This saw is amazing. I’m a framer here in Oklahoma and we use those saws and they’re an absolute game changer. Powerful, light, no cord hassle, long battery life. 10/10 recommend
Light ? Mate I've been framing for thirty years with a corded Makita that weighs a little over 8 pounds and I'm buggered by days end ,you'd have to be big Arny to cart that bloody rear handle Makita around all day .lol
Almost 2 years later, still don't need it, still love using it. I think I got some kind of flash deal on it at HD. 199 for saw and batteries/charger. Took the staff like half an hour to find the saw on the top shelf, box caked with dust. Wife and in-laws sitting outside in the car waiting the whole time🤣🤣 Man, I love finding a good deal!
It's not crazy powerful, I like it but Milwaukee and Dewalt have way more power, makita one is smoother cutting though, "feels like a Ferrari in your hand" gets thrown around quite a bit on reviews of it.
I use one every day, it's my bosses and I absolutely love it. Super comfortable in hand, only complaint is the batteries are a bit awkward to get in and out
I've had this saw for 3 months now and it's easily become my favourite tool I own. My favourite part of this saw is the blade depth adjustment it's so accurate you don't even need to measure sometimes! If you work with any type of joists, rafters or just normal stick framing it is so handy being able to carry it around the Jobsite to do all your cutting I haven't found anything it won't cut well yet and the stock blade stays so sharp as long as you treat it well. Those on the fence about these style of battery saws don't even think twice just buy it!
Discovered you randomly after searching for some reviews on diamondback toolbelts. I think ive watched every video you got here on RUclips now! Keep making great content 😁 shout out from a Norwegian carpenter 🇧🇻
RPM may be similar, but remember the linear velocity of the outside cutting edge will be significantly faster on the 7 1/4" / 185mm blade than the 6 1/2" / 165mm blade. About 14% faster if my math is correct.
This past Saturday I was working with a buddy. He needed to rip about a dozen 2x6 down. I loaned him my makita rear handled saw. He wasn't convinced it was the right saw for the job. After ther job was done he kept saying I am getting that saw. I love mine, I also have other smaller makita saws.
What made me decide on the smaller saw was talking to a construction crew that owned both saws. They all said the bigger saw was garbage and rarely used it. One said he built his house pretty much with the smaller saw, miter saw and a table saw. They said the weight was an issue and they said they rarely needed the additional power. Everyone on the crew were older so maybe that was factor. I am very happy with my smaller Makita. I can see for the type of work you do could be a good addition thought. For me I will save my money and plug in my old corded saw. Nice review.
I have had this saw for 2 years. It has completely surpassed my expectations and would highly recommend it. It is so nice cordless tools are replacing my corded tool with similar or better performance without a cord. Thanks Makita!
I’ve got the cordless 36 Miter box, track saw and this one ordered. Someday I’ll get a cordless phone ..😎 Glad to hear it’s still good after 2 years , still going strong?
i own this saw, i run two 5amp batteries and it the best it has replaced my corded skilsaw mag 77 as i frame houses for a living in Ontario, Canada. today framing the 2nd floors of 3 town houses the saw lasted over 400 cuts of 2x10 i was shocked at 430 pm it cut out ( started at 7am). awesome saw, depending on what you do!
I use the 36v sidewinder. It will in no way replace my corded saws. If i was cutting a roof I would burn through batteries. It is just better to be plugged in when cutting rafter after rafter. Saying that I do love the battery saw for smaller jobs.
Picked one up a few weeks ago for $259 USD. The saw w/blade, dual rapid charger (2 batteries simultaneously), nice carry bag, and (4)four 5Ah batteries, ...for $259!!! It was like buying 4 batteries on a sale price, and then getting a saw, charger, and carry bag for free.
I work for Home Depot. We can't keep them in the store. They're currently selling for US $249 which includes 2x5AH batteries. And you get another 2x5AH batteries free.
I've got the newer Dewalt DCS 578, which is the updated 60V max sidewinder. It's not a wyrmdrive/rear handle, but holy crap does it have the power. Like every other battery operated tool, it almost fools you into believing it's a toy until you pull the trigger, it's an absolute monster. Much like you, no fanboyism. I just happened to have other DeWalt tools and decided to go for that. At the end of the day, they're all just tools. They have a job that we need them to do, and most of the modern tools are well able to complete those jobs. Keep up the great content!
I learned on a Makita saw and I’ve got a fair few myself, but there is no other cordless saw like my DEWALT Flexvolt 7-1/4”! I’ve run it against my corded Skilsaw Mag77 and there is no comparison. If you need a powerful saw to rip old lumber or gang cut 4-by rafter tails, you want the sexy-flexy hanging on your horses! Love the channel and keep up the good work!
@h2s I've seen it. I could easily be convinced to by one. I've use the "77" series skilsaw for 20 years. Just recently switched to the dewalt 60v. I just cant stomach the cost at this moment. The dewalt is running real well
I've had the dewalt rear handle saw (the flexvolt) for over 2 years... Favorite power tool... If I had to go do a job and could for some reason only bring minimal tools, I'd grab my bags, my framing square, and my rear handle flexvolt
Hi Scott. Iv had one of these saws for the last 18 month, it’s a great saw but if you cutting pattens on the ground for roofs I still stick to corded but cutting the rafter feet on when up on the roof it’s the bomb. One of The best things is the left sided blade you have a lot better view of cut & you are right it’s great for framing. Keep up the great work, I always look forward to your next videos. Cheer, Rob
Been building houses for 45 years. This is my go to saw. It is powerful enough to do rips. Would be nice to have a built in light for better vision of cut. Change the batteries when one bar on the fuel gauge. Channels in the shoe plate tends to hold sawdust and then empties it into my truck. My Skil mag LT is not used much anymore. Very good saw!
