Subject: Re: circular saws

From: "Michael R. Dow" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 29 Mar 1997 08:54:44 -0600

Bob Potter wrote:
> 
> I have a Black & Decker which I paid $45 for a number of years ago.
> The bearings are shot.  I use it for outdoor stuff now (cutting fence
> posts, etc.) and am going to buy a better quality replacement.  I
> would suggest spending the extra money for good quality.
> 
> >I need to but a new circular.  I'm looking for suggestions.  Don't know if
> >it's worth paying $150 for one when I could buy three $50 for the same
> >price.  Comments???

I just got a DeWalt at Home Depot... Bearings on both sides of the
shaft, $129... There are various models, I picked the one that seemed to
fit the intended use plus a little extra.. :-)  I like it...  I could
have purchased the Skil HD77 (arguably the best), but the damned thing
is so heavy that I couldn't envision ut being applicable to the
light/medium duty use I would put it to.

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From: "G. Leggett" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 30 Mar 1997 00:10:25 -0800

Talked to a guy who does a lot of wooden boat restoration work about his
choice for 10" circular saw blades.  He raved about these new Matsushita
carbide tipped thin kerf blades.  He said he has been in the woodworking
business for 50 years and there is just nothing like them. Claims that the
table saw at his place has had one on for three years and gets used about
25-40 hours a week by several fellows and it still cuts like day one.

Thanks for starting a thread on the subject.  I need new blades and have
been wondering what to do.  Stupidly I forgot to ask this guy where to get
the Matsushita saw blades---because I have called around and no one has
them---and I also don't see them advertised in the wood magazines.

		Gerry

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From: [email-masked] (Neil Surch)
Date: Mon, 31 Mar 1997 16:40:28 GMT

Sure you can get a three $50 one but they are sure sloppy and
flimsy.  If you use the saw infrequently then go ahead knock yourself
out.  However the $150 saws are built to last with strong powerful
motors and a tight arbor that does not "float" in and out.  I have a
Makita 5008NB(8 1/4") it's about 10 years old now and has gone thru
hell, work outside in rain/sleet/hail/snow and has yet to fail me.
It's still works like a charm  and it's still as rock solid as the day
I bought it.

  I previously owned a cheap DIY Black & Decker and it ruined more
than difference in price I paid for the Makita in the short time I had
it.  Don't get me wrong it did a bang up job shortening 2x4's but
sucks in the thick sheet good stuff.

  Other brands to look out for that my friends have recommend is the
Dewalt or the B&D Industrial SawCat or Super SawCat(same thing really)
let's not forget the venerable Model 77 Skil Worm Drive.

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From: [email-masked] (IbDegen2)
Date: 1 Apr 1997 03:45:45 GMT

>it's worth paying $150 for one when I could buy three $50 for the same

The saying "buy the best and cry once" is certainly true with circular
saws.  I don't know about the saws made today, but in 1970 I purchased a
Rockwell top handle circular saw for myself, and at the request of the
theater I worked at, and against my best judgment, two of the cheapest
Skilsaws I could find.  The Rockwell was used exclusively by me, the Skils
by the others.  The long and short of it is, I still have the Rockwell and
it still works great.  I've used it as a professional theater carpenter
and as a professional home builder.  It works today like it worked when
new (I hope I don't jinx myself).  Oh, BTW, the Skils didn't make it
through the summer.

Also BTW, I think my Rockwell has been reincarnated as a PC model.  The
saws look identical, complete with the thick aluminum soleplate (instead
of the thin stamped kind).  The only difference looks like the name.  As
PC bought out Rockwell's hand tool division, they probably are the same
and I would thoroughly recommend it.

Braun Degenshein