Which size of circular saw do you use most often?

[overanalyze]

When we are framing homes or additions the 7-1/4" Skil Mag gets used. For basic general cuts either a regular 7-1/4" Dewalt sidewinder or a 6-1/2" cordless circular saw.

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Shane, is the real point of this survey, to gain some idea as to whether Festool US should import what in the recent past was a  Protool circular saw?

Just looking to pick one up and wanted to know the best size to get.  [popcorn]

 

[jlyons]

I just got the newish Dewalt(if i am permitted to say such a thing) DWE575, got it for $100.  So far a really big hit with the crew.  Really light, good bevel readings and the best blade guard i have used.  it actually retracts its self even on steep angles and bevels.

 

[nclemmons]

I sold my B&D 7 1/4 inch and use my TS55 now.  I also own the Porter cable 4 1/4 worm drive that I still use on occasion and love that little saw.  No dust extraction, but it's a beast  when I need a small saw!

I don't do much framing anymore, or I would have kept the B&D saw.

neil

 

[rst]

I think that I'm a hoarder...I still own almost every saw I ever bought, the only one I ever sold was an 8 1/4" Milwaukee that was my first and I sold that to buy an 8 1/4" Skil sidewinder.  I have a 6 1/4" PC that I bought for it's lite weight...It now is solely used with a steel cutting blade for cutting door-lites in steel doors. I have Milwaukee's 6 7/8" 18V steel cutting cordless for the same purpose.  I don't even remove doors anymore with these two.  I have Milwaukee's 10" monster for landscape timbers.  My Festool downward spiral started with a Makita tracksaw and Festool tracks.  At that point I really could not imagine the value in such expensive equipment.  When the Makita balked at cutting more than 3/8" acrylic, I bought a TS75.  I now only use the Makita with my MFT.  I now won 25+ systainers and multiple sanders and the 850 planer (but of course I still have my old PC door planer and a 4 5/8" Hitachi.

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Anyone else want to share their opinion / feedback?

Thanks to everyone who has voted in the poll and posted comments so far.

Shane

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Since I am a manly man, I use my 16" makita beam saw for everything.  [cool]

 

[SoonerFan]

7 1/4 for me.  I would however trade the saw for a new TS55 blade because all it does is collect dust these days.  And with the CT there is not much dust to collect.

 

[w802h]

I bought my TS55 mostly for cabinet grade plywood, but find that I use it more and more for different functions every year.

That said, I use 7.25 circular saws for non-horizontal cutting, demo, or where precision isn't needed.  I had a plywood guide for my older saw, but now I use the TS55, even for sheathing.  I used to prefer a lefty saw right handed for blade visibility - I'm on my second Bosch model.  My Milwaukee right hand with the brake is my go to now and has excellent visibility, especially since the sawdust isn't being thrown at me.

I used to have a Bosch 6.5" 18volt saw, but it lacked power and longevity suitable only for occasional use, so I parted with it.  For small tasks, precise or not, it's hard to match the convenience of a Japanese pullsaw.    

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Since I am a manly man, I use my 16" makita beam saw for everything.   [cool]

Don't shave the beard. It's the source of your strength.  [big grin]

 

[chrisrosenb]

I do a lot of different types of work. I could not get by without a regular power saw. I use a 7 1/4" mostly & I also have a 6 1/2"that I use sometimes.

 

[kmdwoodwork]

I use a 25 year old Craftsman 7 1/4" for framing the occasional deck, but thankfully it mostly just rides in my trailer because it is a beast to use. I used to use a 6" Porter Cable for plywood but has not been used in 4 years thank to the ts55.

 

[Paul G]

7 1/4, for no other reason than that's what I got

 

[Knight Woodworks]

I went with 7 1/4".
I have an older Hitachi that I use for breaking down rough sawn stock or the odd bit of framing.
I've owned the PC 4 1/2", a cordless 5 1/2", a PC 6 1/2" & an old B&D 8 1/4". Wasn't wild about any of them.

John

 

[bigjonh]

Thanks to all who have responded and voted so far.

I see there are a lot of views on the thread, but not so many votes in the poll. I guess most of you have converted to the TS track saw and don't use conventional circular saws so much. I guess that's representative of the type of tradespeople we have there on the forum: those who work with precision and accuracy rather than rough construction.

Shane

I do my rough construction with precision and accuracy. 7-1/4 and 6-1/2, the Makita cordless with dual 18v has been seeing daily use with a 6-1/2 rigid fuego (tool snobs can stuff it because that's a great little saw) which is a great little framing saw. Also have an older Makita 7-1/4 which has great dust collection that I do all my treated work with. Since we are doing  market research for you I'll just come out and say I would buy a Festool non plunge circular saw anywhere between 6-1/2 and 10-1/4 if it had decent dust collection. Maybe with a bag like the cordless ts.

 

[peter halle]

My non Festool saw of choice is an older now discontinued Porter Cable 7.25 with the left hand blade.  The dust chute is at the front of the saw and I have managed to hook up dust extraction to it.  By itself it eliminates the rear chute dust in the eyes/ face common with other designs.  I love the left hand blade for visibility.  If I have to replace it I will have few options and probably will go with the Bosch left hand.

Peter

 

[festooltim]

Let's see I have a collection of over about 25 years. I think their are 6 7 1/4" saws a 6 1/2 and a 4 1/2. Some have been modified for differnt task and had my Bobcat land on it in a car crash then was repaired it still works. My latest one is the new light weight Da what saw got the one with the electric brake and really like it. My friend has the Milwaukee saws and they run really smooth but I prefer a lighter saw.

 

[Larso]

Daily i use Makita cordless 6 1/2 Lxt for softwood framing tasks and general contruction tasks,the new Makita 7 1/4 with 2 batteries is getting used daily as well now.
This is a great saw but not quite the complete replacement for a corded saw they promote it as,a bit bit like the cordless planer - well worth the money and suprising good for a battery tool but the power that comes with a cord cant be beat just yet.

I can cut quite an acceptable mitre or bevel on pine trim with the LXT 6 1/4 using my square as a guide so this does save time going back to the drop saw for a single cut.

Australian hardwood timbers are among the hardest timbers in use around the world so cutting into existing walls etc still requires a saw with a cord,for this i have both a 7 1/4 and 9 1/4 Makita saws.

If Festool made a corless 6 1/4 with adequate power and a dust bag,they are half way there.If it also had accurate repeatble settings for mitres and bevels they wouldnt be able to make them fast enough.Inter changing battery (4.2) with the other tools is a must though.

Also a non plunging Festool saw of any size that could go in a stand similar to those for the planers which would enable safe ripping without carrying a table saw in the truck would go straight to the top of my wishlist.

 

[RussellS]

I use the TS55 saw for about all my plywood cutting today.  Even cutting plywood for covering a floor.  Have not used the Skil 7.25" saw in a long time.  Do not cut 2x4 or 2x6 with a circular saw.

 

[w802h]

My non Festool saw of choice is an older now discontinued Porter Cable 7.25 with the left hand blade.  The dust chute is at the front of the saw and I have managed to hook up dust extraction to it.  By itself it eliminates the rear chute dust in the eyes/ face common with other designs.  I love the left hand blade for visibility.  If I have to replace it I will have few options and probably will go with the Bosch left hand.

Peter

This is the path I took - PC to Bosch.  I used a copper 90 to spray the dust whichever way I wanted in my older PC left.  I am right handed and like the visibility of the milwaukee right.  I favor the brake for safety.  I don't know why you can't get a lefty with a brake.