The Makita 18V Cordless Jig Saw is a compact, battery-powered tool for woodworking projects
What We Like
- Precision-machined base keeps the device stable
- Variable speed ranges from 0 to 2600 SPM
- Cordless and requires 18V LXT Lithium-Ion batteries
- The two-finger trigger is easy to use
- Orbital control switch allows you to choose between 3 orbital levels
- Star Protection Computer Controls prevent overheating
- Lightweight and ergonomic design
- Tool-less blade change
What We Don’t Like
- Maximum speed per minute isn’t impressive
- Full kit is expensive
- Product on Amazon may be refurbished
Bottom Line
The Makita 18V Cordless Jig Saw review above shows that it is a functional tool with many useful features for woodworking.
Like every other jigsaw, it can cut through different materials and not just wood. It is light at just 6.4 pounds so you don’t need to worry about fatigue. Unlike many brands out there, the Makita 18V Cordless Jigsaw has an overheating prevention technology known as Star Protection Computer Controls.
So, the motor is never going to overheat without your knowledge. However, the price of the full kit with the battery and charger is high.
You’ll need to spend almost twice as much the cost of the bare tool. We also noticed that the product looked more like a refurbished saw than a new one.
When it comes to woodworking, cutting power tools play a key role in ensuring that each job is properly finished in record time.
However, there are different cutting tools out there and each type has a unique purpose even if all of them are channeled towards ensuring that your projects are completed successfully.
When you’re trying to make curved and complicated cuts, you will benefit significantly from using a jigsaw. Jigsaws are designed with thin blades and powerful motors. The Makita 18V Cordless Jigsaw is one of the finest in the market.
It is compact, lightweight, and easy to use. You don’t need to be a professional woodworker to buy one for your home as you’ll see in our review.
Related article: Dewalt DCS335B 20V MAX Jig Saw
Features Of The Makita 18V Cordless Jig Saw
Star Protection Computer Controls Protects Motor
Like every other cordless power tool manufactured by Makita, the Makita 18V Cordless Jig Saw is protected by Star Protection Computer Controls. This technology ensures that cordless power tools with industrial applications don’t overheat during use.
It is a system that monitors the motor during use thus ensuring that it doesn’t overheat. It enables the exchange of data between the battery and the tool. Apart from preventing overheating, it also prevents over-discharging and overloading.
These are all things that reduce the lifespan of a power tool and can make the motor useless. When any of these things happen, the device goes off automatically thanks to Star Protection Computer Controls.
You can leave it to cool, change the battery, or do anything else that is required to get it running again. Let’s not forget the potential operational hazard that overheating of a power tool can cause in your workshop.
Cordless and Requires 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Batteries
There are many cordless power tools out there but only a few are compatible with 18v LXT Lithium-Ion batteries. The 18v Lithium-Ion batteries manufactured by Makita have gained a reputation because of their special features.
For starters, you can charge the battery at any time without risking any memory effect. You can leave the tool in storage for months and even years without worrying about the battery discharging.
It will start in your first attempt and the motor isn’t going to stall. This isn’t something other regular batteries are known to do.
Apart from this, the 18v battery on the Makita Cordless Jigsaw has a shock-absorbing feature that makes the saw comfortable to use and keeps you safe in case of emergencies. These batteries come in a range of 1.5 Ah to 6.0 Ah. The higher the number, the stronger the battery.
Related reading: Makita JV0600K Jig Saw Review
Variable Speed Ranges From 0 to 2600 SPM
Another good feature on the Makita 18V Cordless Jig Saw is the variable speed feature that allows you to choose any speed from 0 to 2600 SPM. Some tools have just one speed which may not apply to every material.
So, variable speed offers more versatility. However, the Makita 18V Cordless Jig Saw falls short when it comes to speed per minute considering the fact that many other tools in its price range have as much as 3500 SPM.
The only benefit of slower-moving jigsaws is less vibration. To control the speed on the device, all you have to do is control your squeeze on the trigger. The more pressure you apply, the faster the blade will cut. When you want to reduce the speed, all you have to do is reduce the pressure.
Tool-less Blade Change, Orbital Control, and Two Finger Trigger
Changing the blade is easy. You don’t need a wrench or any other manual tool to do it. All you need to do is release the blade clamp, make the change, and twist it again to lock the new blade in place.
You can do all of that in less than 2 minutes. The Makita 18V Cordless Jig Saw comes with three orbital control settings that you can easily change at will.
While some competing tools have up to 4 orbital settings, 3 levels are still enough to get the job done. The two-finger trigger is placed in the right position on the handle allowing you to use it with one hand.
Makita 18V Cordless Jig Saw Review The Verdict
As you can see from this review, it isn’t a perfect tool but it is one of the best. All power tools come with pros and cons.
The important thing is for the pros to outweigh the cons and in this case, they do. The great features of the Makita 18V Cordless Jig Saw make the disadvantages negligible.
The only significant flaw we noticed is that the description on Amazon is for a new saw but the product that was delivered looked like a refurbished saw. Many other unsatisfied clients have complained about the same thing. It’s frustrating especially when you think about the price of the device.
