I’ve read the article about the top ten cirular saws. Many new features, many new lightweight materials, and cleaver gadgets. My question, how do they stand-up over the long haul?
I would like to see a showdown between the best of the new with the best of the old. My money is on the Black & Decker Super Sawcat. Why they ever changed that saw, I’ll never know. All the features the experts were looking for in the ten saws, are features that all rate excellent in the Super Sawcat.
Are you with me? Trimslim
Replies
I could not agree with you more. I had a Super Sawcat for almost 20 years and ran it till it just couldn't run anymore. Best saw ever made...the balance was wonderful. They don't make them anymore I take it.
Jer,
That was my first favorite as well. I ran mine for a long time after I broke the knob off of it. Come to think of it, I still have it. I figured I run across one sooner or later that had quit running and I'd buy it for the knob. Still haven't found one.
I used a Mikita that I won and got to like it pretty well untill it feel 30' off a roof onto a paved driveway. Since then I have used the Milwaukee but only adjusted the handle about twice. I still like it but that ole Saw Cat was tops.
k
kcoyner,
If you ever want to part with that old broken-down sawcat let me know. I would buy it from you for parts. In case mine ever pukes on me. A few extra parts on hand would be great.
Preparing for surgery! trimslim
i've gotta finish wearing out my Milwaukee first. Another fifteen years oughta do it...
But I might be retired by then.
naw, guess i can't keep up with you younguns
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
Piffin......Milwaukee Tilt-loc give it a try. You can make it feel like a worm drive when cutting eye level going up a wall or like a jig saw when cutting a floor . Only draw back I can think of is thier not worth a damn on dry wall screws.
So what'll I have to do now, Patent my own Piffinscrew cutter?I like the drop foot Milwaukee rather than the swivel base shoe. Which does that tilt lock have?
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Piffin..........Hey...The tilt loc has a swivel base, didn't think I would like it but ,lift the lever and smack the base plate with the heel of your left hand and it is easy to get used to ,
Piffin screws....over heard this conversation in the next room carp to drywaller "can I use some of your piffin screws? what the hell is a piffin screw. you know those little black screws that stick your finger and when you strip the head out you drive them the rest of the way with your hammer and the next guy that comes along says who the hell did this and what am I suposed to do now." Hence the real need for a Piffin screw cutter.
Was doing a walking inventory of material in the shop and sure enough somebody had used a sharpie and marked a box "piffin screws"
LOL, somethings have a life of their own. Once you get to be infamous, your infamity knows no bounds!
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Super Sawcat: King of the sidewinders.
I have an old 8-1/4" Super Sawcat that I baby in the shop for odd panel cuts. They are wonderful machines. Is a version sold under the DeWalt name these days? When the yellow tools came out, B&D abandoned their line of pro tools badged gray.
What I don't understand is why they blew the opportunity to unequivocally brand the Dewalt line as the high-end pro tools, by consigning_all_their second and third and fourth string tools to the B&D nameplate.
Bill
Anybody got a picture of this Sawcat? Don't think I've ever seen one, but I've only been in this business for 5 years or so, but am a big fan of my DeWalt tools. I use the model w/ the high strength base, supposedly can withstand an 8 ft. drop. I haven't tested that claim yet.
googled this…
when i saw the picture of your saw it reminded me of the 8 1/4 saw cat i ghave sitting her on the floor behind me thats been collecting dust for about 10 years now...lol i`m a dewalt man these days however there are times when an 8 1/4 saw comes in handy in remodeling work
I had a guy that worked for me that loved those sawcats. I tried his and didn't like it. The power was fine, but I didn't like the saw brake and the saw in general was too big and clumsy. It worked for Dean though because he was such a big guy.
blue
Warning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, all of it is considered bottom of the barrel by Gabe. I am not to be counted amongst the worst of the worst. If you want real framing information...don't listen to me..just ask Gabe!
Yep! Super sawcat. Best saw I've ever held in my hand. I've been in the trade for 25 years and I've never used a saw that could even come close.
