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I’m not sure if you are looking to go cordless,
but the 18v DeWalt has been the handiest tool I
ever bought. If cutting a lot of sheet goods it
may not quite keep up with battery charges (1 Hr.)
but for occasional needs it is excellent. Great
for overhead/off balance work, hand held
workpieces, roofing applications. I could go on…
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I own both a 5 3/8 Skill trim saw and the new 18 volt Makita cordless. Both are good saws though I use the cordless saw almost exclusively now. I use these small saws for trimming cedar shakes in sidewall applications as well as general light applications. The great advantages to the small saws are their small size and light weight and they don't have the torque to sent you off a ladder when cutting one handed.The small Porter-Cable sawboss (6 1/2")is also a nice saw but I found it heavy.
*Yesterday I noticed how no brake is needed on the Dewalt, blade stops fast anyway, unlike plugged skilsaws. Have heard the Makita is pretty good from others too. Heed this advice: Do not, ever, buy any tool that plugs in or has moving parts from SEARS. Repeat after me.DogPs. Your home center store is not going to last long-Do you live on an island?Good luc
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I have been thinking about getting a 5 1/2 inch circular trim saw for cutting panneling, plywood and osb sheathing. Occasional 2x4. Any recommendations as to brand and model. Options seem to be few and far between. Local home center has a Bosch. Sears Craftsman has one in their catalog but not in the store. Any information you can provide would be appriciated.
*I bought the Porter-Cable worm-drive trim saw last month, and it's been great. I've been using it to cut up sheets of birch-veneer plywood. I chose it because the motor doesn't overhang the shoe on either side, and I can use a fence as thick as I want. It has only a 4 1/2" blade, though, so it may not meet your needs. The one objection I have is that the shoe is stamped steel with rolled edges. I would have prefered an aluminum shoe with square edges so that it would be easier to gauge the distance from the shoe edge to the blade.
*I would not use a trim saw for sheating, that is what a worm drive is for. But if I have to cut a piece in the air I use a dewalt 18 volt. I have used the porter cable it is a good saw.
*Steve - several years ago I was working for another contractor and he issued me a Skil 5" lfet blade trim saw. I have always been a fan of Skil worm drives, but this saw seemed to be cheaply built, like maybe homeowner grade. The truth is, it was an excellent little saw. Although the body and handle were completely plastic, the saw ran very smoothly and had plenty of power for trim work. The angle and depth of blade adjustments worked great, and the saw was nicely ballanced. I don't remember ever thninking "I wish it had ..." I noticed the same model at Home Depot recently for around 100.00. I was very happy with that saw, and if I were in the market for a trim saw I would look past the plastic exterior and strongly consider that Skil. - jb
*I'm not sure if you are looking to go cordless, but the 18v DeWalt has been the handiest tool I ever bought. If cutting a lot of sheet goods it may not quite keep up with battery charges (1 Hr.) but for occasional needs it is excellent. Great for overhead/off balance work, hand held workpieces, roofing applications. I could go on...
*I believe that Makita just came out with a cordless 18volt as well , with a deeper cut and electronic brake. If you are gonna be cutting alot of paneling hook up the cord and buy yourself a porter cable, they are the bomb.
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Steve, I use the 6" Porter-Cable Saw Boss, (now about $110) and have but one complaint: Blades. You can buy blades for this saw from Porter-Cable and no one else. HSS goes for $8 each, carbide goes for $13 or so. My saw has been used, dropped, pushed, belittled, mudded, and otherwise well taken care of for 4 years... it needs a new cord.
The 4 1/2 inch looks to be a good unit, and I can't pry any away from their owner's long enough to try it!