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Freud 7-1/4", 40-Tooth Thin Kerf Finishing Blade

Toolhangers Worm Drive Saw Hanger

DeWalt DW3578B10 Series 20 7-1/4 inch 24T Carbide Thin Kerf Framing Blade

DeWalt Series 20 7-1/4" 24T Carbide Thin Kerf Framing Blade

Milwaukee 48-40-4172 10-1/4 inch, 40 Carbide Tooth, Circular Saw Blade

Milwaukee 10-1/4", 40 Carbide Tooth, Circular Saw Blade

Skil Worm Drive ~ DeWalt ~ Makita ~ Skil ~ Hitachi

Buying a Circular Saw

Insider Information You Need

by Curtis Rist ~ © Amazon.com

DEWALT DW369CSK Heavy Duty 7-1/4-Inch Lightweight Circular Saw with High Strength Base

Cut through a 2 x 6 or a piece of plywood with a hand saw, and there's likely to be not just a lot of huffing and puffing, but a meandering line as well. Yet switch on a circular saw, and the cut will come out straight and easy.

Circular saws are the workhorses of any construction job, from framing an addition to building a tree house. They glide through lumber in seconds, and can be fitted with an assortment of blades that rip through everything from nail-embedded wood to concrete blocks and bricks.

The saws come in a variety of sizes, but the most popular contains a blade 7.5" in diameter. The blade on most models can be adjusted to cut on a bevel up to 45 degrees, which is useful in cutting boards to frame the pitch of a roof. Larger jobs, such as cutting the timbers used for post-and-beam construction, require saws with blades of at least 12 inches in diameter. Correspondingly, lighter saws with reduced blade circumference should be used for smaller projects such as cutting plywood or two-by-fours. Regardless of the size of the blade, circular saws come in two varieties.

Worm-Drive Saws

A worm-drive saw is the toughest, most powerful circular saw, making it the right choice for heavy-duty jobs like framing an entire house or sawing through concrete. The saw derives its name from a pair of gears--the worm and the work gears--that position the motor shaft and the blade at right angles to each other. This gives the tool its characteristically broad shape.

The worm-drive saw also contains an oil-filled reservoir, similar to a crankcase, that lubricates the two gears and dulls the circular saw's ear-splitting scream. In addition, the blade's position on the left side of the motor makes it easy to see and follow the cutting line as you're working. Because of its power this saw is noticeably heavier than other models; the weight may add to fatigue if it's used for any length of time.

Skil 6-1/2" Worm Drive Saw

» All ball bearings
» Machined worm gears
» Easy to read depth scale
» High torque motor design
» 12amp, 4600RPM

Skil HD5510 5-1/2-Inch Circular Saw

» Left side blade for greater visibility
» Precision cut helical gears for longer tool life
» Ball bearing construction; high torque motor for extra power
» Zero adjust foot plate
» 6.5 amps power
» 1-3/4" cutting depth at 90° / 1-5/16" at 45°
» Portable and easy to use at 6.5 lbs overall weight
» 2-year limited warranty on equipment

Sidewinders

Because of their lightweight portability, sidewinders are the most popular model of circular saw--ideal for anyone doing less than major construction jobs. The blade and the motor are aligned alongside each other, for a compact profile. The disadvantage to this configuration, however, lies in a slight difficulty in being able to see the cut while you're using the saw. In order to get a clear view you must lean over the saw, which can become tiring after long periods of use.

Blades

Without a good blade, a circular saw is about as useful as a hand saw. Less expensive blades are made from steel, but stronger and more durable ones are cast from carbide. Regardless of the material, the key to proper use lies in choosing the right blade for the job, and sending it to a tool shop for occasional sharpening.

General-purpose Blades: contain about 20 teeth, and balance speed with durability to create smooth cuts.
Fine Work: such as cutting window trim or crown moldings requires a blade with more teeth--between 40 to 60--for a smoother cut.
Veneered Plywood: used for cabinets or paneling should be cut with a plywood blade made up of a mass of tiny teeth like those on a hand saw. These blades cut slowly without splintering.
Heavy-duty Work: requires different blades altogether. A remodeling blade with about a dozen square-edged teeth can rip through wood hammered with nails. And for cutting stone or concrete, choose a masonry blade. Rather than teeth, this blade has an abrasive edge that literally grinds through material.

Cutting Tips

Circular saws are designed to make straight cuts rather than curves or angles. Forcing the saw off a line will cause the blade to bind, which could make the whole saw kick backward--a dangerous situation. For the same reason, make sure that blades are clean of resinous gum from wood before using them. These sticky deposits could also cause the blade to bind, resulting in kick back.

Makita 16-5/16" Circular Saw

» Large capacity blade cuts 6-1/4" at 90° and 4-3/16" at 45°
» Weighs only 28.7 pounds for ease of operation
» Electric brake for maximum productivity
» Powerful motor delivers 1,800 max watts out
» Low noise level at only 87dB for quiet operation

Makita 14.4-Volt 3-3/8" Cordless Circular Saw Kit

» Powerful 18-Volt Ni-MH battery for longer run time
» Compact and lightweight at only 4.6lbs. (w/battery)
» Adjustable cutting depth with easy to read gauge on blade housing
» Shaft lock for easy blade changes
» Includes battery, charger, carbide tipped blade, rip fence and case

DeWalt 7-1/4" Circular Saw w/ Electric Brake

» Rear pivot depth of cut adjustment
» Allows your hand to remain behind the tool at minimum depth of cut
» Powerful 15-amp/2,075-watt motor made for long life and difficult applications
» Heavy gauge, high strength aluminum alloy shoe
» Electric brake
» 50 degree bevel capacity

DeWalt 18-Volt Power Tool Combo Kit

» All tools run off DeWalt's 18-volt XR+ batteries (two batteries included)
» Drill/driver/hammerdrill uses a DeWalt-built high-torque motor to deliver 450 in./lbs. of torque.
» Reciprocating saw operates at 0-2,800 spm with a 7/8-inch stroke
» Circular saw cuts two-by material at 90-degrees and 45-degrees
» Floodlight has flexible neck to point beam in any direction

Porter-Cable 7-1/4" Circular Saw with Brake

» Quik-Change keyless blade change offers tool-less blade changes in seconds
» Magnesium construction provides more durability and lighter weight at 9lbs
» 15, AMP, AC/DC, 10 lbs, 5,800 RPM blade speed with two second electric blade brake
» 100% ball and needle bearing
» Standard equipment: Saw, 18T carbide tipped Riptide blade #12800, case #907834, and operating manual

Milwaukee 6460M 10-1/4" Circular Saw

» 15 amp heavy duty motor
» High capacity - cuts four-by-fours
» Quick height and angle adjustments
» Serviceable external brushes for fast and easy replacement
» Limited warranty, 30-day no-risk trial

Milwaukee 18-Volt 6-1/2" Circular Saw w/ Extras!

» Cuts more 2 x 4's per battery charge than any other cordless circular saw
» 6-1/2" blade easily cuts 2 x material at 45 degrees
» 2.4 amp/hr battery provides 20% more run time than other Ni-CAD batteries
» 3200 rpm with electric brake, great balance
» Limited warranty, 30-day no-risk trial