Due to numerous queries as to where to find the Makita 13" saw I decided to do some investigation into what has apparently become the timberframe tool unicorn. I was told it has not been offered (legitimately) since 84. It is however, still made

Working my way up the food chain at Makita I was able to speak with the gentleman in charge of that product line who said he would not be opposed to campaigning to bring it back if he could find a market for it.
And so this post....
If this is something you are interested in please post a reply and explain why you would like to see this saw available. If you have or have owned one of these saws please post what you like about it.

Our man at Makita will be checking in

Next...the hollow chisel mortiser!!!

Hi John,

is this saw similar to the, I believe, 12" saw still being sold? If so why do you like it?

Having used different brand models the Makita did not quite cut it for me. The base is to small and flimsy. The saw is not very well balanced and it did not feel right holding it. Does not run very smooth either. Height and angle adjustments are awkward.
So the only plus is the price. Sorry I am not being very helpful here. But maybe the saw you are looking for is indeed better then the one presently on the market.

I own a 13 inch Makita saw.

I like the size, but the Makita saws that are sold in the UK are far better and I believe would be popular among North American Timber Framers.

Specifically the 5103R which cuts a 4x4 and the 5143R which cuts over 5 inches.

I would much rather see those offered here rather than the lesser quality 10 inch and 16 inch saws they offer now.

The 16 inch is a good saw, but the baseplate leaves much to be desired.

-Collin

When I was looking into buying a saw a some time ago my favorite was and still is the MAfell. But I was not willing to spend that much money. So the other choices where Makita and a worm drive Bosch with BIGFOOT attachment. I opted for the slightly pricier Bosch (15amp and $50 more than the Makita) because it does have a heavier and wider base than the Makita cuts a full 6x6 and has a 75 degree tilting range. Handling and balance is good. Only thing I do not like about it are the cam locks. I always brake my fingers on those to get them loose. But it is a good compromise for the money.

I would buy a Makita 13" tomorrow if I could find one. I beleive that it is the best saw for drop cutting tenons. I use the 10 1/4" saw for 90 % of the time, it would be nice to have a little deeper cut. I would also be interested in the Makita saws that are sold in the UK.
I find that the narow base is less affected by rough or irregular surfaces than a wide/ less flexable base. Tom

John, work on getting back the MAKITA , 1001N - CURVED RABBETING PLANER. I would buy one of those also. Tom

Yes, there is no doubt that the 13 inch saw would sell well to timber framers.

The chisel mortiser and housing router would also do quite well.
-Collin

Tom,

I have yet to come across a saw with a base that minds rough surfaces. Any saw I have ever worked with was sliding just fine no matter what size base it had. The blades are making the difference.
As for the irregular surfaces. The beam would have to be extremly uneven ( curved, stepped up or down) for the small base to be of advantage.
I find the wider the base the more stable the saw therefore the more accurate the cut. With a small base one is more likely to tilt the saw slightly during the cut thus ending up with an out of square cut. Just my opinion.

I don't own one.
I'd buy two today and then kick myself 6 months from now when they were no longer available and wish I'd bought 6.
The reasons for the popularity of this saw are its size and its motor.
The size is probably the perfect size of larger saw, just large enough for 5" depth of cut, but much lighter and much easier to handle than the 16" Mak.
The motor is 15 amps, and it is strong. It is the only saw from Makita's late 1970-1980s product line to come with the 15 amp motor. Even my 16" has a 12 amp (I need to get a new one of those, too).
Amongst the framers I know, this saw has replaced the Super Square on the most sought after piece of kit...
The only direct competition is the Big Boy, which is nowhere near as good of a saw, and the mafell 14", which is pricey, but a very nice saw, although it didn't seem to me to be as maneuverable as the 13" makita. Oh yeah, and the Protool 13", which is similar to the mafell in price/maneuverability.
It will be interesting to see how this develops.
Cheers,
Whit

@ Whit Holder,

if I am trying to do overhead cuts and other not so save maneuvers than the weight and size of the Makita is certainly a good feature for a saw that size.
For the most part the beams are cut on horses at a comfortable height. So the "heavy weight" MAfell or Holzher( only offered in Germany) are not that awkward to handle especially since they are very well balanced. Not so the Makita partially because it so/ too slim. A circular saw is mostly used to make straight cuts wether they are at a 90 degree angle or any other angle within the tilting range of a saw. For tenons I would use a handheld bandsaw or a smaller circular anyway.
Then there is the fact that the Makitas might be less expensive but seem not to like heavy use. We have burned up a lot of them where I used to worked in Germany. Just where not made for the task. The Holzher on the other hand(similar to the Mafell) would not give up. My experience with Makita tools is that they don't feel right in your hands, do not run smooth, have a lot of torque but unfortunately do not last very long. You get what you pay for.
Which should not stop anyone from buying them since apparently they seem to be very popular. My impression, reading the posts here and in other Forums, is that besides the fact that there are not a lot of tools to choose from in this category the Makita seems to be the best bang for the buck but if Mafell for example had tools in the same price range everybody would be buying Mafell.