Fixed rails make a flush fit. The newly designed two-rail system comprises a fixed arm that mounts to the back of the saw and rails that run to the saw’s front. A locking knob in front of the rails controls the bevel. Because the rails are fixed, the saw can be pushed up tight against a wall—a useful feature for the jobsite or a small shop where space is limited.
Fixed rails make a flush fit. The newly designed two-rail system comprises a fixed arm that mounts to the back of the saw and rails that run to the saw’s front. A locking knob in front of the rails controls the bevel. Because the rails are fixed, the saw can be pushed up tight against a wall—a useful feature for the jobsite or a small shop where space is limited.

Makita has a new 10-inch miter saw on the market, with some features that displace the earlier LS1016L from the “premium” spot in the company’s lineup. Like its predecessor, the new LS1019L is able to cut 6 5/8-inch crown molding nested, 5 1/4-inch speed base vertically, and a 4x4 in one pass. The LS1019L has a soft-start 15-amp direct-drive motor, which provides direct power transfer with no belt to slip, wear, or replace, and the saw’s electronic speed control is designed to maintain a constant speed under load, which reportedly makes for smoother cutting.

The two-rail sliding system is of particular note. It allows the new saw to sit tight to the wall—the rails are fixed and run to the front of the saw. The motor housing and blade ride back and forth on these fixed rails, instead of the rails sliding back and forth. This setup also includes a front-mount bevel adjustment; the only time you need to reach to the back of the saw is to unlock the stop to tilt the blade to the right.

At 58 pounds, the LS1019L isn’t light—it weighs about the same as Makita’s larger, 12-inch dual slide compound miter saw. The extra weight is likely due to the housing for the two-rail system that mounts on the back. The table is large, as well.

An integrated upper and lower fence combine to provide a total of 4 3/4 inches of vertical support for material. The upper fence needs to be removed completely for bevel cuts to either side; the fences are designed to clip on the metal side arms so they store out of the way. The saw miters 0 to 60 degrees to the left and right, and bevels 0 to 48 degrees in either direction (there are positive stops at 45 degrees, left and right, with a detent override should you need to bevel past 45 degrees to 48 degrees). A built-in laser can be turned on and off (via a dedicated switch) or micro-adjusted to read on either side of the blade.

Makita has provided a larger dust-collection mouth at the back of the blade. A dust-collection bag is included with saw, as well as a separate elbow that mounts on the side of the slide mechanism. This elbow connects a short hose to the saw’s vacuum port, so when the saw is in slide mode you’re not pulling on the vacuum’s hose. A 36V (dual 18V) cordless version of this saw will be available in the fall. Cost: $550. makitatools.com

A version of this article first appeared in Tools of the Trade.