On 8/4/2011 9:36 PM, Doug Miller wrote:
My old faithful corded circular saw finally bit the dust yesterday. Something
went Pop! and it stopped running. Disassembly today shows half a dozen
segments missing from the commutator; the critical parts are no longer
available (after 15+ years, that's no surprise), so it's time to buy a new
one.

My uses are, I think, pretty typical: framing, building decks, cutting sheet
goods to manageable size.

I'm looking for something that will last a good long time. The one that
died is only the second one I've ever owned; the first one lasted nearly 20
years, and I'm hoping for similar durability. The budget is large enough to
include Bosch, Makita, or Milwaukee, but not Festool.

At one time PC had my eye but today If I were to buy another it would be
the Makita. I own a few Bosch tools but have never been impressed
enough to say I would buy them again, 2 routers and an impact driver.
Milwaukee also had my attention long before complaints about a drop in
quality. FWIW I am around construction sites on a pretty regular basis
and the Makita seems to be the favorite.



I'm looking for general recommendations in two areas:
a) corded vs. cordless -- my experiences with cordless circular saws have not
been positive, but they've been cheap saws, and I'm willing to be persuaded
that cordless circular saws that won't drain a battery in five seconds do
actually exist; and

IMHO cordless is going to be good if you have no plan to ever use the
saw but it would be handy to have if that was all you had to make a cut.
Not saying that it cannot perform a task but it is never ever going to
be able to keep up with the cheapest of corded saws. I would never buy
one unless I had a specific need that required a cordless saw.


b) left blade vs. right blade. Every circular saw that I've ever used has had
the blade on the right. Advertising for left-blade saws includes phrases like
"gives users the clearest line of sight for easy, accurate cutting" but I just
don't see how it's really any different. I'm inclined to get a right-blade saw
simply because that's what I'm used to, but if there truly are advantages to
having the blade on the left, I'd be much obliged if someone would explain
them to me. In case it makes a difference to the recommendation, I'm
right-handed.

It seems to be a forgotten thing but most saws have the blade on the
right side and were intended to be held with a right handers right hand.
Left sides saws were made available for the south paws. This all
evolved around safety and where you should be standing when operating
the saw. Typically the intent was that the saw body was between you and
the blade. This position also helps to keep a large amount of saw dust
from being thrown back at you. Safety aside the left sided models have
become more popular with right handers because they can see the blade
and the line they want to follow. That does not mean they are using the
correct saw, just that they want to see the spinning blade while it is
cutting. Every saw I have seen and or used has a cut line indicator on
the front of the shoe to give you that information. Once you have used
the saw enough and correctly and as you have indicated for you
personally you become comfortable and proficient with using the
indicator rather than watching the blade. I will never buy a left sides
saw, I am right handed. There are exception's some saws only come with
the left side blade, take the Skil 77 as an example.


I'm also looking for recommendations of specific brands and/or models both to
seek out, and to avoid. I intend to avoid tools made in China if at all
possible.

Well look closely at your choices as many top brand tools are being
manufactured in China these days.





TIA... Thanks may also be expressed tangibly, in the form of a cold homebrew
or three, next time you pass through Indianapolis.