Worm Drive Circular Saw

randomkiller

I hate to admit it but I agree with you on this one. I have cut plenty of odd sharp angles with a 77 and many other saws and never used anything but my thumb to hold the guard on the start of the cut. I have seen experienced union carpenters wedge the guards open on their saws way too often and make some stupid comments when they set them down and the blade hits something. I was on one job in very cold weather where the cut man was feeding several guys doing form work and watched him run the blade of his saw right through his thigh. Made for an interesting morning.

nadonailer

How many others have tried the Makitas? I used them primarily for 25 years with NO problems. I'm trying a Skill 77 now just to try it, but it is certainly no better than my old Makitas and maybe not as good. I like the hypoid feel and the non-oil issue. I may try one of the new ones:
http://www.tylertool.com/5377mg.html
I notice most guys use the Skils, but is it just a bias?

__________________
"History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid”.
Dwight D. Eisenhower

straight line

You might try picking one up, a skill77,. at a flea
market.
I liked my new one so much I bought another one used for around 40 bucks.
They both work great
Worm drives are great for cutting frozen lumber,ripping plywood,and cutting lumber without saw horses
Although the skill 77 is no longer cutting edge technology,it does have the reputation as being the longest lasting power tool you'll ever own.

A W Smith

I should do that but I already have too many darn saws. One thing many don't realize is you use a worm drive differently than a sidewinder. I was taught to let the weight of the saw do the work and cut in a downward motion. I would rest the lumber on my foot and ankle and just lower the saw through the wood.

straight line

I noticed last night my local Sears has discounted they're craftsman worm drive ( skill77 ) saws down to $80.
It looks like they're new saws appear to be Ridgid brand.
A great deal for anyone looking to take the worm drive plunge

shed-n-deck

I just bought a Makita....I'm pretty impressed with it. It's at least as heavy, if not heavier than the Skil, but it slices through material without slowing down. Not to mention, it doesn't have that same "scream" sound that the Skil worm drives seem to have.

__________________
Shed

neolitic

Check out the new Fine Homebuilding.
Worm drive review section.
(SPOILER alert)
Skil wins again.

__________________
Put your location in your profile!
(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)

Timuhler

I was fortunate enough to test most of the saws on the market (inline-wormdrive or hypoid) a few years ago.

We tested the Bosch, DeWalt, Skill (mag), Milwuakee, new Ridgid, 2 Makitas and Skil. Previous to that I had used Ski a lot and then switched over to DeWalt.

I have the new Makita mag.

For wormdrive saws, my favorite is the Ridgid. The guard almost never snags, even cutting 45 bevels into 2x12 or LVL for hips/valleys. It is powerful too, had the rafter hook and is really comfortable to use (bevels to 51.5). Next on the list would be the Bosch because it has an anti-snag guard that works well and makes it very rare that the need to pin is justified, although I do on occasion. It has a rafter hook and bevels to 50.

For the hypoid inline saws, I really like the new Makita. The old one had the smoothes motor and was easiest to use ripping LVL. Next would be the DeWalt because it is so comfortable to use. But it doesn't seem as reliable.

Also, for those guys who put 9" blades in their Skils, I've done that to cut rafters and it works well, but a 10 1/4" Big Foot works better, plus you get the 3 3/4" cutting capacity. The newer ones use Bosch motors which spin the blade better than the old 13amp Skil models.

Hope that helps.

cyberbone

isnt there also a saying like " a sharp tool is a safe tool" or something like that.

Painter James

Hmmm...lots of typical carpenters thumbing the proverbial nose at each other...

Whether you pin the guard, remove it, or set it down while the blade's running, point is: they're your fingers, not mine.

The other point--which I think was lost waaaaay back--is "what's the big deal with worm drive saws?" A few mentioned it here and there...

I'll stab at an answer:

versatility, power, longevity

With a worm-drive saw, you can cut through most anything with a simple blade change (stucco, other types of masonry, etc. with the right demo blade). The saws last longer, too. Check out those old pics of the men building the NY skyline--those using power saws were usually using a worm drive Skilsaw.

skyhook

A worm drive is narrower and the cord is further away from the blade compared to a sidewinder.

__________________

whaler

the only thing any worm drive saw is good at is being a ****ty boat anchor!

Joining_heads

Obviously, you cant handle one.

hughjazz

Probably drive a smart car too! kidding. Sort of

whaler

one in each hand and a flooring guy at the same time.

whaler

p. s. buy em up boys cause the new model skil worm is made in china.

woodworkbykirk

on my latest trip to the big orange box, they had the skil in stock for the first time listed as $199 canadian with a instant rebate bringing it down to $164, comes with bottle of oil, 2 blades i think. fairly heavy compared to the ridgid

s. donato

don't you if any care but personally i bought the makita hypoid a few years back and love it it feels very smooth. i don't frame all day with it like some but when i use it it gets used hard.

i also have a bosch and used a skill for many years but still prefer the makita.

i am anxious to get the new mag to see if it is much lighter then my model.

hughjazz

Jeez you have 2 smart cars?

whaler

don't you go to work? what's a smart car?