On Sat, 8 Dec 2018 20:12:40 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03
wrote:

On Saturday, December 8, 2018 at 10:23:39 PM UTC-5, wrote:
On Sat, 8 Dec 2018 18:49:48 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03
wrote:

Christmas is coming. I'm considering buying a circular saw for my daughter.
She's 26.

Other than a drill, this will be her first real power tool. I have a Porter
Cable 743 left blade which I love. I'd buy her the same saw but it's no longer
available, other than used. Same for the 843 which I believe is the same saw
but with a brake. Same issue with PC 424 MAG, another saw in that same line.
(I think).

So, if I can't get what I'm familiar with, I'm looking for suggestions for
decent left blade circular saw. A brake would be great.

No, she is not going to start framing houses, at least not right away. ;-)
All I know really know is that she wants to start doing some woodworking
and was wondering what type of "first saw" she should get. She also
mentioned cutting up some pallets to make a compost bin.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

I gave my Dewalt rear pivot saw (nice saw) to my son and have been
looking for a replacement. I think I've settled on the Bosch CS10
magnesium shoe. I've knocked several saws out of square and the Bosch
seems to have a pretty solid pivot mechanism. It's a RH saw, however.
Bosch also has the CS5, which is a LH saw but has a steel shoe. It's
a bit more expensive ($116 vs. $99 at Lowes).

$116 is nothing, relatively speaking,

The 743’s on eBay start at $150 and go up to (gasp) $250. I think I paid $170ish
15ish years ago.

Prices have come down considerably, particularly given the value of
money. There hasn't been much improvement done to these things
either. The engineering was paid for long ago. But if you want to
spend more, there's always Festool. ;-)

I know PC isn't the same PC as it used to be and my Bosch glide miter saw is pretty good,
so maybe the CS5 isn't a bad idea. Too bad my daughter's partner is left handed. The saw
will be for both of them, but my daughter's handness wins.

They're cheap. Buy both. ;-)

Seriously, I've looked at a lot of them recently and the Bosch seemed
to be the best (Hitachi isn't bad either). At least my circular saws
always get a beating (falling off sawhorses and such) so the mechanics
is important to me. The only thing I didn't like about the CS5 was the
steel shoe.