Which Circular Handsaw is the Best??? [Archive]

NewLou

14th October 2004, 07:00 PM

Ok Ok these days it seems theres not a lot of difference between the top make and models of powertools. As I'm presently in the Market for a new hand held circular saw It'd be great to know What Members of Australia's Wood Work Forums Think??

At the moment I have my eye on this circular saw:

http://www.georeviews.com/Hitachi-C7BD2-7-14--Circular-Saw-with-Brake-and-Case_L1063221/

TOMARTOM

14th October 2004, 07:50 PM

I voted the Makita, but in particular I like the look and feel of the 160mm Circular Saw, just waiting for one to come on special, or a good second hand one.

regards tony

Sturdee

14th October 2004, 08:03 PM

I would have voted for the Triton saw which I think is betrer than my Makita but that option is not there.

Peter.

Barry_White

14th October 2004, 08:14 PM

I'm with Peter I have a Triton but I also have two Makitas. a 9¼ and a 6¼ and they are not a patch on the Triton.

ozwinner

14th October 2004, 08:17 PM

What about the wonderful GMC range??

Al:(

Barry_White

14th October 2004, 08:22 PM

What about the wonderful GMC range??

Al:(
Well at least they are usually priced right.

Grunt

14th October 2004, 08:25 PM

My crappy Ryobi didn't get a mention. It's my favourite circular saw because it's the only one I have.

Pat

14th October 2004, 09:10 PM

My 1500w Makita (500NB) 7 1/4 (185mm). From cutting MDF, Particle Board & Pine to milling Tallawood and Ironbark Power poles it goes. Use the correct blade and nothing stops it! Of course it was expensive, but at the time I could afford it and isn't it "He who dies with the most (expensive) tools (toys) wins" :D

craigb

14th October 2004, 09:15 PM

I would've thought that most peoples favorite saw is the one they own.

I have a Makita 9 1/2 '' which I've had for 20 years.
Apart from getting the bearings replaced because arbor float became an issue when I had it mounted in a Triton, it's been trouble free.

I'm not a tradsman though.

NewLou

14th October 2004, 10:19 PM

Sorry fellas just goes to show how green I am. Forgot to include Triton and Arrrrrrrr GMC and Ryobi :eek Feel free to leave a link on ya thread for the saw ya wannna vote for!

Regards Lou :o

ozwinner

14th October 2004, 10:29 PM

http://www.fordaustraliaforums.com/forum/images/smilies/sm_driving.gifI dont know what this means, but it looks good.

Al http://www.fordaustraliaforums.com/forum/images/smilies/sm_driving.gif

journeyman Mick

14th October 2004, 10:51 PM

Lou,
I've got 2 Hitachi's a 71/4" and a 91/4", both with alloy base plates, an old Makita 91/4", an old Ryobi 71/4" (green handyman line) and a Ryobi 91/4" (Blue trade line) The Hitachi's are my favorites, heaps of power, smooth and, thanks to the baseplates, very accurate. However if your'e thinking about getting a triton table than the triton is probably your best bet.

Mick

Sturdee

14th October 2004, 10:56 PM

http://www.fordaustraliaforums.com/forum/images/smilies/sm_driving.gifI dont know what this means, but it looks good.

Al http://www.fordaustraliaforums.com/forum/images/smilies/sm_driving.gif

Probably means you will be driving to the show tomorrow, I am taking the train for my annual trip on public transport. :D :D :D

Peter.

bitingmidge

14th October 2004, 10:58 PM

I've had a few too, burnt out a few handyman specials, (literally on one el-cheapo B&D with a plastic guard - metal cutting disc threw one spark too many!)

My favourite far and away are my Hitachis. Same as Mick. I only ever use the 7 1/4 now because it's way safer for my little arm muscles!

Cheers,

P

TassieKiwi

15th October 2004, 06:15 AM

What PAt said - Makita 7 1/4 with alloy baseplate. Excellllllent!

GCP310

15th October 2004, 08:26 AM

i would love a Festool plunge saw if i had a spare $800.00. But for now, the makita 7 1/4" with a variety of different blades suits me just fine.

one of our fitters has the festool plunge saw with the aluminium guide. Talk about quick and easy cutting. you dont even have to clamp the aluminium guide down as it is rubber backed to grip the material you are cutting.

