Best circular saw ? Is Makita worth the extra few bob ?

worded

Hi,

Its been years since Ive owned a circular saw, santy got me my last one many moons ago, it was a drill attached Black and decker one :-) I think I had a sander drill attachment as well.....

Its for general purpose DIY.

Im thinking non battery for fear when the battery dies forever I cant use it on mains and have to fork out on a battery. Want to avoid that.

Brand / model.
Are Makita worth the extra few $ ?

http://www.screwfix.com/c/tools/saws/cat830854?brand=makita&cm_sp=managedredirect-_-powertools-_-makitacircularsaw

Woodies
http://www.woodiesdiy.com/action/searchsite/circular%20saw

foxy farmer

worded wrote: »

Hi,

Its been years since Ive owned a circular saw, santy got me my last one many moons ago, it was a drill attached Black and decker one :-) I think I had a sander drill attachment as well.....

Its for general purpose DIY.

Im thinking non battery for fear when the battery dies forever I cant use it on mains and have to fork out on a battery. Want to avoid that.

Brand / model.
Are Makita worth the extra few $ ?

http://www.screwfix.com/c/tools/saws/cat830854?brand=makita&cm_sp=managedredirect-_-powertools-_-makitacircularsaw

Woodies
http://www.woodiesdiy.com/action/searchsite/circular%20saw

If you have the work for it yes.
Makita Bosch Hitachi DeWalt Milwaukee would all be commonplace among tradesmen. Have a Makita 9" saw here close to 30 years old. Great weapon. Will cut 3" in one pass.
Parts for the better brands are easily got.
If you can physically pick up different brands of saws compare the weights. Anything too light won't be up to much. Low Motor ratings won't do you any favours either. Depth of cut should be over 50mm.
Cheaper brands will probably do the job but youll probably end up scrapping them if they give up.

worded

Thanks. So go with what feels worth the $.

Is it an absolute no no to cut a board deeper than the blade with a view to turning it over for the second cut to finish it? Does it depend on the blade?

eg. Say a board is 3 inches thick and the saw only capable of a 1.5 inch cut.

I have read up on some tips / safety and realise these circular saws have to be respected.

foxy farmer

worded wrote: »

Thanks. So go with what feels worth the $.

Is it an absolute no no to cut a board deeper than the blade with a view to turning it over for the second cut to finish it? Does it depend on the blade?

eg. Say a board is 3 inches thick and the saw only capable of a 1.5 inch cut.

I have read up on some tips / safety and realise these circular saws have to be respected.

The big problem there is having the 2 cuts accurate. A step between the cuts means more work planing to finish the cut surface . Too much of an overlap can make things messy.
When cutting plywood etc have the bare minimum of blade exposed underneath. 2-3mm is plenty.
No of teeth on blade depends on material being cut.

worded

foxy farmer wrote: »

The big problem there is having the 2 cuts accurate. A step between the cuts means more work planing to finish the cut surface . Too much of an overlap can make things messy.
When cutting plywood etc have the bare minimum of blade exposed underneath. 2-3mm is plenty.
No of teeth on blade depends on material being cut.

So its possible ....

Ok

sky6

Circular saws are an extremely dangerous piece of equipment and deserve total respect. You need to clear your head of everything when you pick it up to cut. Secondly always check where the cable is that it's safe before switching on the saw and cutting.
While you might do what you're suggesting once or maybe twice it's not to be recommended. You could even cut once and finish with a hand saw. if you have much of that type of work to do then you need another type of saw. Maybe a table saw or even a chain Saw.

deandean

Get a decent circular saw. Any of the major brands.

Then spend good money on buying three blades.

You'll want a very coarse rip blade, then a medium general purpose blade, then a fine blade for thin materials.

It's more so the blade, and the experience of the user, that makes a good cut.

Best of luck!

worded

sky6 wrote: »

Circular saws are an extremely dangerous piece of equipment and deserve total respect. You need to clear your head of everything when you pick it up to cut. Secondly always check where the cable is that it's safe before switching on the saw and cutting.
While you might do what you're suggesting once or maybe twice it's not to be recommended. You could even cut once and finish with a hand saw. if you have much of that type of work to do then you need another type of saw. Maybe a table saw or even a chain Saw.

Agreed. Total respect.

I always thought driving is the most dangerous thing you do every day, well perhaps its the second after you buy one of these.

worded

deandean wrote: »

Get a decent circular saw. Any of the major brands.

Then spend good money on buying three blades.

You'll want a very coarse rip blade, then a medium general purpose blade, then a fine blade for thin materials.

It's more so the blade, and the experience of the user, that makes a good cut.

Best of luck!

Often wondered if it was a one blade fits all, so there are different purpose blades - thanks, will bear it in mind.

I will do the research and get the best possible one I can for the budget

Admldj

Just to chip in with an alternative for you http://www.mcquillantools.ie/hitachi-c7st-185mm-circular-saw/ i've been using the 110v version in work for the last 10 years and its an absolute beast! I've given it serious hard work over the years and its never let me down once I've even had other lads that used it ditch their makitas after using it! As an extra tip invest in a couple of quik grips and a good straight edge measure the distance from the edge of the saw base to the edge of the blade and set your straight edge to that offset

worded

Admldj wrote: »

Just to chip in with an alternative for you http://www.mcquillantools.ie/hitachi-c7st-185mm-circular-saw/ i've been using the 110v version in work for the last 10 years and its an absolute beast! I've given it serious hard work over the years and its never let me down once I've even had other lads that used it ditch their makitas after using it! As an extra tip invest in a couple of quik grips and a good straight edge measure the distance from the edge of the saw base to the edge of the blade and set your straight edge to that offset

That looks the business.
I like mcquinlans as well

2 stroke

Makita are over rated imo, trading on past reputation, their old stuff was top quality, I'd buy Aldi/lidl first. If you want to pay more, Bosch, Hitachi or Milwaukie are worth the money.
I have an Aldi that I bought for rough work 7 years ago, mostly used for cutting up offcuts for firewood. I put a decent blade in it recently and was amazed how good it was.

worded

Admldj wrote: »

Just to chip in with an alternative for you http://www.mcquillantools.ie/hitachi-c7st-185mm-circular-saw/ i've been using the 110v version in work for the last 10 years and its an absolute beast! I've given it serious hard work over the years and its never let me down once I've even had other lads that used it ditch their makitas after using it! As an extra tip invest in a couple of quik grips and a good straight edge measure the distance from the edge of the saw base to the edge of the blade and set your straight edge to that offset

Should I get the higher voltage one? Or 110V is fine?

Admldj

worded wrote: »

Should I get the higher voltage one? Or 110V is fine?

The 110v one is for site work so you'd need a transformer the 220v will have a domestic plug so ideal for diy work think its a bit more powerful too

worded

Admldj wrote: »

The 110v one is for site work so you'd need a transformer the 220v will have a domestic plug so ideal for diy work think its a bit more powerful too

Thanks, I didn't know that, will be domestic work.

mfceiling

2 stroke wrote: »

Makita are over rated imo, trading on past reputation, their old stuff was top quality, I'd buy Aldi/lidl first. If you want to pay more, Bosch, Hitachi or Milwaukie are worth the money.
I have an Aldi that I bought for rough work 7 years ago, mostly used for cutting up offcuts for firewood. I put a decent blade in it recently and was amazed how good it was.

Really? Have you seen some of the new makita range? Absolute beasts of things - impact drivers that would put a corded tool to shame.

I would run any lad who came on site with lidl or aldi tools.

agusta

Hitachi prices for saws have come down.There are not of the same grade as they used to be.its makita or bosch i think for quality.