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How to use a Makita mitre saw

Updated: 21 October 2026

The first cut is where a new Makita mitre saw either stays square or chews a length of skirting you cannot spare. You want the sequence, not a ranking. This is how to use a Makita mitre saw from the four listings in the [Makita mitre saw comparison](/hub/power-saws/makita-mitre-saw): the 110 V sliders, the 18 V DLS600Z, and the 240 V LH1040/2. Peter F. used the 19 October 2026 amazon.co.uk listings and public UK safety sources. We did not stand at the saw and time your cuts. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

The first cut is where a new Makita mitre saw either stays square or chews a length of skirting you cannot spare. You want the sequence, not a ranking.

Our top picks

Makita Makita LS0815FLN/1

Best overall

Makita Makita LS0815FLN/1
8.6/10about £328.45
View offer
Makita Makita DLS600Z

Rank 2

Makita Makita DLS600Z
8.2/10about £356.46
View offer
Makita Makita LH1040/2

Best value

Makita Makita LH1040/2
8.0/10about £409.00
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Set the supply and the bench before the blade turns
  2. 2.How the cut runs on a slider
  3. 3.Chop saw and flip-over
  4. 4.Dust, noise, and when a professional should take over

Set the supply and the bench before the blade turns

Start with the plug, because two of these saws will not survive a guess. The LS0815FLN/1 and the LS0714N/1 are 110 V. They belong on a site transformer fed from 230 V, not on a normal wall socket. The LH1040/2 title says 240 V. Ignore the specification row that prints 24, and look for a BS 1363 plug before you switch on. The DLS600Z is 18 V LXT and the title says the batteries and charger are not in the box. Put the saw on a bench that does not rock, and support long skirting both sides so the offcut does not pinch the blade. The LS0815, LS0714 and DLS600Z listings name a vertical vice. The LH1040 line names a push stick instead. If the guard does not cover the blade and return, or you suspect asbestos, stop. Set the mitre to 0°, lock it, cut a scrap, and check the end with a square. A laser is a rough line only. The buying guide is where capacity and voltage are chosen.

How the cut runs on a slider

On the LS0815FLN/1 or the LS0714N/1, the head slides. Clear the rails of grit, pull the head toward you with the blade up, start the motor and let it reach speed, lower the blade into the work, then push back through the board. Forcing the head down while it is still pushed forward is how the teeth grab the front edge. The LS0815 bullets allow about 65 mm of height and 305 mm of width at 90°. The LS0714 bullets allow about 52 × 300 mm at 90°, and that width falls to about 212 mm at 45°. If the face is outside those numbers, do not nibble past the rating and call it the same cut.
Makita Makita LS0815FLN/1

Testsieger

Makita Makita LS0815FLN/1
8.6/10about £328.45
View offer

Chop saw and flip-over

The DLS600Z does not slide. Hold the stock against the fence, clamp it, start the saw, and bring the blade down through a cut Makita UK rates at 46 × 92 mm at 90°. An electric brake is named in the bullets, so wait until the blade has stopped before you lift the offcut. If the face does not fit, move the job to a slider rather than twisting the board until the guard is out of the way. The LH1040/2 is two machines, and the changeover is in the manual. In mitre mode Makita UK lists about 69 × 130 mm at 90°. In table mode the rip depth is about 40 mm at 90°. Use the push stick, and keep hands out of the line of the 260 mm blade. A wide skirting cross-cut is not a table rip. The skirting page checks the face against each rating before you set a 45° stop.

Dust, noise, and when a professional should take over

A bag in the box catches chips at a bench. It is not local exhaust ventilation. HSE sets wood-dust limits at 5 mg/m³ for softwood and 3 mg/m³ for hardwood. At home, cut in a ventilated space, wear a mask, and hose the port if it accepts a vacuum. Wear hearing protection for a long session. Stop for structural timber, suspected asbestos, or a 110 V lead you are not sure how to transformer. The cordless or corded page explains the supply if you are still unsure which machine should be on the bench.

Common questions

Do I plug the 110 V saw into the wall?
No. The LS0815FLN/1 and the LS0714N/1 need a site transformer from UK 230 V mains. The LH1040/2 is the listing titled 240 V. Confirm a BS 1363 plug and ignore the row that says 24 V. The DLS600Z takes an 18 V LXT pack, sold separately on this ASIN.
What order should the slider cut follow?
Support the board, set and lock the mitre, clamp the stock, start the motor, and let it reach speed. Pull the head forward, lower the blade, then push back through the cut. Wait for the blade to stop before you reach for the offcut. Check a scrap with a square before you cut the finished length, especially at 45°, where the LS0714 width falls to about 212 mm.
Can the laser replace a square?
No. A laser on the LS0815FLN/1 or the DLS600Z shows a line. It does not prove the fence or the stop. The LS0714 listing in this capture does not name a laser at all. Cut scrap, check the angle, then cut the piece you will see.
How do I use the LH1040 without mixing the two modes?
Follow the manual for the flip, and only then cut. Mitre mode is for the cross-cut, within about 130 mm of width at 90°. Table mode is for the rip, within about 40 mm of depth, with the push stick in your hand. Do not rip wide skirting by standing it on the mitre fence if it is taller than the rating.
Why does my 45° cut come up short?
Because the rated width shrinks. The LS0714 bullets go from 300 mm at 90° to 212 mm at 45°. The DLS600Z goes from 92 mm to 65 mm on Makita UK. The LH1040 mitre mode goes from about 130 mm to about 85 mm. Measure the face at the angle you will cut, not only square to the board.

Related pages

Best Makita mitre saw

Makita mitre saw

Makita mitre saw buying guide: voltage and cut width

Makita cordless or corded mitre saw: the real cost

Makita mitre saw skirting: width before the 45° cut

Sources

Prices, stars and review counts are amazon.co.uk listing figures captured on 19 October 2026. Capacity conflicts are checked against Makita UK. Workplace dust and noise limits are from HSE.

  1. HSE — wood dust (retrieved 21.10.2026)
  2. HSE — noise at work (retrieved 21.10.2026)
  3. Consumer Rights Act 2015 (retrieved 21.10.2026)
  4. Makita UK (retrieved 21.10.2026)
  5. amazon.co.uk — Makita mitre saw listings (retrieved 21.10.2026)