circular saw?
New User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10
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From: Virginia
The Hitachi is an excellent saw for the money. Good power, sight lines and a nice case. Even flips to 55 degrees to help with the hip roof cuts. I bought one to use when the Skil worm drive is just too much, like hanging off a roof cutting rafter tails. Put a Freud Diablo blade on it ,and it cuts great. The only bad thing about it is it's 'made in China'.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 188
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From: Half Moon Bay, CA
I am a carpenter and you can't beat a good skill saw with the old worm drive. Those things take all the abuse you can throw at it and work forever... Just be sure to change the oil out occasionally. Probably not a huge factor for someone who only uses it once in a while but on the job we change the oil every few months.
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New User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis, MO
Gillwood,
I really wish I could afford to buy American and go with the Milwaukee, but I just can't spend that much this time around. I just need a good dependable saw that is fairly inexpensive and it looks like this one might fit the bill. Thanks everyone for the advice and keep it coming!!!
I really wish I could afford to buy American and go with the Milwaukee, but I just can't spend that much this time around. I just need a good dependable saw that is fairly inexpensive and it looks like this one might fit the bill. Thanks everyone for the advice and keep it coming!!!
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 519
Likes: 0
From: CT
Skil saw with worm drive.
After that go for how it feels in hand get 2.5hp or more. Bearings vs sleeved. I have not bought a hand held circular saw in a while -- all I have is the skil brand -- see a lot of older Milwaukee's still being used.
Hold the saw in hand and check how easy it is to square the blade to the frame and that its not cheap. Compare the costly to the inexpensive -- sort of be a bummer not to be able to hold 90 degrees for the savings of a few $$$.
The circular saw takes the worse beating of all my tools. Drop all the time after finishing cuts throw it in the truck , falls off the saw horse etc...probably lost off the roof a couple of times as well. Make sure the strain relief is strong as well get a carrying case for it that has a slot to hold extra baldes.
After that go for how it feels in hand get 2.5hp or more. Bearings vs sleeved. I have not bought a hand held circular saw in a while -- all I have is the skil brand -- see a lot of older Milwaukee's still being used.
Hold the saw in hand and check how easy it is to square the blade to the frame and that its not cheap. Compare the costly to the inexpensive -- sort of be a bummer not to be able to hold 90 degrees for the savings of a few $$$.
The circular saw takes the worse beating of all my tools. Drop all the time after finishing cuts throw it in the truck , falls off the saw horse etc...probably lost off the roof a couple of times as well. Make sure the strain relief is strong as well get a carrying case for it that has a slot to hold extra baldes.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 448
Likes: 1
From: MN
A worm drive would be great. That's what I asked for for my birthday, but I got the standard Skil instead. My dad, an airline pilot by day and carpenter by furlough, didn't think I would ever need the capabilities of a worm drive. I probably don't, but over kill sure is nice sometimes. I must agree with those that say the current skil models don't hold salt to the older skils. My pops skil is a much better built model than my new one. One of my buddies busted the saw the second day I had it. The little lever that holds the blade depth is easy to use, but doesn't give the feel that it's locking the blade. So my friend thought he should knock the lever into place with a hammer thus breaking it and preventing me from setting blade depth. Thank goodness HD exchanged it with no receipt and/or questions.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,288
Likes: 1
From: redding U.S.A.
Another vote here for the Porter Cable worm drive Skil saws.
These things are durable as can be.
I've been using them every summer, working construction with my father. We have one of the older models and one of the newer ones (with more plastic parts) and they are both great. We DID have 2 older ones, and trust me each has been dropped off the roof MANY times, but it's tool box had about 3" of water in it somehow for about a month. She didn't like that one too much.
The skil saw will not bog down even on a horribly dull blade. It is quite heavy but it helps to control it. Great for framing.
These things are durable as can be.
I've been using them every summer, working construction with my father. We have one of the older models and one of the newer ones (with more plastic parts) and they are both great. We DID have 2 older ones, and trust me each has been dropped off the roof MANY times, but it's tool box had about 3" of water in it somehow for about a month. She didn't like that one too much.
The skil saw will not bog down even on a horribly dull blade. It is quite heavy but it helps to control it. Great for framing.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,288
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From: redding U.S.A.
The two skil wormdrives we have are quite similiar.
The old school one is almost all cast metal, with pretty much just a plastic trigger.
The new one is cast metal with a plastic grip (and trigger of course) but all the locks and what not are metal. I agree on the blade depth lock, it doesn't feel like its clamping down, but it always holds good.
I at first thought the new one would be crap because it had plastic on it (i hate how everything is made of injection molded crap these days) but it holds up very well. Its taken quite a bit of abuse and i think we've had it for more than a year.
My father also employs about 4-5 workers, and we all know how people treat tools that aren't theirs.
The old school one is almost all cast metal, with pretty much just a plastic trigger.
The new one is cast metal with a plastic grip (and trigger of course) but all the locks and what not are metal. I agree on the blade depth lock, it doesn't feel like its clamping down, but it always holds good.
I at first thought the new one would be crap because it had plastic on it (i hate how everything is made of injection molded crap these days) but it holds up very well. Its taken quite a bit of abuse and i think we've had it for more than a year.
My father also employs about 4-5 workers, and we all know how people treat tools that aren't theirs.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,288
Likes: 1
From: redding U.S.A.
I've never owned a makita circular saw, but i do have a chop saw, and if the quality of my chop saw indicates the quality of their circular saws, then they must be great.
I have a pretty cheapo Makita 10" chop saw, which is probably aboot 8 years old. Still works like new, looks like it broke a long time ago. I slapped a metal cutting blade on it and use it for shop stuff. It really needs a new cord though...
I have a pretty cheapo Makita 10" chop saw, which is probably aboot 8 years old. Still works like new, looks like it broke a long time ago. I slapped a metal cutting blade on it and use it for shop stuff. It really needs a new cord though...
FTE Legend
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 54,034
Likes: 2,410
From: NY and VA
I have a BD $19.95 special that built my garage back in 1973. Works fine, old Aluminum housing, bot the bushings do wear out. Also have a worm drive Makita that has helped build a lot of houses and garages. The one I use most on my latest project when I don't feel like draging out the cord, is my DeWalt cordless, it's even handy on the roof.
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thelonerangerxlt
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Apr 26, 2004 01:42 AM