Circular Saws: Reviews

Updated November 2008

January 13th:
Circular Saw Recall
From: Consumer Product Safety Comission

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Best corded circular saw.

*Est. $160 Compare Prices

Reviews praise the 7.25-inch Milwaukee 6394-21 circular saw for smooth, accurate cuts, easy adjustments, excellent balance and comfort. It has an electric brake for safety, a Quik-Lok cord attachment and onboard… blade-wrench storage. The Tilt-Lok handle adjusts to keep the saw balanced, and a front handle provides extra control. The 10-pound Milwaukee saw can bevel to 50 degrees, useful in many remodeling and construction projects. It carries a five-year warranty.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Tools of the Trade: The Milwaukee 6394-21 gets top ranking in this review comparing 16 corded sidewinder circular saws. The review gives the ...

PopularMechanics.com: The Milwaukee 6394-21 is the only circular saw out of 11 tested here to earn a perfect five-star rating. The review praises the ...

Journal of Light Construction: Based on jobsite tests by a professional framing and trim-work company, this review ranks the Milwaukee 6394-21 third overall, ...

Taunton's 2006 Tool Guide: In this older review, editors and readers of Fine Homebuilding and Fine Woodworking give top ranking to the Milwaukee 6390-21 ...

ConsumerReports.org: The Milwaukee 6390-21 is rated and ranked in comparison with 31 other circular saws, based on objective tests of cutting speed ...

Wood Magazine: Based on well-documented tests, plus a month of use, the Milwaukee 6390-21 earns top ranking in this comparison review, with ...

Amazon.com: Over 50 owners rate and review the Milwaukee 6394-21 circular saw here, giving it praise for the adjustable handle position -- ...

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Budget circular saw, corded.

Sears Craftsman 10871

(*est. $70) Compare Prices

This 13-amp, 7.25-inch Craftsman circular saw lacks a blade brake and can't match the power of more expensive saws, but owners say it does a fine job on most homeowner projects. Reviews praise its laser guide and dual LED… lights, and it comes with a carbide-tipped blade. Unlike quite a few budget circular saws, this one can make beveled cuts up to 54.5 degrees. The warranty is for one year.(check price at Sears)

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Sears.com: Over two dozen owners review the Craftsman 10871 circular saw here, giving it high praise for its features and light weight, and ...

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$69.99 from Sears.com

Best cordless circular saw.

Makita BSS610 LXT

*Est. $350 Compare Prices

Reviews recommend this light 7.1-pound Makita circular saw for comfort, safety and convenience. The 18-volt lithium-ion batteries recharge in 45 minutes and hold their charge a long time between uses. The saw has a laser… guide and dual LED lights, plus a dust blower to clear the cutting line. The 6.5-inch blade can cut 2X lumber even at a 45-degree bevel, and the saw comes with a 3-year warranty.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Tools of the Trade: This review compares eight lithium-powered cordless circular saws based on actual tests, and though the saws aren't rated or ...

HGTVPro.com: This single-product review by tool expert Mark Clement gives the Makita BSS610 cordless circular saw (an Editors' Pick) top marks ...

Fine Homebuilding: This review of a Makita LXT cordless tool kit rates the batteries and charger "outstanding" and gives props to the BSS610 ...

Popular Woodworking: This review doesn't test the new 18-volt lithium-powered Makita LXT circular saw directly, but recommends the four-piece LXT400 ...

The Power Tool Geek: This informal comparison review, based on field tests with three female employees at Toolbarn, finds Makita LXT cordless tools to ...

YouTube.com: This video demonstrates the Makita LXT BSS610 circular saw in action. Another video here demonstrates how easy it is to change ...

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Budget cordless circular saw.

Ryobi P500

*Est. $60, $110 with charger and battery Compare Prices

Reviews say the 5.5-inch Ryobi P500 circular saw is the best budget cordless saw, but it's not as accurate as more expensive cordless saws, nor does it use better lithium-ion batteries. The Ryobi P500 uses 18-volt NiCad… batteries, and it comes with a carbide-tipped blade for longer blade life. The Ryobi saw bevels only to 45 degrees, but has a laser guide, onboard blade wrench and comfortable handle. It offers a two-year warranty.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: This review compares and ranks 32 circular saws, including the cordless Ryobi P500, based on objective tests of cutting speed and ...

HomeDepot.com: More than a dozen owners give the Ryobi P500 cordless circular saw mostly positive reviews, saying it's a great value for the ...

