Giant hand held circular saw

[6PTsocket]

I was watching the TV show Barnwood Builders. They had the biggest hand held circular saw I had ever seen. It was huge. A quick search turned up the 16 5/16" Makita that goes for around $700. I am not sure if that is the one or anybody else makes a similar saw. Has anyone here used one of these monsters? Are they hard to handle? Just curious.

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[Copymutt]

Pretty sure there called Beam Saws. Got my hands on one once in a timberframe project? If things were goo bad they would go really really bad. They do the job they were designed for.
Jim

 

[mmason7764]

Saw one in a construction supply store in Conroe, TX. They are unexpectedly large and impressive!!!

 

[Finky198]

I have the one your talking about its quiet large, they are known as beam saws in some crowds. There are some other kits and some industrial offerings but the most widely available saw is definitely the makita 16 5/16”. I have an older model with all metal construction.

Makita beam saw sitting on a 2x12 10x glue lam beam

 

[4x4gearhead]

I have used a big old aluminum bodied makita, and they are very mean. I was apprehensive about using it, but found that if i took my time with the cuts it didnt try to jump at all. Definitely a tool to use plenty of discretion when using lol. I made some ramps for driving over the road trucks onto with one out of 16x16 beams. The ramps turned out awesome and were really handy. I would post pics but i quit that job awhile back, didnt end well and im not going back.

 

[Robinson1]

It's just a sidewinder saw with a really big blade. They use the same motor the 7 1/4 saws do which translates to being underpowered. No more dangerous than a standard saw. They are heavy and the weight really helps hold them down when they bind and try to kickback. They are a great tool with very limited uses.

They also make a 10 inch version and you can get a 10 inch wormdrive saw as well as the Prazi chainsaw attachments. All common on timber frame and cabin projects.

 

[Finky198]

There was a matching 10” locally a while back and I can kick myself it was like 50 bucks...

As Robinson said there a limited use tool. I’ve made less they 25 cuts so far with the makita compared to 1000s with my 7-1/4 wormdrive... in the same time period...

And decent blades are $100+ And not easy to get locally...

 

[rick carpenter]

It's just a sidewinder saw with a really big blade. They use the same motor the 7 1/4 saws do which translates to being underpowered. No more dangerous than a standard saw. They are heavy and the weight really helps hold them down when they bind and try to kickback. They are a great tool with very limited uses.

Sounds like it's time for a gas turbine worm drive version. If you're going to go big, you really should go BIG!

I wish the Barnwood Builders team would use PPE. They may inspire more chainsaw users to do the same.

 

[6PTsocket]

Sounds like it's time for a gas turbine worm drive version. If you're going to go big, you really should go BIG!

I wish the Barnwood Builders team would use PPE. They may inspire more chainsaw users to do the same.

At least they have never used a redneck log splitter. LOL. That is is real insanity. They are artists with a chain saw. I like that prefab shed they skinned to look like a log cabin. Until I started watching, I thought log cabins had round profile logs like the modern fakes and Lincoln log toys. Even the oldest ones they work on have the faces milled flat with hand tools.

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[mike93lx]

Skill makes one called the Super SawSquatch. It is a worm drive, definitely not a sidewinder.

They also have a 10" for cutting 4x4's

 

[tarbellb]

Ive got one, its actually a Ryobi! Pretty sure a rebadge of a 70's Makita.

They are a beast (specially w/ no blade guard...) but easy to tame by binding the blade if necessary. Super slow rpms as well.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZWuJ-CAfoO/?taken-by=factory320

 

[dutchgray]

Mafell does an even bigger one, 17 11/16" blade, price equally massive.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I grew up framing. I have:

Makita 16
Makita 13 (uncommon)
Bigfoot 10
Skil 8
Skil 7
Skil 6 (small 77 type. Super sweet)

And now M18/M12
6.5
5-3/8
(Waiting for the 7-1/4 to have the blade where it should be)

They all have their place.

Oh yea, I have a Linear Link (Chainsaw attachment on Skill 77).
Chainsaws from Stihl 009 to MS460

Next thing I want is the Bigfoot head cutter....waiting for a ebay auction on that.

Most of the big stuff I used was for cutting roofs on mountain homes. I have it all in drawers now just awaiting to build my forever home. Not worth selling as my saws have been well taken care of and cost too much to replace.

EDIT: just ran across this chain beam saw COMPUND MITRE AND BEVEL on google...ohhh..that's sweet. https://www.timbertools.com/HEMA-KS-380-Chain-Beam-Saw.html

 

[thooks]

Those used to be in every Lowe's and/or Home Depot in the 90's.

 

[Monte]

 

[njc41980]

If you're doing any timberframing, there is no substitute for a Beam Saw.

 

[theoldwizard1]

How about this bad boy ! When you are cutting your own timber frames from logs. 12-1/4" wide !

 

[Millwrong]

We call them "Timber" saws around here. Yes, they are quite impressive!

 

[KnurledNut]

As was mentioned, they spin slow and are heavy so no real kickback threat.
They are great when you need precise cuts on beams.
But for just 6x6, ill grab a 8-1/4 worm.

 

[2oolhound]

Yes, had one in 70's for building log homes. They were easy to control like was mentioned. You could easily bind them in a deep cut by twisting them sideways. If you needed a deep square cut they were great.

 

[dutchgray]

Monte's link led me to this,

Though its not exactly hand held, more like 2 man lift minimum, turn volume down a bit, its a loud vid.

 

[kctyphoon]

That's the costco edition circular saw.

 

[topp64]

Skill makes one called the Super SawSquatch. It is a worm drive, definitely not a sidewinder.

They also have a 10" for cutting 4x4's

Yeah their 10-1/4" model goes by the name of Skil Sawsquatch. The 16-5/16" Super Sawsquatch just became available this month. It weighs approx 30lbs.

 

[mikegt4]

Curly and his ALTA circular saw.

 

[Musicinabottle]

I have the one your talking about its quiet large, they are known as beam saws in some crowds. There are some other kits and some industrial offerings but the most widely available saw is definitely the makita 16 5/16”. I have an older model with all metal construction.

Makita beam saw sitting on a 2x12 10x glue lam beam

I've used them a bunch, and they are incredibly gutless in order to keep them from killing you if ever they bound up,

 

[velocipede]

I watched that BB episode and got the impression they had been sent a pre-production model of something new. Sure could be wrong. It was worm drive and did a decent job on their test beam. Maybe they sent it to the BB guys because their go to is usually a chain saw.

 

[Bretny]

I traded for a bosch worm drive with a 10.25in big foot kit a few years back. Its really handy for notching 4x6 posts or cutting 4x4s. I dont use it often but its really handly when you need it.