Makita 5012B 12 Electric Chain Saw (3/8 - .050)Makita owes its reputation for building outstanding quality power tools to the drive and determination for excellence that began over 85 years ago as a manufacturer of electric motors. In 1958, Makita introduced their first electric tool and today Makita is one of the world\’s largest power tool manufacturers.Makita 5012B 12 Electric Chain Saw (3/8 - .050) Features:; Reliable and durable performer ; High speed action (5,500 FPM chain speed) for fast cutting ; Durable poly carbonate housing ; Special sprocket inside the end of the chain bar for smooth chain action ; Large hand protector in front deflects flying chips ; Built-in overload protector ; UL listed and double insulatedmore info
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best of the best
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This saw is a wood cutting machine. The chain speed is over 60mph (5500fpm)! Twice the speed of the next fastest electric chainsaws on the market! (the other makita models) Most other manufacturers won’t even tell you their chain speed, because this one beats them so bad. I bought it to carve wood with, and find that it actually cuts hard wood faster then soft wood - the harder the better (it can bog down in soft wood)!
The first one I bought off of Amazon came to me with shipping damage, but when I notified them, I had another one in 2 days, no additional charge, and they even paid the shipping to return the damaged one! EXCELLENT SERVICE! This unit cuts wood far better than most of the gas powered chainsaws I have tried.
There are only 2 things that could be considered downside: the anti-kick back guard on the nose of the bar is a pain…I’m a big boy now, and know how to use a chainsaw, so I ordered a replacement bar without this guard. The other thing is, with that tremendous chain speed, the wood chips come off the bar at 60mph, too, so be prepared to have this sawdust fly everywhere! I completed my first carving with this unit in record time, and then when I looked around, found myself and the entire inside of my garage covered in sawdust and wood chips! This tool is excellent!
Great saw
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The Makita #5012B electric chainsaw is quality and power put together for it’s size. The high speed chain and 11.5 amp motor make it the equivalent of a gas powered saw for me. And no rope to pull, just press the trigger - it starts every time!
…..Ted
MAKITA CHAINSAW
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
RECEIVED AS ADVERTISED
Makita Electric Chainsaw
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Very well made saw which exceeded my expectations. Quite useful in situations where a gas chainsaw is not desired. The Makita can cut through hardwoods up to 6 inches in diameter with almost the same speed as a gas saw. For an older person like me, not having to wrestle with a gas saw to get it started is a great advantage.
Powerful little sucker
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
While not for use by anyone who does a lot of tree trimming, this little sucker does what it says it does. I like it a lot. Small and easy to handle. But, if you’ve got anything over about 8 inches in diameter to cut, you should get something larger… maybe gas powered.
Great Product
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The Makita 12-inch electric chain saw is an excellent product. I have always used a gas-powered chain and only bought this because I got tired of the constant maintenance needed for a gas chain saw. A couple of trips to the repair shop with a gas chain saw cost more than the purchase price of the Makita. To my surprise, I like the Makita more than my gas chain saw, which new, today, would cost at least twice as much. The Makita starts easily, of course and cuts just as fast for medium sized wood (and faster for small stuff). Compared to a gas saw, the chain seems to move faster with lower torque. Lower torque makes the Makita safer to use than my gas chain saw. When the trigger is released, the chain stops moving more quickly than with a gas-powered saw, which is a nice safety feature. I was disappointed to see a manual chain oiler but, having used it quite a bit, I prefer it to an automatic oiler - it uses much less oil and is less messy. The Makita seems to be rugged and well designed and expect maintenance costs to be minimal. However, for any logs larger than about 12 inches, I have to use the gas-powered chain saw, which has a longer blade. Otherwise, the Makita is preferable in all respects.
Perfect Garden Companion
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Let’s face it, most of us should hire out the super heavy chainsaw work. I’m thrilled with this little eager beaver. After an hour or so I’m very grateful that I didn’t get anything heavier. The only disappointment was that I thought it was the one that oiled itself but pushing the button for oil is not a big deal. Great Buy!
Chain Saw for the Wife
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I love the makita 12″ electric. First, typical of makita it’s pretty well made. Now it’s not going to compete with a Stihl or such. But I did own a McCulloch electric which was a piece of junk. It has a very high chain speed that makes quick work of small branches. We typically use if for limbs 6 in. or less. It’s a light duty saw but for what it’s intended for it’s more than adequate. But, best of all….., My wife can use the saw. She normally pesters me when she does prunning to cut the big branches. Now she has a little kit with glasses, cord, oil and her saw.
Did I mention, I Love this saw.
A very fast saw
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This is a very fast saw. I got the idea to purchase it from a Tiki Magazine article in which a featured carver used this saw.
Makita tech support was helpful when I needed to swap out the chain sprocket for a different size.
The saw cuts smooth and as mentioned the chain moves at quite a clip.
Things I don’t like:
1) A lack of documentation. I had to call tech support to get instructions on changing the sprocket. They should at least have some detailed instructions online.
