MY BEST NEW 7¼” HAND HELD
SAW
MAKITA HYPOID SAW REVIEW
As boat builders, we seem to
be an eclectic lot when it comes to tool buying. Duckworkers
also have many ideas with one boat builder saying "always
use hand saws and arm power" and another who cuts all of
his patterns full size on a plotter and then cutting them out
with power tools. For the most part I am guilty of using my
large power saws and many direct drive hand held circular saws.
That was until I built my home and laid out the cash for a worm
gear drive saw in the early 80's. They are heavier but they
just don't wear out like a direct drive saw does. Two years
ago I had to scrap my worm gear drive Skill saw and I thought
I could live without one but of course now I realize I just
can't. I decided to turn to the internet and read up on all
the worm gear drive 7¼” saws so I could pick a
winner.
As luck would have it I found what others call
the best saw on sale with a $80.00 tool belt thrown in for good
measure. The saw is the newest Makita Hypoid drive with a 15
amp motor. A motor powerful enough to be used on some table
saws. The hypoid saw has specially heat treated beveled steel
gears unlike the bronze alloy gears of the worm drive models.
The Makita is lighter than most of the other candidates and
like most of the other gear drives has a left hand side cutter
making following a chalk line much easier than a right hand
side cutter.
I was soon busy gathering all the hardwood from
my scrap lumber pile to check out the saw. I was tired before
the saw even warmed up (because of my bad back) so my friends
came to the rescue. My small work shop needed new flooring and
thanks to those same friends and my new Makita 5277NB saw, the
job was no problem. I have to tell you the Blue Maks 2 blade
that came with the saw worked well but is designed for treated
lumber, not smooth cuts in plywood and expensive trim wood.
In my opinion, it ‘s a good blade but not nearly the blade
the 1/16” kerf Matsushita 7¼” 36-tooth combo
blade is for fine finish.
My local saw sharpener sells any blade that hasn’t
been picked for more than a year. I’ve managed to pick
up some very good 12" blades that way. When I asked if
he had any of the Matsushita blades he laughed at me. He said
the owners of those blades come in as soon as they are sharpened
and ready for pickup. With the stacks of leftover sharpened
blades at his establishment, I wondered if the Matsushita blades
protect woodworkers from alien abduction or could the other
brands work a man so hard he expires, leaving his blades at
the sharpeners shop?
I know that the combination of the Makita saw
and a Matsushita thin kerf blade gives a great cut in the ¾”
plywood that was used as my sub floor and other materials that
I will explain in coming reviews. I can say without prejudice
that the new Makita 5277NB Hypoid Gear Drive with the 15 amp
motor is the best hand held saw I have ever used. Makita still
has a supply of the 5277B hypoid drive saws that are rated at
14 amps but I didn't want to spend the $119.00 price tag to
compare them, but Makita advertisements claim the new motor
runs quieter and has more torque than the older model. The promotional
package with the tool belt is first class and I wandered around
a few tool stores to look for comparable belts. All candidates
were in the $80.00 to $110.00 range. I paid $149.00 for the
new improved saw and tool belt and feel it’s a bargain
if someone is looking for a saw with longevity to build many
boats.
Old timers always told me to check the saw’s
accuracy with it's bevel degrees and depth of cut to make sure
that the stamped metal mark was really the measurement of what
the saw cuts. With a rafter gauge and a new-fangled plastic
degree ruler, right from the box the saw was dead on. I then
checked the depth of cut and noticed when I changed blades that
it had a .095” difference between the two blades. The
Blue Maks 2 blade was slightly larger. I attributed that to
the shiny paint job the manufacturers paint on the blade. I
have no desire to build anything that needs that type of tolerance.
Makita claims the Maks 2 blade is the best in cutting treated
lumber, however I don't plan on building boats with treated
lumber, but who knows, never say never.
So lets recap now and see what remains. By my
boat building standards, it’s an expensive saw that should
last the rest of my life. It is a little heavier than most direct
drive hand power saws but the saw is ergonomically designed
to give the user a comfortable grip for better control and stays
on track easier than most other saws. If you broke your budget
buying the saw you can use the standard blade with good results.
You can find the saw on sale for $149.00 or lower with the belt
making the purchase a good one. If you are in need of a saw
that won't bind up or slow down when making deep cuts in most
hardwoods, then the Makita could be the saw for you. I spoke
with a manager in Makita's Marketing Division who told me they
have a new blade out that will rival the Matsushitas. They are
sending me a sample of the new blade to tryout. In a few weeks
I'll update this review with the results from the new MFORCE
Makita blade.
So get ready my fellow Duckworkers and build those
boats even if you have to use an adz and hand plane. My next
installment will be about a very nice table saw for under $400.00.
The table saw is the quintessential woodworking power tool in
almost any shop. Stand by and read about the product I feel
gives you the most for you're money.