Makita 12-Inch Miter Saws: The Saw and the Blades to Pair With It

Makita

Makita LS1219L 12" Dual-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw with Laser

4.1average rating from Amazon buyers, out of 5

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Makita LS1219L 12″ Dual-Bevel Sliding Compound

Best for: Trim carpenters and serious DIY woodworkers

Pros

• 15-inch crosscuts at 90 degrees
• 8-inch nested crown capacity
• Works flush against a wall
• Dual dust ports and laser

Cons

• Corded only
• Large 34-inch footprint

The Makita LS1219L 12″ Dual-Bevel Sliding Compound miter saw is the main pick for anyone searching for a Makita 12-inch sliding compound miter saw. Its standout feature is a 2-steel rail sliding system. Many sliding saws have rails that stick out the back, so you have to pull them away from the wall. This design reduces the footprint so the saw can sit flush against a wall, which helps in a small garage or workshop.

Capacity is the reason people choose a 12-inch saw, and this one lists 15-inch crosscuts at 90 degrees, 6-3/4 inch baseboard standing vertically and 8-inch crown molding nested vertically. It miters from 0 to 60 degrees left and right, with positive stops (click-in preset angles) at 0, 15, 22.5, 31.6, 45 and 60 degrees. The in-front bevel lock lets you adjust the tilt without reaching behind the saw, and dual dust ports help pull sawdust into a vacuum. The listing gives a 15-amp, 1800-watt direct-drive motor at 3,200 RPM, an electric brake, a laser guide and a 60-tooth blade. It measures 34 by 22 by 21 inches.

This saw suits someone installing baseboard and crown molding, building furniture or doing a big renovation. If you need to cut away from an outlet, the cordless XSL06PT is the alternative, though with a smaller blade. For smaller rip and crosscut jobs away from the saw, a Makita cordless circular saw makes a handy companion tool.

Makita

Makita LC1230 12" Metal Cutting Saw

4.4average rating from Amazon buyers, out of 5

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Price and specifications are read from the Amazon product page and can change.

Makita LC1230 12″ Metal Cutting Saw

Best for: Cutting steel tube, angle and bar

Pros

• Carbide blade outlasts abrasive wheels
• Quick release vise
• Fence adjusts 0-45 degrees

Cons

• Not a woodworking saw
• Sparse specs in listing

The Makita LC1230 12″ Metal Cutting Saw looks a bit like a miter saw but is designed for metal. Instead of the gritty abrasive wheel found on a traditional chop saw, it uses a carbide-tipped blade that Makita says lasts 50 times longer than abrasive wheels and leaves clean, accurate cuts that are virtually burr-free (a burr is the sharp, rough edge left on cut metal).

The listing describes a quick-release vise that clamps material firmly for repeated cut-offs, a support fence that adjusts from 0 to 45 degrees for angled cuts, a lock-off button and a shaft lock so you can change blades with one wrench. The listing does not specify motor amps, RPM or cutting capacity, so check the product page for those details. Do not put the wood blades from this guide on this saw, and do not use this saw for trim work.

Pick the LC1230 if you weld, build metal racks or fences, or work with steel tubing. For wood, the LS1219L is the right tool.

Makita

Makita B-67000 12" 100T Carbide-Tipped Max Efficiency Miter Saw Blade

4.2average rating from Amazon buyers, out of 5

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Makita B-67000 12″ 100T Carbide-Tipped Max

Best for: Smooth finish cuts on trim

Pros

• 100 teeth for smooth cuts
• Thin kerf, less motor drag
• ATAFR carbide tips

Cons

• Slower in rough framing lumber

The Makita B-67000 12″ 100T Carbide-Tipped Max Efficiency blade has 100 teeth. Here is the simple rule for beginners: more teeth means each tooth takes a smaller bite, so the cut is smoother but slower. Fewer teeth cut faster but leave a rougher edge. A 100-tooth blade is a finishing blade for trim, molding and visible furniture parts.

