Circular Saw Buying Guide

Circular saws aren’t just for framing carpenters. They can also come in handy in fine woodworking shops. Although most of what you need cut can be done on stationary saws you may find it quicker and easier to do with a portable circular saw.

Although you can find a saw for under a hundred bucks you may want to reconsider it. Cheaper saws tend to have inadequate power and overall life. In the long run you’ll probably have to buy a new one in a couple of years and find that economy price has actually cost you more.

For around a $100 you can get a professional grade saw that will last 10 years or more, even if you use it all day, everyday.

Price shouldn’t be the only thing you consider before buying though. Here are other factors to consider before buying.

Saw Styles

There is another type of circular saw that is called a worm drive saw. A worm drive saws motor is set parallel to the blade and uses gears to drive it. This give the saw more torque that is required for heavy duty jobs like cutting concrete. However with this extra power comes a saw with more weight and a larger price (around $200).

Sidewinder saws are the most common type found in home and professional wood shops. There just isn’t much justification for getting the heavy duty worm drive saw unless you have other tasks that require it.

Power Source

Cordless circular saws also generally have a smaller blade that result in limited cutting capacity. Circular saws are generally designated by there blade size and have blades that range from 4” to 16”. The most common is 7 1/4” saws. These are capable of easily cutting through a 2-by-4 at both 90 ° and 45 ° . Cordless saws usually have a blade range from about 4” to 6”. While some of these are capable of cutting through a 2-by-4 at 90 ° they require 2 passes to make the cut at 45 ° . It’s always a good idea to check the cutting capacity of the saw you plan to get to make sure it is enough.

Typically cordless tools tend to cost more. Price along with the reasons above is why I recommend getting a corded circular saw. Cordless saws are great if you are a trim carpenter and generally cut through thinner pieces all day. Corded saws will be more useful in the home wood shop.

Power

Adjustments

The scales used to make these adjustments are rarely very accurate on any circular saw so they will need to be double checked with some type of gauge.

Safety and Other Features

The blade guard is the piece that covers the blade and protects your digits from getting cut off. It should slide back into place automatically no matter what type of cut you’re making.

The safety trigger isn’t found on all circular saws but it is a feature worth thinking about getting. It has a switch or button that must be pushed before the trigger can be depressed. This keeps you from inadvertently starting your blade.

An electric brake is another feature to look for. After you let off the trigger the blade will still be spinning. Electric brakes reverse the flow of electricity and stop the blade quicker.

One of the last features I can think of to look for is a shaft lock (sometimes called an arbor lock). All but the cheaper saws should have this feature. It is a button that, when you push it, holds the blade in place making it easier to change blades.

Blades

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I can only review and give a my suggestion based on what I think the common home workshop needs are. Here is your chance to disagree with me and share your picks according to your own needs

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