I'm about to build a big wraparound u shaped desk/hutch unit for my home
office. I was making some test cuts out in the garage/shop, just to get
back into the swing of things. I don't have a table saw, so I was cutting
some miters (bevels) with a circular saw and a jig saw both with a straight
edge. I know it's not what a jig saw is for, but I figured just for
kicks.......

Then I held test fitted the two miters from the jig saw and the two miters
from the circular saw to form 90's and I was really surprised the jig saw
had cleaner cuts and the miters fit really well together, the circular saw
left a rough cut (even though it had a new plywood blade on it) and the
miters fit kinda sloppy. Is there something wrong with my circular saw? I
was expecting better from it, or is that typical and just a testament to the
accuracy of the jigsaw. Btw, both are professional tools. Jigsaw is a
bosch 1281vs is the model # i think. Circular saw is a porter cable. think
it's like a 324 mag. Just around a month old.

"Matthew and Erika Nicholson" wrote in message
news:b10ye.9291$mr4.2728@trnddc05...
I'm about to build a big wraparound u shaped desk/hutch unit for my home
office. I was making some test cuts out in the garage/shop, just to get
back into the swing of things. I don't have a table saw, so I was cutting
some miters (bevels) with a circular saw and a jig saw both with a
straight edge. I know it's not what a jig saw is for, but I figured just
for kicks.......

Then I held test fitted the two miters from the jig saw and the two miters
from the circular saw to form 90's and I was really surprised the jig saw
had cleaner cuts and the miters fit really well together, the circular saw
left a rough cut (even though it had a new plywood blade on it) and the
miters fit kinda sloppy. Is there something wrong with my circular saw?
I was expecting better from it, or is that typical and just a testament to
the accuracy of the jigsaw. Btw, both are professional tools. Jigsaw is
a bosch 1281vs is the model # i think. Circular saw is a porter cable.
think it's like a 324 mag. Just around a month old.

Most likely it is all to do with the blade you use. My jig saw puts both of
my circle saws to shame as far as smoothness goes however my circle saw cuts
straighter in general. Typically a circle saw takes a big bite when
compared to the jig saw and it is consider a rough cutting tool. You can
get good results with better blades.

I've gotten near-perfect cuts on expensive cherry ply using a circ saw,
straight edge, and sharp carbide plywood blade. I'd say it was technique.
Make sure the "A" (best) side is down.

-jbb

"Matthew and Erika Nicholson" wrote in message
news:b10ye.9291$mr4.2728@trnddc05...
I'm about to build a big wraparound u shaped desk/hutch unit for my home
office. I was making some test cuts out in the garage/shop, just to get
back into the swing of things. I don't have a table saw, so I was cutting
some miters (bevels) with a circular saw and a jig saw both with a
straight edge. I know it's not what a jig saw is for, but I figured just
for kicks.......

Then I held test fitted the two miters from the jig saw and the two miters
from the circular saw to form 90's and I was really surprised the jig saw
had cleaner cuts and the miters fit really well together, the circular saw
left a rough cut (even though it had a new plywood blade on it) and the
miters fit kinda sloppy. Is there something wrong with my circular saw?
I was expecting better from it, or is that typical and just a testament to
the accuracy of the jigsaw. Btw, both are professional tools. Jigsaw is
a bosch 1281vs is the model # i think. Circular saw is a porter cable.
think it's like a 324 mag. Just around a month old.

On Mon, 04 Jul 2005 01:11:35 GMT, "Matthew and Erika Nicholson"
wrote:

Then I held test fitted the two miters from the jig saw and the two miters
from the circular saw to form 90's and I was really surprised the jig saw
had cleaner cuts and the miters fit really well together, the circular saw
left a rough cut (even though it had a new plywood blade on it) and the
miters fit kinda sloppy. Is there something wrong with my circular saw? I
was expecting better from it, or is that typical and just a testament to the
accuracy of the jigsaw. Btw, both are professional tools. Jigsaw is a
bosch 1281vs is the model # i think. Circular saw is a porter cable. think
it's like a 324 mag. Just around a month old.


Well, it could be the blade but it could also be the saw. I don't
know what others here have experienced with the PC circular saw but
my experience is not good. I bought a new PC circular saw a few years
ago and never was happy with it. I don't know if it was bad bearings
or a bad shaft but I never could get smooth cuts with it. The worn
out 20 year old Rockwell with a broken handle was still a better
cutting saw.

Mike O.

I wish I'd have known that before the purchase, I was under the impression
that pc made pretty good quality stuff, I have several other pc tools that
are pretty good quality, maybe they're just lacking in the circular saw
dept. I did try the milwaukee too, and though it seems to be a bit more
heavy duty, the fit just wasn't there. Felt a little awkward in my hands.
"Mike" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 04 Jul 2005 01:11:35 GMT, "Matthew and Erika Nicholson"
wrote:

Then I held test fitted the two miters from the jig saw and the two miters
from the circular saw to form 90's and I was really surprised the jig saw
had cleaner cuts and the miters fit really well together, the circular saw
left a rough cut (even though it had a new plywood blade on it) and the
miters fit kinda sloppy. Is there something wrong with my circular saw?
I
was expecting better from it, or is that typical and just a testament to
the
accuracy of the jigsaw. Btw, both are professional tools. Jigsaw is a
bosch 1281vs is the model # i think. Circular saw is a porter cable.
think
it's like a 324 mag. Just around a month old.


