Apparently, Makita has come out with two new 18V X2 brushless 12″ sliding miter saws. I say apparently because there were no official announcements, press releases, or media fanfare of any kind.
There are two new saws, the XSL07, and the XSL08. The two new Makita 18V X2 cordless 12″ miter saws look identical to each other, except for one key difference. The XSL08 is “AWS-capable” and the XSL07 is not.
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AWS is Makita’s auto-start wireless system, their technology that allows their specially-equipped cordless power tools to automatically activate their AWS-equipped dust collectors and vacuums.
The XSL08 is AWS-capable, and requires an optional transmitter (~$80 via Amazon) if you want to take advantage of that capability.
Depending on the retailer, the XSL08 saw is $50-$90 more than the XSL07 saw if you buy the bare tool, and $70-$120 more if you buy the kit, and it does not include the AWS transmitter. What this means is that AWS compatibility, if you already own an AWS-equipped vacuum, adds at least $130 to the cost over the non-AWS version.
The new saws feature in-front bevel lock, “Automatic Speed Change” technology that adjusts cutting torque and speed during cutting for optimal performance, and a unique steel rail sliding system that creates a smaller footprint and allows for operation flush against a wall.
There are two dust collection ports, which Makita says provides excellent dust extraction performance, and a built-in laser for line-of-cut indication. Micro-adjustments allow for the laser to indicate “left-of-blade” or “right-of-blade” cutting.
- 12″ blade size
- Blade brake
- 4400 RPM no-load speed
- 3-5/8″ x 15″ max cutting capacity at 90°
- 3-5/8″ x 10-1/2″ max cutting capacity at 45° left and right
- Weighs 69.1 lbs
- 0-60° left and right miter range
- 0-48° left and right bevel range
- Trim capacity: 8″ crown molding vertically nested, 6-3/5″ baseboard vertically nested
Pricing
There wasn’t any press release or other official announcement, and so we’re not sure what the “official” pricing is. Following are the “street pricing” from our typical go-to online retailers. Amazon also has listings for the new miter saws, but their pricing is higher, presumably due to the shipping fees being built in.
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- XSL07Z Miter Saw Bare Tool: $699
- XSL08Z Miter Saw AWS-Capable Bare Tool: $749-$789
- XSL07PT 12″ Miter Saw Kit: $879
- XSL08PT 12″ Miter Saw AWS-Capable Kit: $949-$999
The kit comes with a dual-port charger and (2) 5.0Ah batteries.
Buy Now via Acme Tools
- 12″ Miter Saw Bare Tool
- 12″ Miter Saw AWS-Capable Bare Tool
- 12″ Miter Saw Kit
- 12″ Miter Saw AWS-Capable Kit
Buy Now via Tool Nut
- 12″ Miter Saw Bare Tool
- 12″ Miter Saw AWS-Capable Bare Tool
- 12″ Miter Saw Kit
- 12″ Miter Saw AWS-Capable Kit
Buy Now via Amazon
- 12″ Miter Saw Bare Tool
- 12″ Miter Saw AWS-Capable Bare Tool
- 12″ Miter Saw Kit
- 12″ Miter Saw AWS-Capable Kit
- Makita AWS transmitter module
Discussion
It looks like the new Makita 12″ cordless miter saws are similar to their 10″ saws, which also have dual vertical rail-style sliding mechanisms. One of the differences is that the new saws have beefier side rail extensions, which makes sense since you might expect to cut wider and heavier materials with a 12″ saw.
One thing I don’t quite understand is why there’s a price difference and separate SKUs for the miter saw and the AWS-capable miter saw. Neither saw comes with AWS capabilities built-in. In my opinion, there should be the non-AWS saw, and an AWS-equipped saw.
I can almost understand what they’re doing here. If you buy the $80 AWS transmitter module, you can in theory rotate it between tools. If you anticipate using different tools at different times, maybe you can use a fewer number of AWS modules, to save money.
I like what Bosch has done, creating a single connected-capable SKU for several of their new brushless cordless power tools. If you don’t want your tools “connected,” don’t buy the module. Or, you can buy it and add the functionality and capabilities to your tool now, or even down the road if your needs or wants change.
Here, if you buy the non-AWS-capable tool, there doesn’t seem to be any way to add AWS functionality down the road. So, if that’s something you might want, you have to buy the AWS-capable version, which doesn’t even come with the transmitter.
This puts users in a tough position. If you might you want this functionality in the future, it’ll set you back at least $50 extra up front, plus $80 future cost for the transmitter. If you buy the kit, the upfront difference between non-AWS-capable and AWS-capable models is $70 at the least, not including the $80 transmitter.
BUT, not many other brands offer any wireless dust extractor-activating technologies yet.
Festool came out with a wireless remote for their vacuum, and it works quite well. The remote lives on your tool or at the end of your hose, and you hit the button when you want the vacuum to turn on. Festool also has 18V Li-ion cordless power tool batteries which can activate their remote module-equipped vacuums.
I recall that early social media reviews of the Makita 10″ miter saw complained about the rails deflecting during use. It’s unclear as to if or how Makita has updated the rail design on their 12″ saw to avoid or mitigate this. However, online user reviews don’t complain about sliding deflection at all, and so if there was a problem, it might have been limited in scope. User reviews of the XSL06 saw seem to be quite positive, and so it would be fair to expect a good experience from the new 12″ saws.
It’ll be interesting to see how everything compares.
Milwaukee just came out with a brand new M18 Fuel 12″ cordless miter saw, which they showed off at their NPS19 media event.
Dewalt also has their Flexvolt 12″ sliding miter saw, and I’ve had great experiences with it before donating my review sample to the local high school.
I have to wonder why Makita didn’t officially announce their new 12″ sliding miter saws, or why there were no press materials. Cordless 12″ miter saws are a big deal, and so I would have expected some media fanfare. It’s not just that Dewalt had cornered this market for several years, they were the only player until just now.
Now, all of a sudden, we have brushless-motored cordless 12″ sliding miter saws from Dewalt, Makita, and Milwaukee.
Are you excited about Makita’s new 12″ sliding miter saws? Which will you be looking more closely at, the new Makita 18V X2, or Milwaukee M18 Fuel?
Adam
No I’m not excited, about 12 inch cordless miter saws, I prefer 10 inch, also I don’t really care for cordless miter saws, not enugh power, have to keep changing battery’s, and a corded saw will last longer.
Hoser
You obviously haven’t used a cordless saw. A Flexvolt saw running on batteries has more power than an equivalent corded saw, and depending on size of trim or material you are cutting, a set of 3 ah batteries will last a long day with lots of cutting.
But I agree, I like 10” saws as well, still patiently waiting for the Flexvolt 10”.
Altan
You can buy it from Europe, 10″ 250mm Flexvolt mitre saw is available in UK and other European countries.
John
Adam,
You obviously have never used the top end of cordless miter saws. I have the Makita 10″ cordless slider. That saw is so smooth to operate, cuts through anything no different than a corded saw and goes several days not needing to change batteries. For people who never take a saw anywhere, corded is perfectly fine. The freedom of cordless when it has the same power and capabilities is superb.
SurvivalSpec
Makita makes all around great products. I see no benefit at all to having AWS on a miter saw. AWS on a table saw might be handy but why at all on a miter just seems odd and a waste.
Axeman
The Makita Miter saw with AWS, paired with a Makita AWS dust extractor, will automatically start and shut-off the vacuum when you operate the saw. This in itself is extremely beneficial technology, especially when you’re operating a cordless Miter saw, albeit an pricey option
John
I have loads of Makita gear but I do not have any interest in AWS because of the added cost and how it’s implemented.
I just buy $10-15 outlet remotes from Amazon. I tape the remotes to the end of vac hoses and build stuff. This method works for any tool no matter the situation. Currently have 3 Fein vacs set up this way. I wish some manufacturer would make a remote as clean looking as the Festool but allow it to be connected to any vac cord.
