocked, the sliding action is free to move during cuts.

Most people have good luck with the the sliding action on this saw. People notice that this saw does flex a little when it’s extended, which can be an issue with most sliding miter saws, so it’s best to use steady hands and arms and be cautious of accidentally putting too much left or right side pressure during a cut.

Another thing some people don’t like is the grease that is on the sliding poles when it’s new out of the box. It tends to collect dust and get gunked up quickly and need cleaning.

Laser Beam

This saw features a laser beam, which can be a very useful visual guide when lining up your cuts and keeping them on track. The laser beam on this saw is a single beam and can only be placed on one side of the blade at a time. There is a single adjustment screw that can be loosened and then moved either left or right to align it. The power switch for the laser is located near the main power trigger so it’s easy to reach and activate. Most people find the laser to be useful on this saw, however some point out that some other saws have two lasers, which can be even better.

Cutting Table & Fence

This saw has an aluminum cutting table and fence, and both have a smooth finish to them. The table is flat and people don’t really have too many issues with warping on this one. It’s worth checking when setting up, just in case something got damaged in the box.

The fence also works fine on this saw and there are fence extensions to add some height if you will be vertically cutting baseboards or something similar. The height of the fence is 4-3/4 inches tall. The fence extensions don’t slide like some other saws, they are either on or off. There are a couple of fence holders on each side that look like wire extensions sticking out the sides. These can be used to hold the fence extensions when they are not mounted onto the fences.

There is an included vertical vice that can be attached to the either side. It works ok but it’s not the best quality vice clamp. It’s nothing to complain about though and it’s handy when needed. You can also use an optional horizontal vice clamp, but it’s not included.

Handling & Safety

The power switch for this saw is located on the handle is pulled like a trigger. There is a safety button that is separate from the trigger, also on the handle, that must be pressed in combination with the trigger. The trigger also has a hole for a safety padlock which is nice.

The blade guard is designed well and keeps the blade mostly covered except when making cuts. The blade guard does a good job of retracting when making vertical cuts on the back of the blade as well.

The blade has an electronic brake that slows down the blade when you turn it off. It takes a few seconds to fully stop, it’s not instant. It is a nice safety feature to have though.

Dust Collection

This saw has better dust collection than some other miter saws out there, but it’s not perfect. This saw has two dust collection ports – one is closer to the blade and one is connected to a collection funnel right behind the table. There is a dust bag that can connect to the port that is closer to the blade. When using just the dust bag, results are ok to poor. The dust bag is pretty small too and will fill up fast if you are making a lot of cuts.

The best option is to use a dust collection system and hook up to both dust collection ports. There is a dust collection hose that comes with this saw that connects both dust ports, which can then be connected to a dust collection system or vacuum. The port on the hose has an interior diameter of 1-3/8 inch and an exterior diameter of 1-1/2 inch.

Build Quality & Design

The overall build quality of this miter saw feels really good. This saw is a little smaller than than Makita’s similar 12 inch miter saw and it can provide a little more portability.

It is designed with a shallow rear profile, which saves space in the back. This can be a good saw for a shop if you will be putting it up against a wall on a workbench due to how it’s designed.

Everything about this saw feels really solid during use, from the miter and bevel to the sliding action. Some of the plastic switches and knobs feel like they might be breakable, so it’s probably best to be careful with them. The aluminum miter stop plate can also be susceptible to wear, so it’s probably another part to be a little more careful with. If you will be leaving this sitting in a shop, it should hold up very well. If you will be hauling it around, it’s best to be a little careful of the smaller parts.

Some people have issues with the sliding rails not being fully aligned when extended, causing a slightly curved cut motion. This seems to be an issue with some units out of the box and it’s best to get a replacement if you run into this particular issue.

Included Accessories

This saw has a few accessories included. Here’s what’s all in the box when you purchase this one.

• Wrench
• Vertical clamp
• Triangular rule

Setup & Assembly

When unboxing you may notice that the packaging is actually kind of poor and not very protective of the parts inside. Makita really should consider packaging this in some more structured foam protection. For this reason it’s best to do a full quality control check on everything as you unbox and assemble.

This saw requires a little bit of setup time and you’ll want to take the time to check all the calibration points and align everything properly. You can easily spend an hour getting this one setup. After getting everything calibrated you’ll be able to make adjustments and measurements quickly during use, so it’s worth it to pay attention to the details during setup. It’s important to read through the manual on this one so that you catch the finer details for calibration, blade changes and safe use.

Warranty

Makita offers a 1 year warranty on defective parts or workmanship. This is good enough to help you out if you have quality control issues in that first year of use.