Best Circular Saw under $100
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2chipped
Well-known member
Makita only for me, it's small and compact.
I would rather buy a used majors then a new dewalt, Hitachi, portercable, or Milwaukee.
I would rather buy a used majors then a new dewalt, Hitachi, portercable, or Milwaukee.
ishiboo
Well-known member
Just starting out? Get the classic $30 Skil saw, and upgrade it with a Freud blade. You'll be $45 in for both. Spend the money on the other things you'll need and upgrade it when appropriate. The Skil will then hold your framing blade while your good saw has the finish blade.
Once you have a miter saw and table saw, the circular saw won't see nearly as much use.
For under $100, the Makita hits the mark!
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...alogId=10053&R=100594813&catEntryId=100594813
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...alogId=10053&R=100594813&catEntryId=100594813
Black & Decker. I got mine for $45, plus it's a nice bright orange. It's built rather well. Otherwise, I would say the $30 Skil mentioned earlier. Unless you're a professional contractor, it will serve you well.
I'm pretty fond of the Black & Decker though. Other than their drills, most of their power tools are exceptional for the price.
I'm pretty fond of the Black & Decker though. Other than their drills, most of their power tools are exceptional for the price.
Another vote for the Skil. I've used and abused mine and it's still kicking. I bought it to learn how to use a circular saw (and I was too cheap to buy a chop saw at that time. As well as cut bullnose shelving) and it's served me well. I got the cheapest Skil one becausse it's still a reputable name BUT,a lso very affordable. Buy a cheap Skil and get profecient with one, then if you NEED a better one, get that but for cheap, get the cheper Skil and save the $ from the more expensive one to put toward other tools.
Just a casual woodworkers/DIY'ers opinion though.
Just a casual woodworkers/DIY'ers opinion though.
5lima30
Well-known member
Makita or Hitachi is light and comfortable. Also make sure it is a 15 amp model not 13 amp. Then get a good blade!
ishiboo
Well-known member
I bought my Skil when I was 13. No joke.
It's been used and still works great.
I have another Skil here that a contractor left behind, it's beat to **** and still does everything it's supposed to with reasonable accuracy.
My buddy is a roofer, and he's cut the cord on his no less than 5 times... each time the cord gets shorter but the saw keeps on going
p_mori7
Well-known member
I have a Ryobi from Home Depot. Comes with LED light & laser. Both are useful IMHO. I think it's currently on sale for $60 instead of regular $90.
It feels much better than my old Skil.
It feels much better than my old Skil.
As stated, buy 13 amp. I have a B&D from 30 years ago and a Skil 2.3 (13 amp) from about 5 years back, both sidewinders. Both have always answered the call to duty. Invest in a top of the line blade for woodworking. You will quickly find that except for panel cutting, you really want a decent quality table saw.
cib
Well-known member
Makita, Ridgid, dewalt, are my top brands.
glockman
Well-known member
+1. Good worm drive saws are always at the pawn shop or on CL for under $100. If your right handed it is really nice to actually be able to see the blade unlike some of the models out (my inherited Cman comes to mind) with the blade on the right side of the saw.
Coach James
Well-known member
What do you mean by "woodworking"? Making furniture as a hobby or framing houses as a job? That would determine which route to go in buying a saw.
Coach
Coach
johno
Well-known member
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
If it is for home owner/hobbyist use, skip the worm drive. Yes, they last forever, but they are HEAVY !
Good carbide tipped blades make cheap saws work MUCH better. You need at least 2. One with "lots" (60 ?) of teeth for finish cuts and one with a lot less teeth.
If it is only for occasional, light use, a battery operated saw with a carbide blade IS a reasonable alternative, especially if you already own batteries and a charger. They will cut 2by lumber !
If you are just starting out, look for a combo that includes a reciprocating saw, maybe a drill and at least 2 batteries.
Did I mention get a good carbide tipped blade ?
Good carbide tipped blades make cheap saws work MUCH better. You need at least 2. One with "lots" (60 ?) of teeth for finish cuts and one with a lot less teeth.
If it is only for occasional, light use, a battery operated saw with a carbide blade IS a reasonable alternative, especially if you already own batteries and a charger. They will cut 2by lumber !
If you are just starting out, look for a combo that includes a reciprocating saw, maybe a drill and at least 2 batteries.
Did I mention get a good carbide tipped blade ?
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You might want to consider a table saw for furniture making.
