Thread: GMC circular saws?

Hi Riffi.
That GMC is a copy of a Dewalt. I have the GMC and I'm pretty happy with it. At $99 I'd be rapt.
I have had a problem with it - the depth of cut adjustment is not as good as the original. It is very stiff to adjust. The slot is made of thinner steel than the dewalt, and more importantly the adjusting bolt and nut are just a normal coach bolt and nut on the GMC, they are a special pair on the Dewalt. I got replacement parts sent out from GMC - no better. I then got genuine Dewalt spare parts for the bolt and acorn nut, and fitted them to my GMC saw. All better.
The problem - the screw thread on the ordinary coach bolt is too fine, the nut won't undo enough in the half turn or so available, and adjusting it jams. The Dewalt part has a coarser thread, so it loosens more for a given turn of the acorn nut. (You can adjust the position of the lever on the nut, with the GMC you can't get a setting which both tightens up and releases adequately. )

Also sometimes the switch jams on. The saw is used in a Triton workbench and the sawdust seems to get into the switch. I checked with GMC before buying the saw, they said it was fine to use the saw in a Triton. But it is not safe for hand held use if the switch is sluggish to return to the off position.

I am not sure if I would buy one again. The $99 would tempt me, if it was still $199 I would pay the extra and get a Triton saw.
I think I am over GMC stuff. I have never bought any GMC product without having some hassle. All of it I have eventually returned and bought a better product, except for the saw. I have some Ozito stuff that I am very happy with, so I am not just a brand snob.
Chris.