Makita DHS680Z 18V Cordless Brushless Circular Saw Naked Body Only, Blue, 165 mm

Product Information

Then it was on to something that not all the saw blades I have are designed for. Rip cuts along the grain of the wood are much harder, so I made use of the saw guide to see if it kept things straight. The other handy little feature that this saw has is a dust blower. Essentially, it’s a small open port on the front of the blade cover that makes sure dust doesn’t stay on your cut line. I’m always a fan of these little elements that make the job just that little bit more convenient. Automatic Speed Control: Automatically changes the cutting speed according to load condition for optimum operation

The 5,000 rpm speed ensures efficient and smooth cuts and the blade brake is a handy addition too. A 24 tooth TCT thin kerf blade fitted as standard reduces cutting friction to a minimum and gives maximum battery life. The first task was the most common one. Cross cutting through nice and dry CLS timber. In this case it was 37 mm deep and 135 mm wide. The first cuts were straight across at 0° bevel, then the same at 45°. Makitas new Brushless Motors give up to twice the run time of a conventional motor with brushes and an upbeatable 22 minute charge with the DC18RC charger. You could happily use this saw for fine or second fix work. Thanks to the light weight and accurate cutting guide, I was able to follow pencil marks without any problems at all. At first, I was disappointed that the guide was made of plastic. However, unless you’re using this saw for really heavy work or you drop it off a ladder, it should last for years. Makita s brushless motor enhances operational performance as well as battery longevity. This enables a Makita 3Ah battery to give users as much work as some competitor s 4Ah products.Automatic Speed Control: Automatically changes the cutting speed according to load condition for optimum operation.

If I was going to buy a cordless saw for working away from the national grid or up a ladder, this would be it. The saw actually feels a bit too light when you’re making 45° bevel cuts. Doing them freehand takes a bit more practice as it doesn’t sit quite as firmly as the heavier saws I’ve tested out. This is where having a saw guide really helps. You’re also quite limited for depth as the blade only drops down to 41 mm at 45°. Keeping with the theme of safety, the DHS680 features an electric brake, a soft start function and an Electronic current limiter for overload protection. It is also surprisingly light. Weighing only 3.3kg, Makita have made the DHS680 compact and lightweight to allow easy transportation and ergonomic soft grips to lessen user fatigue. When conditions are dark or dimly lit this saw features a twin LED job light to keep you going safely. This product is sold as a bare/naked machine and so batteries and chargers must be brought separately. The handles are as comfortable as to be expected from Makita. I’ve always liked that they print the material type on the parts. I know for a fact that the lovely grip shape and feel comes from thermoplastic elastomer, a mixture of plastic and rubber that is ideal for these sorts of parts.The CLS timber at 0° was cut incredibly clean, but what really wowed me was how it performed in the English oak. I expected good things, but this cordless saw left a finish to rival the corded Makita saw. It was superbly tidy with fine edges that you could slap some wax on, and call finished! There are a few more plastic elements on this saw than you might expect from a Makita tool. It’s not heavy duty compared with the Makita HS7061J, but Makita have compromised on rugged durability to keep the weight right down. It’s metal where it counts though- the blade cover is aluminium, a much more durable choice than the plastic chosen by Ryobi. The plastic cut guide at the front of the saw is easy to read and has an accurate feel. You simply line up the straight edge of the little notch, and that’s your cut line. It’s much more intuitive compared with some of the competition. It takes out the guesswork of where the blade will precisely hit the timber.