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Circular Saw
- Thread starter kxlexus
- Start date
woody 73
Well-known member
Kxlexus Hi since you did not post your hometown location I can not check your local CL for used saws.
This is a good start although I must warn you $100.00 dollars does not go far for good new saw (although used on CL your $100.00 dollars will get you a great saw).
http://www.best-saws.com/best-circular-saw-for-woodworking/
This is a good start although I must warn you $100.00 dollars does not go far for good new saw (although used on CL your $100.00 dollars will get you a great saw).
http://www.best-saws.com/best-circular-saw-for-woodworking/
W_KY
Well-known member
I'm going to go a little over this $100 but I'd go for this Milwaukee from Home Depot. If you can get them to accept the 20% HF coupoun it'll be pretty close.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-15-Amp-7-1-4-in-Tilt-Lok-Circular-Saw-6390-21/100609348
Lots of power. Feels nice and stable without being too heavy.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-15-Amp-7-1-4-in-Tilt-Lok-Circular-Saw-6390-21/100609348
Lots of power. Feels nice and stable without being too heavy.
Zeke
Well-known member
DeWalt makes a good sidewinder for just over 100 and for 10 bucks more you can get the electric brake which I recommend. Makita makes an excellent saw but I think you will pay more. However, you can buy a CPO Makita for 90 bones.
Do not buy a low level Black and Decker or Skilsaw brand saw at Walmart.
Do not buy a low level Black and Decker or Skilsaw brand saw at Walmart.
toolmiser
Well-known member
How about looking in Craig's list for a nice used one like Milwaukee, Makita, and some other brands. I see a lot of them pretty cheap, and some nice quality. Look up the model online to see the original price that is a pretty good indicator.
bcradio
Well-known member
A worm drive is the way to go if you can find one in your price range. Most of them are $150 - $170 though.
woody 73
Well-known member
This is what you want to look for in your local CL:
http://cleveland.craigslist.org/tls/4612069072.html
http://cleveland.craigslist.org/tls/4612069072.html
DTE
Well-known member
I bought a Makita 5700f from Amazon and am well pleased with it. Nice and smooth and seems to have lots of power.
stonesfan68
Well-known member
Woot has a Skil saw on sale for $35.
http://tools.woot.com/offers/skil-7-1-4-inch-circular-saw-4?ref=cnt_wp_3_20
It would probably do the job for an occasional user.
http://tools.woot.com/offers/skil-7-1-4-inch-circular-saw-4?ref=cnt_wp_3_20
It would probably do the job for an occasional user.
ctb
Well-known member
Thanks. Is all Milwaukee equipment good?
I've got an old milwaukee circular saw and 12v cordless drill. Both bought over 20 years ago, both used and abused a lot in temps from 40 below to 95 above. They are still providing sterling service.
Don't know what the new ones are like though.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
What is a good value corded circular saw?
It won't get much use. I don't want junk but prefer to be under $100
You can pick up a lightly used Craftsman on CL for less than $50, probably less than $30. For "occasional use", that is all your need.
Go buy a good carbide tipped blade. It will make a cheap saw very reasonable.
Ign
Well-known member
I've stumbled upon three Skil 77's at yard sales and CL ranging from $50 to $75.
DeWalt makes a good sidewinder for just over 100 and for 10 bucks more you can get the electric brake which I recommend. Makita makes an excellent saw but I think you will pay more. However, you can buy a CPO Makita for 90 bones.
Do not buy a low level Black and Decker or Skilsaw brand saw at Walmart.
Last time I was in Lowes, the brake and non-brake were the same price...
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Woot has a Skil saw on sale for $35.
http://tools.woot.com/offers/skil-7-1-4-inch-circular-saw-4?ref=cnt_wp_3_20
It would probably do the job for an occasional user.
Yep. Put a good carbide tipped blade on it.
bobbycos
Well-known member
i got me a very old ( 40 years or more) Black & Decker corded saw and have used without issue
rick carpenter
Well-known member
I'm going to go a little over this $100 but I'd go for this Milwaukee from Home Depot. If you can get them to accept the 20% HF coupoun it'll be pretty close.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-15-Amp-7-1-4-in-Tilt-Lok-Circular-Saw-6390-21/100609348
Lots of power. Feels nice and stable without being too heavy.
I have this one, bought new maybe 6-7(+?) years ago. Never a moment's problem with it except user issues: I knocked it off a table and bent the shoe but got it back square; and the cord got sawed through but I got it spliced back OK. I also bought a ~1982 Milwaukee wormdrive saw for framing etc for $30. Both are good saws.
geojag
Well-known member
I picked up a rigid that they sell at Home Depot for $99. I picked it up at a pawn shop with a $20 finish blade on it, like new, for $40. After using it unite a bit I would say it would be worth the full price.
Yep. Put a good carbide tipped blade on it.
I've had a similar Skil since 1999, paid about $25 back then. I built my shop with it, a deck, lots of shelves, and a number of other small projects. Sure there are better saws out there but this one has done all I've ever needed with no issues.
That said, I'd love to find a cheap used worm drive saw to fool with.
I use a 8 1/2" Hitachi on a track system. It works well and it's been reliable. My prior say was Porter Cable, another good saw. But I think all the major players make good saws. I don't think you would go wrong with any saw from DeWalt, Bosch, PC, Hitachi, or Milwaukee. And many others I am sure, but I havene't been impressed by products from Skil, B&D, and a lot of the Sears saws. The BEST is probably Festool. Absolutely NOT what you want, but you can learn something by operating one and use that knowledge in evaluating other saws.
And, a good blade makes a difference. I suspect all the good saws come with a pretty good blade, but it will cease being a good blade after you've made quick work of a few dozen pallets and other junk work. Keep a **** blade for the junk work.
- How easy is it to set the depth of cut? It's dramatically safer and more practical to only cut slightly deeper than the board you are cutting. ("Practical" because you end up ruining less sawhorses, bench tops, etc. At least that's MY experience.)
- Does it have a blade brake? They aren't instant, but the blade spins for a MUCH shorter period.
- How smoothly does the blade guard push out of the way when you saw into a piece of wood?
- How easy is it to pull the blade guard up when need be?
- Is the base robust?
- There are other things, but they are not that important, IMO. How easy is adjusting the angle/ (Almost everything I cut is at 90 degrees.) How easy to change the blade? Is there any provisions to help dust collection? Is the cord molded so it somewhat stays out of the way? Does it come with discount coupons for Victoria's Secret?
And, a good blade makes a difference. I suspect all the good saws come with a pretty good blade, but it will cease being a good blade after you've made quick work of a few dozen pallets and other junk work. Keep a **** blade for the junk work.
DeWalt makes a good sidewinder for just over 100 and for 10 bucks more you can get the electric brake which I recommend. Makita makes an excellent saw but I think you will pay more. However, you can buy a CPO Makita for 90 bones.
Do not buy a low level Black and Decker or Skilsaw brand saw at Walmart.
What's wrong with a skilsaw? They created the tool.
Cruzomatic
Well-known member
Ever since I bought my worm drive, I have never used my circular saw again. 10 x better.