Are you looking for a new circular saw? I am. I have an old, cheap one that I bought at Home Depot about 10 years ago that has just about had it with my torture. So now I'm looking at my options to purchase a new circular saw. Do I go cordless? How much will I use it? What do I need it for? How much power do I really need in my circular saw?
I spoke to my brother Joe about it. He's a contractor in Buffalo, New York and a huge fan of DeWalt tools. He always goes for top of the line quality in his tools. Joe said that cordless circular saws are good for when you are working up on a roof or at places where there is limited or no power access. As far as strength, Joey says that the newer cordless tools have almost the power of corded tools. Almost, but not quite and certainly not if you are using them to cut framing pieces all day long. Joe has both a wormdrive and a regular circular saw. He pulls out his Skil HD77M wormdrive circular saw when he needs to get through the big stuff. But when he will be cutting 2x4's all day, he uses the lighter weight DeWalt 368K. And, for cutting up on the roof, he uses his DeWalt cordless DC300K with a NANO battery. Joe said he got into the NANO technology because it gets damn cold in Buffalo and he wants the reliability of Lithium Ion batteries, which will perform just as well in cold temperatures. And the nicest thing about them is that the DeWalt NANO batteries are backwards compatible with all his DeWalt cordless tools.
4 Circular Saw
Hmmm. But what kind of circular saw do I want? While I am not a contractor, I am an avid Do-It-Yourselfer who has a sweet job as the editor of a tool blog. Yup, I get a great discount on the high quality tools that are sold at the Toolking Superstore and you betcha, I've been taking advantage of that! (shameless plug ;0) Seriously though, even if I didn't get the discount, ToolKing has the lowest prices, especially if you go for the reconditioned versions (believe me, I've checked around). ToolKing's secret (for all you e-commerce wannabe's) is that they purchase in very large quantities from companies like DeWalt and Makita and that leverage gets them a better price deal, which they then pass on to their customer, aka: You.
Anyhoo ~ back to my circular saw purchase.
Corded versus Cordless
I'm debating whether to go with a cordless or corded circular saw. My husband and I bought the crappiest, smallest house in our neighborhood so we are in the middle of remodeling pretty much our entire home. Because we both work full-time jobs, we remodel in spurts. Our circular saw just crapped out on us on the last project. We were framing an outdoor patio area with 6x6's to lay pavers. Poop, went our circular saw, it had had enough. Like I said earlier, it was old, cheap and from Home Depot. Okay, maybe we were pushing it a bit on the 6x6's but who doesn't push their tools to the limit of what they are supposed to be used for? Especially homeowners, who typically don't have the large selection of tools that a contractor would have, or don't always have the 'right tool' for the job (the right tool for this job would have been a circular saw with a Prazi beamcutter attachment).
After a bit of debate, we decided to go with a corded circular saw or a Lithium Ion battery powered circular saw because we often go several weeks or months between projects. When we need to use the circular saw, we want to use it now. Lithium Ion batteries have a long shelf life, which means they will stay charged even if they sit on the shelf in your garage (in the cold) for several weeks. They are also extremely lightweight. So if we go cordless, we will opt for the Lithium Ion battery powered circular saw. Makita makes a nice LiIon circular saw and you can get one with the purchase of their LXT700 18v LiIon combo kit. The LiIon circular saw included in the LXT700 kit has a 6-1/2 inch saw blade though, not a 7-1/4, which is what we are looking for.
I went into the Toolking store. The ToolKing store has a great setup, Doug and the guys have redesigned the entire layout so now you can touch and hold all the tools. I love that! You can really get a feel for which one you like better because when it comes down to the options, there are a lot of high quality tools available but which one feels better in Your hands? Most of the contractor grade circular saws have a 15 amp, powerful motor, magnesium housing (for lightweight and strength), at least a 45 degree beveling capacity and excellent safety features. I personally need to pick up each one as if I'm using it, and check the position of the handles for comfort and how good my line of sight will be to the blade.
These are the circular saws that I compared:
1. I picked up the DeWalt DW368K. Lightweight at 9.5 lbs, it is durable enough to withstand a 1-story drop. The DeWalt DW368K also has a beveling capacity of 56 degrees.
2. The Makita 5007FAK is a bit heavier at 11.1 lbs but has this cool onboard LED light and a ruler on the foot plate. How many times are you working in a room with the light at your back?
3. I'm a big fan of the Bosch company because of all that I've learned about their power tool recycling program and other pro-active enviromental projects. The very nice feature of the Bosch CS20 (10.3 lbs) saw is their Direct Connect Cord Management System. The Bosch CS20 doesn't have a cord, you plug your power cord into it. So you never have to deal with replacing the cord or tossing your tool out because the cord has split. The Bosch CS20 also has a blower in the front that blows the sawdust out of your way as you cut so you can see where you are cutting. The Bosch CS20 also bevels at 56 degrees.
4. Then there was the Porter-Cable 324MAG. Super lightweight, the 324MAG weighs 9.6lbs. Out of the circular saws I looked at, only the Porter Cable brand had an exhaust port for a vacuum attachment, a nice feature for working in the garage or house.
5. Milwaukee makes the 6394-21 Tilt-lok. It is the most expensive of the bunch at 5 but features an exclusive Tilt-Lok handle that is probably more adjustable than I am. The Tilt-Lok on the Milwaukee 6294-21 adjust to 8 different locking positions, making it easier for working on angles and overhead. The Milwaukee circular saw also has a 10 foot, Quik-Lok cord for easy cord replacement and with a 3-horsepower motor, works as hard as my Polish carpenter father.
A good circular saw should have enough power to cut through wet wood without slowing down or dangerous kickback. A good circular saw should also be lightweight and durable because you inadvertently will drop it on the ground. You should choose a circular saw based on balance, maneuverability and how it feels when you hold it. Good luck!
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Skil 5480-01 13 Amp 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw Kit Feature
- The durable ball bearing motor construction gives the saw a longer life
- 2-point Line of Sight allows users to make more accurate cuts
- The patented Anti-Snag lower guard provides smooth operation for small cut-off pieces
- The foot is 20-percent larger than the previous generation guaranteeing more stability and control when making cuts
- A rear lever depth-adjustment assures accurate cut depth in material
Skil 5480-01 13 Amp 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw Kit Overview
Skil 5480-01 7-1/4" Circular Saw 2.3HP, 13 AmpsFounded in 1924 as the Michel Electric Handsaw Company and renamed Skilsaw, Inc. in 1926, SKIL has become one of the most recognized and powerful brands in the power tool industry. From circular saws and jigsaws to sanders and drills, SKIL power tools are engineered to deliver the high-performance and durability that today's growing population of Do-It-Yourselfers demand. Every product of the growing line of SKIL tools is the result of extensive end-user research, consumer input, computer assisted design and rigorous testing, both in our laboratories and in the field. SKIL Power Tools are products of the Robert Bosch Tool Corporation.Skil 5480-01 7-1/4" Circular Saw 2.3HP, 13 Amps Features:&149; Ball Bearing Motor Construction for Twice the Life&149; A Half Pound Less Weight reduces User Fatigue&149; Twenty percent Wider Foot makes Saw More Stable&149; Compact Design for User Comfort&149; Two Point Line of Cut for Cutting AccuracySkil 5480-01 7-1/4" Circular Saw 2.3HP, 13 Amps Specifications:&149; Arbor Size: 5/8 Round &149; Blade Diameter: 7 1/4" &149; Certifications: cULus &149; Cord Length: 6' &149; Depth of Cut at 45 Deg.: 49mm max cut &149; Depth of Cut at 90 Deg.: 62mm max cut &149; Max. Motor HP: 2.3 HP &149; No Load RPM: 4600/ min &149; Rating: 12 A &149; Voltage: 120 V &149; Weight: 11.8 lbs.Skil 5480-01 13 Amp 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw Kit Specifications
The 5480-01 7-1/4-Inch SKILSAW is lighter and more compact than previous models, while providing more power to get the job done quickly. User-friendly features, such as the two-point line of sight and a wider, more stable foot, allow users to get the job done right the first time. With over 80 years of engineering experience, the 5480-01 combines lightweight design with the power and durability you have come to expect from a SKILSAW. 2-point line of sight allows users to cut straighter lines with ease. |
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 Rear lever depth adjustment quickly confirms precise cut depth in material. View larger. |
 Includes an 18-tooth SKILSAW carbide blade. |
*compared to model 5400-01 |
The 5480-01 SKILSAW has a 13-amp motor that supplies the necessary strength for ripping through all varieties of wood, while the 7-1/4-inch 18-tooth carbide blade provides the cutting capacity necessary for tackling a variety of projects, including building decks, fences, sheds, or bunk beds. The 5480 is also 1/2 of a pound lighter than its predecessor (5400-01) and boasts a 20% wider foot for greater stability.
The 5480-01 circular saw possesses many user-friendly features, including a patented Anti Snag lower guard, a professional-grade safety feature that reduces hangups in materials when making narrow cutoffs. A rear depth adjustment lever enables the user to easily adjust the depth of cut, while the trigger safety lock prevents accidental starts. The two-point line of sight allows users to cut straight lines with ease, minimizing mistakes. The 5480-01 SKILSAW's powerful 2.3-horsepower motor provides ample power and the ball-bearing motor construction ensures long tool life.
SKIL Heritage
SKIL Power Tools is a leader in portable electric power tools and accessories that serves the consumer do-it-yourself and professional construction markets. Founded in 1924 with the invention of the SKILSAW Worm Drive, SKIL now delivers a complete line of power tools designed and engineered to help do-it-yourselfers achieve home project success, while providing professionals durable, cost-conscience tools for the jobsite.
What's in the Box
5480-01 SKILSAW, 18-tooth SKILSAW Carbide Blade, and wrench.
Product Specifications
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