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I'm not sure if this is the reason for the fair quality, but regardless, Makita could have done better. It now resides happily unseen, bolted under a 1/4" aluminum plate with a homemade Biesemeyer style "T-square" fence as a mini table saw alongside my Jet-Gold series 10" full-size and Microlux 3-3/8" micro-table saw. After purchasing the 4200NH I realized I probably should have chosen the Porter Cable worm drive. Still, with just under 8 amps of power this little guy does pack a pretty good punch. I would have expected more from Makita, a known producer of quality products.This tool (my version) was not made in the U.S. I didn't perform as much research before buying this tool as I usually do and I may have paid the price, literally.
This saw costs more than most circular saws and I'm not sure the price justifies it's capabilities. The PC costs just a hair more and is a better quality tool.My 4200NH has 7.8 amps of power as opposed to the stated 9.1 now so I assume Makita has made some changes. or Japan but instead Brazil. The paint on the blade guard had bubbles in it that eventually chipped off, but still it performed well. That was two years ago, I have since learned my lesson.This is a trim saw designed for smaller tasks and it cuts plywood and smaller stock cleanly just as it does into your wallet. My little brute has an atypical arbor diameter of 20mm, not an easy task to find quality blade replacements.
It's a happy little family.The Pros:**Easier to control than full size circulars**Lots of power for it's size**Left sided bladeThe Cons:**Price-$$**Quality of fit/finish fair**Quality of height/angle adjustments fair**Odd size arbor (20mm)Summary: A lightweight contender with good power and fair quality of craftsmanship but Porter Cable's worm drive packs a k.o. The black painted stamped metal base is a little cheap as are the height and angle adjustments.
A lot of the smaller blade circular saws are only good for paneling and thin plywood. I'm a woman who can't hold and control the weight of an ordinary full size circular saw in one hand. My husband uses it whenever he can, because it is light and powerful and he does a lot of work with oak, which never stops this saw. This has been the most used tool in our garage for 13 years. A small tooth finish blade is good for paneling and plywood). and its light weight makes it my choice whenever possible. This saw was hard to get for a number of years and I 'm happy to see it back on the market again. The only down side is the expense of blades, but this wouldn't stop me from buying it.
It's blade diameter is big enough for lumber (using a combination blade. So this is a safety issue. In fact we bought a new one to have in case the old one finally gives out. I also noticed some time ago that masonry, ceramic tile and tile roofing contractors always seem to have one of these with a carbide blade in it to do quick cutoffs.
I recently used it for paneling and to install a laminate (Faux hardwood) flooring. The blade gard hangs under certain conditions and I wish the depth adjustment was better engineered. As a righty, I enjoy the left blade arrangement, which is similar to my Skill 77.I've had mine for 10+ years, so some of the features may have changed. Works well. The thin blade and high RPM will give you excellent cuts. (Both may be on the current model). The small size and weight are a real plus.
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