The other handy little feature that this saw has is a dust blower. Essentially, it’s a small open port on the front of the blade cover that makes sure dust doesn’t stay on your cut line. I’m always a fan of these little elements that make the job just that little bit more convenient. And seeing as the motor is on the right, you can use a roofing square or other set square to chop a parallel crosscut in no time at all. If you’re ganging up work, it saves a noticeable amount of time. Makitas new Brushless Motors give up to twice the run time of a conventional motor with brushes and an upbeatable 22 minute charge with the DC18RC charger. To make things easier if you’re working in low light conditions, the saw comes with a pair of bright LED lights. They switch on when you’ve pressed in the safety switch and lightly touch the trigger. It’s handy that you can switch the lights on without running the saw blade, it should make lining up cuts a bit easier. Then it was on to something that not all the saw blades I have are designed for. Rip cuts along the grain of the wood are much harder, so I made use of the saw guide to see if it kept things straight.

Automatic Speed Control: Automatically changes the cutting speed according to load condition for optimum operation The 5,000 rpm speed ensures efficient and smooth cuts and the blade brake is a handy addition too. A 24 tooth TCT thin kerf blade fitted as standard reduces cutting friction to a minimum and gives maximum battery life. The CLS timber at 0° was cut incredibly clean, but what really wowed me was how it performed in the English oak. I expected good things, but this cordless saw left a finish to rival the corded Makita saw. It was superbly tidy with fine edges that you could slap some wax on, and call finished! Having a brushless motor is another key feature that increases power and performance. These sealed motors are impervious to dust, use less power and generate less heat, so all the extra energy goes into improved performance. This is a win-win for end users and also one of the reasons why the new generations of cordless tools are so much better than previous ones. The handles are as comfortable as to be expected from Makita. I’ve always liked that they print the material type on the parts. I know for a fact that the lovely grip shape and feel comes from thermoplastic elastomer, a mixture of plastic and rubber that is ideal for these sorts of parts.

Makita DHS680Z 18v 165mm BL Circular Saw Bare Unit

With deep discharge a weak spot of lithium ion, the provision of a “fuel gauge” in the form of a series of lights on the body under the main handle helps the user to monitor the best time to change batteries. When one bar is blinking at you it’s time for a charge. Dust collection via the optional vac port with a vacuum extractor is very efficient where you have access to mains power for the extractor.

To make a decent side by side comparison of all the circular saws I’ve tested out, I started with the simplest test and then worked up to something a bit more challenging. The DHS680 boasts a no load speed of 5000rpm compared to the DSS611 and DSS610 in the range that sit at 3700rpm. One thing that is completely new to me is the inclusion of the strong foldaway bent steel hook on the body. I didn’t use it at all because I am mostly based at ground level. At first I viewed the hook with some skepticism, but after I tried it in various set ups I realized that it could be useful for some trades, especially those working at height in a loft conversion for example. If it really got in the way it is possible to remove it, so no harm done. Or get a Makita model without the hook. The first task was the most common one. Cross cutting through nice and dry CLS timber. In this case it was 37 mm deep and 135 mm wide. The first cuts were straight across at 0° bevel, then the same at 45°.

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Keeping with the theme of safety, the DHS680 features an electric brake, a soft start function and an Electronic current limiter for overload protection. It is also surprisingly light. Weighing only 3.3kg, Makita have made the DHS680 compact and lightweight to allow easy transportation and ergonomic soft grips to lessen user fatigue. When conditions are dark or dimly lit this saw features a twin LED job light to keep you going safely. This product is sold as a bare/naked machine and so batteries and chargers must be brought separately.

You can also get hold of a guide rail adapter, meaning you can upgrade this to a rail saw quite easily. If you’re planning on making lots of straight cuts, a rail is an incredibly useful tool. It will transform this handheld saw into a precision cutting instrument that’s especially good at cutting big sheet materials.There are a few more plastic elements on this saw than you might expect from a Makita tool. It’s not heavy duty compared with the Makita HS7061J, but Makita have compromised on rugged durability to keep the weight right down. It’s metal where it counts though- the blade cover is aluminium, a much more durable choice than the plastic chosen by Ryobi. If I was going to buy a cordless saw for working away from the national grid or up a ladder, this would be it.

The saw actually feels a bit too light when you’re making 45° bevel cuts. Doing them freehand takes a bit more practice as it doesn’t sit quite as firmly as the heavier saws I’ve tested out. This is where having a saw guide really helps. You’re also quite limited for depth as the blade only drops down to 41 mm at 45°. One of my favourite safety features of this circular saw is also one of the simplest. It solves the age old problem: what to do with your saw when you’re up a ladder and need both hands. It’s basically a bit of bent metal called a rafter hook. All you do is fold out the rafter hook when you need somewhere to hang your saw, and you’re free to concentrate on the task at hand.Automatic Speed Control: Automatically changes the cutting speed according to load condition for optimum operation. This Makita also boasts an automatic speed function that regulates the blade speed according to load and the little blower aimed at the kerf near the built-in LED light helps clear the cut line. Another couple of nice touches. You could happily use this saw for fine or second fix work. Thanks to the light weight and accurate cutting guide, I was able to follow pencil marks without any problems at all. At first, I was disappointed that the guide was made of plastic. However, unless you’re using this saw for really heavy work or you drop it off a ladder, it should last for years.