Dremel US40-04 vs. Makita SH02R1

We’ll take a look at these two circular saws: the Dremel US40-04 and the Makita SH02R1.

Features & Benefits

You can read more in our roundup of the best compact circular saws.

Power & Motor

The US40-04 is corded, runs on 120 V, and draws 7.5 amps. Standard U.S. residential circuits are 120 V, 15 A, which will support the.

The SH02R1 is cordless and requires 12 V batteries.

The US40-04 motor produces 13000 rpm and the SH02R1 motor produces 1500 rpm. Don’t pay too much attention to these numbers, because the manufacturers measure them under no-load conditions, and they don’t have a useful impact on the saw’s real-world ability to handle different material.

Both saws have a direct-drive motor. Direct-drive motors are usually lighter than other styles, but their side mounting makes the saw a little harder to control.

Blades & Capacity

The US40-04 accepts 4” diameter saw blades. The SH02R1 takes 3 3/8” diameter blades and has a 15 mm (0.591”) arbor.

The US40-04 can bevel up to 0° and can cut up to 3/4” deep at a 90° angle. The SH02R1 can bevel the blade up to 45°, can cut up to 1” at a 90° angle, and can cut up to 5/8” deep at a 45° angle.

When beveling the saw, most circular saws will have positive stops at common angles such as 45° and 90°. This ensures you are making precise cuts. Some saws have additional stops at other angles.

The Dremel has the blade mounted on the left side of the unit. The Makita has the blade mounted on the right side of the unit. Right-handers sometimes find it easier to see and control blades mounted to the left, while left-handers might find the same true for right-mounted blades.

Pros & Cons

Let’s take a look at some of the pluses and minuses of these products.

For the US40-04:

For the Makita:

Comparison Chart

Below is a full side-by-side look at these products’ specs. You can view comparisons of the Dremel US40-04 with other products

	Dremel US40-04	Makita SH02R1
Brand	Dremel	Makita
Power Type	corded	cordless
Power - Voltage	120 V	12 V
Power - Amps	7.5 A	n/a
No-load RPM	13000 rpm	1500 rpm
Blade Diameter	4”	3 3/8”
Maximum Bevel	0°	45°
Depth of Cut (at 90°)	3/4”	1”
Depth of Cut (at 45°)	n/a	5/8”
Arbor Size	n/a	15 mm (0.591”)
Dimensions	13” L × 5” H
Weight	4.6 lbs	3.5 lbs
Blade - Side	left	right
Drive Mechanism	direct-drive	direct-drive
Stops	n/a
Warranty	2 years	3 years
Pros	Optional auxiliary handle for extra control Includes multiple blades for wood, metal, PVC, etc. Can make flush cuts with appropriate blade	Lightweight and easy to handle Good battery life
Cons	Can overheat when cutting thick material	Non-standard blade/arbor size can mean limited selection of blades
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