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This looked like a high quality tool but the one I received in the mail came in a banged up box, poorly packed, and had clearly been sitting on a shelf gathering dust for a while. I returned it and got a full refund, then bought one locally instead. When I saw it's condition I looked up the age of the saw by the serial number and found that it was over two years old.
For some reason, Makita does not include a rip fence or securing screw with the 5377MG. The Ridgid was excellent but had a diamond arbor which limited the blades you could use. Do not buy the skinny 164095-8 rip fence by mistake. I bought this saw to cut all the pressure treated lumber for my deck since my other tools (except handsaws) were not going to be up for the task. Every review site seemed to like a different saw but in general all agreed that the Skil was the best overall.I passed on competitors models for several reasons: well reviewed Skil saws were too heavy and had overlooked faults that bothered me. The Dewalts, Boschs, etc all had quirky features. These are the part numbers you'll need for that saw:- Rip Fence 165153-3 - M6x15 screw 251858- 2The screw is black and matched that older style Makita saws not the newer padded blue screws. Note: if you buy this saw in the 5377MGX version, you'll receive a ballistic nylon blue carpenter's belt instead of a case.
I picked this saw over the others available based on reviews from several woodworking sites. The Makita was new and it replaced the outgoing model which was well received so I went with the 5377MG.Pros:- accurate cuts- angle stop easy to set- lightweight- excellent ergonomics- nice blade included (a Makita trademark)- reinforced baseplateCons:- no rip fence included- startup kick- heavier than a sidewinder- slightly underpoweredI'm hesitant to call the saw underpowered because it's more powerful that my other equipment but I would bet that the heavier saws have more power when the saw is pushed hard.Always get the black A-94530 blade. There is also a Makita 5477NB now available that is a stripped down version of this saw. It's sharp, lasts a long time and is coated to prevent binding.The Makita 5377MG uses a heavier duty rip fence that is gold colored.
Went out on a limb and bought this saw without even seeing it in person. Not 100 percent accurate. Since then I have been doing some serious framing and I'm pleased with the results. But don't trust the presets for the depth gauge and bevels.
It cuts through wet lumber like butter, keeps a very straight line without the guide. You don't have to be The Hulk to use it. Nice thin kerf blade comes with it. I freaking love this thing. I was thinking that this was going to be too heavy for most of my applications, but it is NOT. It looks like a 57 dodge or chevy. I don't think I'd go with the other top brands for this, it is super light comparatively. It has the beam hanger (if you set it on ground it rolls over) which is awesome.
It ploughs right through wood, doesn't jump around when it starts up and has a really steady base. This thing is built like a tank, but doesn't weigh you down too badly. I'd love to know what parts that other guy had magically fall off, because I can't find a single fit or finish flaw with mine. I'm a bit concerned about the longevity of the lower guard spring, but for right now, it works fine. Not sure what else you'd need a circular saw to do. I chose this over the Bosch worm drive model purely because of the lack of need to drain and flush any oil out of the gearbox with kerosene, and I have no regrets.
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