Makita LS1016 vs LS1018: My Honest Tool Test

The makita ls1016 vs ls1018 choice is hard. I get this exact question on my site a lot. I test tools for a living on real jobs. Here is my true and honest test.

Review of the Makita LS1016

I bought this saw for big house builds. I had to cut thick oak wood blocks. I needed a tool that would not quit. This saw has a huge and strong motor.

The gear drive gives it pure raw power. It cuts wet pine boards with great ease. The blade does not slow down one bit. You can feel the torque in the grip.

The four rail slide keeps the blade stiff. I pushed hard and felt zero weak flex. It cuts straight and true every single time. The thick base keeps the whole tool flat.

The small size saves deep space in my shop. I can push it flat up to the wall. This is a big plus for small work rooms. I have more room for long wood boards.

But the huge weight is a real big pain. It weighs way past fifty full pounds. My back hurts when I move it by myself. I leave it locked to a work desk.

I checked the cut lines with a steel square. It was dead straight right out of the box. It stayed true for a whole year of work. The dust bag grabs a lot of fine chips.

Review of the Makita LS1018

I got this new saw for quick trim jobs. I move a lot from one room to another. This tool is much lighter to hold and lift. It weighs less than forty four pounds total.

That drop in weight is a huge relief. The motor spins very fast and very smooth. I used it to cut thin pine floor boards. The fast blade makes cuts look very clean.

It glides through soft trim like hot butter. The high speed leaves no rough wood splinters. It feels great to use on small door frames. I can work all day without tired arms.

It lacks deep power for thick hard oak wood. The blade bogs down if I push too hard. I have to go slow on thick wet logs. You must let the fast blade do the work.

The two rail slide moves smooth front to back. But the long poles take up deep bench space. I have to pull it far from the back wall. This makes small rooms feel very tight.

The cut lines are good for basic trim work. But I check the square lock knob much more. It can drift a small bit on heavy jobs. The cord is long and has a tough coat.

Details Comparison for makita ls1016 vs ls1018

Now let us look at the real work facts. Box specs do not tell the whole real truth. I test tools to see how they truly feel. Here is how they stack up side by side.

Raw Cut Power

The raw work power is not the same here. The big heavy saw uses a slow gear drive. It pushes hard right through thick wood knots. You feel the deep strength as it cuts wood.

It does not stop for thick wet tree limbs. The light saw spins fast but lacks deep torque. It cuts thin base trim in a quick flash. But it will get stuck on a thick block.

You must match the right tool to the job. The big saw wins for deep house frame work. The light saw wins for small finish house details. Both motors stay cool on a long hot day.

The power cords on both tools are very thick. They do not get stiff in the cold snow. I plugged both into long truck power leads. They ran fine with no dark smoke or heat.

True Cut Trust

The big saw stays true for a long time. The four steel rails have zero weak side flex. My test cuts stayed square month after long month. It is a very safe bet for pro guys.

I trust the big saw on the best wood. The light saw has a bit of loose play. It works great for base boards and thin trim. But it can drift out of true square lines.

I check the light saw fence week by week. You have to keep the lock knobs tight always. Both tools have safe clear blade guards on top. The big saw parts just feel much more tight.

The slide joints on the big saw trap dust. You have to wipe the four rails quite often. The light saw uses two smooth thick steel poles. They stay clean and glide with a soft touch.

Tool Size Weight

Tool size and weight change how you do work. The big saw is a huge chore to move. It hurts your arms to lift it up high. I keep it locked tight to a shop bench.

It fits in a small space near a wall. The new light saw is great to move around. The top hand grip fits my bare hand well. I lift it into my truck with no strain.

It is the best pick for guys on the go. The handle angles feel right on both the saws. The big saw switch has a stiff hard spring. The light saw switch takes a light soft pull.

You can lock the heads down for a drive. The pins snap in tight to hold the heads. The big base gives more room to hold wood. The light base requires more care on long cuts.

Strong Build Feel

I look at all the parts when I test. The big saw feels like a strong war tank. The base is made of thick cast steel metal. It takes hard knocks on the rough job site.

The knobs feel stiff and hard to break off. The light saw uses more thin light cast parts. The adjust knobs feel a bit soft to turn. It will last a long time for sure though.

I try not to drop big logs on it. The paint on both holds up to rough use. The cords bend well and do not crack open. Both saws keep the dirt out of the gears.

I checked the blade nuts and they stay tight. The thick base plates sit flat on the desk. They do not rock or tilt on flat floors. The big saw just feels like a pro tool.

Mark Dials Knobs

Clear marks help you cut fast and do well. Both saws have bright white lines to read clear. You can see the dark numbers in dirty rooms. This is key for good trim work each day.

The big saw has a great fine tune knob. You can lock weird odd cuts fast and safe. The light saw works fine but takes more care. You have to tap it right on the white line.

The miter scale on both tools is thick steel. It will not rub off from hands or dust. The bevel marks sit high up on the back. You do not have to bend down to look.

The locks grab tight so the head stays put. The big saw lock has a big grip knob. The light saw lock is thin and needs force. Both let you cut right on the mark well.

Here is the final break down of the tools.

The final choice rests on where you do work. Buy the big heavy saw if you stay put. Buy the light fast saw if you drive far. Both tools are great to own for a job.