I've got an inexpensive Skil saw I bought probably 15 years ago. Can't say a bad word about it. I'm not a pro, but it's been used. I even scored concrete with it using a diamond edged blade and it keeps on ticking.
spend money on good blades. Freud are very good. The cheapest saw in the world will be halfway decent with a good blade.
spend money on good blades. Freud are very good. The cheapest saw in the world will be halfway decent with a good blade.
Mmfh
MEMBER EMERITUS
My old Skil finally died a few years back, I went into the Depot and they had Ryobi's on sale cheap. What the hell, I picked it up with a nice 60 tooth blade and I've been very happy with it.
Its fairly light and has plenty of power. Its my go to saw if I want to make a quick cut and not use the table saw or the Miter saw.
I should say though, I don't use the 60 tooth blade for cutting 2x4's or plywood. I like to build cabinets and its only for the nice stuff. The blade that comes with the saw is cheap and should be replaced with a carbide blade for all general purpose stuff.
Its fairly light and has plenty of power. Its my go to saw if I want to make a quick cut and not use the table saw or the Miter saw.
I should say though, I don't use the 60 tooth blade for cutting 2x4's or plywood. I like to build cabinets and its only for the nice stuff. The blade that comes with the saw is cheap and should be replaced with a carbide blade for all general purpose stuff.
byoungblood
Well-known member
I have a Milwaukee, works well and gets the job done. It has adjustable depth and tilt, but I've yet to use either feature.
rct
Well-known member
Another vote for a good carbide blade makes a huge difference on any saw regardless of cost.
That said, I love my Bosch circular saw, I think the porter-cable, makita and dewalt are also nice. There is a difference between the 30-40 dollar skil and the more expensive brands, but you won't notice it until you use both. For occasional rough cuts, cheap saw with good blade is fine. If you want more power or more quality, look at some other higher-end saws.
That said, I love my Bosch circular saw, I think the porter-cable, makita and dewalt are also nice. There is a difference between the 30-40 dollar skil and the more expensive brands, but you won't notice it until you use both. For occasional rough cuts, cheap saw with good blade is fine. If you want more power or more quality, look at some other higher-end saws.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
IMHO, a circular saw is almost useless for furniture making unless you buy an expensive guide system.
Again, good carbide tip blades with lots of teeth are the most important thing about the system.
You would be better off looking for an old table saw on Craigslist, one with a cast iron table and preferably left and right cast iron extensions. You can find these for less than $100 !
My dad has a porter cable, it's a nice saw!!!! I just got a Craftsman circle saw for Christmas from the wife's grandpa. Can't say much about it yet, only made 1 cut with it. It came with a carbide tipped blade, but once i get some bills paid down, I'm going to get an El Diablo(made by freud) blade for it. Dad got me an El Diablo blade for my tablesaw, and I can't believe how nice of a cut it made on an old scrap of plywood. If your saw is set up good, you can make glue ready joints with that blade without using a jointer!
I will have to get some pics of my basement work shop & post them. Got all my dad's old woodworking tools when he moved to the east coast. Nice Craftsman table saw w/ 3 wings, C-man jointer, rockwell drill press, rockwell woodlathe(my baby, i LOVE turning stuff, have lots of Sorby lathe tools, both new & old) and a big bandsaw. It was a kit my dad bought. Came with the motor, pulleys, hardware etc, and plans for the cabinet. My dad didn't like the plans, so he made his own. Also have a craftsman radial arm saw in the garage that's going downstairs so I can use it. I really want a Dewalt planer, but I don't have $650 to drop. And of course there are a couple routers, jig saw, pad & belt sanders, drills, etc.
My dad's in town this week, & as I'm typing this, he's in my basement making me a panel cutter for the table saw.
I will have to get some pics of my basement work shop & post them. Got all my dad's old woodworking tools when he moved to the east coast. Nice Craftsman table saw w/ 3 wings, C-man jointer, rockwell drill press, rockwell woodlathe(my baby, i LOVE turning stuff, have lots of Sorby lathe tools, both new & old) and a big bandsaw. It was a kit my dad bought. Came with the motor, pulleys, hardware etc, and plans for the cabinet. My dad didn't like the plans, so he made his own. Also have a craftsman radial arm saw in the garage that's going downstairs so I can use it. I really want a Dewalt planer, but I don't have $650 to drop. And of course there are a couple routers, jig saw, pad & belt sanders, drills, etc.
My dad's in town this week, & as I'm typing this, he's in my basement making me a panel cutter for the table saw.
