I would buy one and one of the carpenters who works with me would as well.

The 13" Makita is a great tool. I have used them and find them to be pretty much the perfect size for North American style timber framing. I have used the Bigboy, Protool, and various mafells. I like the Makita.

I would certainly be interested in the newer style saws sold in the UK that Colin mentioned, as I have used them on several occasions over there. I like the soft start, the weight, and the lower guard mechanism.

Either model (old or new) would be popular with American timber framers.

Gabel

E.H. posted, With the small/flexable base one is able to tilt the saw slightly to keep the cut square even if the surface is slightly out of square.(ex. hewn timber) This is refered to as putting a little english on it. The base is only a depth stop. It's not the saw that has to mind rough surfaces it's the sawer. Tom

John, How many saws would we have to buy to get Makita to market them in the US again ?

I'd buy one.

We'd get one, also. We've been looking for a good saw that's smaller than the 16" Mak. 13" would be great. The 10" bigfoot was a disappointment (the difficult angle setting, which was mentioned, and also, the blade guard sticks), as was the 10" Milwaukee (hard to keep square). Would love to try the 13" Makita. We're generally impressed with their stuff. CB.

John,
Count me in as a customer for that 13" saw. Scott

Tom

I don't have a number and while a large response is good so is explaining what it is that we like about this tool and thereby give Makita some rational for bringing the saw back and marketing it to us and anyone else they can sell it to.
I just see no reason to be passive about this. They want to sell tools and we want to buy them.

I think that Whit summed up the tools virtues very nicely.

Anyone else have comments along those lines?

And yeah..more is better...vote early and vote often

I like:

5" depth of cut
weight
power
visibility of the blade
robust construction

If they were priced in between the 10" and the 16", I would buy 3.

Gabel

We sure are glad to see that someone else is interested in the Makita 13" saw. As Goldilocks said "This one is JUST right." Our joiners would give up several of their 10" saws for just one more Makita 13". We have three in the shop (one ten years old). If we had to chose one saw for the shop, this would be it! Just point us in the right direction. Bonnie and David, Goshen Timber Frames.

13" Makita, I will take two please. I would also be interested in a Chisel Mortiser and the housed router. Makita needs to to loosen up a little and sell us the good stuff. They already have two or three generations better chain mortisers than they sell us. I would also be interested in the UK saws that Colin spoke of. Mafell and Protool are expensive for stuff that brakes easily. Makita makes a good durable saw. HEY MAKITA GUY SELL US THE SAW or we will stop selling you all that premium Northwest Timber!