This is a detailed review of the Makita LS1219
I am a professional custom woodworker who creates handcrafted furniture. There are many things to love about the 12" Makita Slide Compound Miter Saw that I have used for 4-5 years. Features such as the vertical vise, laser, and sub-bases are great additions and are more appreciated than I would've originally anticipated. The blade that this comes with is very reliable and can easily cut many softwoods and some hardwoods. The locking systems, mortar, base, and subbase are very reliable in that they won't fail in use. This saw is great for framers and contractors who cut posts and wide lumbers.
Shortcomings
The biggest fault with this saw in my opinion is that it can be difficult to get square cuts in both bevel-angle and base-angle. The margin of error is only a millimeter or two. For framers, this is so minute that it is inconsequential. However, for someone who makes furniture and finished products, this creates more work than I would like. Even when I get the angle as close to 90° as I can, the bevel shifts slightly after just a few cuts. I will say, that when the base is set correctly I don't notice any shifting, but I can't rely on quick stops on the turn base, instead, I use a square to set my angles. Another attribute of this saw that could be improved is the dust collection system, even with a vacuum connected (Ridged FEIN 92037060990 Turbo) most of the dust ends up scattered throughout my workshop.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I do like this saw despite its flaws, and I still use it when I need to make big cuts. It is worth the money I spent however, if I were to purchase another 12" Miter saw I would choose Festool because I am a finish woodworker and trust the accuracy of Festool products over Makita. For most carpenters and framers the Makita 12" LS1219 Miter saw is universally and great option.