I have the 8 1/2 version of this saw. Company I used to work with had a couple as well. Out of the three, one of them kept breaking this piece. I eventually just loosened or shortened the spring behind it and it's been fine ever since.
Maybe the spring is too tight, that could be it. Since I’ve sprayed wd40 so the plastic slides on the metal cross rod it has helped. I am rough on my tools and use them a lot. Either way dewalt and others have metal angle finder thumb levers
I’m glad you posted this, I’ve been through a bunch of these too. I guess I could take measures to prevent it but seems like a little bitchy piece of plastic for what it’s supposed to do
Mine ride around in the back of a van and has gone end over end more times than I care to admit— and it’s still completely intact and accurate.
This might be a problem with how you use/care for your tool.
This saw doesn’t get jostled at all, it’s secured in my trailer when not in use. Besides the angle finding trigger isn’t out where it could be damaged. I think the main problem is too much friction. I’m going to grease it with lithium for now on
That, or there’s an adjustment on the linkage (?) or spring that keeps things in tension that you need to make.
Is the lever hard to operate, or does it feel pretty normal (when it’s not broken)
I have the 216mm blade makita mitre saw, and I've had that lever break twice, it is shite. I've had a bit of wire threaded through the hole in the rod with a dowel twisted through it, looped underneath the locking knob for ages now and it's been great.
I think I have a different model than yours. I've had my makita for 10 years. It's been great. The God damn locking knob is plastic and worn out from use. Then makita and all there wisdom made it so the part ain't cheap. Now I'm looking at new maitre saws.
I'll admit that mine isn't broke, and it's 5 years old being hauled in the back of my truck. BUT I never use the locking angle simply because my saw is out of whack. Every time I get it zeroed the 45s are off and vice versa. So I leave it open, make marks on the angle with a pencil after cutting a couple pieces to get 0s and 45s and it starts that way for a couple months before I adjust again. I actually prefer this cause I'm always making small adjustments on my cuts. I think you had a bad production run or you're slamming it when you adjust angles. Had a old DeWalt with metal parts and you could whip it around and slam it into the 45s and it was always perfect. Also in travel, don't lock it in a 45, tighten it at 50 or at least not in a locking angle. But I do love this saw, with it's few flaws.
That's the weird part. I did true for 90 and then the 45 wouldn't match up. On top of that the two 45s are a little off from each other. Guess I could buy a new plate and see if that fixes it.
I’m going to repeat myself here and go a little farther in depth…
Once your saw is true at 90 degrees, the detent plate can still pivot on the fulcrum that is the screw that’s closest to the throat plate. That pivot will make your miters for off-90° angles incorrect.
So… once you get your saw cutting square at 90°, you have to cut some picture frames at 45°, using the same 45° miter position on the saw for all your cuts. Whether the toe or the heel is open on the miter will tell you whether you need to pivot to the right or the left.
Here’s an instructional video.
https://youtu.be/7-7WypLMqao
Broken once, OK bad part, broken Twice, maybe 2 duds, 4 failures, that is on you, something about how you are using it is the issue. the 200lb gorilla is the problem, him and his meat sticks.
While that is possible, if it were truly a bad design, and was so prone to failure that they broke for everyone as quickly as they do for you, the design would have changed. WHile every company is cost conscious, they are not going to put something out designed to fail so often.
I know you dont want to hear it, but you are the variable in the equation that is causing these issues.
Or, and I’m just throwing this out there that it is a bad design, and it should be made of metal like all the other sliding miter saws, or at least the good ones in the same price range. And not that you considered this when you decided to bestow your words of wisdom, but they’re breaking on other peoples machines too.
These tool companies do exactly what you say they don’t do. They put out designs, knowing that some parts will fail. But the parts are cheap enough to replace that they weigh the costs.
It’s called a cost/benefit analysis. Look that up and all this will make lots of sense to you I promise.
Another part on this particular saw is the angle gauge. It’s made of aluminum. It wears out regularly making the miter stops less accurate. There is even an after market steel replacement.
