subject: Bring Your Finish Carpentry Up A Level With The Makita LS1216L [print this page] The professional carpenter needs the best tools to do his (or her) best work. For the finish carpenter who wants his work to stand above the competition, the Makita LS1216L sliding compound miter saw just might be the best choice for a job site saw.
This 12" saw is one of the latest generation of Makita miters and it's quite impressive, as is its 10" brother the LS1016L. The list of features for greater cutting capability, ease of use, versatility and power is long, indeed.
The LS1216L can cut crown molding up to 8" and handle baseboard nested vertically up to 6.5", thanks to the higher than average motor housing and the retractable rear portion of the blade guard.
The 5-1/2" tall adjustable sliding fences support tall stock and provide for more precise bevel and miter cuts. For doing bevel cuts, the top part of the fences can be slid outwards for more clearance, while sliding the lower part inward for more support and stability.
Due to the exclusive four rail system, you get stability and accuracy in cuts up to 15" at 90 and 10-1/2" at 45. These four rails, which are round, ride on 6 ball bearings for a smooth and solid sliding action.
The clamp can be attached on either side and its double jointed reach gives you increased flexibility in clamping your material.
The LS1216L also has a long list of features for ease of use. For example, you can cut miters from 0 to 52 left and 0 to 60 right, with positive stops at 0, 15, 22.5, 31.6 and 45 - both left and right. And it has a "one-touch" miter lock for accurate and easy adjustments.
Bevel cuts are possible from zero to 45 to either side with positive stops at zero, 22.5, 33.9 and 45. With both top and front-facing scales and a dual handle bevel lock you'll find it easier to make precise adjustments.
The laser guide is also well thought out, with its own switch so you can turn it on and set up your cut without the blade turning. And it has micro-adjustments for precise settings, right or left of blade cutting.
The replaceable stainless steel miter scale is easy to read and the blade guard is clear for better visibility. And the large, easy to grip, ergonomically designed horizontal D-handle is rubberized for more comfort and has an extra-large trigger switch.
The 15 amp direct drive motor is electronically controlled to give you a constant blade speed under load.
For a 12 inch slide compound miter, the Makita LS1216L is actually quite compact; the two pairs of support rails add up to give you the full slide to cut that 15" crosscut. And it's truly portable at only 52 lbs.
This saw proves to be versatile, too. It has a standard 1" arbor, so you can use almost any common or specialty 12" blades. Which means you can use it to cut almost any material, from the softest woods to plastics to non-ferrous metals, just by changing the blade.
Bring Your Finish Carpentry Up A Level With The Makita LS1216L