Well, it could be the blade but it could also be the saw. I don't
know what others here have experienced with the PC circular saw but
my experience is not good. I bought a new PC circular saw a few years
ago and never was happy with it. I don't know if it was bad bearings
or a bad shaft but I never could get smooth cuts with it. The worn
out 20 year old Rockwell with a broken handle was still a better
cutting saw.

Mike O.

Guess I got lucky, then. I bought a PC circular saw, and with a 40 tooth
Freud blade on it, it makes me wonder why I bothered with a tablesaw
sometimes.

Clint

"Mike" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 04 Jul 2005 01:11:35 GMT, "Matthew and Erika Nicholson"
wrote:

Then I held test fitted the two miters from the jig saw and the two miters
from the circular saw to form 90's and I was really surprised the jig saw
had cleaner cuts and the miters fit really well together, the circular saw
left a rough cut (even though it had a new plywood blade on it) and the
miters fit kinda sloppy. Is there something wrong with my circular saw?
I
was expecting better from it, or is that typical and just a testament to
the
accuracy of the jigsaw. Btw, both are professional tools. Jigsaw is a
bosch 1281vs is the model # i think. Circular saw is a porter cable.
think
it's like a 324 mag. Just around a month old.


Well, it could be the blade but it could also be the saw. I don't
know what others here have experienced with the PC circular saw but
my experience is not good. I bought a new PC circular saw a few years
ago and never was happy with it. I don't know if it was bad bearings
or a bad shaft but I never could get smooth cuts with it. The worn
out 20 year old Rockwell with a broken handle was still a better
cutting saw.

Mike O.

If you don't mind sharing the model # on that blade , I'll try that since I
allready have the saw. I had/have a 60 tooth oldham blade on it right now.
But the freud is probably I higher end blade, so I might try that and see if
I get better results.
"Clint" wrote in message
news:Zxvye.117128$tt5.3269@edtnps90...
Guess I got lucky, then. I bought a PC circular saw, and with a 40 tooth
Freud blade on it, it makes me wonder why I bothered with a tablesaw
sometimes.

Clint

"Mike" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 04 Jul 2005 01:11:35 GMT, "Matthew and Erika Nicholson"
wrote:

Then I held test fitted the two miters from the jig saw and the two
miters
from the circular saw to form 90's and I was really surprised the jig saw
had cleaner cuts and the miters fit really well together, the circular
saw
left a rough cut (even though it had a new plywood blade on it) and the
miters fit kinda sloppy. Is there something wrong with my circular saw?
I
was expecting better from it, or is that typical and just a testament to
the
accuracy of the jigsaw. Btw, both are professional tools. Jigsaw is a
bosch 1281vs is the model # i think. Circular saw is a porter cable.
think
it's like a 324 mag. Just around a month old.


Well, it could be the blade but it could also be the saw. I don't
know what others here have experienced with the PC circular saw but
my experience is not good. I bought a new PC circular saw a few years
ago and never was happy with it. I don't know if it was bad bearings
or a bad shaft but I never could get smooth cuts with it. The worn
out 20 year old Rockwell with a broken handle was still a better
cutting saw.

Mike O.

The model number is D0740. Here's a link to a quick 'n dirty review:
http://www.workbenchmag.com/main/newprod-diablo.html

Here's the link on the Freud website, although mine is gold colored, not
red:
http://www.freud-tools.com/freuddiabfin.html

And finally, here's the link on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...&s=hi&n=507846

Don't ask me why I posted all these links... I think I have too much time on
my hands.

Clint

"Matthew and Erika Nicholson" wrote in message
news:%BEye.7290$kh3.6556@trnddc03...
If you don't mind sharing the model # on that blade , I'll try that since
I allready have the saw. I had/have a 60 tooth oldham blade on it right
now. But the freud is probably I higher end blade, so I might try that and
see if I get better results.
"Clint" wrote in message
news:Zxvye.117128$tt5.3269@edtnps90...
Guess I got lucky, then. I bought a PC circular saw, and with a 40 tooth
Freud blade on it, it makes me wonder why I bothered with a tablesaw
sometimes.

Clint

"Mike" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 04 Jul 2005 01:11:35 GMT, "Matthew and Erika Nicholson"
wrote:

Then I held test fitted the two miters from the jig saw and the two
miters
from the circular saw to form 90's and I was really surprised the jig
saw
had cleaner cuts and the miters fit really well together, the circular
saw
left a rough cut (even though it had a new plywood blade on it) and the
miters fit kinda sloppy. Is there something wrong with my circular saw?
I
was expecting better from it, or is that typical and just a testament to
the
accuracy of the jigsaw. Btw, both are professional tools. Jigsaw is a
bosch 1281vs is the model # i think. Circular saw is a porter cable.
think
it's like a 324 mag. Just around a month old.


Well, it could be the blade but it could also be the saw. I don't
know what others here have experienced with the PC circular saw but
my experience is not good. I bought a new PC circular saw a few years
ago and never was happy with it. I don't know if it was bad bearings
or a bad shaft but I never could get smooth cuts with it. The worn
out 20 year old Rockwell with a broken handle was still a better
cutting saw.

Mike O.