Makita XSL02Z 18V X2 LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 7-1/2" Dual Slide Compound Miter Saw, Tool Only

This saw is so good I have to wonder why I ever lugged around 10 and 12 inch heavy saws before. It cuts as smooth as glass. And after you square it up with a machinists square it is dead on square across its widest cutting range. Just a wonderful saw. I have a small basement shop and I also picked up an all beech wood kitchen cart from ikea, mounted this saw onto it and now I can roll it anywhere and it only occupies less than 4 square feet of floor space. The thin kerf puts very little load on the motor. The linear bearings move smooth enough, most importantly they can be squared perfectly. I used the "5 cut" method to get this saw square within 3/1000 of an inch over 28 inches of length. First I clamped a machinists square to the fence barely contacting the blade. Then I moved the fence so the blade remained parallel to the square as it travels the full slide. I then did a "5 cut" test on a piece of 1x8 poplar. After a couple tries I got it down to 3/1000 of an inch square over the 28 inches, (4 cuts around a 1x8), which is insanely square for a miter saw. No co-linear squaring issues with this saw at all if you are patient squaring it up with a real machinist square. The "5 cut" method amplifies any out of square-ness as you rotate the board. To come up only 3/1000 of an inch out on the last cut is ludicrously, insanely, very square. Anyone who says this saw doesn't square up simply doesn't know how to do it.

This is an awesome saw I’ve owned two of the corded version and now have two of these 36v versions. I use to buy the biggest baddest miter saws but after owning one of these I’ll never go back it weighs under 30lbs. and can do nearly all a big saw can do especially when you cut big moldings on the flat. These saws are unbelievable they run all day long on two 5 amp hour batteries you have to see it to believe it I wouldn’t have believed it myself how powerful it is and how long the battery’s last. We use this saw from start to finish we cut blocking while framing, cut plastic trim to do full exteriors, decking and use it to do all the finish trim right down to custom cabinetry. These saws are nothing short of amazing I can go on and on but I recommend you get one and it will work well beyond your expectations. If anyone has any doubts if this’s saw is capable of fine finish work I’m promising you won’t be disappointed I have trimmed several high end homes and it delivers every time I think better than any other saw I think because it’s the smallest blade mutter saw you can buy so there is literally no blade deflation. I could go on and on but I promise as someone who uses these saws pretty much five days a week you won’t be disappointed.

My only complaint with this saw is that it collects dust on the saw glides and will not close completely front to back. As a result it doesn't cut the back of the board completely through. Other then that it is a great lightweight, power packed saw.

Solid little saw, wanted to wait 6 months to really test it out before leaving a review. There is no lack of power, I no longer carry a corded miter saw on the truck. You do need a table with supports for larger jobs, but most saws really feel that way anyway so not a real factor. This saw really shines for the type of work I do, as I finish most jobs the same day I start them there is a lot of time spent getting tools out and putting them away. This saves me from finding an outlet and running a cord. Its able to cut 12" vinyl soffit as well (you have to lift the back edge just slightly while cutting to finish the cut). But most small corded saws cannot do this. And the size of the saw is unreal, the dual sliders let me put it in my truck with tons of room to spare. There is no other saw on the market right now I want over this 1.But... yes there is 1 thing that bugs me and that is 3 1/4 baseboard. It will cut it standing up except 1 direction it won't go all the way through because of the arbor sticking down. And because the saw only tilts 1 direction 45 deg, you end up having to lay it flat and cut from the bottom up in some situations. And if you have hardwood trim you have to be very careful or your outside corners of your baseboard will be splintery. But to me it is not a dealbreaker. It would have been nice to read it in a review and see a photo. So now you know.Powerful saw, small storage footprint, very versatile.

It came without a ring bearing on a 2nd slider, which made the 2nd slide very rough and bumpy. I returned it right away and got fully refunded.

I'm a contractor and I use my tools daily in tough environments. I purchased this to replace my smaller (10") plug-in miter saw that gave up the ghost recently. I've gradually been swapping out plug-in tools for cordless because they're so much more versatile on the job. This one is no exception. Although small and light, it cuts through stock without breaking a sweat. It's accurate and smooth. (I saw one review saying the sliders were rough, and I worried about that, but I'm not seeing that in this saw.) I'm really liking how light and portable this tool is. Before, I'd often do without the miter saw just 'cause it was such a pain to lug it up a couple flights of stairs. Not a problem with this saw since it's so light and easy to carry around. Most amazing is it's cut width. My old (heavy, large) corded 10" would barely cross cut a 2"X6" -- this one, despite it's smaller size, will cross cut a 2"X12"!. And I like that it uses the same batteries as the rest of the Makita tools I use daily. Makes it easy to always have a fresh charge standing by. I do wish it was a double-bevel saw (it only bevels to the right 5°, but the saw it replaced didn't bevel to the right at all) but other than that, it's a gem. I've loved every Makita cordless tool I've used, and this one is no exception. Only one small complaint -- the holes in the base for mounting screws are not lined up (the front hole is a bit inboard of the rear hole) that makes it a bit harder to attach it to mounts for my saw stand -- pretty much necessary since the stock supports are too short to be of much use to me.