Makita says the Max Efficiency line cuts up to 100 percent faster and gives up to 30 percent more cuts per charge than its standard blades. It uses a thin kerf (the width of the slot the blade cuts), which means less wood wasted and less strain on the motor. The ATAFR tooth pattern (alternate top, alternate face with raker) is designed for smoother, faster cuts. The listing does not state the arbor size (the center hole), so confirm it matches your saw before ordering. This blade suits LS1219L owners doing trim work who want a cleaner edge than the included 60-tooth blade.

Buyers agree 4.6★ average on Amazon

Makita

Makita B-66983 12" 60T Carbide-Tipped Max Efficiency Miter Saw Blade

4.6average rating from Amazon buyers, out of 5

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Price and specifications are read from the Amazon product page and can change.

Makita B-66983 12″ 60T Carbide-Tipped Max

Best for: Everyday crosscuts in construction lumber

Pros

• 60 teeth balance speed and finish
• 1-inch arbor stated
• Thin kerf design

Cons

• Rougher edge than 100T blades

The Makita B-66983 12″ 60T Carbide-Tipped Max Efficiency blade has 60 teeth and a 1-inch arbor, and Makita describes it for premium crosscutting in construction lumber. It shares the Max Efficiency claims, thin kerf design and ATAFR carbide tips of the 100-tooth version.

With 60 teeth, it cuts studs, 2x4s and deck boards quickly while still leaving a reasonably tidy edge. It is a good spare or replacement blade for general building projects. If you mostly cut painted trim or hardwood, one of the 100-tooth blades is the better fit.

Best for: Mirror-finish crosscuts in hardwood

Pros

• Teeth honed up to 600 grit
• Ultra thin .091-inch kerf
• Hand-tensioned steel plate

Cons

• Specialty blade for fine work

The MAKITA 12″ X 1″ 100T MICRO Polished blade (model A-93734) is the specialty blade here. Its micro-grain carbide teeth are honed with up to 600 grit for a mirror finish, which helps them slice cleanly rather than tear. The steel plate is fully hardened and hand tensioned, and the listing gives an ultra thin .091-inch kerf, a 5-degree hook angle and a .071-inch plate. A low hook angle means the teeth are less aggressive, which gives more control on fine crosscuts.

Makita recommends it for hardwood and ultra-fine crosscutting, and it has a 1-inch arbor. It suits furniture makers and anyone cutting oak, maple or walnut where a glass-smooth end matters. It is not the blade for fast framing work.

Best for: Job sites without handy power outlets

Pros

• Cordless, two 5.0Ah batteries included
• Brushless motor, up to 4,400 RPM
• Up to 334 cuts per charge in 2×4

Cons

• 10-inch blade, not 12-inch
• Listing specs contain errors

The Makita XSL06PT 18V x2 LXT Lithium-Ion saw is a 10-inch cordless dual-bevel sliding compound miter saw, so it is not a 12-inch model and will not take the 12-inch blades above. It runs on two 18V LXT batteries together for 36V of power, and the kit includes two 5.0Ah batteries. Makita says it delivers up to 334 cuts per charge in 2×4 lumber and up to 192 cuts in 2×12 lumber with those batteries.

The brushless motor (a motor without carbon brushes, so it runs cooler and lasts longer) reaches up to 4,400 RPM, and automatic speed change adjusts speed and torque during the cut. It also has a brake and a laser. Some spec fields in the listing look wrong: they show 400 RPM, 90 watts and a “metal” surface recommendation, which contradict the feature list, so rely on the feature descriptions. The spec lists 80 teeth, and it measures about 32.7 by 22.4 by 21.7 inches.

This saw suits contractors moving between rooms or sites without power, and anyone already using Makita 18V batteries. If you want the most capacity and always work near an outlet, the LS1219L is the stronger choice. Shoppers comparing battery-powered saws can also read our overview of another cordless miter saw option.