By Mark Clement
The first thing to say about Makita's 18-volt Lithium-ion (LI) powered 6 1/2-inch circular saw is: Wow. Nice job on this one.
I used it whaling through framing, decking and sheathing over the course of several different projects and nowhere did it disappoint. While the BSS610 isn't a production cutting tool (don't give up your corded saw just yet) it's a terrific free-safety, ideal as an extra saw you can use wherever. It's great on deck sites, framing punch and in many locations where you need to make big time cuts fast but don't want to run a cord.
Power
The first and last thing I typically care about with battery-powered saws is power. Other stuff matters—a lot—but if it doesn't get dependably through what I need it to, I don't care about how well it's balanced.
The good news is that Makita's BSS610 has tons of power. I'm not sure where they put it because it's so small, but it's there. Long rips and cross-cuts in OSB, synthetic decking and 2-by were no match for the tool. It felt like a corded saw and ran hard until it needed a new battery.
Run Time
Run time is great. For deck-building, I got loads of cross-cuts squaring up decking. The saw easily made long cuts evening up the ends of the deck boards without a blip. Likewise in OSB: I made repeat 8-foot rips without thinking about it. I lost count of how much 2-by I could cross-cut, so I stopped counting.
Feel
The left-blade BSS610 feels light and well-balanced. The handle is plastic inlaid with rubber so it's easy to grip in odd positions or with sweaty hands. There's also an auxiliary handle in front of the trigger. It's rubberized and, while I didn't use it much, it's there for positioning the saw in oddball cuts or using a shoot board to size finish-grade sheet stock.
Sight Lines
Site lines are key for a circular saw because you cut with it in different positions. The left-blade is a plus. The Power Tool Institute should mandate left-blade saws across the board because the blades are easier to see.
Makita included a smart detail in the BSS610's shoe to maximize view of the cut-line: they notched it where the line meets the blade. It makes getting the saw on the line and in position as fast as possible.
If you use the blade guides notched out of the shoe, they're accurate, easy-to-see and quick to position on the line.
Shoe
The aluminum shoe is pretty durable and sufficient for most jobsites and workers—even framers. I did, however, kick the saw down eight stairs by accident and bent the shoe. But, it took multiple hard hits to cause this damage. As for run-of-the-mill drops to the ground or work table, the saw performed fine.
Adjustments
The adjustment levers are easy to reach, release and re-engage positively. Bevel and depth adjustments were a snap, like changing depths for plunge cuts. There's a scale on the guard that shows how deep the blade is set. It's a little hard to see, but is accurate and good for making quick depth settings. For important depth settings, check the blade depth against the work or measure it.
Battery
The 18-volt LI power pack ran like it was plugged into the wall. It was also easy to swap out for another battery because it's small and well positioned on the tool. The charger is great, too. The battery has a positive lock-on so you know you've engaged it to charge. Also, it won't get knocked off the charger if someone is yanking on the charger's cord.
Blade Change
The arbor lock engages the arbor nicely. The blade wrench, an Allen key, is stored near the battery. I think the Allen key will eventually find its way out of its storage spot, but it stayed put during my test.
Trigger and Lights
When you tap the trigger, small work lights illuminate. I thought this was frivolous feature just for the sake of the feature, but when racing sundown on various projects, the extra light made life easier. I like anything that makes life easier.
As with many cordless saws, you have to depress a safety tab to release the trigger. While I understand and appreciate why they're there (so you don't accidentally start the saw just by picking it up and/or activate it while it's stored in the tool bag) I really don't like these things because I always have to think about the best way to depress them. I can't give a demerit though, because it does what it's supposed to do—just like the saw as a whole.
High marks for Makita's BSS610. This saw is available individually or as part of a combo kit.
18V 6-1/2" LXT Lithium-ion Circular Saw Kit, Model BSS610
Mark Clement is a remodeler and author of The Carpenter's Notebook and The Kid's Carpenter's Workbook, Fun Family Projects! Find out more at
www.TheCarpentersNotebook.com.
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