Makita HS6601/2 Review

Not every cutting job needs a full-size professional circular saw. When you are trimming floorboards, cutting laminated shelving to length, or crosscutting timber for a garden project, a compact 165 mm saw is often the smarter choice — lighter to carry, easier to control one-handed, and less intimidating for anyone who is not a professional carpenter. The smaller blade still cuts deep enough for most household and DIY tasks, and the reduced weight means you can work for longer without arm fatigue. A compact circular saw bridges the gap between the raw power of a 190 mm trade saw and the portability that makes you actually want to pick it up for a quick cut rather than reaching for a handsaw because setting up the big tool feels like too much effort. For home renovators, keen DIYers, and tradespeople who want a lightweight secondary saw for fit-out work, a quality 165 mm corded circular saw delivers professional accuracy in a package you will use far more often than you expect.

The Makita HS6601 is a corded 165 mm circular saw that sits at the lighter, more compact end of Makita's circular saw range. With a 1,050-watt motor and a 165 mm blade spinning at 5,200 RPM, it is designed for controlled, accurate cutting in timber and sheet materials rather than brute-force ripping through heavy structural stock. The 165 mm blade diameter is the standard for compact saws — it provides a cutting depth of approximately 54 mm at 90 degrees, enough for cutting through a single sheet of 18 mm plywood, trimming a worktop, or crosscutting 50 mm framing timber. Makita includes a 10-tooth carbide-tipped ripping blade and a parallel guide, so the saw is ready to cut timber out of the box. For anyone who finds 190 mm saws unnecessarily heavy for their work, the HS6601 offers a more manageable alternative without sacrificing Makita's build quality.

In this review we will examine the HS6601's cutting performance on typical DIY and light-trade tasks — trimming flooring, cutting sheet materials, and crosscutting softwood and hardwood. We will assess how the 4.5 kg weight and compact body feel during extended use, the effectiveness of the dust extraction, and whether the 54 mm depth capacity is sufficient for real-world projects. By the end, you will know whether this compact Makita circular saw is the right balance of portability and cutting power for your needs.

The HS6601 is driven by a 1,050-watt motor running on 220-240-volt mains power, delivering a no-load speed of 5,200 RPM through a 165 mm blade. Makita includes two blades in the package: a 10-tooth carbide-tipped ripping blade for fast cuts along the grain in softwood and construction timber, and a 40-tooth general-purpose blade for cleaner crosscuts in sheet materials and hardwood. The 10-tooth blade makes genuinely fast work of ripping — you will be surprised how quickly it eats through 50 mm softwood — while the 40-tooth blade produces a much finer finish suitable for visible cut edges. The maximum cutting depth is 54 mm at 90 degrees and approximately 35 mm at a 45-degree bevel. The saw weighs 4.5 kg, making it noticeably lighter than the 5 kg plus typical of 190 mm professional saws.

Makita has designed the HS6601 with a focus on everyday usability. The base plate is a flat, rigid aluminium casting that provides a stable platform and resists flexing during cuts. The parallel guide included in the box locks securely into the base and allows repeatable rip cuts at a consistent width — essential when cutting multiple floorboards or shelf components to identical dimensions. The depth adjustment lever is tool-free with a clear scale, and the bevel adjustment tilts to 45 degrees for angled cuts. A spindle lock enables quick blade changes without wrestling with the arbor. The dust extraction port — a suction nozzle is included — connects to standard vacuum hoses, and the motor housing includes a blower function to clear the cut line of sawdust for improved visibility. The main handle is ergonomically shaped, and at 4.5 kg the saw is comfortable to control one-handed for short cuts on supported workpieces.

In everyday use, the HS6601 shines on the kinds of tasks that make up the bulk of home renovation and fit-out work. Trimming laminate or engineered wood flooring to length at the end of each row is quick and clean — fit the 40-tooth blade, set the depth just past the board thickness, and the cut edge is ready to lay against the skirting with no additional edge treatment needed. Cutting MDF, plywood, and chipboard shelving to size produces square, splinter-free results when using the parallel guide. Crosscutting 50 × 100 mm framing timber for stud walls and garden structures with the 10-tooth blade is fast and drama-free. The 5,200 RPM speed is well-matched to the 165 mm blade — fast enough for efficient cutting without the intimidating feel of a 6,000 RPM saw. One practical limitation: the 54 mm depth at 90 degrees means you cannot cut through a standard 63 mm joist in a single pass. For structural timber thicker than 54 mm, you will need to cut from both sides or reach for a larger saw.

The HS6601 ships with a comprehensive accessory kit that adds genuine value: two carbide-tipped blades (10-tooth ripping and 40-tooth general purpose), a parallel guide for straight rip cuts, a dust extraction suction nozzle, and a hex key for blade changes. Having both blades from the start means you can rip timber with the coarse blade and finish-cut with the fine blade without immediately buying spares — a thoughtful inclusion at this price point. The 165 mm blade format is less common than the 190 mm professional standard, but blades are readily available from Makita and third-party manufacturers in tooth counts from 10 to 60. The dust extraction nozzle accepts standard vacuum hoses, and connecting the saw to even a basic shop vacuum dramatically reduces airborne dust — particularly valuable when cutting MDF or chipboard indoors.

The saw measures approximately 30 × 24 × 23 cm and weighs 4.5 kg. Makita provides their manufacturer warranty, and EU spare parts are guaranteed available for 1 year. Customer satisfaction is strong: it holds a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from over 310 reviews on Amazon France and ranks at number 212 in Circular Saws. Users consistently praise the manageable weight, the quality of the included blades, and the saw's ability to handle typical DIY and renovation cutting tasks without the bulk and intimidation of a larger professional saw. For a corded compact circular saw from a premium brand at this price, the HS6601 represents excellent value — a tool that will handle 90% of household cutting tasks without the weight penalty of a full-size trade saw.

The Makita HS6601 is a compact 1,050-watt corded circular saw for home renovators and DIYers who need accurate, manageable cutting of timber and sheet materials up to 54 mm deep — with two included blades, a parallel guide, and Makita's proven build quality at a compelling price.