Does anyone have any suggestions/recommendations on worm-drive circular saws? I’ve looked at Makita and Ridgid so far. I do remodeling work requiring quite a bit of framing.
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Welcome Ski. Don't for to click on your name on top of the thread and fill in the profile. I can tell you this, on the bottom of the left side bar there is a search feature. If you search wormdrives there are alot of threads on this topic.
By the way, I love my Bosch.
Check out this link.http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=52373.1
Edited 2/17/2005 6:15 pm ET by Jemcon
Another vote for the Bosch wormdrive.... I love that saw. I'm hearing very good things about the Rigid lately.... probably worth a second look.
Believe it or not, I have an OLD Black and Decker that has served me well over the years and is still running great.
I vote strongly for the Ridgid. When we tested the saws for JLC, the DeWalt, Makita (15amp) and Bosch were our favorites. Since then, Jasen and I have totally changed our tunes.
The DeWalts fall apart so quickly. They were everyone's favorite because they are comfortable to use. Every single one of them has turned out to be crap and that is about 6 total.
Between the company and personal, we have 2 Bosch direct connects and one Bosch w/ cord. I don't like any of them. I will NEVER buy a direct connect tool again. It is a hassle. Go with Quick loks. The Bosch saws take a hammer to get them to 50° now. Jasen won't let anyone use his saw because he wants to keep it in good condition, and it still has worn very badly.
The Makita is a great saw, but has no rafter hook so we never bought one.
We've been using the Ridgid for about 2 1/2 months and it blows away the other saws. It feels like it will be durable. It is just a great saw. JLC runs a review next month or the month after. I think it is next month.
When I send the saw back, I'm going to buy one for myself and I think Jasen said he is going to.
Edited 2/17/2005 8:35 pm ET by TIMUHLER
I have to agree whole heartedly that the Direct Connect system is a waste of time, energy, and money. Instead of cutting a $10 saw cord, one of my guys cut through a 100' 12 ga Blue Flex cord..... about $55 worth of cord. I've got three of the Bosch CS20's with the direct connect and I can't wait until they crap out so I can replace them. My Bosch wormdrives are all corded. I love them. Really, really love them. A shot of spray silicon once in awhile keeps things moving nicely.
You probably already know this, but I'll say it anyway. You know that there's an override to get the saw past 50 degrees, right? The Bosch wormer that got run over a couple weeks ago was three years old and all the adjustments still operated nicely. I was playing with that Rigid saw in Home Depot last night.... I'm just not convinced yet..... besides.... it doesn't match my hat!! LOL!
Glad you said that about the Dewalt saws.... everytime I'm in the tool store I'm tempted to buy one because they look so comfortable to use. Now I know better.
Later..
Dieselpig,
Ya I know about the override :-) It's too bad the DeWalts are so crappy, because they are a very comfortable saw to use.
You know that for the last couple of years,"they" have been saying that orange is fashions new pink. :-)
What did you like about the Ridgid vs. a Skil, TI? Thanks for the review.
Allen in Santa Cruz
JLC has a review coming out next week.
Basically, I like everything about the Ridgid. It has more power, blade spins faster, rafter hook, rubber grip, bevels to 51.5°, lighter, guard doesn't snag, levers are over sized and easy to use, 12' cord w/lighted end, aluminum base.
It has more power than any of the saws we tested. The first day we got it, I used it to cut LVL valleys and it just ate right through them.
My father bought a Craftsman for me about 7-8 years ago and it is essentially the exact same saw as the original Skil brand worm drive(before the Mag 77). It's a great all around saw, takes a rafter hook from Skil and the best part is you can order every single part from Sears.com. You could just about build one from scratch with parts from Sears. I've been through a cord or two, a set of handles, a base plate from being dropped, a spring for the guard. I've used the hell out of it from spending hours ripping 2x's to demolishing roofs with several layers of shingles on it. Just throw on an old blade, put on some safety glasses and rip it apart.
The guy I learned the trade from used Skil brand worm drives and none of his were newer than ten years old with a couple of them being 15-20 years old. They still worked great and could take some serious abuse.