I recently got the DeWalt 60v worm drive saw and love it. Tons of power. It's heavy, but it cuts through timber with no resistance. I used it to build a shed and am happy with it.
As a concrete form building carpenter I use this saw. I have been building warehouses most recently and this beats wheeling a generator over a 350,000 sq. Ft. Jobsite. Cutting and ripping 15inch rim joist is a breeze. Also when building walls with high density overlay plywood, I can rip two 3/4 sheets at once with with no problem.
So I just recently bought this saw for general construction use. I absolutely love it. Almost everything else I use is DeWalt, but my saws are Makita and I love them. This thing is a ripper forsure.
I am a DIY, and because of you I am getting in the Makita line... can't say other thing that they are awesome!!! I have worked with a corded skilsaw, very useful and more straight cuts with the rear handle.
that 36v saw kicks ass. I'm coming from the baseline Makita plug in 7 1/4 saw. i bought the small blade 18v Makita saw in 09. my boss at the time told me it was a "gimmick". It became used more often than my drills. The next guy i worked for was a good friend, he realized the awesomeness of the 18v saw. we made fun of my old boss and I named this saw the Gimmie. so many years later I buy this 36v saw you're reviewing now. I named it the Super Gimmie. Ill go ahead and say you cant get a good idea on how powerful it is unless you're running 5.0 amp/hr batteries. Now you're looking at needing the double charger and at least 4 5.0 batteries. If you have that, you'll never want to plug in a 7 1/4 saw again and you wont look back. I was cutting rafters today, gave my employee the 36v for the plumb cut and i used the old plug in on the birds mouth end. Ugh, its been a while since I used this saw. Not as much fun. My only gripe is my 36v saw is the depth gauge is inaccurate and the spring in the blade guard is so stiff it'll push a 2x4 off the saw horses. I've been removing the thumb safety switches and the blade guard return spring on every battery saw since day 1. Once you get into the habit of the wrist flick to drop the guard before you place it down, you'll never want the spring again. plus brushless is already bladestop
I’m getting my first circ saw, I’m grabbing this monster. Honestly, I’ve done a ton of research and since I’m going into commercial giant worksights, I want to have the best quality saw with the most power/torque. I’ve already got 4 5amp batteries too. I feel if I invest early into this, if I ever need something smaller I’ll be able to grab a smaller one a lot easier then making a larger investment down the road. And I’m fucking pumped
You're analysis is spot on, Scott. Taped trigger while not cutting won't tell you anything about actual run time. These saws draw a lot more amps as the load increases. It would be like testing your car's fuel economy with the car on jack stands ala Ferris Beuhler. I have this Makita and the Milwaukee rear handle. They are both great saws. The Milwaukee is a bit more powerful, but the Makita runs more smoothly. They both are beasts with plenty of power. They aren't, however, the saw to choose for light work. Being left blade saws, the site line is awesome for right handers like me. Though not a factor for me, the Makita is a great looking saw. Reminiscent of steam trains of the art-deco era I'm happy with both saws. I have a Milwaukee left blade 6 1/2 sidewinder that is the saw I always reach for when big power isn't an issue. For sheer power, I believe the DeWalt FlexVolt, and Skilsaw wormdrive are the most powerful cordless rear handle saws out there. I'm not a fan of right blade saws at all. Keep up the great work, and stay safe.
I wanted a cordless 7 1/4 circular saw. I wanted a smaller version of this saw but this saw was free from Makita, so I got it. I bought 2 5 amp hour batteries and a charger for 240.00 including tax and shipping and Makita sent me this saw and 2 additional 5 amp hour batteries as a bonus. So I have my 7 1/4 circular saw now. I hope I love it.
Jimmy klausner wondering where you’re from. I have never heard of this type of saw called anything other than worm drive. Similarly your higher rpm circular saws are normally sidewinders. That is what we call them regardless of if they have a rear push handle or the top/canted push handles.
My folks are over there at the moment, said it's bloody wonderful weather at the moment, but we're supposed to be going to South Island next week and apparently the weather is not so hot there at the moment! Thanks for sharing as ever.
Just got this saw, been using the 165 alot but wanted something a bit more capable for ripping, which this 185 is, and it's smooth. I find it a bit heavy on the right hand side for regular cross cutting on little sticks like 4 x 2 so will keep using the 165 for that. I'm a heavy oak timber framer by trade so used to using BIG saws for big work. (Just to help put things in perspective ).
The 36v is a worm-drive saw. It has a different style of cutting than a 18v sidewinder. The wormdrive is a framers tool and most of the cutting is done "over the foot" using the weight of the tool to guide and make the cut. Add a prazi-beam cutter to the 36v and now you have a cordless beam cutter.
The reason I bought it is because I do Home Remodeling ,, so sometimes I'm working inside an apartment, or inside a home and I need to make my cuts outside,, so depending on what plywood , wood, etc I'm cutting I have to look for a extension cord and set up the plugs and everything ,, so this is really handy that way. You just go outside and cut what you need to. The small makita saw is good also, but depending on if your making long cuts, the framing saw with 18+18 =36 volts will work better..
Hi Scott. Like the channel and your content. No load run-time means very little. You need to compare them under comparable load. You can cut at the same depth and same wood, but of course wood does vary so it's difficult to be precise on that.
I love the fact that were finally getting so much power out of these cordless saws. I remember getting the old 18v dewalt circular saw which was really only usable for small punch out and that was pushing it. I've been using the milwaukee fuel 7 1/4 for the past few years only pulling out the corded when I need to cut stacks of material. A couple weeks ago I just picked up the Skil cordless after the milwaukee decided to drop about 30 ft to a concrete basement which it didn't really like. I was on the fence between the makita, dewalt and the skil. Like you, especially when it comes to tools that are used all day every day, I buy the ones that I think are going to work best, be more productive, and hold up rather than just being in a battery platform or a specific brand. The skil sold me the first day out cutting wet 2x10 yellow pine rafters on a rainy day just going through them like it was nothing. Even though the saw is heavy it's smooth, comfortable, and familiar since I've used the skil 77s for years the adjustments just feel second nature to me. I love seeing what other carpenters around the world are doing it's extremely interesting. Keep up the quality work!
