First, let me say that your responses to me regarding the Skil Mag77 and the Bosch and the Rigid wormdrives was very helpful and made me take a closer look at all these, except the Rigid which just was not around for me to view.
After talking with Emma at Bigfoot Saws and seeing and handling the Bosch, I decided on the Skil Mag77, here’s why:
I really thought I would want the cast mag table of the Bosch and the 50 degree availability and the 15amp motor. It was comfortable to hold, but the table area just seemed to not let in the light as much as the Skil. Maybe I’m weird, but with the eyes needing glasses now for close work, the Skil seems to allow a touch more openness here and the casting on the Bosch incorporates the degree setting adjusting frame into the casting. Probably strong, but a little less open than the steel one you are familiar with on the Skil. Skil has a 13 amp motor and most reviews said they couldn’t tell a difference in power from the 15ampers. Emma at Bigfoot says Bosch has had some problems with their worm gearing and bearings (their probably ironing this out if not already hopefully), and since I work in an area where we seem most to “spider” out the power cords, 13 amps has always worked very well so far with less chance to breakout when something else large turns on.
I have always been fine with the Skil bevel setup…I am going to rattail file the square 45 degree end of the braket to round it up farther to ensure an extra couple degrees at least past 45. Also, the zero setting screw sounded nice but I actually like to be able to get beyond in this direction, too, for me I like the full scale options both ways by eye and hand. I also didn’t think I’d like to have that spring steel thing on the Bosch bevel scale and have to deal with playing with it sometimes. Once in awhile someone will call and say they dropped their mag foot saw and broke it as the mag is more brittle, also, so the steel front bevel scale on the Skil seems like it would maybe hold up…maybe. The new table is definitely better than the original flat aluminum one and very nice.
So there you have it for me. The Skil is a classic for a reason and is simple and extremely durable without some of the “extras” that, to me, seem to clutter up pure function and what I really like to do with a saw…set it and cut solidly.
Thanks for yawls time and helpful inputs and information to help me.
Edited 3/9/2006 1:38 am ET by zorrosdens
Edited 3/9/2006 2:04 am ET by zorrosdens
Edited 3/9/2006 2:10 am ET by zorrosdens
Replies
That's an interesting post. As long as you don't abuse the saw, that Mag will last a long time. Its kind of difficult to argue with it's track record.
I hope you enjoy that saw
I still love the Ridgid though :-)
And I still love the Bosch....
sigh......View Image
and I still love you
no sigh . . . . . .that's a little to weird :-)
LOL... you're the bomb dude. Framers are people too.View Image
Oh, my gosh! One of us is in the wrong forum!What is this, brokeback carpentry? YUK!Not that there's anything wrong with that.
I was quite happy that that movie didn't win.
brotherly love man, not that other stuff
Well
EDIT---- Oops I see that this isn't the tavern I keep my comment to myself,
Edited 3/9/2006 6:33 am ET by plumbbill
A nod in the affirmative here......