I purchased the Skil worm drive last year. I like the feel of the saw and all that… but there are some annoying problems that I’ve been noticing now that I’m using it more often. First… the saw had been leaking oil. I think I’ve slowed that down by tightening that big plastic nut (I hate plastic parts). Next, after using the saw beveled… and thinking you set it back to 90, it’s actually a degree or two past 90. I always have to use my square to set the blade to 90. There is no way I can see to adjust the limit of the bevel adjustment so it stops at 90 and not a degree or so past…. and finally, you can’t use a rip fence with the saw beveled at 45 degrees… the fence can’t slide in because a part gets in the way. also pretty annoying. It was also annoying that the rip fence and rafter hook had to be purchased separately. The saw seems like a pretty popular saw.. Are these problems encountered by anyone else out there? I’ve about had it with the saw. I’m thinking of trying the makita hypoid. but i’m ticked that i paid 170 dollars for this skil that I don’t even like to use anymore.
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Replies
Sell the Skil and get a Rigid Wormdrive. Or the Bosch. I took Tim Uhlers advice and bought the Rigid and really like it.
The rafter hook is included, the rip fence is not. Mark H. gave me the link to Rigid and had the rip fence at my door in a few days for less than $10.
You can adjust both the Bosch and Rigid for 90 degrees.
Matt
The Skil77 was the best saw you could spend your money on for an awful long time. But that time has passed. If you like a true wormdrive style saw then I'd look at the Bosch. It's basically the same saw as the Skil77, but is lighter, more powerful, and has better designed features. I've tried the new Makita Hypoid and found that while it has some very thoughfully designed features and is extremely comfortable to use, it is also vastly underpowered and not very sturdy.
I personally have settled on the Dewalt inline saws for framing myself. At least for the last couple years anyway. They too have their quirks and deficiencies but for me, they're the best thing going right now. Your mileage may vary.
I'd try out as many as you can without purchasing before you decide what to buy. There is no 'one size fits' all with circ saws.
I like my old Skil77- all metal, cuts thru anything like a beast. But when it dies, I'll take your advice and look at Bosch.
To the op, maybe you can buy an older Skil on ebay or sumpin for cheap...Expert since 10 am.
We're working on a worm drive review for the magazine right now, and though I don't know which models came out on top, I did hear rumors that the Milwaukee refused to bog down under any conditions. Cut like beast, they said.Justin Fink - FHB Editorial
"Everybody wants to know what I’m on...
What I'm on? I’m on my bike, busting my ### 6 hours a day…
...What are you on?"
- Lance Armstrong
I've got an old Milwaukee worm drive. That thing is insane. I can barely lift it, so I don't use it for anything but the nastiest jobs like cutting asphalt or demoing roofs.
I like my Skil Mag77 but have the same issues as the OP with the 90° stop. Never leaked oil, don't use a rip fence or rafter hook, so no issues there.
The Dewalt "worm drive" (hypoid, I think) is a very comfortable saw to use, though ugly as anything. Not quite professional-quality rugged but pretty nice for occasional use.
That Dewalt "worm drive" is hot garbage.
Took less than 88 days to have it bleeding and spitting out its own parts. Second one was spare parts in a few days less time. I was hoping I got a lemon on the first one.
Occasional use I agree, framing not quite.
Matt
I've got 5 of the Dewalt's and I love 'em! LOL..... I agree that they're not built like a true wormdrive... or even close, but damm if I ain't hooked on them. They're just so comfortable (to me anyway) to use, that I put up with them spending more shop time than some of the other saws. I still get more mileage out of them than any sidewinder I've ever owned though. I like the Bosch wormdrive too... but I just find the Dewalts more comfortable to use. Owning five of them usually keeps three of the out of the shop and working at any given time. Don't like the Rigid much myself.View Image
Somehow I lost my first Ridgid saw and decided to go Bosch as I thought I could temporarily mount a bib blade if I occasionally needed it... but then found out it is a permanent replacement. The Bosch, compared to the Ridgid, felt like I lost a bet. I didn't like the feel at all. The stamped in markings looked like they were made with crayons - the Ridgid markings can be used as accuratly as a ruler.
I took my Bosch back and got another Ridgid.Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Oh, good Lord, no. But I can give him two dollars and an assault rifle.
I don't go easy on saws at all. I rip 4 sheets of OSB at a time for my header fillers. It's pretty much a hand held table saw. They get alot miles in a hurry. Gang cutting sheeting is a killer on them.
In the saws defense it ripped a whole house worth of 2x12's for 3 ply headers, another 150 2x12x8's I used to cover a 4 story tube steel frame that supported a poorly framed lakeside wall. It had 80 days of pure hell and cashed in it's chips early.
I would think that the side winders and hypoid saws wouldn't hold up at all for you guys that strictly use rafters.