I have two Skilsaw model 77's both at least 20 yrs. old, and going strong. I use them for everything from framing to finish, including trimming my toenails. In Calif. this saw becomes an extension of your arm. I often find myself walking around, hours after work, with the thing still dangling at my side, and me not even aware of it until someone asks me why I'm carrying that dang thing. The only drawback is that they have a built-in gravitometer that increases the effect of gravity on the saw every year.
I have to agree that the skill wormdrive Is the best I have used and very tough also. currently I am framing in southwest Michigan and have noticed though that its a little slow on the cold mornings like it has to worm up ? Also I get tired of changing triggers. I'm wondering if anyone who is a fan of the bosch, has also used the skill wormdrive and what they would say.also just and observation , I moved to Michigan from Portland Oregon where I learned to frame homes . And had never used the little sidewinder saws, I thought they were for home owners. In Michigan almost everybody uses them. how is it where you are at?
Everybody here in the southeast uses sidewinders. I used to try to argue them out of it but that was about as useful as them trying to argue me out of using my worm drive. I just so happened to learn the trade from someone who used to frame out west so I suppose I just as easily could have learned from someone else who used only sidewinders and could be swearing by them today.
When I'm going to be doing a lot of cutting I quietly hide all the sidewinders and get out my worm drive and tear it up. I've even used it to make fine cuts on interior trim before in a pinch. I could never do that with a sidewinder and I'm not even sure if someone who uses one all the time could do it. It's just plain difficult to cut straight with a sidewinder.
I think we need to start a worm drive revolution in these backwards places like the midwest and here in the southeast.
Amen brother! Anybody that's been in the business very long knows that when you try to show a diffrent way or Idea no matter how good it may be is an idiot. At first it bothered me, but know it just makes me laugh! And it just goes to show how naive we can be. I have a feeling If one of these guys in Michigan would have brought out there little blue makita sidewinder I would have probably luaghed them of my job site! :)
I've got to vote for the 77M. I bought mine earlier this year to replace an older craftsman sidewinder. What I like about it is, also being from michigan, most people are a "little" apprehensive about using a wormdrive. Yes, it is heavier, and yes it does torque when you fire it up, but it lasts, cuts great, and has plenty of power.Rob, the oil needs to warm up for the saw to come up to speed. I usually pull my saw out, fire it up for 30 seconds, and then begin cutting. No problems.
I`m also a Skil 77 man. The guy that taught me still had the 6 1/2 in. Skil that his Seabee father had. I don`t know if it was from WW2 but it was old. Whenever I worked on a new site all the other carpenters who used sidewinders were soon using my saw. I started bringing two saws to site. One for them and one for me.
skil 77 user here, 25 years and counting. About that start-up torque: an old-timer taught me a little trick, nothing special but kinda neat when you do it - Just give your wrist a quick little twist in the opposite direction right as you pull the trigger. Starts up straight and true without a hiccup.
Edited 4/10/2005 10:32 am ET by Huck
Weird.A couple of you have mentioned start up torque with the Skilsaw 77. I have never noticed that in 30 years of running these saws. My first one lasted 28 years.
Now, the Makita hypoid? Ther's a torque jump for ya! Couldn't stand it.Heck If I know....
Heck.
I test the Makita Hypoid today on the Ez Smart.
You right about the donkey kick. After you get use to it, the donkey becomes a race horse. I can see the benefits of the warm drive and in 1-2 weeks we will have a smart base for the warmies. (crying babies)
Heck If you know....
I agree the skil is tops I have 2 and a Mag 77 and all but 1 are over 10 years old with the oldest used just for concrete and still cutting strong and straight
I live in California, and every job I have been on there are wormdrives as the primary Skilsaw. And Skilsaw is what every one of them are. It's mostly the Mag77 now, simply because they are the same saws as the HD77, only with magnesium parts. These saws are darn near indestructable, and well worth the money spent. Bosch (who owns Skil) just put out their own saw with their name on it. Little more power, but I haven't used it. I have no need, with my faithful 77.