Best saw hands down for that price is the makita. No Ifs ands or buts. I am a carpenter and that is the only skil saw I will use. I don't know if the price has come down but when I for mine it was 120 about 3 years ago. I have used every brand skil saw there is and even the top $ ones I feel are not even as good.
wafrederick
Well-known member
Another vote for Skil too.I have one and has not let me down yet.I cut the cord once.When I bought it the first time,I had to buy a carbide tipped blade.Came with a non carbide tipped blade.Have to watch it on Ebay for power tools,the lower price is a refurbished unit.I got lucky,I bought a Milwaukee brand new on Ebay.
csp
Well-known member
The problem is that no circular saw is going to make a furniture grade cut, since your intended use is furniture making.
I vote for the Skil HD77. A little over your price point and factory reconditioned but the very best you can buy. Get a freud diablo blade this setup will cut like butter with no splintering.
http://www.skilshop.com/factory-rec...ve-skilsaw/sklrshd77-rt,default,pd.html?cgid=
http://www.skilshop.com/factory-rec...ve-skilsaw/sklrshd77-rt,default,pd.html?cgid=
I had a Skil saw and it did work decent. When it gave up the ghost, I spent the bucks and upgraded to a Dewalt. I am far happier with the Dewalt. When I make long straight cuts, I use a straight edge clamped to the piece getting cut.
I have bought another Skil saw to cut concrete only. It is for that purpose and that purpose alone. I picked it up at walmart (I freaking hated going in there) and still paid 40 bucks for it so I doubt you get one for $30.
I have bought another Skil saw to cut concrete only. It is for that purpose and that purpose alone. I picked it up at walmart (I freaking hated going in there) and still paid 40 bucks for it so I doubt you get one for $30.
BigRed390
Well-known member
These guys said it better than I can. Get a $30 saw, put a GOOD blade on it (freud is my pick for every machine I own), and use it until it either dies or you can understand why you need a better one. I started with a cheap Skil brand sidewinder. Moved to a porter cable 18v cordless that came in a $129 cordless set from Lowes after that. Figured out what I really wanted and why I wanted it, and upgraded to a Skil HD77.
I'll re-state another sentiment from above. These are framing tools. Yes, you can build cabinets, etc. with them. But if you have access to a tablesaw, why would you? Not being an ***, just wondering. If you have $100, put half that in a saw and a good blade and the other $50 in a router or a sander or measuring/marking tools to further your endeavors. No point in throwing everything you have at one tool.
Good luck with your projects!
I'll re-state another sentiment from above. These are framing tools. Yes, you can build cabinets, etc. with them. But if you have access to a tablesaw, why would you? Not being an ***, just wondering. If you have $100, put half that in a saw and a good blade and the other $50 in a router or a sander or measuring/marking tools to further your endeavors. No point in throwing everything you have at one tool.
Good luck with your projects!
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
I think that every framer and carpenter in the Atlanta area uses a Makita 5007 or one of the variations of it. I have one and it is a real nice, light, easy to use saw.
Charles
Charles
I had this Craftsman circular saw before it was stolen from me last week. Seemed very balanced, no kick when starting it, and even had an LED light and laser track too.
TMcCay
Well-known member
I have been in carpentry my whole life as my dad is a retired carpenter. We have used up and burnt through a few Skil 77's. Bought new and rebuilt twice a worm drive. He now has a Makita and I just bought a Porter Cable. I liked the PC a little better than the Makita but in use can't tell much difference. Just buy one with a good heavy base. The stamped steel ones in my opinion aren't worth it. And my last 77 had a bearing issue from day one, you could actually see the wobble in the blade. But as has been stated before whatever you get put a Freud blade on it to get the most potential out of the saw. T
CatCow
Active member
I've been considering the same thing lately... Are the laser models(Skil 5780-01, Ryobi CSB142LZK, or whatever else might be out there) any good, or is it better just to get the normal one?
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
You still need a table saw more than a circular saw !
A circular saw is fine for making an inexpensive garage bench. Any kind of half way decent table or cabinet will require a table saw.
Now I'm certain some old timers who "know all of the tricks" can make reasonable table or even a cabinet with only a circular saw, but not me !
Get the right tool for the job. A used table is cheap.
Yes, you will need a circular saw, but unless you plan on doing some framing a cordless "trim" saw is fine. My son has a Dewalt DW936 5-3/8-inch trim saw. With a carbide tip blade it will cut a lot of 2 by X on one charge. He got it, a reciprocating saw, a 1/2 drill and a light, plus 2 batteries and a charger, in a kit for under $300.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
You want to make "small benches, tables, or cabinets" with a circular saw. get one of these
DEWALT DWS520SK 12 Amp 6-1/2-Inch TrackSaw Kit with 59-Inch Track $479.99
It probably is a poor general purpose circular saw.