235mm (9 1/4") Circular Saw Options

Okay, After many years of surviving as a chippie with just a 6 1/4" and a 8 1/4" Makita saws (I did have a 7 1/4" but never used it, so it's out on permanent loan) I've decided it's time to get a big boy. Main reason is the old pressed metal base on the 8 1/4" is twisted and a replacement base is $150ish and the new 8 1/4" with a cast alum base is more than a 9 1/4"

The only options with the cast aluminium base seem to be Makita, Bosch (Blue), Hitachi and Dewalt. All are either 2000 or 2100 watts, the Dewalt being 2300, all cut at 85-87mm, the Hitachi and Makita are around 7kg, while the Bosch is 7.6kg and the Dewalt 6kg.

Briefly years ago when I was a 1st year I bought a Black & Decker Sawcat which someone relieved me of only weeks later. This saw is now the Dewalt which is the one I'm leaning too. Lightest, most powerful, deepest cut, but most expensive.

Question is, am I missing any other brands worth looking at? The above 4 is all I could find.
Pity none of them have a 90mm depth cut:~

Triton is back - can't remember exact depth of cut. Not the Chinese model either - the Taiwanese model is returning, and that is a bad boy. I've had one for over 10 years now. 2400W (at least when I got mine) solid (cast) base, stable both upright and table-mounted.

National distributor is Kincrome.

There's a 91/4" Dewalt on ebay at the moment.

I've had a Makita 9 1/4 for years, it's very reliable and has heaps of grunt but several years ago a mate bought a DeWalt and I used it for a few days on a job we were doing.
It was better balanced than my Makita and the guard didn't catch as much, a better all round saw to use.
I don't know if the new ones are the same design and specs but it was a very nice saw.
Now I'm waiting for the Makita to die, but I'll probably die before it does.:U

wattages between brands vary,others say there saw is a 2500w but a 2000watt out performs the higher powered one.

if going the makita i would pick the 5900b although its underpowered compared to some it has been a market leader for the last century. the dewalt & hitachi are also good saws & have there fair chunk of market share. Dewalt would be my pick as it also comes with 3year warranty whilst the others come with 12mnths.Dewalt also come with 30day satisfaction guarantee so if your not entirely happy with it you can return it

As I have previously written in another thread on here somewhere, the old Makita 5900B is heavy, uncomfortable with an always sticking blade guard but the damn thing will still be working hard into the 31st century. The time will come, if it hasn't already, when someone, perhaps even Makita themselves, will make a saw just as good as it or better, that is more comfortable with a blade guard, depth & angle adjuster that actually work without binding. But you need to talk to other tradies if it has arrived yet; and talk to those who actually use the thing every day.

As I said I've got 3 other Mak sizes, but I'm really not keen on their 9 1/4's. Their ergonomics are hopeless and being a left hander, they are not very nice to use. Although I believe back in the 70's/80's Makita did make a left handed circ saw.

Thanks for the tip on the Triton Stuart I never thought of it, but it is the heaviest of all the saws and has the smallest cut depth.

I was hopeing there were some other brands too. Seems the Dewalt it is.

As a dyed in the wool hitachi fan it pains me to say to steer well clear of the latest hitachi 91/4. Had the hitachi c9 for years till the apprentice let the blue smoke out. Obvious choice was another hitachi, dumb move, cracked the top blade cover within a week and it's just not nice to use. Was prompted to write hitachi a letter and suggest they stop massaging the artistic egos of their design dept. and get back to building serious power tools. I can not think of one of the new look hitachi tools that is an improvement on the tool it replaced. Obviously I never heard back from hitachi and there our relationship ended.
Of the others I have always felt dewalts felt funny to use but that's just because they are different to what I am used to. I would probably go with one of the makitas if it was me.