The first saw I used was a Skill 77, it was my Grandpas. Still a great saw, but like you said it's a little underpowered by todays standards. I dust it off from time to time and it still cuts as well as it did 20 yrs ago.
I used the Bosch and was sold. Much more comfortable in my paws than the older Skil. Then the Rigid came along and I was sold. What about the Rigid don't you like? With a Diablo blade that thing is a 15 lb scalpel.
I still have my Bosch's, one as the Bigfoot and one as a replacement for the Bigfoot.
Matt
<< I rip 4 sheets of OSB at a time for my header fillers. It's pretty much a hand held table saw. >>
man...I don't think I'm ready to find out what you run through your real table saw...!Justin Fink - FHB Editorial
"Everybody wants to know what I’m on...
What I'm on? I’m on my bike, busting my ### 6 hours a day…
...What are you on?"
- Lance Armstrong
I know most guys always think that they're the hardest workers out there..... I know I do.... but I seriously doubt you work your saws any harder than I work mine or the next framer down the road for that matter. Gang ripping sheathing is a pretty common task to ask of a framing saw.
The topic of circular saws is always a strange one here. Folks seem to get mighty defensive of their chosen weapon and sh1t pretty heavily all over most any other available option. Not sure why that is.
Don't know what to tell you fellas except that I'm happy with the Dewalt framing saws. I get 'em for about $125 and get more than my money's worth out of them. Never burnt up a motor on one (and for the record, I have killed Skil 77's before) and other than some ticky-tack repairs I get pretty good service out of them. Maybe I'm just lucky. I'd buy that scenario long before someone telling me I just don't work 'em very hard.
Notice I never knocked the Rigid saw.... just said it's not the right one for me. I'm sure it's a great saw.... I just didn't like it myself. And if Paul wants to continue to use his bevel scale for a ruler..... well... more power to him. But you all will have to excuse me if I choose not to take advice about framing tools from a guy whose favorite framing nailer...... is a cordless drill. ;)View Image
Dieselpig, I respect your opinion.
So if you say you have a nice saw, then you have a nice saw...
...FOR ME TO POOP ON!Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Oh, good Lord, no. But I can give him two dollars and an assault rifle.
Skil Mag 77. Tried the Bosch, just doesn't feel right, and I don't like the marks. Didn't like the feel of the guard arm either. Dewalt hypoid doesn't hold up, I believe gears run "dry" irc. But in the end it's just personal preference.
LOL..... touchy touchy.View Image
why are we talking about saws ?
i don't feel so good..
i'm depressed...
i wanted to kick some Yankee butt....
but if talking about saws makes you feel better... ok Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Takes my mind off the pain. They've got our number. I'm not sweating the divisional race or anything...... but damm if it wouldn't feel good to just kick their azz once in awhile. Gettin' swept takes an awful lot of the sweetness out of having the lead. People who aren't Red Sox fans.... just don't understand.... how hard it is to be a Red Sox fan.
Oh yeah..... and JD Drew blows. I want my money back. View Image
I second that. Can you believe the free ride that guy is getting up here? $14 mill a year for a .240-something hitter who just doesn't care, and he's not getting crapped on every time he shows his face? We've become softer than we think.
Most nights are crystal clear, but tonight it's like he's stuck between stations.
You're right I don't know how a Red Sox fan feels. All I can say is try being a Cubs fan. At least you guys have been to a world series in the last decade.
Edited 8/31/2007 6:33 pm ET by Cabinetguy45
Well..... you got me there. I feel your pain. ;)View Image
I thought this thread was about saws; I love my lefty Porter cable. If we are talking about the Yankees this should be a broom thread, because we all know what you do with a broom........
tomorrow i'll line up my saws and nominate my MVPMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Mike, shake it off man. Ya'll still have a 5 game lead. There is one more 3 games series with the Yanks in September for the Sox to redeem themselves, and maybe put the nail in the coffin for the Yankees. In the meantime... I'd love to hear your thoughts on some worm drives.
don't know much about worm drives... i got one.. a Skill 8 1/4"...every once in a while i drag it out just to see what i'm missing.. then i put it away again
it's a beast... maybe with a new blade it's be better.. but seriously... as a bench saw..maybe.. but overhead or lateral .. no way
i see pics of guys using 'em to trim rafter tails below their feet.. if i tried that it'd drag me off the roof...
here's my worm... used it for about 600' of 2x rip...
View Image
then switched to my Bosch CS20 and doubled my speed and halved the effort
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Edited 8/31/2007 6:47 pm ET by MikeSmith
i wanted to kick some Yankee butt....
these 'Yankees' are some sports team? or are you bringing the 'STARS & BARS' thread up here from the tavern?
"there's enough for everyone"
Whut's wid youse guyz an yer woim drives, sheesh, whare's the danger?Hey, ain't the Bombers holding a fistfull of wild cards?...to go along with their rookie aces<G> Someone's got it in for me, they're planting stories in the press
Whoever it is I wish they'd cut it out but when they will I can only guess.
