Corded 7-1/4" circular saw

[BigMike782]

Burned up a nice US made Skil today. I have a 25 yr old Milwaukee drop shoe that cannot have a dozen cuts on it because of the shoe design I hate.
I have and use a DeWalt 18v cordless but want a corded one. Looked at Menards and they run from 49.00 to 169.00......would just as soon stay under 75.00 because as soon as the new garage is done it will set for 5-10 yrs again.
Opinions?

 

[bob15]

What failed on the Skil saw? If it was a worm drive, it might be worth fixing yourself. Personally, I would look at getting a used US-made Skil 77 worm drive saw.

 

[Wamsutta]

Burned up a nice US made Skil today.

I'd rebuild that and forget about a cheap replacement. They got Skil parts all over the internet.

 

[LXCam]

I'd never own anything but a 77, but than again I've made a living at various times of my life off running a saw so old habits are hard to break.

 

[BigMike782]

I'd rebuild that and forget about a cheap replacement. They got Skil parts all over the internet.

It was a sidewinder and it had smoke POURING out.....there is no fixing it.

Guess I'll hit CL and look for a worm drive.

 

[Wamsutta]

It was a sidewinder and it had smoke POURING out.....there is no fixing it.

Guess I'll hit CL and look for a worm drive.

Yes I thought you had a worm drive.

I practically sleep with mine. I keep it 3 ft. from the bed so it don't get stolen.

 

[IndyGarage]

Makita Hypoid saw.

 

[Coach James]

It sounds like you need one for a current project but will use it sparingly after that. Fine Woodworking did a review of corded saws not long ago and, while some brands got much higher marks than others, all the name brands were decent saws.

I would to go your preferred big box and handle all the saws in your price range. Try the adjustments on each one and go with whichever was easiest to adjust and most comfortable to hold. I never saw any reason to put the $$$ into a worm drive etc. type of saw unless you were doing a lot of framing type work on a regular basis.


I gave one of my employees a B&D corded saw a few years ago. I know B&D is garbage, blah, blah, blah, but it was less than $100 and is still working fine for him. A girl that works for me bought a Hitachi for less than $100. She has remodeled a house and is now building a barn using it.

One of my saws is a relatively low power C-man(12 amps). I put a thin kerf blade on it and it goes through 3/4" plywood like butter.

Fine Woodworking said the surprise of their test was how good this saw was:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OKGAURI/?tag=atomicindus08-20

It was apparently Skil's foray into, once again, making a high quality saw.

Coach

 

[dnschmidt]

One of the funny things I found when I moved out to Arizona from Pennsylvania was the unanimous choice of worm drive Skil 77's by the locals here. In PA you could not give them away due to their weight, everybody back home used a Milwaukee, DeWalt or Makita sidewinder. Like Tupac and Biggie it's a West Coast, East Coast thing.

 

[BigMike782]

Thanks Coach, that's what I was looking for.

 

[The Cobbler]

....

Fine Woodworking said the surprise of their test was how good this saw was:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OKGAURI/?tag=atomicindus08-20

.....

amazingly nice saw .

 

[ddawg16]

I have a Craftsman.....in retrospect, I wish I had bought a Skill worm drive.

Not worth it now...I don't use the Craftsman enough to justify a new saw. I use good blades and it does a decent job....but if it ever dies? Skill worm drive....AL body.

 

[tarbellb]

If I was looking for a corded model - Makita 5007F 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw

Simple, reliable, cheap(ish).

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004YIALZI/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[rnscustom]

Have a makita that was given to me , been pretty good , I miss my old porter cable , was a real true cut ( sounded like a rat and the blade clutch was horrible ) but the only saw I could make a straight for and would always cut right on the same cut

 

[BlackLS2]

Skill 77, Makita 5007 both sweet. I got a Kobalt corded that I love...15A, Mag shoe, LED cut lamp, long cord with power light, tireless, just the right weight, and it was $60.....

 

[PugetDude]

If you're right handed, get a saw with the blade on the left. Once you use one, you'll never go back to leaning over the saw to try to see the cut line. or reaching over the saw cross-armed to raise the blade guard with your left hand. Doesn't matter if it's a sidewinder or a worm drive, being able to actually see exactly where and what you are cutting is much safer and more accurate. Every one of my saws is LH blade- Skil Wormdrive, Porter Cable Sidewinder, Dremel Saw Max and Ryobi Cordless.

RH Sidewinders are Satan's helpers.....

edit: added Dremel Saw Max to the list

 

[Bretny]

If you're right handed, get a saw with the blade on the left. Once you use one, you'll never go back to leaning over the saw to try to see the cut line. or reaching over the saw cross-armed to raise the blade guard with your left hand. Doesn't matter if it's a sidewinder or a worm drive, being able to actually see exactly where and what you are cutting is much safer and more accurate. Every one of my saws is LH blade- Skil Wormdrive, Porter Cable Sidewinder, and Ryobi Cordless.

RH Sidewinders are Satan's helpers.....

This is so true!
One of my pro carpenter buddys brought his LH saw over and i used it. Would never buy a RH saw again.

My el cheepo Porter-Cable thats a few years old built half a house and a large barn. I think it was $70 new.

 

[Wamsutta]

The one advantage to the blade right saw is having the wide part of the shoe on the left side; makes it more stable for trimming small strips off the end of a 2x4.

 

[PugetDude]

The one advantage to the blade right saw is having the wide part of the shoe on the left side; makes it more stable for trimming small strips off the end of a 2x4.

The only reason you're cutting small strips off the end of a 2x4 is because you couldn't see the cut the first time with your RH saw...

 

[Musicinabottle]

Makita Hypoid saw.

I've had two of them. awesome saws so long as you cut the electric brake. Then they're as smooth as a Skilsaw.

 

[Musicinabottle]

The one advantage to the blade right saw is having the wide part of the shoe on the left side; makes it more stable for trimming small strips off the end of a 2x4.

I've used model 77 worm drives as my living from 1982 to the present. If I picked up a right sided saw or any sidewinder for that matter, I'd be a fish out of the water! Totally!

 

[dogdog]

I have this Hitiachi and likes it a lot... except the saw is a pain putting back into the case.... not a problem for regular lumbers and plywood sheets .... It's light and accurate / comfortable enough... But not the most powerful for wet lumbers. Will work if you don't go too fast...



https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000090PJS/?tag=atomicindus08-20


I also have the craftsman pro ones.. Heavier and cuts nice... as well as their hypoid saw... that **** ****.... maybe I am just not used to Left hand or something.

https://www.craftsman.com/products/craftsman-15-amp-7-1-4-inch-circular-saw

http://www.searsoutlet.com/15-amp-C...w/d/product_details.jsp?pid=20842&mode=seeAll


The ridgid one is also nice.... but only the hitachi is in your price range....