Makita DSS610 Cordless Circular Saw Review and Features

In this post, we reveiw the Makita DSS610 Cordless Circular Saw and its features.

The Makita DSS610 is a powerful, compact, lightweight tool for both DIYers and industry professionals. Featuring a 165 mm blade, bevel capacity of up to 50º and an application range that includes hardwood, plywood, MDF, and melamine.

Notable Features

• Blade-left design
• Electronic brake
• 45º hard stop
• LED work light
• Dust-blowing port
• Built-in dust collection
• Low vibration design

Blade Left

The DSS610 is a "blade left" circular saw. Meaning, the blade is positioned on the left-hand side of the motor. This makes the cutting line easier to see for right-handed users without leaning over the tool while operating.

The drawback of a blade-left design is that if you're operating the tool with your right hand while holding the material with your left, the tool's base plate has less contact area with the material and, therefore, less support.

That said, the subject of blade-left versus blade-right is a matter of personal preference, but it would be wise to know which layout you prefer before purchasing.

Electronic Brake

The electronic brake instantly stops the blade when the trigger is depressed, significantly improving the saw's safety. It also saves time as you don't have to wait for the blade to stop spinning before putting the tool down.

45-Degree Hard Stop

Although the DSS610 can cut mitre angles up to 50º, it also features a "hard-stop function", making it easier and faster to accurately select 45º. At the turn of a knob, the base plate's swivel range is limited to 45º. Turning the knob back again allows the full 50º range.

Work Light

A powerful LED work light illuminates the cutting area, allowing users to accurately track their cutting line in dimly-lit conditions.

Blowing Function

The DSS610 sports a dust-blowing function, redirecting air used to cool the motor through a curved port that exits in front of the tool. This feature allows even large amounts of dust to be blown away from the cutting line, so your mark is always visible.

Dust Collection

In addition to blowing dust, the Makita DSS610 uniformly expels cuttings via an exit port at the guard's rear. A vacuum attachment that effectively extracts most dust particles when used with a vacuum cleaner or dust extractor also comes fitted.

Low Vibration

The well-balanced design and exceptionally low vibration levels reduce user fatigue. Moreover, at just 3.3 kg, it's easy to operate for extended periods.

Makita DSS610 Versus DHS680

The DSS610 may be Makita's entry-level cordless circular saw, but with a cutting depth of 57 mm at 0º and 40 mm at 45º, the tool's performance will surprise you.

However, if you're worried about how much cutting performance an 18V cordless circular saw delivers, a significant upgrade is available in the form of the DHS680.

This saw also features a 165 mm blade, but in the DHS680's case, the tool boasts a brushless motor with improved cutting performance, longer run time, variable speed control, soft start and two rip-fence slots that can be used to attach Makita's optional guide-rail adapter.

If you need to make deeper cuts in the form of a 190 mm blade, the Makita 36V DHS710 may be the cordless circular saw for you.

But for most applications, the DSS610 delivers incredible performance for such a compact tool, making it perfectly suited for DIYers, hobbyists and industry professionals.

Buyers seeking additional versatility in the form of a track-saw adaptor and deep ripping cuts would be better suited to the DHS680.

Click here for an up-to-date price and more information. Alternatively, browse our full cordless circular-saw collection here, or visit our world-class tool store at 93 Victoria Road, Plumstead, Cape Town.