Thread: Circular Saw Choice???

I have the Makita 5806B 185mm blue -green saw, and it is great. I also notice that is the tool of choice with the local tradesmen - I should know, I have 4 tradesemen sons ,and this is what they tell me

Not sure about the bright green one - it is not a Hitachi is it?

no its a makita, it is a very odd clour for the makita range.
its usualy in bunnings cataluges and its $119.
Harrison

I you will find the green one is a "non-Tradesmans" tool - ie the cheaper version. Not sure what the difference is especialy as Mata havan orange range again under a different name - "maytek"I think. Peronally if you want the makita name for the quality I would stick with the blue versions.

Differences in the cheaper models of the same brand usually include things like bushes and maybe even motor brushes. As they say, You get what you pay for

I have had an Hitachi 91/4" forover 30 years. No problems with it at all and it has not been all that kindly treated.

Just noted your comments on the saw... I have had one for around the 30 year mark and done loads of work & still going strong.

We were sawing sold concrete wall with a diamond tip blade & attached a vacuum cleaner to the exit shut which managed to suck most of the concrete dust up.

I clean it well from time to time and took off the blade guard ( naughty me ! )
But goes well

Phill

I bought the blue Makita 180mm one, about 3 years ago, from bunnings got it for $160 i noticed from time to time they have a green one for around the 110 to 120 mark .asked sale person about quality and the reply i got was ''windings, bearings and brushes wasn't the same as the blue one ,said it came out of same factory .my blue one is a great little saw ,i'm happy to rip a 5x3 hardwood lintle out of a 6x3.

I believe it comes down to how much you will use it and what for, you don’t buy a Abram tank to go the shop for milk, it would be fun but. My reason for this though is you could go and buy $300+ tools and uses them a dozen times a year for light work and for the rest of the time their in the display case
After 20+ years in construction/Fab work i had all the toys, mig, tig, plasma cutters, 9" grinders (death machines), 9 1/4 circular saws, and many more all these toy were big dollar units.

After some of the tools being dropped by me and others to the point of being stuffed. I found I was buying tools at the lower end of the price range and getting material cut to size.
Over the last 5 years I have replaced power tools, and i have looked in to brands where they were made, where they were put together. And what the difference is between the low end and the high end, yes I will agree with the statement you get what you pay for.
My powers tools break down

Bench Saw GMC 245mm 6yr old $268.00
Circular Saw Maytek MT580 6 Mt $98.00
Routers Maytek MT360 2 Yr $199.00 Bench Mounted
GMC 12 mt $55.00 Trimming/molding
Ryobe 2 Yr $45.00 Patten Cutting
Sanders Belt Makita 18Yr $???
Orbital Makita 18Yr $???
Jigsaw Maytek MT430 5 Day old Xmas Gift from Daughter – Priceless(Granddad Gave Her the Money)
Elect Plane Makita N1900b 18yr $???
<O</O
Now in regards to a saw I use a small MT580 Maytek, its light an easy to set up the guide is simple and spot on (very good Blade), as for any ply or lumber for any bigger jobs where there is a lot of cuts or planning, I buy and get the ply cut to size.
<O</O

A good example is a couple of weeks ago I ran in to a mate in Bunning’s he told me he was building razed veg garden beds out of coppers logs and was buying a saw, he hade one of the biggest saw he could see on the shelf in his trolley. I said why, will you use it after this job.” NO” Go hire a saw for the weekend and I will come over and help. I brought my skill chain saw and reclaimed hardwood lumber from salvage, 2 respirator filter mask. He returned the logs and bought me a bottle of rum,
<O</O

My point, it comes down to personal preference, research and dollars. I have a couple of mates the have all the high end tools and do nothing with them and don’t know how to use the tool to get a finished job. A tool is only as good as the tool using it.

The next saw I buy will be the blue Makita 5740NB 185mm.

I don't think Bunnies stock them.

Sydney Tools have them for $169 with a spare blade.

I think Bunnies have the 5806B for about $180 but it has a pressed metal base.
The 5740NB has a rigid aluminium base.

Originally Posted by Cliff Rogers

The next saw I buy will be the blue Makita 5740NB 185mm.

I don't think Bunnies stock them.

Sydney Tools have them for $169 with a spare blade.

I think Bunnies have the 5806B for about $180 but it has a pressed metal base.
The 5740NB has a rigid aluminium base.

X2 for this saw. I've got the older one with the metal base, got two of my mates this saw in the last few months. Fantastic little saw and a bargin.

Can get it here for $159
Power Tool Specialists : #1 Makita Dealer in Victoria, Specialist STIHL Dealer, shop buy power tools online

Whatever you get make sure it has an aluminium base. All 3 of my saws are pressed metal base's, but the ali ones are far more acurate.

Just re reading the bunnings cataluge and under makita it saysin small wrighting M-series, I still dont know which one to get or choose another brand.
Harrison
Though i might buy the Green makita for the wallets sake and that im a beginner.

I bought one of the green Makitas a while back. Nice saw, but it doesn't have a trigger lock. If I had known that I probably wouldn't have bought it because of its potential danger.

If you're looking for value try an Ozito or XU1 from Bunnings. Bought an XU1 cordless drill the other day and I'm impressed with the quality for such a low price.

yeah ive had a look but i dont want to go down that low of the scale.Ozito $50 odd the ryobi is $99, then it B&D $109(mabey) then the makita $119, Bosh $139 then i think its AEG/Makita $179 a peice. but i dont whant to go that high up the scale either. i just want a great tool from the middle region.

Cheers Harrison

Originally Posted by mjmjm

If you're looking for value try an Ozito or XU1 from Bunnings. Bought an XU1 cordless drill the other day and I'm impressed with the quality for such a low price.

Bet you the drill wont last you long though

BUT still cheap as chips.

Harrison