In my humble opinion; I like the ergonomics of the 36. For things like cutting eaves before hanging fascia. The hind battery loading occupies exactly where your wrist wants to be which becomes very obvious when making repetitive downward cuts. Love your stuff Mr. brown. “Scott brown here” is a common saying on my job sites. 🙌
I’ve been loving the 6 1/2” saw for a couple of years now, but I’ve always had the mag hypoid saw for backup and heavier work. A few months ago my big corded saw got stolen. Bummer, but it had definitely paid its dues, so I replaced it with this 36v version. It’s absolutely amazing after a few little mods... disable the safety switch (small saw too😉), then I ground a big radius from the front inside corner of the guard to greatly improve the cutting line of sight, and then ground off the end of the acorn but on the bevel lever so it will balance on the front edge of the foot leaned up against your sawhorse 👌🏼. Now it’s damn near perfect. Another favorite feature is that it will balance nicely upside down, which helps greatly when setting up a rip fence.
02:16 It most likely turned off since you weren't doing anything. It can obviously sense that there is little to no load and there simply will be a timeout implemented.
We have had a couple of these for 18 months or so. Scott left a couple Kwerks out about the saw but their a still great saws. Ill be making a video about them soon. We do have a lot of flexvolt tools but not the rear handled saw. I’d like to try one of them.
You need them both if your a pro chippy. The single battery saw is great for cutting sheet material and cross cutting timber. The rear handled one you use for ripping down lengths of timber and framing.
Best saw! This saw cuts for hours before you gotta change batteries. I ran it non stop 8 hours cutting siding..every guy that uses it comes over and praises how well built it is. 125$ bare tool.
I have both , the 6 1/2 with the right blade is capable of cutting stringers out of pressure treated lumber , but it takes longer than the 36 v ,which is a beast.
@Scott Brown ... I had this 36V Makita saw also but just for two years and during this time I’m used it just few times and I just sold it two months ago ... sometimes i need a deeper cutting saw and i like cordless tools. That’s why I want buy now a cordless saw that can even cut deeper ... Makita has a new cordless saw that can cut 9 1/4 “ but SkilSaw will bring one out here in North America later this year. This new cordless saw can cut even 1” more then the new Makita -
I have this saw. It kicks ass. The only downside is the spring on the blade guard is so strong. I pull the spring out so it doesnt push a 2x4 off the horses before the blade eats in.
Just the video I was looking for! Contemplating buying one but already have the smaller one. Pondering for all the reasons you’ve shown here. Only problem is, I’m addicted to makita cordless kit (and batteries!!! , 12 at the last count😂). I’ll be buying this. 😂😂👍
So glad for this video. I keep looking at it. Got the big makita 305mm aws mitre saw. Yeah it’s heavy but I’m on that platform. Got a great deal on it too
I bought this saw last year, right after I built my own frame house. It would be great to had one while main building was in process but it si great to have one now, there is still a lot of framing to do. Now I am thinking about buying a little one for smaller works but in my country the price of dhs680 like about 50% more than drs780.
I suspect that "runtime test failure" occurred not because of overheating. First, the time was quite round. Second, the motor would not produce a lot of heat with no load. I think it just could be some kind of protection built-in in the saw's controller
I use mine for ripping and even in wet treated 50mm it’s a beast, it does jam a bit when there’s tension in the wood but so does my corded one. And with a demo blade it’s even better
i think the ultimate conclusion is that we need both. I just picked up the 36v because of 2x12 stringers. in order to stay tight to my line I need lots of torque.
I had always used the classic right blade corded makita's for framing etc. It took a little getting used to the little left blade cordless (same one you have), especially when cutting bevels. But that little saw has proven so handy for small jobs and cutting in the roof. I may just have to get the big brother now!
for me id buy one just for the ergonomics, the rear handle design with the blade on the left is absolutely perfect for right handers, i already have a 110v version, its worth lugging the transformer around for a saw like that. I dont understand why they make circular saws with the blade on the right and the handle adjacent to the blade, so impractical and awkward.
Hey Scott. It goes without saying.. Another Stellar Vid! Love getting back in to the more frequent vids. Good times ahead for you in 2020 Sir. Also I’ve been wanting to know if you have Patron or any other ways I can help the channel out? Oooh also do you have any stickers
Cheers Ryan! Yeah Keen to get more videos up. Holiday season here at the moment 😊 I plan on doing a patreon page some time this year. Watching the videos is more than enough for me though mate. Thanks ! PS I'll get some stickers made too
@@ScottBrownCarpentry Firstly Thanks for the reply Scott! Great ! That's what I like to hear! Looking forward to them :) Well no surprises its Kiwi Holiday season... As across the ditch -Where I live. It's holiday season as well. Wait, Whoops I mean... 'HELL' Season... hahahah. Also, let me know as soon as the Patreon site is up and running, and I'll be all over it! And of course the stickers! hehehe. Thanks a million Scott Regards, Ryan.
I've had this Makita DRS 780 saw for about 8 months now. Thought it was great since I only had a small corded Hitachi circular saw with the blade on the wrong side before that. But after having used it for probably 300 hours I don't like it. It's too heavy and drains batteries in no time and for some reason gets stuck even cutting 20mm OSB. There is this new Milwaukee rear handle 7 1/4 that came out last year, it looks lighter, I think I will give it a try or do some more research and find something else. But I've worked with many different circular saws, so far I got to like only only one which was Festool track saw and I used it over 6 years ago last time when I was relatively green. Maybe it's not the saws, maybe I'm just not a good carpenter :D Have a nice day you all.
