MakitaXSH03Z 18V LXT® Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 6-1/2" Circular Saw, Tool Only

This Makita circular saw has met all expectations and needs. Really appreciate the overall quality, accuracy, blade changing, ease/indication on setting depth of cut, and weight/balance. Ended up purchasing my adult children the same circular saw for their uses and needs as an essential tool in their tool kits.

I've used 4 different Makita 6.5" circular saw models on the job site and can confidently say that this unit (XSH03Z) is far and wide better than the rest.Biggest pluses are:1) Brushless motor - runs cooler, longer battery life, and translates in to more power.2) LED illumination - just enough additional light to ensure the cut is on point.3) 5,000 RPM with automatic torque converter - This extra speed makes a surprising amount of difference compared to the 3,000-4,000 RPM models. The blades cut far smoother and there is far less tear out from your material. It makes a battery powered saw cut and feel like a high power corded saw. The automatic torque adjuster kicks in should your material be extra tough...it drops the RPM's down but kicks up the torque to prevent bogging down / binding. Very nice touch!4) 45 degree lock on the bevel - there is a nice flip down tab that allows quick adjustment to a rock solid 45 degree bevel cut... As opposed to eyeballing where the 45-degree mark actually is. Nice time saver that ensures consistency.5) Brake - the automatically engaging blade brake that kicks in after the trigger is released is a wonderful plus. Once you have that feature, you'll never go back.As for negatives, for the price & class of the saw, there really are next to none. However, here are the couple that stick out:1) for a saw that costs in the 175-200 range, it is a bit ridiculous they don't include the $13 Makita 164095-8 Rip Fence with it. It's not a critical accessory by any means, but it's sometimes nice to have and worth the ten bucks or so.2) I wish this model had the blower that puffed air by the front area of the blade to improve visibility (like the finish saw model). Not a big issue, but would be nice.In summary, this is a first rate saw in its class. Other than this item, the next real step-up is the Festool track saw (which I own & love like no other)... however, this saw & vacuum combo runs in the $1,500 range and is like comparing apples to oranges.

Great little saw, the higher rpm makes a big difference compared to the old models. Easy to read labels and the cast metal parts are a nice feature. No complaints, it performs better than expected. The included blade is doing fine, its just a 24T rough framing blade but its holding up well so far. No worse than any other mid level thin 24T framing blade. Nice cuts, good battery life cutting 2 x material.

I've got 4 of them. Every guy in my crew wants one. Had my first brushless version for a long time, used every day. Then I backed over it with my dually... Hmmmm.. whoops! Guess what, still worked! (Ya, we tried!) But the plate was all crooked... So I gave it to the new kid so I could yell at him for not being able to cut straight... Ha!At any rate- second one I had, someone on the crew did something to it.. hopefully not run over it with a truck... There's a small piece of metal that attaches the plate to the handle. It's at the back of the saw. Some how, some one dropped it just right and it bent ever so slightly so that Now This One Didn't Cut Straight Either! So I take it to the tool guy. Nope. Can't fix it. It's the older model... I'll look for the model number and update this posting when I get a hot minute.. not THAT old, couldn't be cuz I just bought it. At any rate- so I bought two more!! It's that good!! Second bent plate model goes with the framing crew. ... Let's be honest.. framers cant cut straight any way.. HA!So, long story short- cuts perfect. Lots of power. Use it every day, all day. Smooth as butter with the variable motor speed. Little LED light is hella cool, way better then cutting in the shadows. Very light weight. Rafter clip rules- ESPECIALLY, especially -pro tip here- for holding the blade guard back when cutting at an angle or dropping in... As long as your not dropping in to your thigh like my plumber.... Stupid plumbers...Last note- one of my guys got a Milwaukee, which, yes is quality, but the mark on the plate for where the blade is gonna cut... WAY off! Makita cordless circ- better than red, better then yellow.Last, last note- don't take my ramblings to infer defective dohicky that attaches back of plate to handle.. just the opposite. We abuse these bastards, day in day out.

I already had a helical gear driven Skil saw which I bought and used for the last 20 years so I bought this on kind of a whim since I had a bunch of other Makita tools. This thing is awesome. I didn't think that a lightweight easy to grab saw would make such a difference in how I work but this thing is sweet. Rarely use my Skil saw anymore and even use this at times when I would normally use my table saw. It's just so handy and fast and cuts so well that it's my go to tool now. One of my favorite tool purchases.

Plenty of power cutting 2x wood and ripping 3/4" plywood. Depth adjustment and angle adjust are easy to use. At first I thought the plate was plastic, but turned out it is metal. With the blade on the left side, making it easy to see the cut for a right handed person.The down side, saw ejects the saw dust all over your shirt and legs. I fixed that problem by getting the vacuum attachment and inserting a short length of pool line pipe and having it curve away from me. Saw now blows dust around the battery. to the other side of saw.I would buy one again if it walked off the job site or was damaged.