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I have had both the Milwaukee and the high end DeWalt. The DeWalt is evidentally similar to the old Saw Cat. The Milwaukee cuts true and has very little blade wobble, but is a bear to adjust for depth of cut. The DeWalt cuts true and is fairly heavy. There was an article in FHB about framing several months ago, and the author mentioned that he felt “safer” with heavier saws. I am older, and not a professional, but I feel that the heavier saw is better. I have never used a PC. As for the case, the DeWalt fits in Milwaukee case ( doing it) and Milwaukee charges extra for the case anyhow. I would buy the Dewalt and get a Milwaukee case. I have never used a Mikita so can’t comment.
Dennis
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Did you ever see what a metal case does when it hits your customers hardwood floors? P C a good saw, a plastic case and made in good old U S of A.
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Pardon a dumb question - does sidewinder mean it's a worm drive, or that it's not ?
*If I am not mistaken, the Saw Boss, too, is either a wormdrive or is configured like one with the blade on the left.
*Not.
*Mike, correctamundo... a six inch left (correctly) bladed sidewinder. Not bad for an old guy.
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I've been working in the field for years and have seen and used all different makes. My Makita is the best saw out there bar none. Anyone who is in th biz will tell you. Still works and is still true after 10 years of abuse and a fall off a two story building. Joey
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I don't want to throw a fly in the ointment, but on a recent trip to my tool dealer, I noted that virtually all circular saw blades are designed for saws with the blade mounted on the right side. I didn't see any blades designed for mounting on the left side. Check it out yourself.
*Maybe I'm being thick (or left-handed), but why does a sawblade have to be designed differently for a lh or rh saw? Only difference would be which surface is facing out (the one with the writing/graphics on it, or the plain one).
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Jason -
RE: Sidewinder - new Milwaukee
Was at a tool breakfast last week (cleaned out the burritos, decimated the OJ, got two saw blades from Milw., a key ring from DeWalt and won a Stanley gimmie hat in the drawing - good day).
The Milwaukee rep was showing their new sidewinder. Looks interesting. Worth a look at least.
Blade on right, port on left for the "vision thing" - you can easily see the forward blade edge, saw dust exits out the top guard (I want to see this in action.) and - variable handle geometry.
The handle can be set to straight back (Skill 77), up on top (DeWalt 387 and others) and in between.
Interesting. As this is Skill Country, I didn't ask the price (I was standing at the time.)
I told him I'd like to borrow it for a day and give it a try. Nice try - but, no cigar.
ToolBear
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About 149 - local Farm and Fleet in Midwest. Used to be a Milwaukee person, but the Dewalt repair station told me Milwaukee is slipping. They recommend Dewalt, of course, and PC. FWIW.
Dennis
*For years I kicked myself because I didn't buy a Craftsman saw back in the early '70's when they were the last all metal saw they made. Real nice looking. Then about 10 years ago I found a nice one in a pawn shop and bought it fast. And then another, and another. I've bought four or five of them now and have given $25 for each one of them. Always $25. Shit cutter blade on one, concrete blade on one, good blade on one, etc. Craftsman!!
*Per,Everyone knows that you have to have the graphics outward so you can tell if you're using a 40 tooth blade or a 24 tooth blade without having to count the teeth :~)lonecat,My father has one of the earlier Craftsman all metal saws. Case isn't grounded like modern saws, so you either feel a slight buzz when holding it or the GFCI trips. I'll take a newer one, personally.
*One of the homewarehouse stores once had a quality name brand carbide blade (I forget which). The regular blade for a side winder was $1.00 less than the worm drive blade. The difference? Which side the graphics were on and on the regular blade you had to knock out the diamond yourself. How long do the graphics last on a blade spinning in a piece of wood?
*Mike,How long the graphics last depends upon your skill and technique. If you cut straight and true, the blade's side shouldn't contact the work. If you apply any sideward pressure or turn the blade, well, it becomes pretty apparent just how good you are at that point.
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Another vote for PC ....plenty of power, light weight. The discharge works nice ....you can hook a bag or shop vac to it - nice for remodels where you are cutting inside. Do wish I had gotten the electric brake tho'(model 447).
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Barry: That current coming up your arm helps keep you alert and on the line. If I am cutting outside on damp ground, I put one hand on my butt. (Won't go thru yer heart that way ,they say). I swear I actually saw something in a catalog about that left, right blade deal, and spent some time trying to figure out what the hell they were talking about. Is that it?, graphics?
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Lonecat -
One of my collegues fondly remembers being way up a ladder (school job) drilling with a full metal drill that decided to short out to the frame. Leaving him up there twitching and making strange noises.
Another worker heard the noises, saw his problem and cut the extension cord with a rigger's axe. Whereupon (you guessed it) he peeled off the ladder.
Some days. Or, as the Japanese put it: "While crying, stung by bee."
