Any comments on this saw vs. say, the Dewalt high torque circular saw (looks like a cross between a worm drive and a standard model)? I seem to remember a very favorable write up in a recent FHB on the Milwaukee model, but my memory may be failing me.
Opinions, please!
Replies
If you are referring to the sidewinder, blade right with the adjustable handle position...I have had one for 3 or 4 yrs.
I like it, but I still keep my 20 yr old one for nostalgia.
The new blade depth adjustment is not as prone to sticking as the old one, and the tilt handle is still where ever it was when I bought it, never had a need to move it..or thought about it.
Bought it because the guard kept hanging on my old one, and I finally was ready for something new, turns out about 2 hours of engineeering the return spring shorter and liberal amounts of Graphite, and the old one is better than new.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
It's a good saw, no doubt. In fact it's the only sidewinder I keep on the truck. Before I switched over to wormdrives for 90% of our framing, I had two or three of them at one time. They're well built, the shoe can take some lumps, it bevels to 50 degrees, and it has good power for a sidewinder. With the adjustable handle all the way in the 'back' position it puts the handle behind the motor which I find to be a very comfortable cutting position. This way you're pushing the saw through the cut (like you would with an inline or wormdrive) instead of dragging it over the top like most sidewinders are set up.
That being said, my favorite inline saw is the Dewalt hybrid you were talking about. It's not the highest quality saw by any means, but I just love the ergonomics of those things. I've got two of them on the truck right now. The common problems with that Dewalt are the aluminum shoe getting bent, switches burning out prematurely, and motors burning up prematurely. To be fair, I haven't had any motors burn up on me, but I've read about it being fairly common with the saw. The ergonomics of that saw is what makes me keep buying them.
Boy, I'm a big help, huh? Best advice anyone can give you with choosing a circular saw is to go out and play around with your favorite choices and see which one feels best to you and your cutting style. There's so many good saws out there right now in all different colors, that the decision should really come down to what feels right to you. Everyone's got their favorite color, but in truth, most of them are pretty decent tools now but all of them still have their 'quirks'. I don't think there's a 'perfect' one out there yet.
Thanks for the insight and your personal experience. I appreciate the honest critiques of both saws.
I just bought this saw and so far so good.
I've had one for a year or so and it is a very well made saw.Something about the way the motor sounds - it's so much "cleaner" than the PC sidewinder I also have.It hesitates at nothing, and the handle is great to be able to adjust as needed.JT
Milwaukee electric tools sound cool!