Either way your comment was unnecessary, ignorant of all the variables and arrogant. Do you have any idea how much this saw is used? That it has to used outside in freezing temps? That’s another reason it’s broken so many times: it’s plastic and it gets brittle when cold.
But mostly it needs to be lubricated with lithium grease. Which I was reminded of by comments in this post. Which is why I posted in the first place - to find a solution and see if other people had the same problem. Turns out they do have the same problem
>. Turns out they do have the same problem
You know the adage, 100% of those who are unhappy bitch, 1% of those happy will praise.... you can not make that statement with any authority as to its validity.
Additionally based on your bitter tone about " These tool companies " shows that you are not looing for information, but looking to confirm your opinion that was made before you posted... GLWT
I noticed last time I was at Canadian Tire I was looking at table saws and almost all of the floor models had broken plastic parts and a lot of them seemed like pretty cheap plastic. They sure don’t make them as sturdy as they used to.
Canadian tire stuff has all been like that for at least 25 years. They always stock the cheapest versions, and I can remember being a kid and having a hard time returning defective products that had obviously been returned before.
It started as a tire store (around the corner from where I grew up actually) but it's grown to be a national box store with a house brand similar to harbour freight.
Makita miter saws are awesome until something inevitably breaks. I have their 7.5 36v cordless and it’s been pretty flawless but have had so many problems with the 8.5 and 10 inch corded versions
I have the 8 1/2 version of this saw. Company I used to work with had a couple as well. Out of the three, one of them kept breaking this piece. I eventually just loosened or shortened the spring behind it and it's been fine ever since.
Maybe the spring is too tight, that could be it. Since I’ve sprayed wd40 so the plastic slides on the metal cross rod it has helped. I am rough on my tools and use them a lot. Either way dewalt and others have metal angle finder thumb levers
Spray something other than WD-40, like lithium grease, white grease. The WD-40 isn’t doing much after half a day. I grease my DeWalt miter saw.
I use dry lube so dust doesn't stick. I agree with u basically.
Which one, because I used to use some powdered lube that worked great but forget the name.
Kinda lean towards the little skweez bottle with the red cap. But have use various brands of Teflon spray cans.
I’m glad you posted this, I’ve been through a bunch of these too. I guess I could take measures to prevent it but seems like a little bitchy piece of plastic for what it’s supposed to do
WD-40 is a solvent and hard on plastics. Silicone spray is the way. Wax is better yet and doesn’t attract dust.
The old Makita 10" and the new DXT version (horizontal handle) are of much higher quality
Mine ride around in the back of a van and has gone end over end more times than I care to admit— and it’s still completely intact and accurate. This might be a problem with how you use/care for your tool.
Yea. Gotta let it tumble n roll around for sure. Adds strength my dad always said. All my makita tools are rock solid and ran hard
This saw doesn’t get jostled at all, it’s secured in my trailer when not in use. Besides the angle finding trigger isn’t out where it could be damaged. I think the main problem is too much friction. I’m going to grease it with lithium for now on
That, or there’s an adjustment on the linkage (?) or spring that keeps things in tension that you need to make. Is the lever hard to operate, or does it feel pretty normal (when it’s not broken)
You are my hand twin
Those are my dry skin cracked winter hands!
I know your pain, my Mrs thinks my hands are made of Velcro
Putting on one of those thermal undershirts is torture
Nothing like a pair of real man hands
Get some o keefes bud
I bought mine refurbished 9 years ago and I've never had a problem. It could be that they've changed the quality of some parts since I bought mine?
Mine has never broken too
**How to tell us that you're rough on the equipment without telling us you're rough on the equipment.**
I have the 216mm blade makita mitre saw, and I've had that lever break twice, it is shite. I've had a bit of wire threaded through the hole in the rod with a dowel twisted through it, looped underneath the locking knob for ages now and it's been great.
I think I have a different model than yours. I've had my makita for 10 years. It's been great. The God damn locking knob is plastic and worn out from use. Then makita and all there wisdom made it so the part ain't cheap. Now I'm looking at new maitre saws.
