Makita Subcompact Circular Saw with Diablo Blades

*This post is sponsored by The Home Depot.

Say hello to a compact cutting solution weighing in at about 7 pounds with the power and performance of a regular size circular saw. This Makita 18V subcompact circular saw may be small but extremely capable when paired with a lithium-ion high capacity battery and Diablo blade. Let’s see what it can do!

A tool review of the Makita 18V subcompact 6 1/2″ circular saw with lithium high capacity battery and Diablo circular saw blades for cutting wood and metal.

Up above I paired the Makita circular saw with the Diablo 60 tooth ultra finish saw blade to rip down this plywood scrap and check out that smooth, clean cut! That’s a chip free cut that won’t require much sanding at all. This blade is the quality that fine cabinetmakers expect with the capability to handle the extreme conditions of professional construction.

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Back to the saw because it’s a workhorse engineered for cutting and ripping applications. It is ideal for anyone looking for a more compact cutting solution for framing, roofing, formwork and more.

The compact size combined with the brushless motor delivers up to 5,000 RPM and a superior power-to-weight ratio. Looking at the photo below, the battery on the right side is almost bigger than the compact motor. I’m using an 18V 4.0Ah compact lithium-ion battery here which should last at least 350 cross cuts (if not more) in 2×4 lumber on a single charge. This battery reaches a full charge in 40 minutes or less and delivers consistent power and run time in extreme temperatures.

This Makita subcompact circular saw has all the bells and whistles:

soft rubberized grip handle
compact ergonomic right blade design (a little awkward for us left handed folks but I manage)
automatic speed change technology (adjusts cutting speed and torque under load for optimum cutting performance)
dual LED lights illuminate work surface
3-stage on-board LED gauge indicates battery charge level

Makita includes a 55 tooth ultra thin carbide saw blade with this cordless circular saw however I must say I’m quite partial to the Diablo blades and always switch out the included blade once it’s dull.

Diablo makes a full line of circular saw blades for all types of cutting applications. Today let’s focus on three good basics for the circular saw. You saw the 6 1/2″ ultra finish above but I recently used the 7 1/4″ while crosscutting a wide pine board, look at that cut edge:

So sharp and zero chip out. This Diablo blade makes a super thin laser cut kerf for fast, durable, and clean cuts. It’s also equipped with perma-shield non-stick coating to protect from heat, gumming and corrosion.

For something with a little less precision and more demo minded try the Diablo 24 tooth demo demon. This saw blade produces accurate, smooth cuts on framing materials without bogging down your power tool. The ultra-slim kerf provides fast, clean cuts with minimal material removal, ideal for underpowered saws on a job site where demo is the focus.

Looking to cut metal? The 48 tooth steel demon ferrous metal cutting blade made quick work of this angle bar. To see it in action check my Instagram stories here.

This Diablo blade was designed to withstand the impact of cutting through metal to give you a long-lasting solution. It has a triple chip cutting grind to maximize speed and durability and cuts mild steel up to 1/4 in. thick.

There you have the basics on the Makita 18V subcompact circular saw and a few Diablo blades including:

Select the correct blade for your purpose and your project will go that much smoother.

*I acknowledge that The Home Depot is partnering with me to participate in the promotional program THD Prospective. As a part of this program I am receiving compensation in the form of products and services for the purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All expressed opinions and experiences are my own words. My post complies with the Word Of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics Code and applicable Trade Commission guidelines.