Makita 5008MGA Magnesium 8-1/4-Inch Circular Saw Review

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(More customer reviews)After spending a couple of weeks looking at circular saws by everyone from Craftsman to Festool, I selected this one.

In the past I have tended to buy Milwaukee or Porter Cable, but their saws either didn't have the features I wanted, or the quality didn't make the "cut".I wanted a high quality, well finished, and well engineered saw that I could rely on for many years to come.I also wanted blade braking, and I thought an illuminated blade path would be nice for those times when the work might not be well lit.And finally, because I would sometimes be losing some cut depth to having the saw mounted on top of a cutting sled, I wanted an 8" saw.All of these factors led me to make the leap and buy my very first Makita product.

Having made my choice, and being anxious to get started on some much needed home repairs on a weekend when I had some help available, I ordered the saw for next day delivery, and received it on Friday morning.By Friday afternoon it was hard at work.So how did it perform?

First, the saw is pretty quiet, to the degree that any circular saw is ever quiet.Perhaps it would be better to say it wasn't as incredibly loud as some.

Cutting with this saw was effortless.There was the sense that I was simply sliding the saw across the surface, and that the cutting that occurred was some sort of surprising, and wholly unrelated, coincidence.In other words, it was as effortless as one could ever hope for.

I was using the saw with an undersized 71/4" Freud blade I already had on hand, so it is hard for me to speak to the accuracy of the depth scale, and I wasn't making any precision cuts anyway.But adding in the 1/2" fudge factor for the difference between an 8-1/4" blade and a 7-1/4" blade seemed to give the result I was shooting for.The blade brake seemed to work reasonably well, although I don't have any experience with other braked saws for comparison.The lighting was moderately helpful when I was working underneath a structure in reduced illumination.

Now for the downside.First, unlike its smaller and nearly identical sibling, the 5007MGA, the 5008MGA does not ship with a case, and according to Makita customer service, none is available for purchase. (NOTE TO MAKITA: THIS IS SHORT SIGHTED AND STUPID.This isn't a cheap saw.Not providing a way to protect it during storage and transport is just poor. Please start offering a case and I promise I will buy it.)

I was also VERY disappointed to discover that the saw was built in China.I have never had a tool built in China that had decent quality.I hope this one will be the lone exception.

For those that are trying to decide between this saw and the 5007, the differences I found are as follows: the 5008 weighs half a pound more, and is about half an inch longer.8.25" blades are a little less common, but not all that hard to find.(You can substitute the 7.25" blades if you need to, and they work just fine in the 5008.)And of course, as mentioned, no case for the 5008.

So to sum things up, after two days of use I am favorably impressed with the fit, function, and finish of my first Makita product.I will be making follow up edits when I have done some precision cuts, and as I get more hours of operation on the saw.In the meantime, if anyone knows of a good case for this saw, please post a comment on it.

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Product Description:
The Makita 8-1/4-Inch Magnesium Circular Saw with Electric Brake features highly durable magnesium components and a powerful 15 AMP Makita-built industrial motor, powerful enough to cut through the densest lumber. The 5008MGA balances weight, power, durability, and ease of use with a 3-inch maximum cutting capacity, making it perfect for framers, roofers, as well as general contractors who require a best-in-class engineered circular saw.

View larger5008MGA FeaturesDURABILITY - Magnesium components create a saw with less weight (10.6 lbs.) -- that's jobsite tough!POWER - 15 AMP motor delivers enough power to cut through the densest lumberEFFICIENCY - Quick change from 0° to 45° and back using positive stopsPERFORMANCE - Electric brake for maximum productivityINCLUDES - Carbide tipped blade, rip fence and wrench
Tool SpecificationsBlade Diameter8-1/4"Arbor5/8"Max. Cutting Capacity at 90°3"Max. Cutting Capacity at 45°2-1/4"No Load Speed5,200 RPMWatts Out2,300AMPS (120V)15.0Length13-1/8"Net Weight10.6 lbs.Makita-Built Motor Engineered for Versatile Power
The 5008MGA features a Makita-built 15 AMP industrial motor that delivers 5,200 RPM, combined with well-balanced magnesium components for a lighter weight saw that delivers true power the professional user demands. The saw has a large cutting capacity (3 inches at 90°) with a maximum bevel capacity of 50° and positive stops at 22.5° and 45° for quick back-and-forth changes. The 5008MGA includes an electric brake to stop the blade quickly for maximum productivity, as well as a premium carbide-tipped blade and a blade wrench attached to the saw for fast and convenient blade changing.
Ergonomic and Ease-of-Use
Features Magnesium components allowed Makita to engineer a saw with less weight (10.6 pounds) that is well-balanced and jobsite tough. Additional design details include greater clearance between the rear handle and the blade case to provide a better grip for larger hands or for users with gloves, as well as a wider space between the blade and housing for a clearer view of the blade and measurement scale. The saw features twin L.E.D. lights for better illumination, as well as ducting designed to blow dust away from the line of cut. Makita also engineered ergonomics and ease-of-use into the saw, including clearly visible depth and bevel markings and ergonomic hand grips to improve overall control while minimizing operator fatigue. The large rubberized levers provide quick, one-handed adjustments for more efficient work.
Engineered for a Range of Applications
The 5008MGA 8-1/4-Inch Circular Saw is built for framing walls, floors and roofs using a range of dimensional lumber and dense engineered lumber, including LVL, Parallam and I-Joists, headers and microlams; as well as ripping panels such as plywood, OSB, particle board, and dense structural panels like Advantech. Other applications include plunge cutting, pocket cutting, bevel cutting, masonry and metal cutting. The 5008MGA is just another example of Makita's commitment to innovative technology and best-in-class engineering.
About Makita's Magnesium Series
Magnesium components are stronger and lighter than conventional materials, resulting in saws that weigh less with improved ergonomic features. There's plenty of power thanks to Makita engineering, and a precision balanced design that delivers clean, accurate cuts.
About Makita
Makita is a worldwide manufacturer of industrial quality power tools and offers a wide range of industrial accessories. Makita applies leading-edge innovation to engineer power tools that are more compact and energy efficient, yet deliver industrial strength power and results. Makita U.S.A., Inc. is located in La Mirada, California, and operates an extensive distribution network located throughout the U.S. For more information, please call 800/4-MAKITA (800/462-5482) or visit makitatools.com. Makita is Best in Class Engineering.
Warranty
Every Makita tool is thoroughly inspected and tested before leaving the factory. If you are not satisfied with any Makita tool within 30 days of purchase, return it and Makita will provide a replacement or refund. Each Makita tool is warranted to be free of defects from workmanship and materials for the period of ONE YEAR from the date of original purchase. Should any trouble develop during this one-year period, return the COMPLETE tool, freight prepaid, to one of Makita's Factory or Authorized Service Centers. Please see makitatools.com for complete details.
What's in the Box
Makita 5008MGA 8-1/4-Inch Magnesium Circular Saw, 24T carbide-tipped framing blade, rip fence and hex blade wrench.

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