There is a strange tradition in the US. On the West Coast, the rear handle models are very popular, while in the East and Midwest, the "side winder" models predominate. I don't really know why this is, but when I lived in California and I needed to do some framing, I was preternaturally drawn to buy my first the rear handle circ saw. It was love at first cut.
The No-load test may have triggered a safety cut out. I saw this big hand held circular saw once. At least 18" diameter. They were building a trebuchet. Huge timber sections.
I have used this saw for a long time and one big thing Ive noticed is that even though its heavier its really smooth and when Im cutting down sheathing or plywood it really feels like its just gliding through the cut its easier to track a straight line and much faster because its not constantly twitching through the cut and needing to be corrected back onto the line like my 6 1/2 does.
I have that same little one and I had a go on the rear handle one a few weeks ago... The power difference was really noticable. The rear handle is a bit weird though, not used to that.
Just was perusing Amazon they have them for 160. That makes it a no-brainer. The 2x batteries are being fazed out for the new 36V. But for me, the 2X still makes sense. I am going to see if I can run it on my Dewalt batteries with adapters. I don't really care, but for a guy who is paying, not getting paid it would be fun if it worked.
Ok so I’ve been in the fence about getting this cause most of my cordless stuff is DeWalt and I needed a new circ saw and I hadn’t invested into the flexvolt lineup yet but after watching this I pulled the trigger today and bought it! 199.99 for the saw and 300ish in 2 sets of 5.0 batteries and a double bat fast charger! Used if this afternoon and I’m in love! Thank you.
Scott, check out the brushless 7 1/4” x2 sidewinder. I got one for a ridiculous price ($100 USD) and it has really put an end to my interest in 18v saws (including the beautiful Mafell KS55). They make a version with a sole plate that runs on the Festool/Makita rails. They also make a cordless 10” model now (and it too runs on rails).
I've got a corded Skil Mag77 so cutting power isn't an issue. But if I had any Makita batteries I probably would've got this saw for the portability and no worries about blowing fuses.
good review Scott, 165mm cordless can handle all around work but not deign for long distance cutting, I had same experience blade was jammed and saw stop working for long distance cutting. However most of handy job 165mm did good job.
An electric motor draws power proportional to the work it's doing per second. Performing cuts and spinning up the blade draws dramatically more power than moving around a little bit of air in direct proximity to the blade.
Been using the Makita XSH08Z (US name) Top handle 36v 6K rpm. Pretty nice piece of kit.. But the depth adjustment is very hit or miss. It's just a nut washer and lock ring that release a little pressure when you raise the handle to allow the depth to be reset. If that nut moves at all then it either jams or makes it so it doesn't lock. Makes me just leave it on max cut as I'm scared if I try to adjust it'll not lock out again. Makita have a great range of tools on their ecosystem so hopefully they revisit that mechanism for the future models and bring it up to standard.
Why does no one talk about the Makita XSH06Z. Spins faster, 600 cuts, and its lighter! Blade right is a perfect addition when I already have the smaller blade left. Best money spent on a circ. saw.
Might make sense to compare it to the skilsaw, it's the original and cordless versions are available. Rear handle seems right for framing, less right for ripping boards down precisely.
I ran into the airbow rep the other day, he let me try out the new concrete airbow, shot nails through thick solid steel, that things rocks! No saws but...
This saw is amazing. I’m a framer here in Oklahoma and we use those saws and they’re an absolute game changer. Powerful, light, no cord hassle, long battery life. 10/10 recommend
Light ? Mate I've been framing for thirty years with a corded Makita that weighs a little over 8 pounds and I'm buggered by days end ,you'd have to be big Arny to cart that bloody rear handle Makita around all day .lol
@@interman7715 i agree its light with work in Oklahoma. I own it and love far better than my other saws we got for the crew
How long does the battery last?
Almost 2 years later, still don't need it, still love using it. I think I got some kind of flash deal on it at HD. 199 for saw and batteries/charger. Took the staff like half an hour to find the saw on the top shelf, box caked with dust. Wife and in-laws sitting outside in the car waiting the whole time🤣🤣
Man, I love finding a good deal!
I don't need it, but I want it. Want is more powerful than need.
It's not crazy powerful, I like it but Milwaukee and Dewalt have way more power, makita one is smoother cutting though, "feels like a Ferrari in your hand" gets thrown around quite a bit on reviews of it.
I use one every day, it's my bosses and I absolutely love it. Super comfortable in hand, only complaint is the batteries are a bit awkward to get in and out
Most relatable comment I’ve ever seen
I've had this saw for 3 months now and it's easily become my favourite tool I own. My favourite part of this saw is the blade depth adjustment it's so accurate you don't even need to measure sometimes! If you work with any type of joists, rafters or just normal stick framing it is so handy being able to carry it around the Jobsite to do all your cutting I haven't found anything it won't cut well yet and the stock blade stays so sharp as long as you treat it well. Those on the fence about these style of battery saws don't even think twice just buy it!
Discovered you randomly after searching for some reviews on diamondback toolbelts. I think ive watched every video you got here on RUclips now! Keep making great content 😁 shout out from a Norwegian carpenter 🇧🇻
Cheers mate
RPM may be similar, but remember the linear velocity of the outside cutting edge will be significantly faster on the 7 1/4" / 185mm blade than the 6 1/2" / 165mm blade. About 14% faster if my math is correct.
That's some Engineering Explained info right there. 👍
@@vzgsxr thank goodness for smart people
This past Saturday I was working with a buddy. He needed to rip about a dozen 2x6 down. I loaned him my makita rear handled saw. He wasn't convinced it was the right saw for the job. After ther job was done he kept saying I am getting that saw.
