Makita has released limited information about their new 18V X2 (36V) brushless cordless “rear handle” 7-1/4″ circular saw, but enough for a quick preview/teaser post.
The new Makita XSR01 is hailed as an “industry first,” and has been compared to corded worm drive circular saws.
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But it doesn’t look to be a worm-drive saw.
Yeah, that’s definitely not a worm drive saw.
So why are some calling it a “worm drive” saw? From what I can tell, it’s because Makita designed this to be heavy duty framing saw.
Since there’s no worm drive mechanism, I’m told there’s no “kick on startup.” Plus there’s less maintenance since you don’t need to grease up or oil the gearing.
The Makita XSR01 is powered by (2) 18V Li-ion batteries to provide 36V of power.
Here are some bullet points:
– For users of corded blade-left rear-handle saws, the new XSR01Z offers true freedom from the cord for formwork, framing and more (Andrew Camp, Product Manager).
– The XSR01Z cuts faster than both corded and leading brushless cordless saws when cutting 2×10 SPF.
– In early testing this cordless saw put up big numbers in run-time tests with up to 558 cross cuts of 2×4 SPF and up to 291 cross cuts of 2×10 SPF with two fully-chrged 18V LXT 5.0 amp-hour batteries.
– With a full 2-9/16” maximum cutting depth the XSR01Z cuts 3x lumber in a single pass, an application that leading saws the category can’t do.
It also features an extra large rafter hook.
ETA: Spring 2017
Buy Now(via Amazon)
First Thoughts
Makita is throwing around words like groundbreaking, and terms like industry-first. From what I can tell, it’s definitely an interesting new cordless offering.
Price-wise, expect it to cost big bucks, but the same has been true for all of the cordless brushless circular saws I’ve seen.
If the new saw delivers upon the promised power, cutting capacity, and runtime, will it replace your corded worm drive saw?
Thom
I wonder what the weight of the saw is…not that my corded worm gear saw is light now…
Austin werrmann
Iirc I saw 12.1 lbs and the skilsaw was 12.4
Ryan Price
The various videos I’ve seen on instagram of this saw performing show it’s a force to be reckoned with. Clearly able to push it significantly harder and faster than corded worm drives and hypoids.
Nathan
I bet the larger of the corder worm saws work just as well or better. but you know – corded.
Hell it ought to cut will with that much electrical load to work with. I suspect their brushless high power motor might well make the torque to blade of other word drive saws.
It’s a first – but sure won’t be the last. I suspect there will be a dewalt flex volt job out and a milwaukee high demand thing out soon too.
Nathan
OH and it is clearly a gear drive – just not a worm drive. Unless the picture is off – notice the center of the motor can back doesn’t line up with the center of the blade space.
JMG
Regardless of whatever price point this is introduced at, it looks as though they have addressed many of the issues and concerns of their customers with this design. I will probably add one to my kit at some point, if only out of curiosity and to compare it to the XSH01. Now if they would only roll out a cordless X2 version of their track saw to go along with it…
Todd
Yes! I’m lobbying for a cordless ( has to be a plunge ) track saw. Anybody at Makita listening?
sweedld
Makita has announced a cordless track saw. It was shown with a 2x 36V Li-Ion power pack. That will be one very expensive and heavy cordless circ saw and of course MOST Makita Cordless tools do not accept the 36V batteries, let alone requiring two of them. It is also NOT a brushless saw, even at that price point. Basically it competes directly with the Festool cordless track saw and also adopts the high price point. I am more interested in this rear handled saw running on the Makita guide track, mostly for cutting out passage doorways in siding etc when framing and retrofitting doorways in older existing homes.
I am already invested in the Makita 18V Li-Ion battery system and always look to lever off of my current battery before adopting new format batteries with limited use in my current platform
Man_With_Plan
I wonder what the big brands are going to think of this? maybe a dewalt flexvolt X2 battery powered worm drive saw what can use the two corded adapters?
