Woodcarvers and professionals alike have many different wood saws to choose from, but the two most versatile are without a doubt the electric jigsaw and the hand-held circular saw. The latter are of great importance for general workshop use, refurbishment and construction site tasks, but the options are much wider than many people think. A closer look at the entire range of circular saws reveals some interesting options.
While cordless tools continue to grow in popularity, the best corded saw blades often offer the best combination of performance and value. The following article details all the important details to help you make the right buying decision.
Those who buy a corded circular saw for their workshop will find a wide choice. In addition to a wide range of “standard” tools, there are nimble compact tools and heavy-duty heavy duty saws. Technically, a table saw is also a circular saw, but this article will focus on manual models. The following technical aspects are important in narrowing down the options.
Circular saws are usually rated by the size of the blade. 7¼” blades are common on general purpose models, but can be longer than 10″ on heavy duty circular saws and can be less than 4″ on compact models.
Depth of cut is one of the main factors when choosing the best circular saw for a particular task. It is important to study the specifications carefully, as two saws with the same blade size will often differ. Look for the depth of cut where the blade is at a 90 degree angle, this will be the absolute maximum. It is also important for most users to check the depth of cut when the blade is at a 45 degree angle (the usual angle for bevel cuts).
The number of teeth and blade material also play a role. Most circular saws described as 7¼” have 18 or 24 tooth blades with strong tungsten carbide teeth. They are suitable for all types of general sawing, especially wood for repair or construction work. However, there are many different blades to choose from and are worth exploring for different jobs. More teeth provide a smoother cut and are typically used on hardwoods. There are special blades for cutting sheet metal such as aluminum and diamond tipped blades for sawing tiles or concrete.
The current rating is usually a good indication of performance and therefore what the saw will be used for. Nearly all mains-powered circular saw motors can draw up to 15 amps, which is about the same amount that a standard household outlet can draw. Models intended for the casual user may have a less powerful motor, around 13 amps. Compact tools can draw as little as 4 amps.
Blade speed is a useful metric because theoretically a faster blade cuts faster. However, the speeds listed are always no-load speeds (in other words, when the saw is not cutting), so they do not always accurately represent performance. Therefore, many manufacturers of saws do not indicate them. As a general rule, manufacturers are good at matching speed to power output, so this is rarely a problem.
There are two ways to transfer the power of a circular saw to the saw blade: rattlesnake drive and worm drive. Strictly speaking, there is a third type: the hypoid drive. However, a hypoid circular saw is very similar to a worm-driven circular saw. Its power is slightly more efficient, but the impact on buyer choice is basically the same.
Sidewinder drives are the most common. The motor is attached directly to the side of the saw blade and drives the saw blade through a rotating shaft. Sidewinder saws tend to be more compact and lighter, as well as have a faster blade rotation speed.
On worm (and hypoid) drive saws, the motor is located behind the blade and drives the blade through a gear train. These saws are generally larger and have a slower blade speed, but they produce more torque. This makes the worm drive the best choice for corded circular saws that often cut through thick or hard materials.
The shoe (or sole) is the base plate of the saw that rests on the material being cut. On cheap corded circular saws, this is usually steel, cheap and durable. However, it is also heavy and prone to rust. Aluminum is perhaps the most common shoe material. It is lighter than steel and does not rust. While not that difficult, small dents are not that hard to fix. Magnesium alloys (commonly shortened to magnesium) are premium shoe materials. It is almost as strong as steel, does not rust, and is about 30 percent lighter than aluminum. However, it is much more expensive.
The weight of a full-wire circular saw will affect those who use the tool all day, especially those who cut vertically and horizontally. However, being light is not always beneficial. Plastic housing parts will reduce weight, but in some conditions may be unreliable.
Both the depth of cut and the angle of the corded circular saw blade are adjustable. How easy it is to achieve this can have a big impact on usability, especially if changes need to be made frequently.
On older saws and some very inexpensive models, depth adjustment requires the use of a hex wrench. Most of them now have easy-to-use tool-free levers. Some saws still require a hex wrench to change the angle of the shoe. There is usually onboard storage for wrenches. The angles are marked on the scale, but retainers (pre-installed holes or notches) for common angles such as 22.5, 45, and 90 degrees can speed up the process. Saws typically run up to 45 degrees for miter cutting, but some go even further and in this article, the maximum angle is 57 degrees.
Circular saws almost always have a spindle lock that stops the blade from spinning, making replacement easier and safer. Another useful addition is the built-in wrench storage.
First of all, they choose products of well-known brands, known for their high standards and reliability. They represent a wide range of common designs and more unusual patterns. To make it easier for you to find the best corded circular saw for your specific application, each product has been assigned a separate category.