I love mine, I also have other smaller makita saws.
What made me decide on the smaller saw was talking to a construction crew that owned both saws. They all said the bigger saw was garbage and rarely used it. One said he built his house pretty much with the smaller saw, miter saw and a table saw. They said the weight was an issue and they said they rarely needed the additional power. Everyone on the crew were older so maybe that was factor. I am very happy with my smaller Makita. I can see for the type of work you do could be a good addition thought. For me I will save my money and plug in my old corded saw. Nice review.
I have had this saw for 2 years. It has completely surpassed my expectations and would highly recommend it. It is so nice cordless tools are replacing my corded tool with similar or better performance without a cord. Thanks Makita!
I’ve got the cordless 36
Miter box, track saw and this one ordered. Someday I’ll get a cordless phone ..😎
Glad to hear it’s still good after 2 years , still going strong?
i own this saw, i run two 5amp batteries and it the best it has replaced my corded skilsaw mag 77 as i frame houses for a living in Ontario, Canada. today framing the 2nd floors of 3 town houses the saw lasted over 400 cuts of 2x10 i was shocked at 430 pm it cut out ( started at 7am). awesome saw, depending on what you do!
Can't go wrong with Makita ,I have a 7 1/4" corded Makita ,been using it for 20 years of framing.
I just started framing and every crew has this saw
I’ve had mine for going on two years now. It still works great like it did the first day. I use it on average two days a week.
I use the little 165mm every day. Love that saw, small, light & cuts most of the things you need throughout the day.
I use the 36v sidewinder. It will in no way replace my corded saws. If i was cutting a roof I would burn through batteries. It is just better to be plugged in when cutting rafter after rafter. Saying that I do love the battery saw for smaller jobs.
Picked one up a few weeks ago for $259 USD. The saw w/blade, dual rapid charger (2 batteries simultaneously), nice carry bag, and (4)four 5Ah batteries, ...for $259!!! It was like buying 4 batteries on a sale price, and then getting a saw, charger, and carry bag for free.
I work for Home Depot. We can't keep them in the store. They're currently selling for US $249 which includes 2x5AH batteries. And you get another 2x5AH batteries free.
I just grabbed this deal. It’s more saw than I’ll ever need but hard to say no at that price.
I’ve had that saw for 2 years now and it’s fantastic
I've got the newer Dewalt DCS 578, which is the updated 60V max sidewinder. It's not a wyrmdrive/rear handle, but holy crap does it have the power. Like every other battery operated tool, it almost fools you into believing it's a toy until you pull the trigger, it's an absolute monster. Much like you, no fanboyism. I just happened to have other DeWalt tools and decided to go for that.
At the end of the day, they're all just tools. They have a job that we need them to do, and most of the modern tools are well able to complete those jobs. Keep up the great content!
A long time arriving to here??. A smart square, pencil & this saw - a deck can be built in short time.. Powerful!!!!
Picked mine up for $100 in the bargain bin at Home Depot. Awesome saw. Very smooth power. The rear handle makes following a line easy, I find.
$100! You guys have it good over there
I miss cooking with paerau!
He should make another channel and just do job-site meals, you know every tradie will be on it
Me too!
The GingerNinja bring it back Scott pareu is that funny dude we all love
Best saw I’ve ever bought. Have no problems with it at all can’t imagine my life without it now
I appreciate hearing someone else say they get the best regardless of brand.
I learned on a Makita saw and I’ve got a fair few myself, but there is no other cordless saw like my DEWALT Flexvolt 7-1/4”! I’ve run it against my corded Skilsaw Mag77 and there is no comparison. If you need a powerful saw to rip old lumber or gang cut 4-by rafter tails, you want the sexy-flexy hanging on your horses!
Love the channel and keep up the good work!
Exact same comment here. My flexvolt rear handle has SIGNIFICANTLY more power than my mag77..........and no cord
@h2s I've seen it. I could easily be convinced to by one. I've use the "77" series skilsaw for 20 years. Just recently switched to the dewalt 60v. I just cant stomach the cost at this moment. The dewalt is running real well
I've had the dewalt rear handle saw (the flexvolt) for over 2 years... Favorite power tool... If I had to go do a job and could for some reason only bring minimal tools, I'd grab my bags, my framing square, and my rear handle flexvolt
The dewalt rear handle saw Is a very good saw as well
The 54v platform seems to outperform most other’s... I have a 7 1/4 54 V Dewalt And it’s phenomenal what that saw will do...
Hi Scott.
Iv had one of these saws for the last 18 month, it’s a great saw but if you cutting pattens on the ground for roofs I still stick to corded but cutting the rafter feet on when up on the roof it’s the bomb.
One of The best things is the left sided blade you have a lot better view of cut & you are right it’s great for framing.
Keep up the great work, I always look forward to your next videos. Cheer, Rob
I’ve been sat here patiently waiting for the review of this!
Been building houses for 45 years. This is my go to saw. It is powerful enough to do rips. Would be nice to have a built in light for better vision of cut. Change the batteries when one bar on the fuel gauge. Channels in the shoe plate tends to hold sawdust and then empties it into my truck. My Skil mag LT is not used much anymore. Very good saw!
We just ordered this for our business and cant wait to put it to work on a deck soon
I recently got the DeWalt 60v worm drive saw and love it. Tons of power. It's heavy, but it cuts through timber with no resistance. I used it to build a shed and am happy with it.
late comment but as a carpenter specializing in deck building, I love this saw! Easily my favorite tool that I own.
As a concrete form building carpenter I use this saw. I have been building warehouses most recently and this beats wheeling a generator over a 350,000 sq. Ft. Jobsite. Cutting and ripping 15inch rim joist is a breeze. Also when building walls with high density overlay plywood, I can rip two 3/4 sheets at once with with no problem.
Dewalt DCS577N flexvolt saw is the shiznuts, the power and battery life is amazing, it's a bit heavier but well worth it, get it if you can!!!
So I just recently bought this saw for general construction use. I absolutely love it. Almost everything else I use is DeWalt, but my saws are Makita and I love them. This thing is a ripper forsure.
I am a DIY, and because of you I am getting in the Makita line... can't say other thing that they are awesome!!!
I have worked with a corded skilsaw, very useful and more straight cuts with the rear handle.
that 36v saw kicks ass. I'm coming from the baseline Makita plug in 7 1/4 saw. i bought the small blade 18v Makita saw in 09. my boss at the time told me it was a "gimmick". It became used more often than my drills. The next guy i worked for was a good friend, he realized the awesomeness of the 18v saw. we made fun of my old boss and I named this saw the Gimmie. so many years later I buy this 36v saw you're reviewing now. I named it the Super Gimmie. Ill go ahead and say you cant get a good idea on how powerful it is unless you're running 5.0 amp/hr batteries. Now you're looking at needing the double charger and at least 4 5.0 batteries. If you have that, you'll never want to plug in a 7 1/4 saw again and you wont look back. I was cutting rafters today, gave my employee the 36v for the plumb cut and i used the old plug in on the birds mouth end. Ugh, its been a while since I used this saw. Not as much fun. My only gripe is my 36v saw is the depth gauge is inaccurate and the spring in the blade guard is so stiff it'll push a 2x4 off the saw horses. I've been removing the thumb safety switches and the blade guard return spring on every battery saw since day 1. Once you get into the habit of the wrist flick to drop the guard before you place it down, you'll never want the spring again. plus brushless is already bladestop
I’m getting my first circ saw, I’m grabbing this monster. Honestly, I’ve done a ton of research and since I’m going into commercial giant worksights, I want to have the best quality saw with the most power/torque. I’ve already got 4 5amp batteries too. I feel if I invest early into this, if I ever need something smaller I’ll be able to grab a smaller one a lot easier then making a larger investment down the road.
And I’m fucking pumped
You're analysis is spot on, Scott. Taped trigger while not cutting won't tell you anything about actual run time. These saws draw a lot more amps as the load increases. It would be like testing your car's fuel economy with the car on jack stands ala Ferris Beuhler. I have this Makita and the Milwaukee rear handle. They are both great saws. The Milwaukee is a bit more powerful, but the Makita runs more smoothly. They both are beasts with plenty of power. They aren't, however, the saw to choose for light work. Being left blade saws, the site line is awesome for right handers like me. Though not a factor for me, the Makita is a great looking saw. Reminiscent of steam trains of the art-deco era I'm happy with both saws. I have a Milwaukee left blade 6 1/2 sidewinder that is the saw I always reach for when big power isn't an issue. For sheer power, I believe the DeWalt FlexVolt, and Skilsaw wormdrive are the most powerful cordless rear handle saws out there. I'm not a fan of right blade saws at all. Keep up the great work, and stay safe.
Went from Dewalt to Milwaukee to Makita and I got to say that this Makita is the best saw out of all of them.
I wanted a cordless 7 1/4 circular saw. I wanted a smaller version of this saw but this saw was free from Makita, so I got it. I bought 2 5 amp hour batteries and a charger for 240.00 including tax and shipping and Makita sent me this saw and 2 additional 5 amp hour batteries as a bonus. So I have my 7 1/4 circular saw now. I hope I love it.
Just got myself the milwuakee rear handle saw looking forward to use it alot, still wating for all the paperworks to get done about my own business :D
Jimmy klausner wondering where you’re from. I have never heard of this type of saw called anything other than worm drive.
Similarly your higher rpm circular saws are normally sidewinders. That is what we call them regardless of if they have a rear push handle or the top/canted push handles.
My folks are over there at the moment, said it's bloody wonderful weather at the moment, but we're supposed to be going to South Island next week and apparently the weather is not so hot there at the moment! Thanks for sharing as ever.
Great weather!
I dont need to do an apprenticeship.. im just gona watch all of Scott's vids & ill be good to go! Lol
Heck yea
Just got this saw, been using the 165 alot but wanted something a bit more capable for ripping, which this 185 is, and it's smooth. I find it a bit heavy on the right hand side for regular cross cutting on little sticks like 4 x 2 so will keep using the 165 for that. I'm a heavy oak timber framer by trade so used to using BIG saws for big work. (Just to help put things in perspective ).
The 36v is a worm-drive saw. It has a different style of cutting than a 18v sidewinder. The wormdrive is a framers tool and most of the cutting is done "over the foot" using the weight of the tool to guide and make the cut. Add a prazi-beam cutter to the 36v and now you have a cordless beam cutter.
The reason I bought it is because I do Home Remodeling ,, so sometimes I'm working inside an apartment, or inside a home and I need to make my cuts outside,, so depending on what plywood , wood, etc I'm cutting I have to look for a extension cord and set up the plugs and everything ,, so this is really handy that way. You just go outside and cut what you need to. The small makita saw is good also, but depending on if your making long cuts, the framing saw with 18+18 =36 volts will work better..
Hi Scott. Like the channel and your content. No load run-time means very little. You need to compare them under comparable load. You can cut at the same depth and same wood, but of course wood does vary so it's difficult to be precise on that.
I love the fact that were finally getting so much power out of these cordless saws. I remember getting the old 18v dewalt circular saw which was really only usable for small punch out and that was pushing it. I've been using the milwaukee fuel 7 1/4 for the past few years only pulling out the corded when I need to cut stacks of material. A couple weeks ago I just picked up the Skil cordless after the milwaukee decided to drop about 30 ft to a concrete basement which it didn't really like. I was on the fence between the makita, dewalt and the skil. Like you, especially when it comes to tools that are used all day every day, I buy the ones that I think are going to work best, be more productive, and hold up rather than just being in a battery platform or a specific brand. The skil sold me the first day out cutting wet 2x10 yellow pine rafters on a rainy day just going through them like it was nothing. Even though the saw is heavy it's smooth, comfortable, and familiar since I've used the skil 77s for years the adjustments just feel second nature to me. I love seeing what other carpenters around the world are doing it's extremely interesting. Keep up the quality work!