ToolBear
*The DeWalt is the Sawcat with a yellow housing.
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The porter cable left side blade has a smaller hole. I use a small ring to use right side blades on mine.
*It's probably too late I missed this one, but maybe its an east/west thing but out west we use worm drives not sidewinders. I spent a couple years on large project that brought alot of carpenters together from all over the US.We used worms and the east coast bunch used sidewinders. At the end of the project you could have bought and sidewinder you wanted for $10. They all converted. This was heavy commercial construction lots of form work and framing. Maybe in a more of a finishing environment the sidewinders have their place. And except for the PC the blade is on the wrong side.
*Barry,Is this finewoodworking???? what about cutting curves...never done a curve with a skilsaw? You're missing a skill then.Near the stream,J
*I suggest that you buy the PC in both a right and left hand version. Then you can cut twice as fast by using both at the same time with one in each hand.
*Yeah, but sometimes you don't know your right from your left.Dennis
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Jason: If you're going to invest in a real saw, and you like the blade on the left, why not go directly from the outhouse to the whitehouse and get a worm drive. If you take the saw up on the roof the worm drive is the perfect choice. You can put a sky hook on it and they rip a little easier. They stand up to occaisional abuse like masonry of metal cutting tasks. Of course the thought of holding all that torque in one hand may be a little scary but hey be a man!!!
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The time has come, my friends, to pick up a new sidewinder here in Michigan. My last died with little fanfare, and I'm looking for your help in picking a new one. I was using a Porter-Cable Saw Boss--very light, particularly on a roof--but now I'd like to step up to a 7 1/4" just because of the wide range of available blades. I'm leaning towards the Milwaukee, particularly since I completely agree with GDOG in "Tool Manufacturers Listen Up" and that I will not buy a tool with a plastic case.
Any recommendations, likes, dislikes, or comments I should be aware of before I purchase next week? Thanks in advance, Jason
*Porter-Cable again.
*If you use any kind of guides (No speed squares!), the magnesium shoe of the PC isn't flat or even straight. I just returned one, and went back with Makita and it's milled base. Last one was 15 years old and would still be running (actually, probably is) but was stolen. No problem at all with the plastic case.
*b,We have Makita accuracy in common!!!J
*Now that I am in my physically declining years, ( I may be able to semi- retire this summer), I buy tools by the pound. The less it weighs, the more I'll pay. Doesn't that Milwaukee weigh about forty pounds?
*I guess Porter Cable makes good ones and bad ones. After Blue saying he had one with the base out of square to the blade, and Billy getting one with a bad base, I went to check mine (P-C 347). Checked it for square with a machinist square: bang on. Checked the base for flat and twist with a milled straight edge: really pretty good, a little bit of light here and there, but as good as the milled table on my tablsaw. I use it with guides all the time, with no problems.I like the 15 amp motor, and a dust chute too. Got mine after rave reviews from a buddy. I'll be more careful to check that the one I'm buying is true before I buy the next tool, though.
*I have had both the Milwaukee and the high end DeWalt. The DeWalt is evidentally similar to the old Saw Cat. The Milwaukee cuts true and has very little blade wobble, but is a bear to adjust for depth of cut. The DeWalt cuts true and is fairly heavy. There was an article in FHB about framing several months ago, and the author mentioned that he felt "safer" with heavier saws. I am older, and not a professional, but I feel that the heavier saw is better. I have never used a PC. As for the case, the DeWalt fits in Milwaukee case ( doing it) and Milwaukee charges extra for the case anyhow. I would buy the Dewalt and get a Milwaukee case. I have never used a Mikita so can't comment.Dennis
*I have the Skil HD 77. It has no problem with old, dry oak barn boards. This is my first sidewinder so I am still getting used to the feel of the saw. I think the DeWalt DW378G has a better balance to it, all the weight is centered right around the middle of the saw. It is "shorter" and 3 lbs lighter than mine. Though I have noticed the "longer" layout of the HD77 is great for straight cuts in sheets.-Rob
*Rob,I believe the Skil HD77 and Dewalt DW378G are worm drives, not sidewinders.
*Uhhhhh, Yeah.....right. OK, no more posts before I wake up.-Rob
*Went to the Porter Cable Mod 843 this past summer. Blade on left, electric brake. Love it! With the blade on the left I can see what I'm doing much better. Has plenty of power for gang cutting and was flat and true out of the box.As I need new saws this is going to be my choice.
*JTime tested to(o).BB
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Thank you all for your input. Thinking that I was a man after being in three different combat zones with the army, I went ahead and bought a Porter-Cable with the blade on the left (just like my old sawboss). Then my electrician fixed the sawboss, so now I have two saws. Love both of them, but now after reading all your excerpts, I might try a worm-drive next time around. Oh, and I bought a Dewalt metal after-market case and threw the PC plastic case in the trash. All kidding aside, I REALLY appreciate your input and help.
Jason