Makita 5402NA 16-5/16" Circular Saw

I'm a timber frame builder and have used this saw a fair amount. Okay, as far as big timber saws go this is the entry level model with an entry level price. This is a big saw and a bit of a handful to handle so be sure to use saw horses, clamps, clean work space etc.. You don't use this like a worm drive saw, it's too big and not balanced the same. Take your time with the cut and it will handle a 6"x 12" in one pass. It needs a good carbide blade to get good cuts. Once the blade dulls it starts to wobble and give poor results. It has a built in damper to help with this vibration but dullness with overcome it. For the price, this is an awesome saw. Compared to a Mafell it pales. If you're going to cut huge timbers all day every day I'd pass on this one but for one or two projects or the continual few timbers here and there it's perfect.There's a few things that I don't like on this unit. It is under powered. It pulls 15 amps so it's maxing out most home breakers so you won't see any more power in any machine without stepping up to 240 volts like the Mafells. There's a huge price jump to those saws with more power so take your time with this one and it cuts just fine. If you push, it's just bogs down and makes a poor cut.The power issue is more a breaker and circuit issue than a saw issue. My two biggest gripes are the safety release button and the blade guard. Some engineer somewhere went to great lengths to make the release button dang near impossible to work with one hand. It's ridiculous. The fix is easy. I epoxied a small wood "button" used to plug screw holes and painted it black. Took all of 10 minutes. Now it's fine. The blade guard though has no real fix. When you engage the guard as you push through the stock there is a bit of resistance to the guard lifting up and out of the way. This almost always makes the saw wonder off the cut line for a moment. To get a real good cut I clamp a 12" speed square to the timber as a guide and the wobble issue is no more.The other guard issue really sucks. When you cut a 45 degree miter with the blade set at 90 degrees, the guard will not retract no matter how hard you push. It binds and will not retract so you need to reach up with your free hand and help it start to retract and then it's fine. I find it dangerous running this monster with one hand. Makita needs to fix this issue. I usually have helpers around since no one builds a timber frame alone so I have one of them lift the guard for me which only takes a moment. The other option that I've seen and use is to loosen the lock knobs for the depth of cut. This keeps the plate on the wood at all times but allows you to "plunge" to start the cut which eliminates the guard issues completely. The initial plunge retracts the blade and then you cut as usual. On big timbers this is still a safe option. I wouldn't suggest it on smaller lumber.... but then again, go get your small saw for that stuff. Other than the guard being a hassle on some cuts, this is a great saw for the price. The supplied plastic "stand" for the saw is a must. It keeps the saw from getting bent up and it's elevated and easier to reach.

Wow...need something to cut through railroad ties like butter? Look no further. The strong motor and carbide tipped blade combination work like magic. After struggling doing multiple cuts around the periphery of a 7 "X 9" railroad tie with my 7 1/4" Circular saw and still having to take a sawzall or a chisel to finish it off and wear myself out, I was informed by a coworker in a side conversation about this beast. The is the ticket...it really sounds like a big "Sawmill" motor when it gets going and not loud at all. I actually took the ear plugs off after a couple cuts as they weren't needed. I'd highly suggest safety glasses however as this monster will generate mega shavings on your big timber cuts. The little safety switch disengagement could use a small contour to the top of it to actuate it a little easier with gloves, but you can do it with your thumb without gloves without a problem. It's not a cheap saw and once you hold this piece of equipment in your hands and watch it in action, you'll see it's made to last a lifetime with easily replaceable brushes/bearings and it's fasteners are all well laid out for easy maintenance. As with any saw, take your time on your cuts and on a big beast such as this.....keep them in a straight line, so as not to bind the blade. Give the blade tips plenty of time to rip away the wood on your large railroad ties, timbers, etc. and you'll be very happy with this mini-hand-held saw mill.

Milling up some large Purple Heart posts/beams for a residential house,Worked like a dream

This is intimidating as heck to look at, but not hard to use. Aside from the huge depth of cut, it feels and operates like a regular circular saw. I ripped some 5" x 5" black walnut beams into narrower boards. The first time I made three passes, but then I thought I would see what the machine could do. I set the black to cut five inches of walnut in a single pass, and it handled the task just fine. Didn't push hard, but speed of cut was perfectly adequate, the included blade has a narrow kerf and left a smooth cut. Seems pricey, but our business is creating lumber and we specialize in slabs and beams. This is a money-maker and a big time saver for us; and the results are far superior to trying to line up two opposing cuts. I have used it with and without the rip guide, and gotten good results either way. Make sure the piece you are cutting is well supported and clamped securely (unless it is so heavy it won't move).

This saw is huge.Like so many other reviewers, I find the placement of the safety button awkward to use. In initial start-up the saw 'jumps' from the torque of the motor, so you can't have the saw positioned exactly where you want it before you start it up. Afterward, when it's running, I have to readjust my grip so that I can hold the saw more comfortably. But it does a great job on 6-inch landscape timbers. I only wish I had a straightedge for it to follow when cutting 45-degree angles. One thing I'm finding is that spare blades, or different types of blades (32-tooth vs. 60-tooth, or carbide vs. non-carbide, for example) are hard to find. I finally located what I needed at ToolBarn.com. Amazon doesn't carry any replacement blades - at least any that get good reviews.

Awesome

It is a little hard to start given the safety button and size makes it awkward to push button and pull trigger while controlling the starting cut. It is easy to get off track without using a guide. It is difficult to correct once you do leave the line. Cuts like a hot knife through butter on shorter cuts; sometimes tries to push back on longer ones. Easily makes the 6" deep cuts.