Of course now you've succeeded in just making me mad by reminding me that they don't make them anymore. A few years ago when the dewalt stuff was just getting up and running the local supplier "closed out' all of their sawcats for some ungodly low price, I think it was around $80.00 or something I'm still kicking myself for not buying ten of them then. Oh well, now I'll just make due with this cheap ol' black and yellow imitation.
I'll take the worm drive skilsaw anyday!
I am with you! Mag please. Or my new favorite, the De Walt worm drive.
Skilsaw is the only saw that I use. Mag 77 or the HD 77 they both work for me.
Dave
The first saw I ever bought was a Rockwell worm drive. Bought it in Portland ,Oregon back in 1977. It was the best saw I ever bought. They don't make them any more.
Now I stick with the Skill worm drive. I have used Makita, Bosch. Black and Decker and Dewalt but I really like the Skill.
James Hart
I'll take my Model 77 HD mag over any comers.
This has got to be an East Coast discussion. Sidewinders? On the Left Coast, The Saw is the Skill 77 and the smart ones get the mag. case 77V and save some weight.Today I would buy the Bosch direct connect worm drive over the 77, but my 77 has lots more years to go.The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
Let us take a moment .///////////////
The saw cat was the best of the best for some 30 years that I know of all sidwinders. Of course it did not compete with the line of saw we have today. It only weighed in at 11 amps and it was heavy. The Makita hit the market with the saw cat doing well. The Makita was lighter [we didnt think it would hold up] and you could watch either side of the blade during the cut. Really a visual saw. So, the Blue Stream did compete aganst it. They are both 11 amp saws.
weighs 11 amps ?
I'll have to check the faceplates on all 3 of my 8" super sawcats to see if they say
Power Requirements 13.0 lbs.
carpenter in transition
Thats funny , but why did you address that to me ?
Tim Mooney
Let us take a moment .///////////////
The saw cat was the best of the best for some 30 years that I know of all sidwinders. Of course it did not compete with the line of saw we have today. It only weighed in at 11 amps and it was heavy.
just some tongue in cheek...
by the way, the super sawcat did have a 13 amp motor
carpenter in transition
LOL
I stand corrected
I feel like a greenhorn. My Milwaukee is barely 15 years old. If it ever drops off a great height and doesn't survive, I want another exactly like it.
Ron
same here...
lots of luck replacing it... exactly...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
personal preference I guess. Rockwell 315. 33 yrs, still running, still parts available. Now that PC was bought up, probably discontinue parts stock. Luckily I have 3 now. Classic look, good cut, no vibration. Their replacement saw with the same no. was bogus.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
I had a later version (Porter-Cable 315) that I still kick myself for selling when I decided to go back to school. Smooth and solid with plenty of power; I miss the dropfoot too. Mine was made before they cheapened them up- still had the external grease cup. I've got a 347 that I'm happy with but if I could go back to my old 315, I would.
I got my original in 72 at a lumber yard grand opening. They had a skid of them for 59.95 in box, with rip guide. Should have cornered the market.
Picked up two more given to me by friends that knew my love of the 315.Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
I had one of the "Porter-cable" 315's. It was one of the first saws with plastic in it. I had a lemon. The table was unsquare to the blade....new out of the box. I coudn't make a straight cut with it and thought I was losing my mind until I started measuring and checking it.
Porter cable lost a valued customer with that tool.
blueWarning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, all of it is considered bottom of the barrel by Gabe. I am not to be counted amongst the worst of the worst. If you want real framing information...don't listen to me..just ask Gabe!
I'm with Piffin, I have a Milwaukee that I have been using since 1974, still runs fine. I'm sure it will see me through to the end.
Oh, I bought it used then.
Doug
The Bosch i think is #1, then the new Dewalt.
I vote with the old wise one Mr. Piffin ,My milwalkee 7 1/4"has been around almost as long as Piffin and still going. I use it mostly for cutting stone and concrete now. I got a new tiltloc , The old one quit working one day while I was cutting some stone . My wife went and bought me the tiltloc , In the mean time my brother stopped by and said just blow the dust out of it. I did and it has worked ever since with out any trouble. I like the tiltloc ,set the handle at the angle that I liked and have never moved it since. I think it cuts and runs smoother than any saw I have used yet.
I'm with Piffin, I have a Milwaukee that I have been using since 1974, still runs fine. I'm sure it will see me through to the end.
You know I read a post like yours, then in another thread framers talk about going through a few a year. Makes me wonder,.......
be a Wonderer
Tim Mooney
In building my house, I kept 2 saws.
The 'old reliable' wormdrive skil I used for all flat cuts. This thing is an absolute workhorse. For example, I had to rip 60' of PT 3X sill plates.....gearbox got so hot you couldn't touch it. But it works today just like the day I got it. Problem is, its heavy, making non-flat cuts difficult to near impossible for all but monster-men. For those cuts I've got the makita: a great saw.
BruceM
I'm not an expert on worm drives, seldom ever used one. They're heavy but cut nice and are easy to guide. My experience is with the circular saw. I've heard feedback in reference to the Milwaukee and the Porter Cable saws of old, of which both are/were great saws. I have a friend that uses an old Porter Cable and loves it. I however haven't had the pleasue of using it. Now the Milwaukee, however, is a saw that I nearly purchased until I put my mits on the Super Sawcat. It was just like love at first sight. The depth adjustments w/scale, guard retraction, front and rear supported table for angle adjustments, spit-second brake, there's not much else to say. Although I can see that a person could have some trouble holding it if you don't have a large hand (my friend's reasoning with the Porter Cable).
Let the juices flow!
trimslim
Black n Decker super sawcar absolutely hands down the best. I still have mine. I purchased it in 1977. I am a life long carpenter. This was my personal saw. None of my crew could use it. I still use it on every job. Next year it will b 40 years old and still as good as the first time I picked it up. If I knew then what I know now I would have purchased 2 or 3. I was young n broke. Bought one. There has never been a better saw. NEVER. it will cut compound angles on valley n hip rafters and not once will the gaurd stick. GREAT GREAT GREAT. if you would like me to post a picture I sure can. Geoff
U got yer troling lines set prutty deep to drege this up blueballboy.
I betcha noneof yer crew cud use it - it were alway needing new tirgger, ha!
Got one for sale for $2 at yard sale, gard no stik there either, it done broke off....
Hi, I found circular saws compare: https://www.bestadvisor.com/circular-saw
What do u think about their pros and cons, does it true?
I remember the drop foot B&D Sawcat as THE sidewinder saw for pros. The Skil worm drives I saw were the 6-1/2” blade variety
and were used solely to cut rafters and joists.
When I started in the trade, the contractor I worked for loved the old B&D sidewinders with the all steel housing. The saw handles were similar to a pistol-grip. Those things were nearly indestructible.
For heavy use in green and PT lumber, I’m a Makita hypoid drive convert. Tremendous power and permanent lubrication. I’m just getting a little old for such foolishness.
16 year update to the original thread, which makes it a 48 year birthday. Rockwell 315 still runs like the day it was purchased. I know that there’s been several years of progress and refinement in the professional line of tools. But for something to last very long does seem to be a thing of the past.
This one of the things that’s kept the 315 in operation.
The two things dearest in life are the tools of the trade and the darling wife.
Don’t ask to borrow my tools and I won’t ask to borrow your wife.
I would like to put in my two cents worth. This is one of my pet peeves. First of all is the bragging that the Super Sawcat had everything. No it didn't, it did not have a predetermined break down date. B&D had to stop production as we moved into the consumer era. Here's a little story about mine. I was building for Shugart Interprises in Winston-Salem at the time. My boss came by one day and said, " why don't you get some of these makitas they last a year." I said, " why would I do that. I have three of these and the newest one is three years old. Besides your men cut whitewood and I cut yellow pine pressure treated and I cut twice as much.Then I showed him , my saw was pluged into two 250' rolls of #12 wire and two #12 drop cords. I was sawing wood. We pluged in his Makita saw and it wouldn't even turn. Lets see the new saws beat that. thank you mrdiagonal
I had to Google the Super Sawcat, and saw it looks just like my beloved Dewalt 384. I'm not a pro, but have had it for ~ 25 years I think. Great saw.