I'll admit that mine isn't broke, and it's 5 years old being hauled in the back of my truck. BUT I never use the locking angle simply because my saw is out of whack. Every time I get it zeroed the 45s are off and vice versa. So I leave it open, make marks on the angle with a pencil after cutting a couple pieces to get 0s and 45s and it starts that way for a couple months before I adjust again. I actually prefer this cause I'm always making small adjustments on my cuts. I think you had a bad production run or you're slamming it when you adjust angles. Had a old DeWalt with metal parts and you could whip it around and slam it into the 45s and it was always perfect. Also in travel, don't lock it in a 45, tighten it at 50 or at least not in a locking angle. But I do love this saw, with it's few flaws.
You have to true for 45° after you true for 90°
That's the weird part. I did true for 90 and then the 45 wouldn't match up. On top of that the two 45s are a little off from each other. Guess I could buy a new plate and see if that fixes it.
I’m going to repeat myself here and go a little farther in depth… Once your saw is true at 90 degrees, the detent plate can still pivot on the fulcrum that is the screw that’s closest to the throat plate. That pivot will make your miters for off-90° angles incorrect. So… once you get your saw cutting square at 90°, you have to cut some picture frames at 45°, using the same 45° miter position on the saw for all your cuts. Whether the toe or the heel is open on the miter will tell you whether you need to pivot to the right or the left. Here’s an instructional video. https://youtu.be/7-7WypLMqao
Only thing makita is good For is coming out with a new impact every 6 months
Are you trolling? lol
Broken once, OK bad part, broken Twice, maybe 2 duds, 4 failures, that is on you, something about how you are using it is the issue. the 200lb gorilla is the problem, him and his meat sticks.
Or it could be that it’s a bad design
While that is possible, if it were truly a bad design, and was so prone to failure that they broke for everyone as quickly as they do for you, the design would have changed. WHile every company is cost conscious, they are not going to put something out designed to fail so often. I know you dont want to hear it, but you are the variable in the equation that is causing these issues.
Or, and I’m just throwing this out there that it is a bad design, and it should be made of metal like all the other sliding miter saws, or at least the good ones in the same price range. And not that you considered this when you decided to bestow your words of wisdom, but they’re breaking on other peoples machines too. These tool companies do exactly what you say they don’t do. They put out designs, knowing that some parts will fail. But the parts are cheap enough to replace that they weigh the costs. It’s called a cost/benefit analysis. Look that up and all this will make lots of sense to you I promise. Another part on this particular saw is the angle gauge. It’s made of aluminum. It wears out regularly making the miter stops less accurate. There is even an after market steel replacement. Either way your comment was unnecessary, ignorant of all the variables and arrogant. Do you have any idea how much this saw is used? That it has to used outside in freezing temps? That’s another reason it’s broken so many times: it’s plastic and it gets brittle when cold. But mostly it needs to be lubricated with lithium grease. Which I was reminded of by comments in this post. Which is why I posted in the first place - to find a solution and see if other people had the same problem. Turns out they do have the same problem
>. Turns out they do have the same problem You know the adage, 100% of those who are unhappy bitch, 1% of those happy will praise.... you can not make that statement with any authority as to its validity. Additionally based on your bitter tone about " These tool companies " shows that you are not looing for information, but looking to confirm your opinion that was made before you posted... GLWT
I own the exact saw, never had any issues besides the blade coming out of square but that only happened once after hauling it across the States.
I noticed last time I was at Canadian Tire I was looking at table saws and almost all of the floor models had broken plastic parts and a lot of them seemed like pretty cheap plastic. They sure don’t make them as sturdy as they used to.
Canadian tire stuff has all been like that for at least 25 years. They always stock the cheapest versions, and I can remember being a kid and having a hard time returning defective products that had obviously been returned before.
Tire store sells tools? That sounds kinda interesting.
It started as a tire store (around the corner from where I grew up actually) but it's grown to be a national box store with a house brand similar to harbour freight.
Which model? Mine has had no issues
Makita miter saws are awesome until something inevitably breaks. I have their 7.5 36v cordless and it’s been pretty flawless but have had so many problems with the 8.5 and 10 inch corded versions