I’ve noticed that a lot of American builders use worm drive saws, whilst here in western Canada, they are almost unheard of. I’m new to the forum, so maybe this question has been done to death, but what’s the deal? I used worm drives once or twice years ago and the only impressions I recall were (a) being able to tilt saw both ways, and (b) disconcerting torque reaction on startup. I’d like to know the pros and cons of the two saw types. I know most carpenters get very attached to ‘their’ saw and won’t use anything else (I’m heading that way myself but not yet fully there), but try to set aside those personal preferences and give me your analysis on this one.
Wally
Replies
Short of having to be a Gorilla to pick up a worm drive, you will find they have way more torque than a sidewinder. The blade is on the side where you can actually see when cutting (left side of saw - when held in right hand)
There are some sidewinders with the blade on the left. I have a Porter Cable sidewinder with the blade on the left and I like it ALOT. I use it when I have ALOT of plywood to cut.
If buying a wormy get a Skill Mag 77 which is he the lightest and most dependable of the wormies.It also has the best table.
Makita has Improved there worm drive and changed the torque so it twists away from your leg instead of into it, but the table is still old school.
Hope this helps a little.
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Pro-Dek,
Your comments about the Mag just disappoint me ;-). I hate the baseplate on that saw.
The new Bosch is as light and better made. I recently got to review about 10 saws, and the Bosch, DeWalt, Makita were the favorites on our crew.
Well Tim , Sorry to dissappoint you and your crew, but majority here on the Eastside of the lake,Washington that is, like the Skill mag .
What is is about the Skill baseplate that you hate? We like the crisp square edge all the way around.
I think the Bosch mag base plate is very stiff at setting angles.
The Dewalt is a saw you've got to own,use,and get used to, because it feels so different than the old dinosaurs we're used to.
Makita, well it is still baby blue and I hate that color. I'll sell you a brand new one for $100. bucks if you like them that much :-) "Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Pro-Dek,
I hope you took my comments as sarcastic. I don't want to sound rude. I was playing with you.
The thing about the Mag baseplate that I don't like is that it easily bends. If it falls off the sawhorses it will bend. We've had about 5 or 6 and it has happened on all of them.
I like the grip, motor, rafter hook, and bevel capacity of the Bosch.
The DeWalt is very comfortable to use, after you get used to it. At first is is a little awkward.
The Makita has the sweetest motor on a saw I've ever used and it has a ton of power (the 15 amp model). I used it to cut the last roof I did. I had it set to 50° and was cutting 8-12 jacks and it never bogged down. I used it to rip and bevel LVLs also and it cut like a champ.
How's things going for you? Staying busy? We build in McCormick Woods (don't know if you golf) and we have been very busy.
Here's the house we framed and are almost done siding.
Nice House!
I golf but not very good, 22 handycap sandbagger.
Where is Mc Cormick woods ?
I won't rag on ya too bad cause you like another saw.
We all have our favorites.
Just change that blade will ya?..........:-)
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Sightlines are funny things. I'm a left hander and I have come to prefer a standard setup saw (blade right) to a left handed one for most situations. I have Porter Cables in left and right versions and the righty gets the most use by far. Admittedly, this is mainly because I'm the only lefty on the crew, so the standard saws are what comes out for everyone to use. I have in the past had the lefty set up for me only, but I've got so used to standard saws that now the lefty only comes out for special situations. I find I can see the cut line a lot better looking from the open side (right side), and that is a more natural stance for me - saw in left hand, head slightly out to right looking back in at line.
I think more than any other reason this is why I've never been comfortable with DeWalt saws - the sightlines seem poor from either side. Other than a perfectly flat shoe that will stay that way more than a week, nothing else matters. That's why our outfit has ended up using PC saws almost exclusively - they stay flat and true longer in our opinion. Now if only PC would strengthen the area around the bevel pivot they would have it right. We lose one a year on average from being dropped just so - the plastic motor housing snaps just behind the pivot area and the replacement part costs the same as a new saw.
Wally
Lignum est bonum.
Good ponts Wally- thanks for sharing"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Wally,
I use Sidewinders mostly and have two wormdrives a 10" Bigfoot with a Swingtable and a 8-1/4" Skillsaw.
