[Craftsman70]

After doing a lot of researched for SCMS I decided to buy the Makia LS1016L last night. I am trying to figure out if the one I got has a problem with the Bevel "Latch Lever" as they call it in the manual, or if that is just poorly engineered. Basically, the latch is there to lock at indents if you pull it forward or allow any bevel angle if pushed back. When I pull my forward it locks at the preset bevel locations, but it doesn't flip back smoothly when I disengage that. If I simply push it back, it my not disengage and may pop back forward. I have to push it back and hold it there while I then move the head to another bevel angle and then it seems fine. Did I get a dud, or is this how it is supposed to work?

Jonathan

 

[Craftsman70]

Thanks for the response, but no the controls at the front of the saw are for the miter angle. I'm refering to the bevel angle controls at the back of the saw. The bevel is controlled by three items: 1) a push button that controls whether it can bevel to the left of not. 2) the locking lever at the very back that tightens everything down to lock in the bevel. 3) the 'latch lever' that is right near the bevel scale. That latch lever is what I'm referring to and it controls whether the saw stops at bevel indents. After locking on a bevel in dent (when that lever is pulled forward), when I push the lever back to allow me to use any bevel angle, it doesn't release smoothly and I have to hold that lever back and move the bevel angle. Otherwise if I just push the lever back it wants to pull forward and stick in the indent locking mode.

 

[Craftsman70]

Thanks again syenefarmer. I appreciate your checking yours. Now that you mention it last night my latch lever was hard to release also. I had to push really hard to get it to release. Ever since that, it releases easier but not smoothly and sometimes calls back to lock position if I don't hold it down and then change the bevel as I described above. I think something got bent/broken in side there when I forced it unlock. I maybe swapping mine out this weekend.

 

[Craftsman70]

I went back to HD and swapped out the saw for another one. The lever does work better. However, I'm just not that thrilled with the LS1016 and may return all together. I'd heard for years how great Makita tools are, but this one doesn't seem any better for similar saws that are less expensive. I really may go for the Ridgid 10" that has all the bevel controls up front. I know it doesn't have the Makita reputation, but saw for saw I think it gives me more for the money.

 

[Craftsman70]

Syenefarmer, I've gone back and forth over it in my head but not returned it again.
My current thinking is this: I'm not sure how good Ridgid is anymore, so I can't say their reputation helps or hurts my decision, but I agree that the new 10" saw just hasn't been out long enough to tell if it will hold up. I like that the Ridgid has up front controls, an LED light, and dual lazers. But the fit an finish of the Makita is nicer, better polishing and such. I could live with the less polished Ridgid. I was going to buy the Ridgid and took one more look at it and got hung up on the fence. The fence just isn't very substantial like the Makita and Dewalt fences.

Now if only Dewalt would come out with a 10" version of the DWS780.

 

[Craftsman70]

Just a quick update, the bevel lever latch on the new one started to get stuck and I couldn't change the bevel. So I returned the Makita.

 

[Craftsman70]

I didn't replace it yet. I'm going to try to hold out until November and see if any good deals show up. I'll post back a review when I do buy something.