The circular saw is perhaps the most useful power tool you can have in your arsenal and you’re a carpenter on a job site. Having the best circular saw also comes in handy if you’re a handyman, an avid DYI fan, or a woodshop enthusiast.
This convenient tool can rip and crosscut boards and other materials square to the face and at bevels reaching up to 45 degrees. That kind of capability lends to a lot of use for a wide variety of tasks and projects.
Picking the best among the many available circular saws may be a challenge, however. There are several circular saw designs to choose from, and they each have their own benefits and drawbacks. You have to get the right features that fit your needs and circumstances.
Circular Saw Reviews
To help you out, here are reviews of a few circular saws you need to see:
As the name says, the Dewalt DWE575SB comes with a 7.25-inch diameter blade tipped with carbide, which can cut to a depth of up to 2 and 9/16 inches.
So you can cut up to 2.55 inches at 90 degrees and 1.9 inches at 45 degrees. That’s the best in its class and it makes it more useful for more tasks.
In addition, you get ample power with 1,950 max watts out and 5,100 rpm. The bevel capacity is up to 57 degrees, with detents at 22.5 and 45 degrees. It’s quite easy to use, too.
It has a built-in high grade stamped aluminum shoe that works as a cutting base along with an integrated dust blower to help you see what you’re cutting as you work. It’s corded, but it’s designed to be 3 times more difficult to pull out of the socket as your average electrical cord.
It’s safe to use, and it has an electric brake that stops the blade from spinning almost immediately. It can last for a good long while, as it even includes features that minimize dust contamination.
All these features are available even though it’s light and compact. It’s only 7.2 inches wide and it weighs just 8.8 pounds. It’s easy to handle and bring along with you, and it even comes with a carrying case.
The Makita 5007MGA Magnesium is another circular saw with a 7.25-inch diameter blade. With a max of 2300 watts out and 5800 rpm, you can cut a depth of up to 2.5 inches at 90-degrees.
At 45 degrees, the cutting depth is 1.75 inches. The max bevel capacity is 56 degrees, with stops at 22.5 and 45 degrees so you can change back and forth more quickly. It also has an electric brake.
It’s a bit sizeable at 12.5 inches long and it weighs 10.1 pounds. But it’s tough for worksite use and the balance is outstanding. The bigger size also allows for a better grip if you have large hands or if you’re wearing gloves. The hand grips are ergonomic too.
You also have a better view of the blade and the measurement scale because you have a bigger space between the housing and the blade. It also helps to see what you’re doing because the ducting is designed to blow away the dust from the cutting line. It even has 2 LED lights.
The blade itself is superb. The carbide tips were designed to specifically work in the most challenging conditions, so you can use this even when the wood you’re working on has been embedded with nails.
The blade has also been treated with a special coat to minimize the heat build-up, and the vents help with this too. There’s also a blade wrench on the circular saw so you can change blades more easily.
It comes with a brown plastic case so it’s easy to bring along with you to the work site. This comes with a 1-year warranty.
The 7.25-inch size for the circular saw blade is quite popular, but if you need just a bit more power, you may want to take a look at this Bosch model.
The maximum rpm is at 6200. It doesn’t have a problem cutting through plywood or even wet 2 by 4-inch wood.
It also comes with a 56-degree bevel capacity. At 90 degrees it can cut to a depth of 2 and 7/16 inches, while at 45 degrees the capacity is at 1 and ⅞ inches.
It really helps that the sight line is excellent if you’re right-handed, as the blade is on the left. It also comes with an anti-snag lower guard, so you can make your cuts more easily. You can make your bevel cuts even without having to advance the guard.
While it’s a bit on the hefty side with its 15-inch length, but at least it only weighs 10 pounds. It’s annoying that there isn’t a case along with the power tool, but once you find a bag for it then it won’t be too heavy when you bring it along.
It’s easy to handle, especially with the soft-grip handle. There’s also wrench storage on the tool for easier blade changes. It features a tool-free spindle lock too.
So aside from the confounding lack of a carrying case, this is quite practical to use. It offers the power you need to make quicker cuts more easily. Yet despite the power it’s not too heavy, so you can use it for a long while.
Once again we have a 7.25-inch blade featured in the SKIL SPT77WML-01 circular saw. This is a worm saw design, which tends to be the heaviest among circular saws.
But for a worm saw, it’s very light at 11.6 pounds.
The maximum rpm is at 5300. It can cut up to 2 and ⅜ inches at 90 degrees. The maximum bevel capacity is at 53 degrees, with stops at 45 and 0 degrees. You can use this for engineered and hard woods, and for applications such as siding, decking, and framing.
With the new anti-snag lower guard, it won’t snag when you’re cutting thin materials. When you’re not using it, this guard protects the blade.
It’s designed for heavy duty use all day long. The housing is made from rugged magnesium, which is sturdy while it helps keep the motor run cool.
And you shouldn’t have any problem using this all day, since the balance is nice and the handle grip is ergonomic and soft. With all these features, it’s not surprising that it has received a ton of rave reviews online.
Lots of people want a circular saw that’s suitably powerful and easy to use, while it lasts for a good long while.
And many seem to feel that these needs are met by the Milwaukee 6390-21 circular saw with its 7.25-inch blade.
The people who laud this circular saw include professionals who’ve been working with similar tools for decades.
First of all, this model is quite tough. It can work all day long with no hiccup, and you can cut your materials smoothly and easily. Many owners who have submitted customer reviews have mentioned that even after an extended period of time, it still works like new.
You can also confirm the manufacturer’s confidence in the durability of this circular saw in the amazingly long 5-year warranty. Then there’s the capacity. You get enough power at 5800 rpm, and the bevel capacity is at 50 degrees.
It’s very easy to change blades due to the one-touch spindle lock button, and the clear line of sight helps you see what you’re cutting. It’s also very painless to use too. The trigger is very responsive, so you don’t have to work hard just to keep the power to the trigger.
The handle doesn’t just come with a soft grip. It has an exclusive feature that allows you to tilt the handle into any of the 8 possible positions before you lock it in place. It weighs just 10.4 pounds, and it comes with its own carrying case so you won’t have a problem bringing it to a worksite.
Final Verdict
If you work in construction or a fan of DYI projects, then it’s absolutely necessary that you have a circular saw in your tool case. They’re just too useful, and working without one limits you.
With the best circular saw in your arsenal, you can make quick cuts with the power you have in your fingertips. Maneuvering the tool should be easy, as the handles offer a great grip and the tool is light enough.
Your cuts can be accurate too, with clear line of sight and other accessories to help you see what you’re doing. And the price is actually very reasonable, and with the benefits it offers the best circular saw will give you a lot of bang for your buck.