Young, poor, and eager to learn
Ski, I vote for Skil. I have never used the Bosch but I own other Bosch tools and they are great. The DEwalt is no good. I have sent 4 back and will not buy another. I have owned a Rockwell, a Makita and a Milwaukee. I like the Skil and it last forever. I have looked at the Rigid but have never used one.
James Hart
Ski- I vote for the Skil mag. In addition to wood, I cut a lot of bluestone flaging and granite (at least I take it for granite) with a diamond blade, both wet and dry. I haven't used any others, but a buddy loves his Milwaukee.
Stash
I have a Milwaukee that I really like. The only drawback is that it's heavy.
But it has tons of power and cuts through anything.
I've had my Milwaukee for 10-11 yrs. great saw, and yes, heavy. Recently, I've had trouble with the base... that is, keeping it tight and steady. Have you had similar problems? Put a new base on it last summer, ..seemed to help a bit.
I haven't had trouble with the base on mine. But I don't use it every day, either.
Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves and, under a just God, cannot long retain it. [Abraham Lincoln]
I have a Skill 61/2" my second on in 16 years love it.
tyke
Just another day in paradise
Son, ya needs the best, so buy the original. Skil saw model 77 and iffan ya a little weak innna arms den yas better get da Mag 77 by Skil Saw.
Everything else is just a cheap imatation (well in the case of Bosch, an expensive imatation)..
Welcome to Breaktime Ski. I hope that you laugh and learn as much as I have here. Please fill out your profile as it will help you get better answers for any future questions that you might have. It is also a great way of meeting your neighbor.
I am fairly new to the industry and am still in the process of obtaining the tools for it. I am finding out that I am enjoying buying old houses and fixing them up. I also have a bad habit of forgetting things when I go from one project to another. Left my Craftsman direct drive at my other project that is 250 miles from here. So I needed another saw. I looked at what they had at a couple of home centers near here and saw the Ridged worm drive. I liked the narrower profile it has, so I bought it.
The Craftsman has been a good saw. It has been used and abused. I have even cut fire wood with it. But I think it is going to end up getting covered up in saw dust made by the Ridged.
Now if I get that Smart Table and the EZ guide, That table saw that I have been lusting after will be sitting where it is at. In the store.
Dane
I will always be a beginner as I am always learning.
Dane, you will be happy the day your Smart Table arrives. Great with the saw guide, but also usefull for other things like face frame assembly with pocket screws.
I bet a second Smart table with 3/4 ply screwed to it would make a great work bench too.
One thing I found out to day was the worm drive is great for cutting the bracing between 16 oc studs, without getting to close to the nails.
DaneI will always be a beginner as I am always learning.
havent tried the makita but the the new boshe impressed me
i guess it depends on what kind of building u do. the mag 77 is great but the table has a tendancy to leave black marks on your work. i really kike the boshce saw because u donnt have to worry about the marks, it can cut a longer angle, and u dont have to pin the guard to make a re cut
I work for a large union contractor in the minneapolis metro area. We have hundreds of skil wormdrives. If you want a saw that's not going to bog on you the mag 77 is the way to go. I had to cut some resin tops in a commercial kitchen the other day , with a diamond blade in the skil it took care of business.
After reading this thread (thanks for posting it Ski) I went out to replace my 2nd circular saw. I had a cheap craftsman that didn't cut straight, then I had a new laser line Skil. Laser was nice just to know you were setting up at least parallel to the right direction! But the lockout failed on it - either it would not turn on, or it would not turn off... not much fun with a circular saw.
I checked out the saws that people recomended here, and settled on the Rigid.
HOLY FREAKING COW!!!
I didn't know running a saw could be this nice! Though they seem heavy at first, all that weight translates into stability and you don't notice it once you start cutting. All my cuts are straighter now, and I use this before the miter saw... something I never did before. This saw is WELL worth the double price premium over a side mount motored saw.
I just wish they made the dipstick part of the oil bolt.
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!