Porter-Cable - 324 MAG Circular Saw

Editor's Review: Not Your Old Saw

This well-balanced circular saw has a unique dust control system with an adjustable port that lets you blow sawdust in any direction, back into the blade housing, or into a shop-vacuum hose. It has excellent lines of sight, and the cord clip at the end of the motor housing keeps the cord out of harm's way. The saw's ribbed-magnesium baseplate and hinge/depth assembly are light but stiff. The machine we tested delivered smooth guard retraction on all cuts, including simple miters beginning from both the long and short points, as well as compound miters, again from both directions. Porter-Cable's Quik-Change toolless system simplifies blade changing. A small spring-loaded wing slides from the cap of the bolt to loosen and tighten the bolt.

Editor Test Results:

Editor's Review: Wrenchless Blade-Changing in a New Lightweight Saw

Porter-Cable's new Mag-Saw circular saw boasts several features that make it user-friendly. Most notable is the Quik-Change wrenchless blade-changing system. With the saw's arbor locked, you simply unscrew the arbor nut by using a slide-out lever built into the nut.

At 9.6 lb., the Mag-Saw is light, well balanced, and easy to control, with a lightweight magnesium base. Its soft rubber handle is well positioned for ripping. The depth-of-cut and 50-degree maximum bevel levers are large and easy to adjust. The saw has 1-in. graduations along the base and a graduated depth stop for approximating blade depth quickly. I also like the rotating dust port, which can be attached to a vacuum hose.

Editor Test Results: