Any professional who wants to do the best job needs the best tools to do it. For the finish carpenter who wants his job to stand out above the competition, the Makita LS1216L Slip Compound Miter Saw might be the best choice for a construction saw.
The LS1216L is one of Makita’s impressive new generation sliding compound miter saws. It comes with a long list of cutting-edge features for ease of use, versatility, increased cutting capacity, and power.
Start with capacity: With its retractable rear guard and triple gear drive system that positions the motor housing higher than most other miter saws, the Makita LS1216L Sliding Compound Miter Saw will handle crown molding. 8 “and up to 6-1 / 2” socket, vertically nested.
Features adjustable 5-1 / 2 “tall sliding fences to not only support tall material, but also for more precise miter and bevel cuts. The top of the fences slides out to give you room for bevel cuts, while that the bottom slides inward to better stabilize and support the material.
The four rail slide system gives you rigidity and precision in your cuts up to 15 “at 90 ° and 10-1 / 2” at 45 °. These round rails are mounted on six ball bearings for smooth, solid and precise sliding action.
The vertical lens / clamp is double-hinged to give you more reach (and versatility) when holding your footage. And the lens can be mounted anywhere.
The list of features that make this saw easy to use is equally impressive. First, you can miter from 0º to 52º to the left and from 0º to 60º to the right with positive stops at 0º, 15º, 22.5º, 31.6º and 45º, both left and right. And the miter lock is a simple “touch” for quick, easy and precise adjustments.
The LS1216L can bevel cuts anywhere from 0º to 45º, both left and right, with positive stops at 0º, 22.5º, 33.9º and 45º in any direction. The double handle bezel lock is easily accessible with front and top scales for precision adjustments.
The laser guide is well thought out too, with its own switch so you can turn it on and set up your cut without the blade turning. And it has micro-adjustments for precise settings, right or left of the blade cut.
The replaceable stainless steel miter scale is easy to read and the blade guard is clear for better visibility. And the large, easy-to-grip, ergonomically designed horizontal D-handle is rubberized for comfort and has an oversized trigger switch.
Then there’s the power – an electronically controlled 15 amp motor that won’t stall and will maintain a constant speed under load.
For a large saw, the 12 “Makita LS1216L is surprisingly compact, thanks in part to the stepped slide mechanism; the two pairs of support rails add together to give you the full slide to cut that 15” cross cut. And at 52 pounds, it’s truly portable.
In the area of versatility, the LS1216L doesn’t fall short either. This compound slide miter saw, unlike some of the higher quality saws on the market, accepts any 12 “blade with a standard 1” diameter. Which means you can use it to cut almost any material, from the softest woods to plastics and non-ferrous metals, just by changing the blade.