Although the shoe and blade guard are made of magnesium to reduce weight, it still weighs 10.1 pounds, which is a measure of the strength of the tool. The leading edge of the shoe is clearly marked and dual LEDs illuminate the cutting path. There is also a dust collector. The job site theme continues with tear-off guardrails and sturdy storage boxes.
The Craftsman 7 1/4″ corded circular saw has a powerful 15 amp motor that drives an 18-tooth high-speed saw blade (24-tooth version available). The 2 1/8″ depth of cut is a little less than some, but still more than enough for many types of lumber. The maximum bevel angle is 55 degrees, and conventional retainers are 22.5 degrees and 45 degrees. Both adjustments require no tools.
Surprisingly, on a cheap circular saw, the shoe is made of magnesium, although this does little to save 11 pounds. However, the guard is made of strong steel, not the plastic found on some inexpensive saws. A useful rafter hook completes the specification.
A handle is required when a 16.5 lb tool has a maximum depth of cut of 3.7 inches. The tool-free lever has pre-marked 2x and 4x wood thicknesses for quick setup, and it can make 51-degree bevel cuts, again without tools.
The shoe is made from magnesium which provides a combination of durability and weight reduction. The bottom guard is guided by bearings for stability. Far from being your average circular saw, it offers great features for those who need maximum performance on the construction site.
Despite its modest size, the Worx compact circular saw can handle a variety of home and professional tasks, from sawing small sections of wood to cutting tiles, plastic pipes and even lumber. The 6 amp motor provides plenty of power and the 4 1/2″ diameter blade cuts to a maximum depth of 1 11/16″. The left and right corners of the aluminum shoes are up to 45 degrees. All adjustments are made with a lever.
There are a lot of features packed into this little case. It comes with two 24-tooth general purpose blades, two 60-tooth HSS blades for metal cutting, and two diamond-coated tile blades. There is a port for dust removal and a laser for accuracy.
The main feature is the laser, which projects a thin beam of light exactly following the cut line. This is especially useful when the blade is hard to see. There’s also a blower for clearing lanes and a no-slip guard for smooth operation.
Evolution has built a solid reputation as an all-purpose saw manufacturer, thanks in no small part to its thoughtful blades in a variety of materials. This model is a 7 1/4″ model with 40 teeth capable of cutting wood (and driven nails), ferrous and non-ferrous metals, plastics, laminates and composites. The maximum cutting depth in wood is 2 1/2 inches with a 45 degree bevel.
The saw is powered by a reliable 15 amp motor. The aluminum shoe is designed to force air forward, blowing dust out of the cutting path. To expand functionality even further, slotted rails are available so the Evolution can be used as a track saw. Once set up, users can make perfectly straight cuts in lumber, plywood, countertops and more.
Thanks to the large contact area of the gear, transfers an additional 15 amps of power to the 7 1/4-inch 24-tooth disc. This means you can continuously cut to a maximum depth of 2 3/8 inches without the risk of stalling. Bevels up to 51.5 degrees with stops 22.5 and 45 degrees.
Circular saw blades are the right size for most people in most cases. It is well made, high performance, lightweight and durable. It also comes with a higher price tag, which won’t bother the pros, but might make the home tinkerer wonder. The Black+Decker circular saw is perfect for them. Not as strong and powerful, but not as expensive either.
In addition to having my own woodworking shop, I have remodeled two houses from scratch. I have inexpensive premium circular saws so I know what to loo
k for. To ensure we have a comprehensive understanding of the current corded circular saw market, the team researches the latest offerings from all leading tool manufacturers.
To highlight the differences in specs discussed above, we try to make selections as varied as possible so that we have something for all needs. Durability is a key issue, so while there may be less expensive corded saw blades, we stick to tried and trusted brands. However, we are also very aware of the importance of price, which is why we are confident that there is a tool for every budget.
Historically, most people didn’t want to shell out big bucks for a used tool, but today’s refurbished models aren’t the questionable pieces of equipment you’ll find at your next sale. Well-known manufacturers and retailers have been offering refurbished or refurbished products such as circular saw blades as well as new models for some time now.
The idea is that when a commercially viable solution becomes possible, it reduces waste, which is always a good thing. It can also provide customers with the ability to purchase products that may be over their budget.
It doesn’t have to be tools that are killed for 364 days and returned the same day the warranty expires. Indeed, they are often tried by other buyers but returned within a relatively short period of time. In other cases, these may be instruments that have been damaged in transit or storage.
So is a refurbished circular saw good? In our opinion, yes. There’s a good chance they represent real deals. Sites like Amazon and Walmart have great deals on refurbished or refurbished saw blades. However, caution and common sense are required.
Post time: Aug-01-2023