I'm sure they're fine tools, but if I need a thousand word cheat sheet to understand their model numbers that's a big deterrent for me.
Why does it need to be so complicated and have so many slight variations on the same tool?
It takes me a thousand words just to say hello. Don't judge Makita by my posts.
Mentally picture that meme where the bearded fellow with the Dos Equis ** on the table says...
"I don't post very often... but when I do... it's a thousand words"
So why does Makita have so many variations on the same tool?
Because people don't want to pay for all the features that Makita innovates.
Take Auto Wireless Start, for example. AWS is a radio transmitter system that automatically turns on AWS enabled dust collection systems when the trigger to an AWS equipped cordless battery operated tool is depressed, and automatically shuts the dust collection system off when the trigger to the tool is released. Super cool. It keeps the cordless tools cordless, and the dust collection automatic and seamless.
There are two different versions of at least a dozen otherwise dead on IDENTICAL tools, feature for feature, watt for watt, grip for grip, torque for torque... absolutely identical... but for one version has AWS, and the other does not. Example the XSH06 is blade right without AWS, and the XSH07 is every bit of XSH06, but with AWS.
Then there are other differentiating factors, such as operator preference. Some folks like blade right circular saws (traditionally east coasters), while other folks prefer blade left circular saws (traditionally west coasters). Makita doesn't discriminate, but instead makes a version of the same saw to satisfy both markets.
Layered on top of that is product improvement, where the initial 18V blade right 7-1/4" circular saw was the XSH01, and after that saw was put though the paces in the field for a few years, Makita made ergonomic and efficiency improvements, the most significant of which was changing to a Brushless motor, releasing the XSH06. Then the identical XSH07 with AWS was released about a year ago.
And then, just about a month ago, Makita released the XSH08, which puts a different foot plate on the brushless blade right 7-1/4" circular saw that enables it to engage into the same track that the plunge cut 6-1/2" circular saw is guided by, but with the blade depth of cut and multi functionality of a dual purpose hand held blade right circular saw, that can function both within, and outside of the track.
Would you prefer that Makita not invent this feature, just to keep the number of SKU's down to an amount that the mind can manage keeping track of?
Or would you prefer that Makita continue to innovate improvements to tools, as well as match the improvements that competing brands create to lure customers over to their battery systems?
Then, there are still the rest of the blade right circular saws, needed to match the purpose (metal cutting, for example, with hot spark rated chip collection) or the blade size inventory (6-1/2", 5-7/8", 5-3/8", 3-3/8", 10", 16", etc) that the tool buyer is accustomed to using, or needs to have for the depth of material being cut.
Then, there are OSHA regulations that continue to evolve, the most notable recently being cement and silica dust recapture, the implementation of which motivated new designs of circular saw shrouds with dust collection ports, and more extensive coverings to meet the minimum dust recapture requirements.
And then... we have blade LEFT again. There are some that prefer the Skilsaw style handling of the worm drive saw, so Makita made a version of circular saw that mimics the worm drive, without the fundamental problem of real worm drive saws, which is the axis of electric motor rotation on a worm drive being inline with the rotational axis of the human wrist holding the saw.
This alignment of rotational axises causes the worm drive saw to jerk when the trigger is pulled due to the near instantaneous torque rise of the typical 13 to 15 amp 120v motor. The human wrist can't resist the instant twist.
So Makita doesn't do this with their rear handle saw. Makita mounts the motor perpendicular to the wrist axis, and parallel with the blade's axis of rotation. This does two things... first, it doesn't twist the wrist, and second, it doesn't lose power efficiency through a worm, or hypoid gear transmission that would otherwise be needed to convert motor rotation to blade rotation.
Yet the balance, heft, narrowness along the cutting line, blade position, handle positions, and overall feel of the Makita's rear handle saw (XSR01) is nearly identical to that of a SkilSaw worm drive Model 77, without the wrist jerk on start up, and, with the added safety of a blade brake.
Would you rather Makita not have invented this evolutionary saw, just because Makita already had a bunch of 7-1/4" circular saws that can cut the same materials?
I've probably hit a thousand words by now, but just to make certain, let's take angle grinders as another example.
Some users prefer paddle switches, so if the grinder gets wrenched out of the hand, the tools trigger switch is let go of. Others prefer slide switches, so that their hands don't get fatigued, or because they can't fit their hand around the grip as it is.
Then there are company requirements in the workplace. Some companies require that there be no ability for the angle grinder to be "locked on"... the switch must be humanly engaged at all times. Some require that switches be of a design that requires two steps to engage the switch, to avoid inadvertent engagements... this is otherwise known as "locked off".
As such, there is a model of Makita 18V cordless grinder that has multiple iterations, paddle switch, slide switch, lock on, lock off, AWS, non AWS, 4.5", 5"... and this is all with the same cordless, brushless model of grinder. We haven't even discussed the non brushless models, the 12V CXT models, the dual battery 36v models, never mind the corded models of grinders that run on AC as well as DC so as to be connected directly to a welding power supply, not to mention the 7", and 9" models, the tuck point models with OSHA approved silica dust collection... etc etc.
So if you want simple, buy Porter Cable's 20v line. They have only one grinder. That's it. Just one. No choices. And the total tool count in their entire portfolio of tools that can run on the two sizes of Porter Cable 20v batteries amounts to a grand total of 12 different tools, 2 little lights, 1 radio, and a speaker. That's it. The entire line up.
On the other hand, in addition to the 225+ products that Makita makes to fit their 18 volt LXT lithium ion batteries, there are also other professional tool manufacturers, such as Greenlee, Klauke, and the older professional grade Ridgid (not the TTI stuff or the newest Ridgid) which all use the Makita 18V LXT battery platform, which expands the versatility and usability of the LXT battery platform investment by an order of magnitude over tool brands with a simpler to understand portfolio of tools.
Pretty sure that's a thousand words.
They say a picture is worth a more, but I couldn't find the picture that shows all of the Makita tools in one large group photo.
See, that just goes to show how messed up the Makita USA website is.
