Geography has a lot to do with a carpenter’s choice in circular saws. In pockets of the West and Midwest, worm drive saws are the common choice. In the East, sidewinders are king. Many carpenters have one or more of each, using them for different applications.

So, just what is the difference between these two styles of saw? Let’s take a closer look.

Difference in: Mechanics

Clearly these two saws look different, and that difference is due to the position of the motor and gearing.

A sidewinder uses a motor with what’s technically called a spur-gear. By nature of this gear, the motor must be in line with the spinning blade, and this means the blade spins fast, in the neighborhood of 6,000 rpm. As you can see, the motor position allows for a fairly compact lightweight saw.

A wormdrive motor is at the rear of the saw, and its power is transferred to the blade with a pair of gears that are oriented at a 90 degree angle. This gear setup reduces the speed of the blade, typically in the neighborhood of 4,500 RPM, but increases torque. Obviously, this motor position leads to a longer saw, but it’s also significantly heavier.

Difference in: Handling

There are exceptions, but by and large, a sidewinder will have the blade on the right and a worm drive will have the blade on the left. Depending on whether you are righty or lefty, this will affect sightlines and working habits. Let’s assume you’re a righty…

With a sidewinder, the blade is on the right side and the weight of the tool is on the left. This design keeps the weight of the tool on the solid part of the board rather than the cutoff. The tradeoff is that it’s more difficult to see the cutline. Typically cuts are made on sawhorses or right on the stack of lumber. However, the lightweight of a sidewinder makes it a good choice for working overhead. Some will also argue that the blade position helps ensure that both hands are kept a safe distance from the cut. In use, the compact lightweight sidewinder is much easier to handle

With a wormdrive, the blade is on the left side, leaving the majority of the weight on the right. This design changes the way the blade is installed. It also makes it super easy to follow a cutline, but can be dicey if you’re used to working on sawhorses. Many wormdrive users either cut right on the stack of lumber, or take advantage of the tool’s weight by cutting boards in a handheld position. The extra length of the tool also makes it handy for gang cutting wide stacks of lumber or long sheet goods. Its shape also makes plunge cuts easier.

Bottom line

This is one of the most argued tool topics in modern construction. The truth is that one saw isn’t better than the other, it just depends on how you prefer to work.Luckily these days most local retailers will sell both types of circular saws, but if not, online retailers certainly bridge the longstanding geographical biases, so that means the decision is all yours.

For more information:

• Tool Tech: Hitachi’s Worm Drive
• Using a Worm-Drive Saw
• Skilsaw Sawsquatch 10 1/4 in. Worm Drive Saw
• Mag SHD77M Circular Saw Review
• Cutting Curves with a Circular Saw