Maybe a Milwaukee will make a dual battery saw…
Jason
I wondered when we would see one of these style saws come along. Didn’t one of Stuart’s prediction years have a cordless worm drive (I know this isn’t specifically wd)
Marty
Based on the instagram vidoes I’ve seen, I’ll be picking this up unless dewalt comes out with a flexvolt version.
Danny K
I would have bought this in a heartbeat if I haven’t already recently acquired the brushless XSH03Z. This looks like a beast, and the only 7 1/4″ cordless with a left blade?
mattd
I like that its blade left. I have a ridgid brushless and grew up on my dads wormdrive so blade right is super annoying. This saw might actually get my dad off the cord. He is retired and hated my blade right saw and still does not trust batteries but most of his projects are small enough that battery power would be perfect for him.
Matt
I see essentially a battery powered version saw for folks who prefer the worm drive layout. All of the battery circular saws initially were blade left like a worm drive. Many guys liked that. Some didn’t. So DeWalt just remedied that with a traditional blade right version. Now what about the guys who preferred the worm drive layout itself but wanted battery power? Makita just remedied that. The only thing I see missing now is a battery powered, worm drive rear handle layout with a blade right set up. That would be interesting…
I’m really surprised this came from Makita first. When I think ‘worm drive saw’, Makita just doesn’t come to mind. Then again to be fair, I’m not sure DeWalt nor Milwaukee do either.
mattd
Makita’s hypoid saw has become a solid staple in the worm drive market. I would say it rivals everything except skill in market popularity.
Matt
That’s the first name that came to mind. Skil… I suppose it’s just what I grew up with for circular and jig saws. Skil & or Craftsman. But the Skilsaw name is just hard to get out of your head once it’s there.
Granted, it’s a different world now. I’m getting old..
nigeldh
I have a Makita X2 circular saw, 5 Ah batteries. The folks who have used it on various volunteer playground builds are impressed with its power. But the batteries are a weak point – older 5 Ah so they have no battery gauge, rudimentary power gauge on the saw, until recently only 5 Ah max for batteries, have to use two chargers, buy batteries in pairs.
The rear handle unit might have better balance since the batteries are closer to the motor.
I recently got a Milwaukee brushless M18 circular saw, 2731, in the 9 Ah intro kit – this has become my “go to” saw. I even got a couple of these bundles then sold off the saw and charger so I ended up with several 9 Ah batteries for about 1/2 price.
Me
Is flexvolt going to make a cordless worm drive?
Stuart
I haven’t heard anything about one yet.
Booger
Can’t wait until they do!!! I bought the flexvolt circular saw and took it back because I’m not used to the blade on the right. I also didn’t like how thin the blade was. It was hard to get a straight cut in walnut butcher block (even while using a straight edge guide). I wonder if a thicker blade would remedy this? But as far as I know dewalt recommends we use their thin kerf flexvolt blades.
JMG
I couldn’t put my finger on what was bothering me about the design of this saw, but after watching Makita’s videos and looking through the various pictures of it, I realized that there is no option of any kind for dust control. Granted, heavy framing saws do not historically have any either, but with the new directives from OSHA about dust control in the concrete industry, I cannot help but think that they might have severely limited the working life or market for this item, if any restrictions are enacted for job sites in general concerning airborne contaminants other than just rock dust and silica. As it stands, it looks like an item that is targeted at the US construction market to fill a want of that group. I will most likely purchase one, but more out of curiosity and to compare it to other saws than to use it on a daily basis.
Micky_C
Does anyone know the release date??????
Stuart
No, but a preorder page appeared on Amazon.
JMG
ToolNut shows a ship date of 15 April on their site, and Acme is showing the saw as in stock, both at a $199 price point. Couple of others are showing pre-order pages at that price as well.
Torje
Will the saw be available in europe as well?
Stuart
I haven’t heard anything about it being a regional tool. If it’s not available now, perhaps it’ll be available later. Your Makita dealer might the best one to answer this question. And if it’s not available where you are, asking your Makita dealer would mean they can tell their contact that there’s local interest for the tool.