Makita 5402NA 16-5/16-inch Circular Saw Review

Construction / Powerful Performance

The 15-amp motor on the Makita 5402NA delivers 2,200 RPM. This is more than enough for a circular saw that weighs less than 30 pounds! The dimensions of the circular saw are also quite impressive considering its strappy performance.

The saw measures 30.9 x 13.8 x 21.3 inches. By this number, the Makita 5402NA has a thin profile. And it looks sleek and very portable to use.

You can easily slice through thick wood and large dimensional material. Granted it’s used by someone who knows what they are doing. The 15-amp motor also produces a good kickback so it carefully coordinates the task without overloading or losing accuracy.

Sound Quality / Ease of Use

The low noise level indicator, blade stabilizer, and electric brake complement each other to keep the circular saw quiet yet powerful. What they also do is encourage smoother operation for tricky jobs.

Now let’s get this cleared up before any misunderstanding! Quiet operation does not mean complete silence. That is never the case with a power tool like a circular saw. You can never have or use – no matter how expensive the circular saw is – a silent machine.

What you can get, however, and what the Makita 5402NA offers, is low-noise performance. It is relatively quieter than your average, chunky circular saw.

According to the manufacturer, this one produces 87dB which is still noisy but not as loud as some of the other circular saws on the market. So it’s definitely a plus!

Ergonomics / User-friendliness

The ergonomic features of the Makita are really worth considering. It contributes to the smoothness and stability of the machine. Starting with the seamless blade-changing features.

The Makita has a proper guard in place and a blade lock that works perfectly. It’s a total beginner-friendly locking mechanism that grants only seconds of extra effort.

And speaking of blades, the blade quality is also quite impressive. It’s sharp and stays sharp so there’s no immediate or frequent need of re-sharpening. In fact, I heard somewhere that these blades are “indestructible.”

Moving on, adjustability is also a special skill. And the Makita does make that easier for you – whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user. It reaches cutting depths of 6-1/4-inches at 90 degrees and 4-3/16-inches at 45 degrees.

It also allows easy slicing through wood as thick as 4×4 at 45 degrees with a 6-by-lumber at 90-degrees. All this, seamlessly and precisely, in a single pass.

Safety / Reliability

Here is where the Makita 5402NA wears off a bit. But it’s still quite remarkable considering its lightweight design and powerful motor.

Starting with the blade stabilizer which is pretty much similar to all the other stabilizers of Makita. It does the job accurately and works well. On top of the stabilizer, this machine has an electric brake that keeps things in check as soon as you turn the circular saw off.

The blade lock is another feature for easy blade changing. You won’t need additional tools to switch blades on the job.

What’s lacking, however, is the proper positioning of the safety button. It’s a bit tricky or awkward to use which will compel you to re-adjust your grip. It’s not easy to do with one hand. So it does shed a few seconds more off of your time.