I brought this up over at JLC a while back. If the wormdrives are so good because the blade is on the left hand side so that you can see what your cutting, that only makes sense for right handers.
What good is a Wormdrive for a left handed user?. It's isn't any good.
Why don't they make a wormdrive with the blade on the RIGHT side so that a lefty can hold it in his LEFT HAND? It's as simple as that. Left handed guys will tell you that they have to learn how to cut with there right hand or they will say that they will buy the Porter Cable sidewinder with the blade on the right.
Does someone make a Wormdrive with the blade on the right side?
If not there of no use to a left hander for the reason everyone uses when cutting with your right hand so that you can see what your cutting in stead of looking over the saw.
That's all my argument is with wormdrives nothing else. Do the companies that make these wormdrives think that there's no left handed carpenters out there. I don't get it, or do they just expect all left handers to buy sidewinders with the blade on the right or left handers have to learn how to use their right hand to cut if they want to see what their cutting without looking over the saw.
This is the thread at JLC. http://www.jlconline.com/cgi-bin/jlconline.storefront/3fed8d4e007460ca271a401e1d290646/Catalog/1144?read=5763
Joe Carola
Yo peace
As a right coaster? I have my wormer....have my sidewinder.....Dudes from the left coast are way too full of themselves as in, west is best"!....BUT......
I love my wormer but it aint all its made out to be in all situtations as the Westerners make it out to be.........OK OK...heres how it goes from a guy that works every day
Wormers are far superior framing...specially if yer framing and it has a hook like my DW...........
Sidewinders work....Period..I'm a New Yawker.......I love all saws..........
The worst thing besides workinin in the cold..............is not workin at all.......
Love you peeps//////
a
My life is my practice!
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
well seems the gang has given you some ideas.,. the mag77 by skil is certainly my favorite but I prefer to buy the regular skil due to the replacement cost of the table on the forementioned saw.at 105bucks ...compared to the cost of the table for a regular skil 20bucks And with you living in canada you may want to check for parts supply Espiecailly if you buy the Dewalt worm drive... I once bought two of them here in toronto and then had to wait 6 weeks for a lock washer for one of them(they often crack from over tightning) its only a two dollar part but try to get one!! In my case I went threw all my resources and came up empty fisted... a fellow at black and decker ((thats who owns dewalt ) told me he would gladly order the lock washer for me ...he confermed he had the right part because they had a saw just like mine in thier showroom and it would only cost 2bucks canadain ...so i drove to his office with my saw key in hand removed the washer slammed a twonnie on his desk and told him not to let HD tell their customers parts arnt a problem Coincedentally both dewalt saws lasted less than two years and it was during the first two weeks the washer cracked and the first year when the tables cracked, the dewalt has avulnerable table made from aluninumwith a very thin rail on the bladeside any skil ive had has lasted at least four and I know a carpenter that says he never new to check the gear oil port and the saw was in use for more than five years...now if we could only get skil to make a tape measure that would stand up like thier wormdrives I could probly bank 80 bucks every two months.
hey sly;
i'm from eastern canada, and i used them all over New England,(i work for a company in Portland, Maine) and i hate them. too much of a hassle. love the porta cable left hand saw
Looks like you need to get one of each! JK!
I have wormer (Skil) and like it. I have a Bosch sidewinder on the way (perk for buying enough Bosch tools from Amazon) so we'll see on that, but I think that there's a good reason to heve both.
Jake Gulick
Lateapex911@optonline.net
CarriageHouse Design
Black Rock, CT
I'm a big fan of the wormdrive saws. I have the Skilsaw HD77 (No mag). I like it because it has loads of power, is darn near indestructible. It is hefty, but I am used to it. Still don't want to use it over my head, though. As a righty, I love to be able to see the blade while keeping my good arm on the handle. I thought I had seen a right handed worm somewhere. I'll try to find it. As a lefty, unless you can find a blade on the right side, the worm probably isn't going to be too comfortable.
Also, I like the position of the handle on the worms. Seems to give a longer cut for those sheet stock.
Down here in Oz the wormdrive is practically unheard of. Makita tried to introduce them several years ago but they never took off.
I guess its what your used to, I've never seen one on a job site here.
cheers Johnhttp://www.johnwalkerbuilders.com