The New Makita DHS680 Brushless Circular Saw Review
- By John Ridley
- 3 Aug 2015
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
You would be a hard one to please if you weren’t impressed with this saw when you took it out of the excellent stackable kitbox. From the off the tool feels comfortable in the hand with well-designed rubberized grippy areas and with just enough weight to feel substantial, without feeling like a drain on the muscles by the end of the day.
The cast alloy base is solid and accurately made, as are the upper and lower blade guards, giving a feeling that this tool is made for a long service life. Bevel and depth of cut settings are well-marked and easy to set without tools, but for complete accuracy you might need to use a digital angle setter to check, but most jobs don’t need that level of care.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX?
I like the current trend for stackable, high quality kit boxes because they make your trips from van to site so much easier to organize. They stack better at the back of the workshop too. Apart from the complete saw, the box holds a diagnostic quick charger, a spare battery, a dust extraction nozzle and a side fence. The box insert makes packing up at the end of the day really easy because every part has its place.
With its 18v lithium ion battery packs the saw has enough oomph for dealing with cuts right up to maximum depth of 57mm at 0 degrees. I cut 45mm thick, very dry beech with no trouble at all, although you do have to be careful not to force the tool, and you have to keep the blade straight in the cut so it does not bind or burn. To be honest, this saw will mostly be used by shopfitters etc to cut softwood, plywood and MDF up to a max of 30mm thick which will not challenge it at all. To all intents and purposes the Makita has as much power as a similar sized mains powered saw – you really will find it hard to feel the difference.
FEATURES & SPECIFICATION
Dust collection via the optional vac port with a vacuum extractor is very efficient where you have access to mains power for the extractor.
The 5,000 rpm speed ensures efficient and smooth cuts and the blade brake is a handy addition too. A 24 tooth TCT thin kerf blade fitted as standard reduces cutting friction to a minimum and gives maximum battery life.
As mentioned before, this saw handles so well, that it will quickly become an extension to your hand and a favourite “reach for me first” tool. The net weight is 3.3 Kgs and it has a base length of only 350mm, so it is compact enough to use in tight spaces and freehand as well (just do it safely)
In common with most power tool brands these days, the battery rails are designed to accept many older and newer Makita battery packs, so users can sometimes avoid the extra costs of a charger and batteries.
With deep discharge a weak spot of lithium ion, the provision of a “fuel gauge” in the form of a series of lights on the body under the main handle helps the user to monitor the best time to change batteries. When one bar is blinking at you it’s time for a charge.
Having a brushless motor is another key feature that increases power and performance. These sealed motors are impervious to dust, use less power and generate less heat, so all the extra energy goes into improved performance. This is a win-win for end users and also one of the reasons why the new generations of cordless tools are so much better than previous ones.
This Makita also boasts an automatic speed function that regulates the blade speed according to load and the little blower aimed at the kerf near the built-in LED light helps clear the cut line. Another couple of nice touches.
PERFORMANCE & HANDLING
My site partner and I spent a whole afternoon using this saw doing some simple shelf and fence fitting at a private house. Working outside away from a power source clearly didn’t bother us at all as the spare battery was charged. We used it on rough sawn softwood, hardwood and manmade boards and it was competent and easy – just like a professional tool should be. I began to think that I would seriously have to reach into my pocket and buy one. My site mate was convinced – I think he might be counting his pennies already!
One thing that is completely new to me is the inclusion of the strong foldaway bent steel hook on the body. I didn’t use it at all because I am mostly based at ground level. At first I viewed the hook with some skepticism, but after I tried it in various set ups I realized that it could be useful for some trades, especially those working at height in a loft conversion for example. If it really got in the way it is possible to remove it, so no harm done. Or get a Makita model without the hook.
CONCLUSIONS
I confess that I own an earlier version of this saw that is still serving me very well, but the improvements on the newer model transform the performance and handling to such a degree that my kit seems old and dated now. Clearly brushless motors, bigger Ah battery packs and other tweaks make for a tool that is better value for money and has higher specs. I tried and tried to find things that I could improve on the saw, but I think that anything I might say would seem very picky, so I will end by saying that the Makita DHS680 Brushless Circular Saw is just pretty damn good and I would take one on site any day – until the next improved model comes along of course!