Im up in Oklahoma and i love this saw for concrete and masonry framing needs.
In my humble opinion; I like the ergonomics of the 36. For things like cutting eaves before hanging fascia. The hind battery loading occupies exactly where your wrist wants to be which becomes very obvious when making repetitive downward cuts. Love your stuff Mr. brown. “Scott brown here” is a common saying on my job sites. 🙌
I’ve been loving the 6 1/2” saw for a couple of years now, but I’ve always had the mag hypoid saw for backup and heavier work. A few months ago my big corded saw got stolen. Bummer, but it had definitely paid its dues, so I replaced it with this 36v version. It’s absolutely amazing after a few little mods... disable the safety switch (small saw too😉), then I ground a big radius from the front inside corner of the guard to greatly improve the cutting line of sight, and then ground off the end of the acorn but on the bevel lever so it will balance on the front edge of the foot leaned up against your sawhorse 👌🏼. Now it’s damn near perfect. Another favorite feature is that it will balance nicely upside down, which helps greatly when setting up a rip fence.
02:16 It most likely turned off since you weren't doing anything. It can obviously sense that there is little to no load and there simply will be a timeout implemented.
My go at it is the DeWalt 60v rear handle saw. One battery so much power! The 2 battery system seems inconvenient to me.
CraftManGreg why did u get the rearhandle instead of the side winder ? I thought only Americans use rear handle haha
Not if you've invested in the Makita 18v platform. I have a dual port charger and plenty of 5ah and 6ah batteries, 😁
TheToolnut still running 2 batteries in anything is a hassle,
@@MsElijah16 No, I don't find that at all.
We have had a couple of these for 18 months or so. Scott left a couple Kwerks out about the saw but their a still great saws. Ill be making a video about them soon.
We do have a lot of flexvolt tools but not the rear handled saw. I’d like to try one of them.
I have been using dewalt but I’m starting to get makita tools and love them
You need them both if your a pro chippy. The single battery saw is great for cutting sheet material and cross cutting timber.
The rear handled one you use for ripping down lengths of timber and framing.
Makita just debuted the cordless 9 1/4 circular saw. That’s the way to go! Great video Sir!
Best saw! This saw cuts for hours before you gotta change batteries. I ran it non stop 8 hours cutting siding..every guy that uses it comes over and praises how well built it is. 125$ bare tool.
I have both , the 6 1/2 with the right blade is capable of cutting stringers out of pressure treated lumber , but it takes longer than the 36 v ,which is a beast.
@Scott Brown ... I had this 36V Makita saw also but just for two years and during this time I’m used it just few times and I just sold it two months ago ... sometimes i need a deeper cutting saw and i like cordless tools. That’s why I want buy now a cordless saw that can even cut deeper ... Makita has a new cordless saw that can cut 9 1/4 “ but SkilSaw will bring one out here in North America later this year. This new cordless saw can cut even 1” more then the new Makita -
I have this saw. It kicks ass. The only downside is the spring on the blade guard is so strong. I pull the spring out so it doesnt push a 2x4 off the horses before the blade eats in.
Just the video I was looking for! Contemplating buying one but already have the smaller one. Pondering for all the reasons you’ve shown here. Only problem is, I’m addicted to makita cordless kit (and batteries!!! , 12 at the last count😂). I’ll be buying this. 😂😂👍
So glad for this video. I keep looking at it. Got the big makita 305mm aws mitre saw. Yeah it’s heavy but I’m on that platform. Got a great deal on it too
I bought this saw last year, right after I built my own frame house. It would be great to had one while main building was in process but it si great to have one now, there is still a lot of framing to do. Now I am thinking about buying a little one for smaller works but in my country the price of dhs680 like about 50% more than drs780.
I suspect that "runtime test failure" occurred not because of overheating. First, the time was quite round. Second, the motor would not produce a lot of heat with no load. I think it just could be some kind of protection built-in in the saw's controller
I use mine for ripping and even in wet treated 50mm it’s a beast, it does jam a bit when there’s tension in the wood but so does my corded one. And with a demo blade it’s even better
What demo blade do you use with it and can that blade go through nails?
i think the ultimate conclusion is that we need both. I just picked up the 36v because of 2x12 stringers. in order to stay tight to my line I need lots of torque.
I had always used the classic right blade corded makita's for framing etc. It took a little getting used to the little left blade cordless (same one you have), especially when cutting bevels. But that little saw has proven so handy for small jobs and cutting in the roof.
I may just have to get the big brother now!
for me id buy one just for the ergonomics, the rear handle design with the blade on the left is absolutely perfect for right handers, i already have a 110v version, its worth lugging the transformer around for a saw like that. I dont understand why they make circular saws with the blade on the right and the handle adjacent to the blade, so impractical and awkward.
Hey Scott. It goes without saying.. Another Stellar Vid!
Love getting back in to the more frequent vids.
Good times ahead for you in 2020 Sir. Also I’ve been wanting to know if you have Patron or any other ways I can help the channel out?
Oooh also do you have any stickers
Cheers Ryan! Yeah Keen to get more videos up. Holiday season here at the moment 😊 I plan on doing a patreon page some time this year. Watching the videos is more than enough for me though mate. Thanks !
PS I'll get some stickers made too
@@ScottBrownCarpentry Firstly Thanks for the reply Scott!
