Makita is a quality power tool brand that’s been trusted for years. Their circular saws are worth mentioning largely in part to their power and portability. If you’re interested, I wrote a handy and helpful review below of four of their top circular saws: the Makita 5007F, 5007MG, 5007MGA, and 5007NK.
To help you decide which of them is best for you, check out the similarities and differences comparison I mentioned below. After all, although they are from the same brand and model line, there are still key differences between them.
A Quick Look at the Makita 5007 Circular Saws
All four of these circular saws fall under the 7-1/4-inch category, are corded, and are ideal for common job-site tasks.
Before we dive into their common features and differing ones – and their resulting advantages and disadvantages – let’s start with a brief review of each.
Makita 5007F Circular Saw
This circular saw has 15 amps of power and a speed of 5,800 RPM. As for the cutting capacity, at 90 degrees it can go as far as 2-3/8 inches (and 1-3/4 inches at 45 degrees). Like most circular saws that are for the job site, it has a dust blower for keeping a clean work space and making accurate cuts. As for the base or shoe, it uses heavy gauge aluminum that has sufficient durability to maintain stability.
For added convenience, it has two LED lights that illuminate your material so that you’ll make fewer mistakes in the long run. Due to the lower guard design, bevel cutting becomes simple. For easy blade changes, it has flat motor housing which doesn’t get in the way.
Most of this circular saw’s applications include framing, flooring, engineered lumber, plywood, and more. The unit has a total length of 12 inches, which makes it easy to store in your toolbox compared to bigger units.
I also reviewed the 5007F in detail here.
Makita 5007MG Magnesium Circular Saw
At 10.6 pounds in weight, this model sports a similar speed of 5,800 RPM with its 15-amp motor. It has a much bigger cutting capacity of 2-1/2 inches at 90 degrees and it has a bevel capacity of 56 degrees, which is much wider than with most circular saws of its class in the market. Aside from the bevel capacity, it has positive stops at 22.5, 45, and 56 degrees for quick adjustments.
Like the previous unit, this one also has two LED lights that help with accuracy when you work on your material. Due to the oversized numbers, reading the measurements from a distance puts you at ease, especially when you’re wearing protective goggles. This one has a magnesium shoe, rather than aluminum like the model mentioned above, so it has greater stability.
A plus point for this tool is the blade wrench, which is attached to the saw so blade changes are a breeze. The job site-ready circular saw works well on particleboard, plywood, ripping panels, engineered lumber, and the like. It is backed by a 1-year warranty.
Before proceeding, you might also want to read my full review of the 5007MG.
Makita 5007MGA Magnesium Circular Saw
If you prefer a unit that has an electric brake, this is a pick for you, especially if you plan to use your circular saw for repetitive cutting jobs. The motor has 15 amps with 5,800 RPM, with a weight of 10.6 pounds. It has a similar large cutting capacity of 2-1/2 inches at 90 degrees, making it ideal for finishing big projects faster.
The circular saw has positive stops at 22.5 and 45 degrees, while 56 degrees is its bevel capacity. Due to the large rubberized handles, you can conveniently adjust the circular saw with just one hand. Because its shoe is made of magnesium, it is built for tougher jobs with better durability compared to typical aluminum. As with most of my picks here, it also has large markings for the bevel and depth guides to help you out.
The unique construction of the blade, which bears an M-shaped tooth design with two 10-degree bevel faces, allows the circular saw to cut faster without sacrificing accuracy. There’s also a blade wrench for quick and easy blade changes.
Among the materials you can cut with this circular saw include LVL, PSL, plywood, OSB, particleboard, engineered lumber, dimensional lumber, and more. It has a 5/8-inch arbor size, a tool length of 12-1/2 inches, and a weight of 10.1 pounds. It is also backed by a 1-year warranty to put you at ease.
For more information, read my detailed review of the 5007MGA.
Makita 5007NK Circular Saw
Yet another unit with a 2-1/2-inch cutting capacity at 90 degrees, this one has a 5/8-inch arbor size and a bevel cutting capacity of 56 degrees. It also has quick setting positive stops at 22.5, 45, and 56 degrees. Powered by its 15-amp motor, with a no-load speed of 5,800 RPM.
The lower guard design will help with narrow and bevel cuts while the carbide tips can withstand nail-embedded wood and similar situations. The shaft lock’s convenient placement makes changing blades easy. Also, the dust blower in the unit allows you to quickly clear up debris within your work area to avoid loss of accuracy (and the sneezes).
To improve its durability, this tool has large ball bearings and gears. Although it only has an aluminum shoe, it is still of heavy-gauge material to keep it balanced and stable. The bevel and depth marking scales also feature large markings for easy identification.
Makita 5007F vs. 5007MG vs. 5007MGA vs. 5007NK: Similarities
As all of these circular saws from Makita fall into the same 5007 series or lineup, they are bound to have many similarities, such as the following:
No-Load Speed
All four units have a no-load speed of 5,800 RPM, which is considered a good value in terms of job site standards. The speed of a circular saw is usually tied to how big its blade is and the amperage of its motor.