Gordon
Have you considered the automatic outlets? They turn the vac on whenever the tool starts running.
Julian Tracy
The cordless 10” Makita saw is very nice. Accurate, up to the wall design… but – damn it’s heavy at 71lbs. Hate to think of a heavier saw. Good thing it’s got a solid cast metal handle well placed, unlike the impossible to carry Bosch glide mitersaws.
And Makita has the ridiculous non-sliding fence too, so for some bevel cuts, you have to remove it altogether instead of just sliding it out.
Makita also did the festool-like feature of an added stop on the rail slide that allows the 10” blade to cut at an increased height capacity, which is super handy – but stupidly, there’s no lock to that setting, so the whole time it’s engaged, the saw motor is sliding all over the rails. Would be nice to be able to lock it in that one position for the increased capacity in a fixed, non sliding cutting setup.
All in all, it’s a pretty amazing saw with dust collection that is right there with the best of the high end mitersaws.
I was doing a job in a restaurant and had to move my dust collector to another tool so I parked a wire-framed square planer dust bag on the saw and just passively hooked up like that, the saw filled up that dust bag completely. Really really good dust collection on the Makita saw.
Flotsam
Seems to me that if you are going with a slider, a 10″ saw would be a better option. Unless you are cutting massive wood for a timber framing I don’t get the point.
I can see the benefit if I were a contractor on a job site rather than a home DIYer but i don’t get why companies don’t come up with some sort of a hybrid power arrangement . If you have access to AC power why not use it?
The dust management thing is a good feature.
John
Metabo HPT (HItachi) has an AC/DC Adapter for their Mulitvolt 36V table, miter saw and hand power tools.
Hoser
Capacity. Cutting 6-7” tall baseboard vertically is so much faster and easier than horizontally. A 12” saw gives you that capacity. And doing skirt boards, particularly mitered reversed skirt boards.
And DeWalt has the AC/DC function as well.
Nathan
Looks interesting – I like the forward slide style over the rearward. sort of like this design looks like the bottom plate (indexed rotating table) looks to have a different design on it.
I don’t know how I like the hold down on that – looks like too many parts.
Do like the slide out supports – not so sure that’s necessary but nice.
Jared
That is a weird way to do it – making the AWS compatibility cost extra before you’ve even bought the module. I suppose if you are already aboard the AWS train, then the purchase of the AWS saw might seem more reasonable. It’s tough to spend $70 more just to anticipate your future needs if you’re not already on board though.
Nathan
wonder if it comes with a cert – when you register the tool for warranty they send you a module.
As maybe the modules aren’t ready for mass sale yet
Gordon
The modules are out, and have been for a while now.
Lance
I haven’t used it much yet, but so far I’m really happy with the 10” 36v Makita saw. Very smooth (the included blade is excellent) and plenty of power.
DC
I have the Milwaukee 10″ M18 mitre saw and it struggles to cut 2″ x 4″s. I have a $100 Ridgid non sliding corded mitre saw and it cuts through 2″ x 4″s like a hot knife thru butter. Cordless is convenient and my outlets few plus I have to drag out the extension cord but I prefer the Ridgid over the Milwaukee.
Hoser
Should’ve gone with one of the DeWalt saws. Even the 7 1/4” will cut through wet treated 2xs with ease.
XRH07
The Dewalt 60v X2 is more powerful than any miter saw on the market. But only when it uses batteries.
And your Milwaukee was designed around 9.0 batteries in 2016, which could barely supply 1,000W. Ofc any ~1500-1800W corded saw is going to beat it.
If you’re using 5.0s on that thing then you’re just shooting yourself in the foot at this point. Idk why people expect such small batteries to properly power high draw tools.
Lance
Marketing.
Milwaukee always tells you the upside of everything they sell without highlighting the downsides.
They bring out high power tools with huge batteries but don’t reinforce that they ONLY work well with those big batteries. That’s why their approach of “sticking with the M18 platform” is only partially true.
