Worm Drive Circular Saw

KentWhitten

Bosch bought out Skilsaw and that was the worst thing to happen to my favorite saw (Skil 77) I swear they've replaced the steel in the gear housing with cheap Chinese crap. I bent the gears on 4 of those guys in a matter of a couple of months from kickbacks. Last I've got is the Bosch model and except for the plastic guard handle, it seems OK, but haven't had any kickbacks on it yet so I can't be positive. I've still got my original around here somewhere along with a few others that have seen untimely deaths falling in the stairwell opening, off roofs....

For $99 I think I'll go check out the Lowe's here. I can't believe that price. Somethings up with that. Maybe they replaced all the steel with Chinese. Bosch has killed the 77.

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Custom Cabinetry - Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Kennebunkport, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Cumberland, Ogunquit, Maine

Salmon Falls Cabinetry

KillerToiletSpider

I have a Mag 77 in my garage that I used exactly once, I can't remember why I bought it.

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skyhook

I've been building custom homes for 35 years. Made cuts in every position imaginable. I am not condoning the practice of removing the guard. It's not for everybody but it works for me. I would never stand on the top step of an 8' ladder, I'd get a taller ladder.

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Michaeljp86

Maybe all the Lowes are doing it, Ill have to go check it out.

HVAC_NW

Why is the blade always on the opposite side with the worm drive??

thom

Actually, it's on the opposite side with the sidewinder

A worm drive lets a right-hander see the blade without looking over his shoulder.

KentWhitten

That's what I keep telling people. It's not MY saw (worm drive) that has the blade on the opposite side

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Custom Cabinetry - Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Kennebunkport, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Cumberland, Ogunquit, Maine

Salmon Falls Cabinetry

Cole

All this talk about pinning guards back etc...

I have worked for 10 years with the guard pinned back, and I always told myself you are safe, nothing will happen.

Until:



I have learned my lesson and if I catch any guys working on my site, with guards pinned back, they are fired on the spot.

I had a friend cut his thumb off not too long ago, because of having the guard pinned back.

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Michaeljp86

[quote=Cole;303283]

Until:



quote]

Whats that look like today?

Cole

No feeling and a scar from the cut.

Its funny, I still have times where I am cutting something and I get that feeling again of it happening again.

It haunts me from time to time.

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Michaeljp86

Did it hurt when it happen or did it take a while? I heard you dont fell it but Ive never had it happen to me. I have come way to close before.

One winter while using a drill press the small metal plate I was drilling hung up and spun with the bit grabbing my glove and twisting my fingers in ways I didnt think were possible. My hand went numb while I untwisted my finders and it turned blueish but everything worked fine so I guess no broken bones. I know you shouldnt wear gloves while using tools but I figured this is a drill press what could happen. Now I dont wear gloves or its clamped up in the vise. Live and learn I guess

Cole

Actually it happened so fast, it didn't hurt. I just looked down and grabbed it with my other hand and held as tight as I could so that I would stop losing so much blood. The part that hurt was when a buddy of mine who was helping us that day (also a paramedic) wrapped it with gauze so I could go to the ER. He had to wrap it so tight to stop the blood flow, that it hurt like a MF until I got it off.

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Herk

Yeah, but . . . the reason for a worm drive saw!

So, I'll tell a little story. I'll start with mentioning that I have a makita, and think it's great.

Many years ago, I was watching a carpenter rip a board on a pencil ine with a worm drive, and it impressed me greatly. It's heavy to handle with one hand, of course, but you can actually make it cut straight. It's the longer body of the tool that gives you more control. After years of using regular skilsaws, I'll stick with the worm drive when I'm being a wood butcher.

Michaeljp86

Sometimes on TV I see those guys use a little worm drive. I think Norm on the new yankee workshop has one and I think Ive seen them used on this old house a few times. I would like one of those to, the next job I get Ill make them buy me one, that may be why Im $130 high.

HemiMan2500HD

I have two worm drives and i love them. I have the bosch for masonry and the high angle dewalt for framing a wood. Love them both. Anytime anybody borrows them they love them and the nex ttime i see them they have one of the two

kklick

I've got one of the makita 18 inch circular saws. Bought it for making about 30 6x6 timber frame trusses. Its a great saw if you can cut straight. If your one of the guys who just hogs out the cut you'll hate it. Just the slightest bit off line and you'll bind it up. Its not nearly as hard to use as it might look though. Sure gets alot of looks if you pull it out on site somewhere though.

Since the truss job is over we've tried to find excuses to get it out and use it. One of the best is when you need to rough cut alot boards quickly. We build alot of production porch posts in 8 and 10 foot lenghts but most of the material is 16 footers. We'll pull a whole unit of wood in at a time and go to town. It'll usually cut about 8 boards deep. Sure is quicker than pulling them up and cutting them one at a time on the radial arm saw.

As far as worm drives go I have the dewalt. Its an ok saw but probably not up to par with the skils. I toasted the motor in it one after about a year. Its been about that now and it still seems to be going strong. I see a skil in my future though.

jiffy

I had a Skil worm drive but just got the new Makita Magnesium worm saw. The new Makita saw is lighter and much stronger than the old Skil I have. I have noticed that some companies that used to have the best tool do not anymore. This makes sense I guess, because other companies are trying to make a better product. Make sure you don't stick with the same brand for 10 years...companies make changes and don't always let you know.

A W Smith

in the late seventies early eighties we all had skilsaw77's I loved that saw. someone saw it in the back seat of my car about 84 and busted a window to get it. I felt violated. I don't know why but i replaced it with the Milwaukee version. it was heavier and slower rpm. But I still have it. i call it my tractor and only use it for roof cut offs with demolition blades. i use makita sidewinders for everything else. I got used to the lightness of them. On blade guards the only time i ever pin them back is when cutting vinyl siding with a backwards plywood blade.. I told a new framing employee years ago don't come back tomorrow if i see his guard pinned back again. he listened.

dlcj

So to answer your question Michael, A worm saw has a transmisson geared down with a worm gear kind of like the final drive of a roto-tiller. This slows down the blade a bit but increases tourqe to pull through thick lumber or hard wood better. I assume they used to be more popular cuz lumber used to be thicker and stronger than it is now. I only used one once about 10 years ago on a friends job. I though it was a little heavy and akward too. I think it was a dewalt. My opinion is there only good for some one standing in one spot all day busting 2x12s. Before i read this trend i would never buy any kind of power tool (electric or gas) with the name skill, crafstman, or B&D. But if i ever feel the need for a worm drive, ill have to check out that 77, it sounds like a good one, or used to be. Worm drives are more expensive here too. By the way i never would remove the gaurd from any circular saw (exept for table saw) but if i did the e-brake on my dewalt DW364 stops the blade before i can set it down anyhow.

shed-n-deck

Mac, don't get me wrong, you have mad skills from what I can tell...What I meant by that statement wasn't that if you had to pin a guard that you had no skills...What I meant by that statement was that if you had to pin a guard, then your skilsaw skills might be lacking....I've used every conceivable hand saw, and have never once had to pin a guard back...I've developed a way to use my thumb to hold the guard if the angle is sharp. I can cut any angle without pinning the guard...And on any saw I've ever used....My thoughts are that if I can do it, then so can anyone else. It's not really any different than if you know how to cut using your foot to prevent binding the saw blade....Most people I've ever seen try to use a saw can't figure this one out...Even if they are using horses, they still somehow bind the blade....It says nothing about your skills as a craftsman, but if you have to pin a guard, then perhaps you should rethink you skills as a skilsaw operator...

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