G

Zed

15th October 2004, 09:01 AM

I got a 2 yr old makita 9 1/4. tears thru anything like butter - bit of a screamer though - I recommed ear aids.... I've never used any other in anger so cant comment on any others - the tritons in bunnies look massive and i wonder about the avge joe's capability of wielding it by hand - whack it in a table I reckon...

Termite

15th October 2004, 09:13 AM

Zed, you are obviously not old enough to remembar the original Black & Decker rip snorters. All cast alloy body and weighed a ton, responsible for a multitude of bad backs and hernias just from picking them up. Been known to throw young apprentices 15 feet through the air when the blade jammed. :D BTDT got the tee shirt.

YCF Dino

15th October 2004, 12:43 PM

Hi Guys.
I notice some hits in our web site www.eurekazone.com (http://www.eurekazone.com) and I stop over to say Hi. Looking thru the posts, I found this one and it is of a high interest to me.
I'm one of the owners and the Inventor of The EZ-Smart guide system.
We have shipped the EZ-Smart to AU few times from our sales via Ebay.
Please visit our site to see how any circular saw can become an instrument of precizion-safety-and quality work.
I hope that with your help we can find a dealer in AU so our friends-customers in AU don't have to pay the high cost of air-shipping.
Please let me know what other guide systems 're available and at what cost.
We sell the EZ-Smart complete system in US (SGS-1) for $179.00 plus shipping.
Hello Again And thanks for your help.
Your Carpenter Friend.
Dino

LineLefty

15th October 2004, 01:17 PM

YCF Dino

16th October 2004, 01:32 PM

Dino,

So basically, the reason you can rip narrow pieces is because the smart clamps clamp from underneath the rail. That is no part of them extrudes on top of th rail leaving the saw free to slide.

The clamps are captured and slide in thier own aluminium slot which provides the

I've tried to make circular saw ripping sleds fro narrow pieces but havent been succesfull so far. This gives me a new direction..........

If you sold them in Australia, you never know I might just buy one.Hi Lefty.
Yes the Smart Clamps slide on the 2 slots on the bottom of the guide rail.
And by having two slots (one left one right) you can clamp very narrow pieces and your guide system becomes the perfect jointer and a straight line rip saw. In few weeks if you visit our website you will see the newer Smart Clamps that will allow you to clamp anything down to 2-3 mm. 1/32"
And the same time you can do repeat cuts with out the need to measure in each and every cut.
Few other unique features and benefits are: clean cuts with any saw and any blade. Modular-with 3 self aligning connectors . Bla, Bla,Bla.
Some times I forget that I'm a carpenter.
See you guys.

NewLou

16th October 2004, 10:38 PM

YCF Dino

16th October 2004, 11:30 PM

Hi Dino

http://www.woodpeckers.com.au/

May be worthwhile getting in contact with the owner of this website. I'd certainly be intersted in your product if you can get an Australian Supplier.

Good Luck
Regards LouHi Lou.
Is that you in the picture?
I think I saw you some where.
Thanks for your help guys and I will try to find a dealer in AU.
And about the circular saws...Do they use left bladed saws in AU or this is a US trend onlY?
The one that I vote was the Porter Cable with right blade-dust port and electric brake. Sells for $145.00 in US.
What is the price for this saw in AU?
What about the Makita and Hitachi, do they offer brake and dust port?
Thanks again guys.
YCF Dino

graemet

16th October 2004, 11:55 PM

I have an old Ryobi 182 mm saw bought when they called them Towa. It gets used to cut anything I can't get onto the table saw and has been used for everything from plywood and MDF sheets to Hebel blocks and fallen gum trees in the back yard. Every so often I need to bash the pressed metal soleplate flat again, the bearings have sounded as if they are going to fall apart any moment, but you can't kill it with a brick! Definitely not precision but it does all I need from this sort of tool.
Graeme

YCF Dino

18th October 2004, 12:45 PM

Hi Lou.