It’s barely better than the FlexVolt system in that regard. FV might even be better since you cannot physically put the smaller 18v batteries on their high power tools, meaning less customer dissatisfaction.
Makita has it right, in my opinion. Use any batteries you already have, just use two for more power.
Kent
I work out of a shop, not a truck. So a battery powered miter saw has zero appeal to me. I don’t want to be tied to a battery for a stationary tool – I expect a cordless drill to last 5-10 years, but want a miter saw to last much longer.
That said, it’s great that this is an option.
Koko The Talking Ape
That zero back clearance feature is a big deal. Some sliders need almost 16″ clearance behind the saw, and in a small shop, that can be hard to find. You might have to put the saw on a rolling base. It matters less for construction or contractors, I’d guess.
Does anybody know of other miter saws that don’t require back clearance? The only other ones I’m aware of are the Bosch Axial-Glide models, and I’ve heard they can have adjustment problems. I don’t need a 12″ blade. 10″ should do.
Nathan
Hitachi – delta and Festool. That I know of – off hand.
most other sliders rails are behind. It’s a big reason why I think I want a 12 inch – non slider.
Koko The Talking Ape
Thanks! Wow, I need to pay more attention.
Axeman
What’s up with Makita going SKU crazy as of late? From their new cordless rotary hammer drills, vacuums, grinders, and miter saws, they’re making two different production line of tools to accommodate the option of having AWS. This is ASININE, as they’re driving up their production costs by making so many different versions of their tools. If they would just look at the big picture and make one model of tool, with AWS included, or compatible at least (transmitter being extra $). I guarantee you that this would be CHEAPER than operating TWO PRODUCTION LINES. Additionally, this strategy would also lower the manufacturing costs of integrating AWS into their tools.
The thing of it is, Makita makes some of the best power tools today, but they’re top USA leadership is clearly CLUELESS as to why they’re not gaining more market share. For one, adopt Milwaukee Tool’s culture, and then make it your own. Next, learn from your brushless motor debacle, especially the part where they pioneered brushless motors, but sat on the technology, until their competition took notice, and ran with it. In research and development, the money is not just in the patents, but also increasing market share. What does an increase in market share do for your company? Answer: It drives down manufacturing costs by volume. For example, just look at Ford Trucks, which has the highest profit margins due to they’re the top selling truck
W A
I just use the 7.5″ 36V cordless from Makita(has a deeper crosscut than competition). It is super light compared to 10″ and cam cut all the same things on compound. Takes a little getting used to. You can cut crown faster nested on 10″.
I want a 7.5″ that has dual bevel so I don’t have to flip material.
I don’t really see any reason to have the 12″. I use the bevel option for mitering corners on base.
The What?
How much money are we talking about for the saw and the aws system? I’m guessing $1600 or more. That’s steep for a tiny battery powered shopvac and miter saw setup. How much would it cost if it didn’t have the wireless Bluetooth stuff? And you would think that for $1k miter saw, makita would at least include the transmitter. I guess they don’t feel that $1k is expensive enough to throw you an $80 bone. NFC makita,seriously. And who cares if a saw & vacuum cleaner come on at the same time. If I were to buy a miter saw & dust removal system for shop use, I’d much rather have a large plug in shopvac with an receptacle remote or a foot pedal switch. Something that doesn’t require the use of my phone or any app in order for it to work. And God forbid someone actually had to physically walk a few feet and bend down or reach over to turn something on and off in a shop or on a job site. Just because a vacuum cleaner and a power tool can sync up to turn on and off simultaneously doesn’t mean that it’s worth several hundred dollars. There’s no excuse why an able bodied person can’t physically execute a simple task like flicking the switch on a vacuum cleaner or dust system before and after cutting material using any type of stationary saw whether it be in a shop environment or jobsite environment. The aws system is an expensive excuse for laziness imo. And these high dollar saws make it very expensive. NFG.
Stuart
Your generalizations and judgments are way off base. Having remote dust extractor activation doesn’t make a user “lazy.”