Ben

I have both a Makita and a Triton saw. I have had a 9 1/4 inch Makita for 15 years and it has tonnes of timber of all types, soft and hard. Somebody said it is bullet proof and I would strongly agree. I suppose a hammer may last longer, but it is the only power tool I was using 15 years ago that I still use today. A couple of years ago I got a Triton saw given to me as part of a deal when I was building a shed. It is a good piece of gear to. Ask me in another 13 years and I will let you know if it is as good as the Makita. The one priviso I would put on that is that I have a suspicion that quality control at Makita is not al that it might have once been. I bought a top end Makita compound mitre saw a few years ago and it was not all that well made.

I've also been looking at Makita circ saws recently. It was hard to get excited about any of them, at least the ones i could see at Bunnings. I don't know why Makita tools have such poor ergonomics. You only need to pick one up to feel how awkward it feels, but as most people have said they last for ages. Regarding quality control, it pays to have a look at every tool you plan to buy and check where its made. A few Makitas are still made in Japan, a couple in Europe and a lot in China. That explains a lot of the quality control questions right there, in that order.

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Originally Posted by anythingbutpine

I've also been looking at Makita circ saws recently. It was hard to get excited about any of them, at least the ones i could see at Bunnings. I don't know why Makita tools have such poor ergonomics. You only need to pick one up to feel how awkward it feels, but as most people have said they last for ages.

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I own quite a few Makita power tools which are in every day use, the ergonomics for most of them are fine.
I've got a 160mm saw, drywall gun, tek gun, planer, battery drill and 9 1/4 saw, as I posted in this thread I prefer using the De Walt 9 1/4 saw but my other Makita tools are all easy to use and very reliable, my biggest gripe with the 9 1/4 is the guard.
Be aware that Bunnings are selling some Chinese Makita tools that aren't available elsewhere, I saw a 7 1/4" Makita saw there a month or so ago for $90, it seems that this particular saw is only available at Bunnings and is produced for the handyman market, Makita's trade quality 7 1/4 is closer to $300 and not available at Bunnings.
Makita still make good quality tools in my opinion, but you get what you pay for.

Makita do indeed make good quality tools but you need to know what specific models to search for if you want trade quality. Small model number differences can make a big difference. And you need to have a supplier you trust or do your own leg work.

Just to make a point of difference I was recently helping a friend out on his roof framing and he had bought a little Maktec 185mm circular saw for this very job; to cut battens and other trimmers. He loved it. I have the same saw in Makita branding and like mine better but I'm not about to tell him that.

Too true, Maktec is yet another cheapo version of the real Makitas, i stay away from those, just like green makita and green Bosch. I didn't know bunnings had some base model blue Makitas unique to Bunnings.. they would be the Chinese ones i've seen no doubt.

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Originally Posted by Doken

Be aware that Bunnings are selling some Chinese Makita tools that aren't available elsewhere, I saw a 7 1/4" Makita saw there a month or so ago for $90, it seems that this particular saw is only available at Bunnings and is produced for the handyman market, Makita's trade quality 7 1/4 is closer to $300 and not available at Bunnings.

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I alluded to this in the Stanley thread in the hand tools section. It's a worry when a trade quality brand start using their reputation to sell low end stuff. Bosch have done it too with a 'blue' rotary hammer drill, two different models look identical, but one is made in China, the other Germany and have a $200 price difference. Plenty of people have probably bought the Chinese one thinking they got a bargin.

I think the easiest way is to avoid places like Bunnings like the plague.

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Originally Posted by Doken

I own quite a few Makita power tools which are in every day use,
I've got a 160mm saw, .

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The 6 1/4 is a ripper isn't it. Nice and light and easy to use one handed. I gave away my 7 1/4 not long after I got it. Pity it doesn't have an ali base, the pressed metal one has a bit too much flex in it.

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Originally Posted by Kyle

The 6 1/4 is a ripper isn't it. Nice and light and easy to use one handed. I gave away my 7 1/4 not long after I got it. Pity it doesn't have an ali base, the pressed metal one has a bit too much flex in it.

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Yeah, it's a beauty.
Mine's been used and abused for 15 years and still going strong.