Great ! That's what I like to hear! Looking forward to them :)
Well no surprises its Kiwi Holiday season... As across the ditch -Where I live. It's holiday season as well. Wait, Whoops I mean... 'HELL' Season... hahahah.
Also, let me know as soon as the Patreon site is up and running, and I'll be all over it!
And of course the stickers! hehehe. Thanks a million Scott
Regards, Ryan.
For corded, have a look at the magnesium Makita Hypoid saw.
What a beast
Keep up the great work!
I've had this Makita DRS 780 saw for about 8 months now. Thought it was great since I only had a small corded Hitachi circular saw with the blade on the wrong side before that. But after having used it for probably 300 hours I don't like it. It's too heavy and drains batteries in no time and for some reason gets stuck even cutting 20mm OSB. There is this new Milwaukee rear handle 7 1/4 that came out last year, it looks lighter, I think I will give it a try or do some more research and find something else.
But I've worked with many different circular saws, so far I got to like only only one which was Festool track saw and I used it over 6 years ago last time when I was relatively green. Maybe it's not the saws, maybe I'm just not a good carpenter :D Have a nice day you all.
There is a strange tradition in the US. On the West Coast, the rear handle models are very popular, while in the East and Midwest, the "side winder" models predominate. I don't really know why this is, but when I lived in California and I needed to do some framing, I was preternaturally drawn to buy my first the rear handle circ saw. It was love at first cut.
The No-load test may have triggered a safety cut out.
I saw this big hand held circular saw once. At least 18" diameter. They were building a trebuchet. Huge timber sections.
I’ve had the saw about 2 years now it’s great
I have used this saw for a long time and one big thing Ive noticed is that even though its heavier its really smooth and when Im cutting down sheathing or plywood it really feels like its just gliding through the cut its easier to track a straight line and much faster because its not constantly twitching through the cut and needing to be corrected back onto the line like my 6 1/2 does.
I have that same little one and I had a go on the rear handle one a few weeks ago... The power difference was really noticable. The rear handle is a bit weird though, not used to that.
It took me a while to get used to that, the cut feels far away
Once you get used to it I feel like you have a lot more control than a sidewinder styled saw.
Just was perusing Amazon they have them for 160. That makes it a no-brainer. The 2x batteries are being fazed out for the new 36V. But for me, the 2X still makes sense. I am going to see if I can run it on my Dewalt batteries with adapters. I don't really care, but for a guy who is paying, not getting paid it would be fun if it worked.
Have a ton of Dewalt and Milwaukee tools. This is the only Mikita I ordered.
Ok so I’ve been in the fence about getting this cause most of my cordless stuff is DeWalt and I needed a new circ saw and I hadn’t invested into the flexvolt lineup yet but after watching this I pulled the trigger today and bought it! 199.99 for the saw and 300ish in 2 sets of 5.0 batteries and a double bat fast charger! Used if this afternoon and I’m in love! Thank you.
I got the dewalt 54v saw top handle and I love it
Damn. Good times to at nowadays. I got the same deal you got for $250 altogether plus a free xlock grinder. They’re having deals like Milwaukee now.
Another thing to keep in mind is the price of the blades. Where I'm from 6-1/2" blades are $10 more expensive then the 7-1/4" 🤔
I use it for many garden projects, cutting sleepers etc.
Scott, check out the brushless 7 1/4” x2 sidewinder. I got one for a ridiculous price ($100 USD) and it has really put an end to my interest in 18v saws (including the beautiful Mafell KS55). They make a version with a sole plate that runs on the Festool/Makita rails. They also make a cordless 10” model now (and it too runs on rails).
I've got a corded Skil Mag77 so cutting power isn't an issue. But if I had any Makita batteries I probably would've got this saw for the portability and no worries about blowing fuses.
good review Scott, 165mm cordless can handle all around work but not deign for long distance cutting, I had same experience blade was jammed and saw stop working for long distance cutting. However most of handy job 165mm did good job.
Still one of my favourite tools 👍
I have both of them but Makita 36 volt is definitely a beast
Your cheque is in the post for the kind review.
If you want a powerful dustless saw the festool hk85 does a mean cut on the rail and is dustless and has insane power !
An electric motor draws power proportional to the work it's doing per second. Performing cuts and spinning up the blade draws dramatically more power than moving around a little bit of air in direct proximity to the blade.
Had mine since February 2018 and its a beast of a saw dos all first fix on site that need it to do well worth the buy
Been using the Makita XSH08Z (US name) Top handle 36v 6K rpm. Pretty nice piece of kit.. But the depth adjustment is very hit or miss. It's just a nut washer and lock ring that release a little pressure when you raise the handle to allow the depth to be reset. If that nut moves at all then it either jams or makes it so it doesn't lock. Makes me just leave it on max cut as I'm scared if I try to adjust it'll not lock out again. Makita have a great range of tools on their ecosystem so hopefully they revisit that mechanism for the future models and bring it up to standard.
Would love to see you comparing that one with the 40v version ☺️
I have a similar size Milwaukee circular saw as your smaller one and it’s a beast!!
Why does no one talk about the Makita XSH06Z. Spins faster, 600 cuts, and its lighter!
Blade right is a perfect addition when I already have the smaller blade left.
Best money spent on a circ. saw.
Might make sense to compare it to the skilsaw, it's the original and cordless versions are available. Rear handle seems right for framing, less right for ripping boards down precisely.
I have both and you need both 165 mm 18v and the 185mm 36v both great saws but the 36v is on its own🇨🇮☘️
Hi Scott love your videos just wondering where you get your foldable saw benches from
I ran into the airbow rep the other day, he let me try out the new concrete airbow, shot nails through thick solid steel, that things rocks! No saws but...
It's pretty impressive that thing.
Perfect video for me to watch! Because I’m considering buying one. Cheers
Dust extraction? didn't really see that? Your little saw looked like you could hook it up to a vacuum