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A high-quality shoe will be made of strong cast metal, maybe with reinforcing ribs.Ī lesser shoe will be constructed from aluminum. When you drop the saw (and we all do!), the shoe helps prevent damage. It should show both sides of the blade’s kerf so if you want, you can cut a little to the side of your line.ĭepending on the job, you may not be able to see the cut line indicator.įor that reason you want to evaluate how well you can see the blade itself through the little safety ‘window.’ This may be your only way to tell if you are staying on your line. These need to be exactly aligned with the blade so that you can trust the cut to be just where you need it to be. Look in front of the saw’s baseplate for two notches.
#Skil saw full
When you are holding the saw, review the sight lines, how easy it is to handle, if your wrist ever needs to cross the blade, and how stable and balanced it feels for the kind of woodworking you will do most of the time.Ĭan the bevel, height and depth be adjusted easily? Saws that use full knobs and level locks are much easier to grasp and change than those with smaller levers and awkward wing nuts. This is mostly your own preference, although some people decide based on whether they are right-handed or left-handed. First, think about if you want a lift-side blade, like a sidewinder would have, or a right-side blade, like a worm drive. In many ways, the best thing to do is handle several saws. Horsepower is more accurate, because it relates to the torque.īut this torque measurement is the blade spinning in test conditions, not on an actual project. Amps refer to how much electricity the saw will use when it runs. Keep in mind that amps don’t always equate to force. A heated blade dulls more quickly, and a dull blade can leave the kerf and push back toward you. If a saw isn’t strong enough to handle to job, the blade will get bogged down. There are a number of features to consider when it comes time to select a circular saw.įirst, think about the project and the power. The saw provides precise, accurate cuts that are not quite up to a jigsaw’s standard but are still smooth and circularĤ. Long life lithium batteries extend the use of cordless saws.ģ. The circular saw can cut quickly and efficiently, bringing the saw directly to the lumber instead of the lumber to the saw.Ģ. There is no need to add oil to the motor, and it is even available in a cordless model. Sidewinders boast a lot of speed because of the motor placement, about 6,000 RPM. They are good for cutting overhead and vertically, and they can handle plunge cuts, too. These more compact, lightweight saws are easier to manage than their larger cousins, so they are more widely used in homes.
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The sidewinder circular saw (also called direct drive) features the motor placed at a right angle to the blade.