What other guide systems they sell in AU?
Do they sell circular saws with electric brake and dust port?
Thanks.
YCF Dino

NewLou

18th October 2004, 01:15 PM

YCF Dino

20th October 2004, 11:42 AM

GO to the Contacts and links forum Dino.............there you should be able to find pleanty of links to Aussie Suppliers of Tools etc etc Good Luck and let us know on this thread when you find an Australian Supplier ;).
Hi guys. Thanks to your forum and your FILOXENIA the EZ SMART is coming down under. This way I have the perfect excuse to see your beautiful country :) and get away from my other half for few days.:cool: :)
Thanks guys

alexg

20th October 2004, 04:52 PM

I've only ever had the Makita 5007NB (7 1/4). It handles well, plenty of power. I couldn't really suggest Makita over any other brand due to my limited experience however I would recommend getting a circular saw with an aluminium base plate vs the pressed metal type. This is because the alloy base runs firmly up against a metal rule/square (handy for cut-off work if you don't have a compound mitre saw) whereas the pressed metal types tend to have a rolled edge which simply rides over the top of your guide.

Alex.

barnsey

20th October 2004, 06:43 PM

I've had a few too!
Currently I have a rather old Towa 9 1/4 which I believe was made by Hitachi anyway. Still has plenty of grunt but gets used less and less these days with a table saw.

I also acquired and even older Wolf 7 1/2 which is a beautifully balanced machine and capable of producing fine results. I had to rebuild it - burnt out armature but I often use it where I find the job within it's limits.

If I had the cold hard, I'd probably look seriously at a Triton coz their router is a mean machine and I think their engineering would produce the same standards in a power saw.

To each his own FWIW

Jamie

Gumpy

4th December 2004, 10:01 AM

The best saw I have had was a Black and Decker saw cat, a tear came out of my eye when it blew up because I knew I would never be able to replace it. Well I did with a Makita 9 1/4, not within a bulls roar of the saw cat.

Evidence of these saws is still around with Dewalt and GMC producing copies of them. I always say that if people copy then its a good product.

My favorite saw for the last 10 years has been the 7 1/4 makita, mind you when they first started production of these saws it took quite a few tries/rejigs to get it right. They are made in china now so quality wise I am not sure. They have probably built a bit of obsolescence into them.

The saw that I would purchase if the Makita blew up would be the Hatachi. I have had the Hatachi router for 20 years now with no problems so I am sure the saw would be just as good. And by the way, when they first started production of these saws they got it right the first time not like makita.

I think Makita has been trading on its name for too long now. I used to blow the 1030 drills up all the time until I bought a skil replacement.

Daniel

Barry_White

5th March 2005, 03:12 PM

Kris.Parker1

22nd March 2005, 04:42 PM

First saw was the Makita, loved it. My brother recommended a DeWalt, love it even more!

Stuart

8th May 2005, 11:09 PM

To all the forum Guru's what would make this thread come up in the New Posts when apart from mine now the last post was by Gumpy on 4/12/04 but on the the front listing of threads it said posted 2 hours ago.
Does someone placing their vote in the pole (without adding a comment) cause it to jump back into the "New Posts" section? Just a thought.

echnidna

8th May 2005, 11:18 PM

I get odd things like that happen pretty regularly

Barry_White

8th May 2005, 11:41 PM

Does someone placing their vote in the pole (without adding a comment) cause it to jump back into the "New Posts" section? Just a thought.
Stuart

I think this happens when a guest posts a vote on a poll but can't place a post.

echnidna

9th May 2005, 10:56 AM

Did have Makita 9 1/4" and B&D 8" both good saws
I Currently have
An old Ryobi 210mm -good saw, its my general purpose saw. I've had this for many years and its still going well.
7" GMC used exclusively for cutting sheet materials, its nice & light & accurate.
9 1/4" Platinum GMC, a good strong saw but like the makita its heavy. Its got a nice strong baseplate unlike the flimsy one on the makita. Reportedly you can't kill this saw. I got it on special as a replacement for the Ryobi when it dies.

Saws I have had and wouldn't ever buy again.
Skil - absolute crap.

simon c

9th May 2005, 11:13 AM

Does someone placing their vote in the pole (without adding a comment) cause it to jump back into the "New Posts" section? Just a thought.

Not any more. A fix was implemented by Neil in April so votes no longer affect the date of a poll, only new posts.

Daddles

9th May 2005, 12:16 PM

Any thoughts of the big GMC? I've got my dad's little Hitachi in my Triton. It's a good little saw but I need something with a bigger blade and while I'm sure the Triton saw is a much better brute (for the purpose), I can't really afford the GMC, let alone the Triton.