2) The saw comes with an anti-kickback device which is a chain shield rivoted to the end of the chain bar that covers the end. With this on the bar you can’t get the tip of the saw into the wood. Great for cutting logs… rotten for carving. Most of the photos of this saw do not show this “feature.” I replaced the bar with a carving bar from Bailey’s. This meant I had to change the chain and the sprocket.
The saw is a good performer and has great word of mouth but don’t expect to use it for carving straight out of the box.
Perfect Little Saw
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have owned several of these saws for business, no other small saw perfoms so well. Quick, efficient cutting capability…moving at 5,500 feet per minute it is simply the fastest electric chainsaw on the market. Lightweight, easy to reach oiler…quiet (well, in comparison to my big saws!)
A great choice for the home or business.
A terrific product! Thanks, Makita.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This saw is quite impressive. A lot of power, lightweight (but well-built), very easy to handle and operate, and quite efficient and fast. Tree branches, tree trunks & stumps, railroad ties and the treated lumber that would require more than one cut with a circular saw, . . . it does it all. It’s loud, for an electric unit, and because it’s so fast you’re covered with chips when you’re finished, but it is an amazing unit. You’ll have to look long and hard to get anything that works as well and is as durable and dependable for this price.
Makita electric Chain Saw
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I use to have a gas powered chain saw. But the infrequent activity means that priming and gas fouling in the plug make it a real hassle, especially when I just need to cut a handful of branches. The time it took to start the gas chain saw is 5 times the time it took to cut the wood. So I got this Makita electric saw. For the occasional branch cutting, this saw is great. There is enough torque and the high RPM makes cutting wood up to 8″ pretty easy. This is so much lower maintenance than the gas chain saw.
First Timer
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
My first chain saw!
I am 5′2″ and 110lbs.
This saw is light enough for me to put to use,
I am amazed how fast I can get finished with
readiness for the winter.
Nicely built
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
My very first chain saw, nicely built, and has paid for itself already; I like quality well built equipment.
makita electric saw
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Plenty of power. I use for ice carving rarely slows due to hardness of ice Did not know it came with a tip protector and had to change out the bar before use otherwise a great saw at a real bargain price
Super
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is an amazing tool. It is easy to use, lightweight, easy to store, and the instructions are easy to follow. I’ve trimmed Ponderosa Pines, Aspen Trees, and tough old bushes with ease. I would recommend this tool to anyone.
Extremely Pleased
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this masterpiece a few weeks ago and i love it! Its a dream come true! Its cuts through the thickest materials really fast and is unbelievably smooth! I wouldnt recommend anything else.
This truly us one of the best saws that i have ever come across.
Great Saw!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is my 4th or 5th chainsaw, and my third electric one. I use it to trim/cut back about 50 eucalyptus trees on my property in the San Diego area. The saw seems very well made - a lot more metal components than any previous saw. I also like the sprocket at the tip of the bar that rotates with the chain to reduce friction. None of my previous saws had that feature - just a groove at the tip. I also like its small size as it is easy to maneuver through the brush. I don’t have any large trees, anymore, so the 12″ bar size is no limitation for me.
I do have one complaint. That kickback prevention cover over the tip of the bar does get in the way of making some close-quarter cuts, when there is not a lot of room to position the saw to get the cut started. I remember reading one reviewer who purchased a replacement bar without the guard. It is not that annoying to me…yet. I may look at how I could remove it, myself.
Smooth, fast and relatively quiet,,,as I said, a great saw!
CW
A terrific chain saw
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
After owning our home for twenty years, our once-tiny trees and shrubs kinda got out of hand. I’ve used some great pruners and pruning saws through the years, but the size of a many of our trees and shrubs got to the point that doing all cutting by hand became a miserable chore.
So, I shopped for a chain saw. Considering my experiences and struggles with small gas engines, I decided to go electric, especially since a 100′ extension cord can reach every nook and cranny of our lot. I’ve been fine with an electric string trimmer and an electric hedge trimmer, though the problem of dragging a cord around is a pain.
I bought this Makita to reduce a weeping cherry tree that had quit weeping and gone vertical, and I was astounded at how quickly the saw cut branches. Within 15 minutes the surrounding yard was a mass of fallen limbs. I was further astounded by how quickly I could cut the limbs into firewood lengths while they lay on the grass. It took less than two hours to go from a 20′ tree to a stack of firewood and a pile of small branches for mulching.
Two things I learned: 1) the cord remains a pain. Before I knew it, my cord was buried under fallen limbs, and it kept getting in the way as I worked. That’s the trade off with a cord, but I prefer that to a tiny gas engine which can be hard to start and care for, and 2) the chain needs frequent oil applications, and I learned to press the plunger a few times whenever I’d made a few cuts and was ready to set the saw down.
Other than that, this saw is a screaming little monster of a saw, with power to slice thick limbs (and arms) in a flash.
WEAR EYE AND EAR PROTECTION! In my advancing years I’ve learned that good ear protection makes a noisy job more pleasant while protecting my hearing. I’ve been using a Peltor H10A for years, even for lawn mowing. The muffs are adjustable and comfortable. I’m sure there are many other good ones out there. And your eyes - you have to have something to protect them. Several times over the years a piece of this or that has pinged off my lenses while I’ve worked, and I’ve been glad my eyes weren’t the first contact.