Remember when cordless tools seemed like toys? Today, my crew runs 100% cordless. And Makita recently raised the bar with the XGT GSH06T, a cordless 16 ⁵⁄₁₆-inch circular saw that can cut 6-by lumber. Makita claims it’s the world’s largest cordless circular saw.
On the Job
Tim Uhler
The author found the Makita XGT GSH06T saw to be easy to control thanks to its soft start and well-distributed weight.
I don’t like blade-right saws. I’m right-handed and grew up using worm-drive saws, which have the blade on the left side, where it is easier to see. Because I can see the left side of the blade on this Makita, I can use it as I would a worm drive.
On a big saw like this, a brake is a must-have, and this one works well. I appreciate the soft start, too. You don’t get that torque kick that the old worm drives had.
Cutting LVL, glulam, and 6×10 or 6×12 Doug fir is a breeze for this saw. LVL is the toughest, because it wants to close on the blade, but that’s true with all saws.
Makita claims the saw can “deliver up to 75 cuts per charge in 6×12 lumber with the 5.0-Ah battery.” Battery life isn’t an issue for me; I have a lot of Makita batteries. And I physically couldn’t make 75 repetitive cuts with a saw this large. But the point is, the saw will last as long you need it to.
Features
Tim Uhler
The size and cost of this cordless 16 5⁄16-inch saw are both substantial, but if you regularly cut oversized material, this tool could help speed up your workflow.
The saw has a cutting depth of 6 ¼ inches for straight cuts and 4 ¹³⁄₁₆ inches at a 45-degree angle and has both an electronic brake and soft start to improve handling. Not surprising, it tips the scales at a hefty 29.21 pounds with the 5-amp battery (for comparison, a corded Skil 16-inch comes in at 32.4 pounds). An included dust port allows for attachment to a vacuum. The unit is also compatible with Makita’s auto-start Bluetooth dust-extractor system.
This saw is expensive. Is it worth buying? It isn’t a necessity on our framing sites because we can use a 10 ¼-inch saw and make an extra cut with a lighter saw. But if you cut a lot of 6-by or 45-degree angles on 4-by stock, and the bigger saw would speed up your workflow or improve the quality of your work, then it could be worth the investment. The kit with saw, battery, and charger costs $1,400; the bare tool, $1,000. makitatools.com
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