Milwaukee Wormdrive vs. Skil Mag 77

[Kilgore Trout]

All,

Narrowed down my circular saw choices to one of these two. I am a buy once cry once kind of guy, so I figured I would buy one and let is last me for the next 20 years.

Any advice to tip the choice one way or the other?

Thanks!

 

[TheGrooveking]

http://www.toolsofthetrade.net/search.aspx?query=Wormdrive+saw

Reviews of both recent models can be found here. I own both, my Milwaukee is 20 years old and hasn't yet met anything it couldn't cut and I have a two year old Skil Mag77 and it is lighter than the Milwaukee. The Milwaukee is not something I'd want to use all day long.

TheGrooveking

 

[Wamsutta]

I'd like to recommend a Skill 77 but I can't because they changed the handle design. The new Chinese made Skill 77s have a different shaped handle that are not anywhere near as comfortable as the previous handle. The new handles are easy to spot because they'll have a dull flat color. The original handles were always a glossy grey or red. The only thing I can recommend now is get an older USA made model and fix it up with new parts.

 

[Sal Bandini]

Best saw IMO is the 6 1/2" worm drive. The weight savings is worth it.

Edit: Just saw that they don't make it anymore. I'm glad I hung onto mine.