Knowing the speed of your circular saw is important because it will affect your working speed. Higher units can go for up to 6,000 RPM while the lower range is about 5,200 RPM, so these Makita saws are at a decent level.
Corded Unit
All of these Makita circular saws are corded so you can use them for hours without having to worry about battery life. This feature is important for job site tasks because running low on battery will get in the way of your work quality. Also, a corded unit will work best when you are dealing with large plywood, framing walls, and the like.
Motor Amperage
These Makita circular saws all have a 15-amp motor. Having a powerful motor is crucial when working at a job site. A strong motor goes hand in hand with being a corded unit so it is no surprise that these circular saws bring the power.
Large Markings
All these Makita circular saws have large markings on the bevel and depth values, which are convenient for the operator. You’ll be able to see the values even if you are wearing your protective eyewear or if your vision isn’t as strong as it once was (or let’s say, grandpa will use the circular saw).
Another plus point of having large markings on a power tool is to speed up the process of cutting so you will have better productivity as you go. These markings will also positively affect your accuracy.
Makita 5007F vs. 5007MG vs. 5007MGA vs. 5007NK: Differences
Although all four of these circular saws have many similarities, they have a couple of differences that make them unique from each other, such as the following:
Cutting Capacity
The cutting capacity of the 5007F is only at 2-3/8 inches while the 5007MG, 5007MGA, and the 5007NK all have 2-1/2 inches of cutting capacity.
With that said, the cutting capacity of 2-3/8 inches is a common value that’s not too short, so it will be useful for small-scale to medium-scale projects. However, those that have a 2-1/2-inch cutting capacity will make a bigger difference when it comes to larger material. Nonetheless, that’s still not the biggest cutting capacity – some circular saws can cut as much as 2-5/8 inches.
Base or Shoe Material
The 5007F and the 5007NK have an aluminum base or shoe while 5007MG and 5007MGA (as indicated in their model name) both have a magnesium shoe.
The shoe is the bottom base of the circular saw that keeps everything stable and in place. It plays a big part when it comes to accuracy and stability. The shoe not only maintains your material’s stability but it will also prevent accidental tipping over of the circular saw, thereby keeping you safe.
A magnesium shoe is more durable in general compared to an aluminum one. That’s because magnesium is a harder material yet doesn’t make the unit too heavy to carry around. While we recommend a magnesium shoe for a circular saw, an aluminum shoe is okay, too, as long as it is made with heavy-gauge material.
LED Work Lights
While 5007F, 5007MG, and 5007MGA all have LED work lights to easily see what you’re cutting, the 5007NK does not.
A work light is helpful to make your cut more accurate, especially if you are working in a dimly lit or dark area of the job site or shop. If you are a beginner in using a circular saw then I would recommend a unit with an LED work light to allow you to easily see what’s going on while you work.
Nonetheless, units that don’t have an LED light will still work just fine. You can just use its markings to identify the correct bevel or depth measurement.
Electric Brake
Only the 5007MGA has an electric brake, which is used for repetitive cutting – the 5007MG, 5007NK, and the 5007F do not have this feature.
The electric brake is a special feature that is only found in some circular saws (and other power tools). Its job is to quickly stop the wheel from spinning so you don’t have to wait for a longer time in between pauses of cuts. The result is that you can use it for repetitive cutting, which will speed up the process of your current task.
If you prefer a less time-consuming circular saw, choose one with an electric brake. However, those without an electric brake will still work just fine for different kinds of cutting tasks.
Which of the Makita 5007 Series Circular Saws Should You Get?
For large projects, I would suggest the Makita 5007MG, 5007MGA, and the 5007NK because of their 2-1/2 inches of cutting capacity, which will speed up your work. Although all of the units mentioned above have a 7-1/4-inch blade size, having a bigger cutting capacity is always more advantageous.
If you want to value durability, consider the Makita 5007MG and 5007MGA as both of them are made with a magnesium shoe. This would be more advisable for heavy-duty industrial work and if you want the tool to last for a long time. After all, magnesium shoes for circular saws are preferred by workers for stability.
On the other hand, the 5007F, 5007MG, and 5007MGA are good companions for when you’re also looking for a built-in work light to use in the dark. Their LED light will make it easy for you to see what you’re cutting, which will also avoid accidents.
However, if you want to make repetitive cuts, the 5007MGA is the only unit in our four picks that have an electric brake. Not all circular saws have this feature, but it is an advantageous one for speeding up cutting tasks while also conserving electricity, mechanical parts, and motor life.
Summary
In the long run, all of these Makita 5007 series circular saws are great for job site tasks. They will take care of the most common materials, such as plywood, engineered lumber, and most anything else used for contractor work. It’s just that some of them have specific features that are more applicable to certain situations.
For instance, the 5007MGA has an electric brake for repetitive cutting, and some units (5007F, 5007MG, and 5007MGA) have their LED work light for accuracy. In the end, you decide for yourself which of these circular saws best fits your needs.