On Sunday, December 9, 2018 at 2:07:51 PM UTC-6, Clare Snyder wrote:
On Sat, 8 Dec 2018 20:17:43 -0800 (PST), "
wrote:

On Saturday, December 8, 2018 at 8:49:51 PM UTC-6, 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!

Guess I'd suggest you abandon the circular saw thought. A drill makes sense. Its very useful for lots of situations. Hopefully it was cordless. I have and use electric drills frequently, but only in special situations. Cordless drill for 90+% of tasks. Back to saws. If it has to be an electric, powered saw, then I'd suggest a jigsaw. Can't get hurt, its not dangerous. Like a drill, a beginner with no knowledge at all can operate a jigsaw and not get hurt. It does not cut straight or smooth like a circular saw. But cutting up pallets for a compost bin it would be perfect. And with circular saws, the wood needs to be stationary and clamped down to make a good, safe cut. And you need a guide too. I know construction crews make freehand cuts in midair with circular saws. But they have a lot more skill and daring than your daughter. Or me.
A sawzall would be better for pallets - and a jigsaw is most
certainly far from idiotproof - or "safe"

No. Its much harder to cut a straight line with a Sawzall. And to follow the 2x4 stretcher boards and cut out the 1x baseboards. Difficult with a Sawzall. Easier with a jigsaw. Not easy or simple, but much easier than using a Sawzall. I think you are assuming a pallet is rough and oddly shaped.. Its not. Pallets are fairly simple and generally clean and easy to work on. You're just cutting a bunch of 1x6s.

As for your implication that a jigsaw is dangerous. I bet if you checked every emergency room in the USA over the years, you would find far more than a few with cases of people cutting off their fingers with circular saws. And you might find one or less of people cutting off their fingers with a jigsaw. You might, maybe find a couple cases of people going to the hospital for stitches from a nasty jigsaw cut.