OnlineTool Reviews.com: Reviewing the Ryobi One+ system of 18-volt cordless tools, this Australian woodworker finds that the one-hour charger actually ...

Fine Homebuilding: Compared with pro-level cordless tool kits, the Ryobi P840 -- which includes the Ryobi P500 circular saw -- gets relatively low ...

Workbench Magazine: Testing and comparing cordless tool kits that include circular saws, editors recommend the Ryobi kit, noting that the both the ...

PopularMechanics.com: This older review tests an early version of the 18-volt Ryobi cordless circular saw, finding it comfortable, with easy ...

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Best heavy-duty circular saw.

DeWalt DW378GK

*Est. $200 Compare Prices

The DeWalt DW378GK is a hypoid saw with the motor mounted behind the blade. This makes for better cutting-line visibility and less risk of kickback. It's heavy at 13 pounds, but light for this type. Experts say the added… weight can even be an advantage when sawing sheet stock on a horizontal surface. Reviews praise this saw's performance, durability and convenient rafter hook. It comes with a three-year warranty, plus a 90-day "no questions asked" return option.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Fine Homebuilding: Editors say the DeWalt DW378G is the easiest heavy-duty circular saw to use if you're used to a sidewinder saw, and praise the ...

Tools of the Trade: The relatively lightweight DeWalt DW378GK gets top ranking in this comparison review of nine wormdrive and hypoid circular saws, ...

ConsumerReports.org: This review compares and ranks 32 circular saws, including the DeWalt DW378G, based on objective tests of cutting speed and power ...

Journal of Light Construction: A professional framing company tests five worm-drive saws at job sites, concluding that the DeWalt DW378G is the overall favorite ...

ShopForCircularSaws.com: A professional team of builders reports on use of nine 7.25-inch saws on job sites for two weeks. Though two Porter-Cable ...

Amazon.com: About three dozen owners review the DeWalt DW378G circular saw here, with most reviews praising its power, balance, speed and ...

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Milwaukee 6390-21 *Est. $135

5 picks by top review sites.

Milwaukee V28 0730-22 *Est. $400

3 picks by top review sites.

Bosch 1677M *Est. $220

3 picks by top review sites.

Porter-Cable 423MAG *Est. $140

3 picks by top review sites.

DeWalt DW369CSK *Est. $130

3 picks by top review sites.

Porter-Cable 324MAG *Est. $140

2 picks by top review sites.

Festool TS 55 EQ *Est. $475

2 picks by top review sites.

Bosch CS20 *Est. $135

2 picks by top review sites.

DeWalt DC390K *Est. $220

2 picks by top review sites.

Skil MAG SHD77M *Est. $205

2 picks by top review sites.

Makita 5007MG *Est. $135

2 picks by top review sites.

Ridgid R3203 Fuego *Est. $120

2 picks by top review sites.

Makita 5007FK *Est. $100

2 picks by top review sites.

Hitachi C7SB2 *Est. $100

2 picks by top review sites.


	Milwaukee 6390-21 7-1/4-Inch 15-AMP Tilt-Lok Circular Saw from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Milwaukee 0730-22 V28 Lithium Ion 6-1/2-Inch Cordless Circular Saw from Amazon.com New: $370.00 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Bosch 1677M 7-1/4-inch 120V Wormdrive Saw from Amazon.com New: $179.99 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Porter-Cable 423MAG 15 Amp 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw with Blade Left from Amazon.com New: $113.95 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	DEWALT DW369CSK Heavy-Duty 7-1/4-Inch Lightweight Circular Saw with High Strength Base from Amazon.com New: $130.00 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Porter-Cable 324MAG 15 Amp 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw with Blade Right from Amazon.com New: $103.69 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Bosch CS20 15 Amp 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw with Direct Connect from Amazon.com New: $110.00 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	DEWALT DC390K 18-Volt Ni-Cad 6-1/2-Inch Cordless Circular Saw Kit from Amazon.com New: $171.95 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Skil SHD77M 15 Amp 7-1/4-Inch Mag Worm Drive Circular Saw from Amazon.com New: $169.99 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Makita 5007MG Magnesium 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw from Amazon.com New: $132.13 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Makita 5007FK 15 amp 7-1/4-inch Circular Saw with LED Light from Amazon.com New: $79.95 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Hitachi C7SB2 15 Amp 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw from Amazon.com New: $79.94 In Stock. Average Customer Review:

Circular Saws: Reviews

Best corded circular saw.

Budget circular saw, corded.

Best cordless circular saw.

Budget cordless circular saw.

Best heavy-duty circular saw.

Circular Saws by Price Range