Makita XC03 36v chainsaw lxt review
Makita has been a leader in the OPE segment for awhile, and when you need to cut down bigger trees you may reach for a gas saw, but not anymore. We bought this in a kit with 4x 5ah batteries and a dual charger for right around $450. Not only did we put it to the test, we have used it often for a over a year now, lets jump into the review!
Quick Specs
No gas, emissions, oil mixing or pull starts with reduced maintenance and low noise levels
Makita-built Outer Rotor BL™ Brushless Motor direct-drive system delivers power of a 32cc gas chain saw
Two 18V LXT® Lithium-Ion batteries deliver power and performance without leaving the 18V LXT® platform
Up to 380 cuts in 4 x 4 cedar with four 18V LXT® 5.0Ah batteries
"Tool-less" chain adjustment for convenient operation and maintenance
Variable speed trigger and high chain speed (0-3,940 FPM) for improved cutting performance
Adjustable automatic chain lubrication with large oil reservoir
Large oil filling port with view window allows operator to easily add and check bar oil level
Built-in L.E.D. on/off switch with auto power-off function; automatically shuts the saw off when operation is delayed for extended battery life
Rubberized soft grip top handle is engineered for the user to more easily apply even cutting pressure
Features Extreme Protection Technology (XPT™) which is engineered to provide increased dust and water resistance in harsh job site conditions
Equipped with Star Protection Computer Controls™ to protect against overloading, over-discharging and over-heating
3-year limited warranty on tool, battery and charger
Battery levels are easy to read and the tool with even flash the battery lights if the batteries or tool gets to hot.
Overall this is our go to saw for any medium-heavy cutting we need to. We really wish the chain tensioner was better, but the saw is amazing in every other way, we love this saw and highly recommend it.
You may never want to go back to a gas ever again, chain speed and power are excellent for nearly any size tree you will encounter. We cut limbs over 14 inches in diameter and the saw didn’t skip a beat. Ensuring you have enough batteries is key, if you want to run this saw full out, have at least 8x 5ah batteries and 3x dual chargers to keep it working non-stop. Don’t ask us how we know that.
The only thing the team at Ultimate Tool Reviews agreed was the weakest part of this saw was the tiny chain tensioner, if it where larger like the Dewalt saws or at least had screw we tighten with a tool it would be perfect. We had sore fingers after adjusting this saw.
