7-1/4"" Magnesium Circular Saw with L.E.D. Lights

I bought this saw based on the reviews here on Amazon. I replaced a cheap Skil saw that although it was light and had a laser, really never cut accurately and had a tendency to "wander" from any fence/guide that I used.I looked at the DeWalt and chose the Makita based on the reviews and my past history with Makita tools and I am glad I did. The saw is very sturdy and well-built and cuts smoothly and never wanders probably due to the well crafted foot plate. The reviews here are accurate so I am not going to say much more but instead affirm their points:1) Hard case does indeed force you to "tuck-in" the cord against the case at the rubber strain relief at the handle.2) Not much blade storage in the case (maybe 1?).3) LED light at cutting point is fantastic addition...line and cut are always in view.4) Dust evacuation away from cut is very effective.5) Electric brake a great safety addition.6) Magnesium frame makes this saw light yet has a very sturdy feel that gives it very accurate cutting properties.Compared to my Skil saw, the Makita is a Boeing 767 and the Skil is a Cessna 172! I waited too long to replace it. Although I wanted a laser, after using the one on the Skil saw I came to realize that you will get far more accurate cuts if you draw a line and/or use a fence or guide. The laser on a circular saw is almost worthless if you can't adjust it...it is far better to have a clear view of the blade and the foot guide and have lighting and dust evacuation at the cutting point.The Makita is a delight to use and dare I say makes projects "fun"? By the way, the stock blade is very good quality and I don't plan on replacing it with a Freud blade until it gets dull.

I decided to upgrade from my 30 yr old B&D saw and almost bought the basic Milwaukee. Then I noticed they made one with a brake- which is a great idea. So I looked at the Milwaukee with brake. Then I noticed Makita also made one with a brake and indecision set in: I could not decide which brand to buy with the brake. To help with my decision I went to HD and looked at both- it then became an easy decision to buy the Makita 5007MGA even though it was slightly more expensive.Looking at the Makita you can tell that the designers and engineers put some thought into it- it's not just a basic hammer-like power tool like the Milwaukee; instead the Makita has well thought out, almost sexy, "extra" detailed features for the user. The base is cast and has a nice thick lip on the blade side- the Milwaukee is stamped from ~.12" alum. All the levers on the Makita have nice rubber grips on them; the quick stops on the bevel adjustment on the Makita is also a great feature. Sure, you don't need these little features, but it shows that someone was thinking about more than mounting motor on a plate. The Milwaukee is the Chevy Malibu; the Makita is the Lexus; either will get the job done, but the Makita is a nicer tool. Oh, and this Lexus is unfortunately made in China, but the quality is perfect.The saw has plenty of power and is as safe as any other saw so ignore the one bad review here wrt safety. The brake stops the blade in about half the time as my old B&D with no brake: ~3 seconds vs 6 (just counting off).Negatives: As others have stated, the case is too small- you have to kink the cord at the strain relief which is not a good idea- the case needs to be 3" longer. The rip fence is too short to be of much use; this is ironic because the space for it in the case will accomodate a fence almost 2" longer. Fix those two things and it's perfect. It's odd that with all the detailed design put into the saw they missed glaringly obvious poor features on the case and fence. The case could also use some additional blade storage space although it's fine for at least two spare blades (all I have).

This saw is PHENOMINAL. I ordered it at my dad's request as he wanted to replace his most recent circular saw. He is a professional carpenter of 40+years, owning his own very successful contracting business for over 30 of those years. The first we used it, he was actually excited about the performance. It's tight, quiet, light, and the brake is like that of a race car! The first use was ripping (cutting lengthwise) 2x4's, and this thing cut like a hot knife in butter, silky smooth. The bonuses that we weren't even aware of when we ordered the saw is the depth guage and the led 'headlight' on the saw. Nice solid case, too. Can't say enough good in a few paragraphs. Dad's been a fan of Makita circular saws for years, and quickly remembered why after replacing his Porter Cable with this Cadillac!

I've been a professional carpenter/contractor for 46 years. I'm not a Makita fanboy: of the 30+ power tools I own, there are 5 Makitas. But I buy the best tool for the job I can afford.My 25 year old Makita 5007 isn't dead but is very beat up, so when my wife asked what she could buy me for Christmas I opted for the modern version of the same tool. After 2 weeks' use I'm here to tell you that this is hands down the best saw on the market this side of Festool's at 1/4 the price. They push the black-and-yellow saw at the big box stores so you see a lot of them around, but they can't match up. This Makita magnesium with the electric brake is lighter, smoother, safer and with the right blade can make planer-smooth cuts with no splintering. And whether you're cutting heat register holes in a floor, sink cut-outs in a countertop, a pass-thru in a wall or the "mystery inch" from a rafter tail you can *still see your line from either side!* It fits the hand no matter what depth or angle cut you make. It never sounds like it's straining, even plunge cutting notches in an oak 6x6. And the brake produces no real torque twist.If you're looking for a saw that won't owe you money this time next year (or next month in a lot of cases) buy this saw.