Cheers
Richard

Waldo

9th May 2005, 01:12 PM

G'day Dadies,

I wouldn't touch a GMC with a barge pole, they are prone to working for the first day you buy it then cark it the next, but that is my opinion from what I know of those who have bought GMC stuff. Personally I wouldn't look at anything below a Makita. But it is all on a scale of affordability and the life you want out of your tools.

But that said I have an AEG which was my Dad's and is it's probably as old as I am and it has never had any repairs it it's life. I wouldn't like to replace it, as I'd be scared of what it would cost.

Island Nomad

9th May 2005, 06:24 PM

I've got the 7 1/4 and 9 1/4 (with alloy base) Makitas, these portable power saws are bullet proof.

Have had B&D Sawcats, Elu's, Millers Falls(this was my favourite), they were all good but the Makitas just keep going and going.

Best value for money saw on the market.

simon c

9th May 2005, 06:31 PM

I recently purchased a Maktek - the cheap version of a Makita, seems OK so far, but time and use will be the main test

Rickster

22nd February 2008, 01:17 AM

Sorry I had to bring up an old thread. But I'm about to purchase a 7 1/4" circular saw and I'm torn apart between the Makita 5806B and the DeWalt D23620. Both seem to have the exact same features specifications and price.

I asked the distributor where the DeWalt circular saws are made from, he replied "Mexico". I know that Makita is now made in China.

Which is better?

Bluegum

25th February 2008, 08:29 PM

Rickster,

I own the makita that your talking about. I have found it to be a good and reliable saw that has handled all that i have thrown at it. Its last job was to demolish a deck for my brother in law. The saw is easy to use and quite capable. I don't know anything regarding the Dewalt as I have never used one.

Carry Pine

3rd March 2008, 08:16 PM

Triton

Chris Parks

15th March 2008, 10:07 AM

For flexibility in use nothing beats the Festool range. Makita has now released a plunge saw and rails but it has not reached our shores yet and it will fall into the same category. The plunge facility makes the Festool so much easier to use even without the rails.

Gaza

23rd March 2008, 03:39 PM

in 71/4 dewalt is better than makita it is more balanced in my opion, we own both but i like the dewlat better.

i also now ahve a 5in makita which is great for doing most tasks but it is to small to be an allround saw.

Gingermick

24th March 2008, 04:33 PM

9.25" makita in triton. GFIL's old saw, hardly used. Cuts well

damian

11th April 2008, 01:03 PM

scooter

12th April 2008, 10:50 PM

Got one two. Woz going to put a piccie up but it's too bloody heavy to get out. :D

alanm

13th June 2009, 09:23 PM

Ryobi.
Not on the list.

gerhard

6th July 2009, 07:51 PM

Holz Her would be my first choice, but they do not longer exist. Than it would be Mafell, but you don't list this brand. The choice after that would be the Makita 5143, a very fine machine. Or else the Hitachi C13U and C9U, very simple and not much to look at, but reliable and durable.

David Mitchell

6th July 2009, 10:06 PM

I have an 8 1/4 Black & Decker, bought when I was an apprentice in the 1950s
It has served me well and I still use it.:cool:
Regards
David:2tsup:

Claw Hama

6th July 2009, 10:26 PM

I had a Hitachi that I gave to my son a couple of years ago, awkward sort of a thing but just couldn't kill it (still going 20yrs down the track). Have used many Makitas over the years and thought they were great, I then did a backflip and grabbed a GMC 91/4" and shock horror it did a fantastic job cutting 50mm plus slabs, 3-5m rips time after time (2 yrs) but allas it died a while back, dropped quite few times, cracked guards and then finally the bearings chicked it in. So I thought (had a few bucks in the pocket) I would go a little more upmarket and went shopping. Picked up a De walt 91/4" was on special, 3 years warranty all my tradie mates recon De Walts the goods. Yes, plenty of muscle, but thats about it, the vibration was terrible so have swapped blades and it goes much better, so have ordered a Flai z blade from VEK (sould be here any day now). I also have a small 6" Bosh (green) and it's as smooth as silk with the original blade.
(Wow sorry, rant)