They say I shot a man named Gray and took his wife to Italy,
She inherited a million bucks and when she died it came to me.
I can't help it if I'm lucky.
nice - you still have the original blade? <g>
I've got an 8 1/4" milwaukee I got 20+ years ago - I've cut a lot of heavy native over the years - depth adjustment kinda sucks, and it's heavy - almost pulled out the credit card on smaller/lighter saws several times, but I'm usually working out of the shop and don't really 'need' one...
"there's enough for everyone"
There's a depth adjusment? My favorite part is the original Blue-Eyed Devil Suicide shoe<G> Someone's got it in for me, they're planting stories in the press
Whoever it is I wish they'd cut it out but when they will I can only guess.
They say I shot a man named Gray and took his wife to Italy,
She inherited a million bucks and when she died it came to me.
I can't help it if I'm lucky.
I wasn't getting defensive, just curious about your opinion. I wasn't poking at you.
You probably work a saw more than I do on a frame. One thing that is I use trusses 90% of the time, you on the otherhand use rafters and thats alot of cutting long bevels, head cuts and birdsmouths that my saws won't see with the regularity yours would. I get valley and hip fill ins but thats not much on most jobs.
As for this magical bevel scale I haven't noticed it. Maybe I haven't looked hard enough for it.
Matt
It's starting to sound like you have 5 of everything Brian! You're gonna be rolling onto jobsites in a 16-wheeler!
got your email, thanks for the update.Justin Fink - FHB Editorial
"Everybody wants to know what I’m on...
What I'm on? I’m on my bike, busting my ### 6 hours a day…
...What are you on?"
- Lance Armstrong
ditto on the milwaukee. I had a terrible time with the base...never could keep it aligned. Bought a new one, and the next day it fell off the job and and is out for count. I went out and bot a Bosch worm drive. Should have done that a long time ago...but I agree: the Milwaukee will plough through virtually anything."The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a governmental program" -Ronald Reagan
I have the Bosch and I burned it out cutting up a wet subfloor. We had a flood and a customer wanted the wet floor in the basement removed. I was cutting it into sections when the saw made a buzzing sound and a puff of smoke and a bad burnong smell.
I'm guess the floor twisted and it bound the blade. This floor was soaked. It dried out and was still very heavy. It was actually dripping when we removed it. Time to buy a new one.
Headstrong, I'll take on anyone!
Looking forward to reading that review Justin. Sent you another email BTW, with the jobsite address and my cell.View Image
Justin,
When we tested saws back in 2003/04 the Milwaukee was the boat anchor of the group, but I seriously doubt that saw would ever die.
The Skil77 was the best saw you could spend your money on for an awful long time. But that time has passed. If you like a true wormdrive style saw then I'd look at the Bosch.
take it easy
I've got the Skil Mag 77 but have always liked the 6 1/2" Skil wormdrives. You can't wear them out. I bought my first one in 1972 and still have it and it runs fine.
Every roof and every set of stringers I have ever cut is with a 6 1/2" skill,I pull the guard out and it takes a 7 1/4" blade.
My first 7 1/4" skill from 1985 is for the boys to cut concrete and rebar.
they all work.Its just what your brought up with.
There is few bosch's ,But really its 95% skill in southern california,as far as the framers .
I dont care what they use.Its all about comfort.
I dont even like grabbing another guys skillsaw,somehow my own trigger always feels the best.
On the 77. If you take a file and sharpen up the * pointer and make a scratch where 90* is it will be o.k. It would be nice to have a positive stop. They are framing saws.
I tune mine up when I get them. Like the arrow/pointer.
If it died I would look at other saws. But I dought it will die.
my .02
Won't buy and have never had a Skil as a daily saw, guard won't easily retract when cutting bevels.
Unless a guard has a leading toe I won't buy the saw.
Owned and loved a Milwaukee, gave it to a young carp friend when it was 15 years old and far as I know it is still running strong.
Had a B&D OK but heavy.
Been using a Dewalt since they came out, framed a lot with it for the first 5 years or so , this year the front handle got broken as a result of a careless concrete laborer. No other issues with it .
"Poor is not the person who has too little, but the person who craves more."...Seneca
I have always purchased the Mags....never any problems with them, and they never die.
Bought a Bosch as a secondary the last time my truck got hit, and I love it as well.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
Mag 77/Bosch wormdrive. I love using these saws!
I may be a little off the subject here, I dont own any new saws i looked at the bosch in the lumberyard it seemed nice to me, I use a old all metal 6 and one half inch skill saw worm drive, Its a little lighter and not as long but not as powerfull. The gears in the old worm drives were better but pretty hard to find good old ones anymore, I had 4 but they were stolen, So i only have 2 left, With a good blade thats all i need, If i had a crew i think the bosch or dewalt, I would like to try the ridged
again with the saws...
don't you have any sympathy ?Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore