Dewalt DW715 vs Makita LS1221 is a great match-up. These miter saws belong to two renowned manufacturers worldwide, which guarantees top-notched performance.
If you prefer the convenient operating experience in any miter saw, the lightweight Makita LS1221 will not disappoint you.
However, if precision is your ultimate goal, Dewalt DW715 can offer just that.
The two machines are similar at a glance, like chalk and cheese. They share the same motor power, cutting blade, and speed.
However, certain minor differences still exist if we look close enough into their cutting capacity, additional features, and overall designs.
The below table offers you very basic information about our two miter saw candidates. Let’s spend some time reading it before we dive deep into the detailed reviews.
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Comparison Between Dewalt DW715 vs Makita LS1221
Precision
Both miter saws offer impeccable accuracy.
Dewalt DW715 features an adjustable detent plate that has 11 positive stops at commonly used angles. Moreover, this Dewalt machine utilizes a convenient cam-lock miter handle with detent override ability. This feature saves carpenters a huge amount of setup and readjusting time.
On the other hand, Makita LS1221 is only equipped with 9 positive stops. Switching angles with its twist-and-turn knob is more time-consuming, which is a minus. These features make it more difficult for operators to line up precise angles.
Therefore, the Dewalt machine scores an easy win in this category.
Design and Material
Both Dewalt DW715 and Makita LS1221 emphasize the lightweight feature in their designs. They are compact and weigh less than 50 pounds.
While the design of Dewalt DW715 gives us a sense of elegance with its yellow-black-grey trio combination, the Makita miter saw looks neat, owing to the light blue and shiny gray color scheme.
In terms of size, Makita LS1221 takes up more space but is more portable than its counterpart. In short, both miter saws have great design and thus, there is no clear winner here.
Cutting Capacity
As a single bevel miter saw, the Dewalt machine has quite a wide miter and bevel angle range. Its miter capacity runs up to 50 degrees on both sides. The saw can perform bevel cuts from 0 – 48 degrees (left) and 0 – 3 degrees (right).
Dewalt DW715 chops through 2 x 6-inch lumber at 45 degrees and 2 x 8-inch pieces at 90 degrees very easily.
Thanks to the long fence, its crown molding nested capacity spans up to 5.25 inches vertically. The Dewalt option also runs well with 6.5-inch base molding.
The Makita representative can cut through larger wood pieces: 3-7/8 x 6 inches at 90 degrees and 2-3/4 x 5-7/8 inches at 45 degrees.
However, its cutting angles are slightly narrower than the Dewalt machine. Makita LS1221 can do miter cuts at up to 48 degrees (right) and 52 degrees (left). Additionally, it can perform bevel cuts at 45 degrees only on the left side.
Differences in cutting angle range for both miter and bevel cuts between the two saws are insignificant. The fact that Makita LS1221 can handle larger wood pieces is really impressive. Hence, the Makita miter saw is the better option here.
Cutting Blade
Both miter saws utilize the 12-inch carbide-tipped blade to offer powerful and fast cutting actions.
There is a small difference here. The Makita’s cutting blade has 40 teeth, while that number of Dewalt DW715 is only 32 teeth. This difference gives Makita LS1221 a slight edge for having a better cutting blade.
Additional Features
One particular feature that I love about Dewalt DW715 is its use of a lock pin to keep the 12-inch blade in the cutting position. This characteristic saves a lot of storing space.
However, Makita LS1221 is also equipped with many unique selling propositions. It has the so-called electric brake that can boost your productivity. Its pivoting fence also increases the machine’s capacity to handle larger materials.
Once again, the Makita machine proves to be the more superior choice.
Supporting Accessories
Upon purchasing Dewalt DW715, you will get a wrench, a vertical clamp, a dust bag beside the original saw, and its 12-inch blade. It is a pity that there is no extension kit included.
You will find more items in the package of Makita LS1221. Apart from a 12-inch blade, an additional vertical vise, a dust bag, a wrench, it also comes with two extension wings. With these extra items, the Makita saw has a crystal clear upper hand in this criteria.
Quick Rundown Of Dewalt DW715
Pros
- Featuring easy-to-read miter scale
- Offering precise cuts with 11 miter detents
- Wide miter and bevel angles
- Lightweight and portable
- Requiring little storing space
Con
- No laser guiding system for better accuracy
>> Read Customer Reviews: Here <<
Quick Rundown Of Makita LS1221
Pros
- Extremely lightweight
- Very sturdy design
- High productivity thanks to the electric brakes
- Handling larger materials easily with the pivoting fence
- 40-tooth cutting blade for more powerful performance
Con
- Time-consuming twist-and-turn knob when changing cutting angles
>> Read Customer Reviews: Here <<
Conclusion
If there must be a winner between Makita LS1221 vs Dewalt DW715, the latter option easily stands out.
It is mindblowing to find such a powerful miter saw to be so lightweight. Makita LS1221 is also durable and very easy to use.
Nevertheless, Dewalt DW715 is also a great choice for more accuracy-demanding tasks.
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