Best power circular saws according to redditors

Woodworking - the barrier to entry can be intimidating at times but in reality you can build a good amount of projects with a saw and some screws. Lots of people make impressive things using just a Kreg Jig and Skilsaw

its up on amazon, so it must have had some success.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JQ71TSO/ref=psdc_552922_t1_B01I5YSJZA

A dresser: $350

A circular saw: $100

Gorilla glue: $5

A face-cord of firewood: maybe $100 delivered, unless you have a chainsaw, in which case probably free.

Brutally ripping off your customers: priceless

I hear you, but there is only one way to get that experience. You don't need a workshop either...

You could do it well with:

• circular saw ($50)
  
• cheap drill press ([$50 w/ coupon](https://m.harborfreight.com/8-in-5-speed-bench-drill-press-60238.html?utm_referrer=direct%2Fnot%20 provided))
  
• handheld router ([$75] (http://www.cpooutlets.com/factory-reconditioned-ridgid-zrr2401-1-6-hp-laminate-trimmer/rgdrzrr2401,default,pd.html?ref=pla-mobile&zmam=31282435&zmas=47&zmac=722&zmap=rgdrzrr2401&gclid=Cj0KEQjwmv7JBRDXkMWW4_Tf8ZoBEiQA11B2frK1GwIs5sOvBFNJc6Fp5FC55fP6LjREXE_W7j_HsdQaAjuc8P8HAQ) + ~$20 for bit kit)
  
• handheld drill
  
• handheld sander
  
  It'll be more than a weekend project with those, but a great experience.
  
  A table saw (~$200+) and/or miter saw ($100) aren't needed, but would speed that up significantly.

It's only 1800w which is not unmanageable and it weighs 13kg (28.7lbs) so it should be steady enough. Hell of a weight though

Amazon link with details

This is on sale right now at Amazon. Excellent saw at a very good price. It will last your lifetime no problem. A little more than you may want to spend but it will do every job around your home and is a better saw than many at that price.

https://www.amazon.com/Makita-5477NB-Amp-4-Inch-Hypoid/dp/B002FBLVAU/ref=sr_1_8?s=power-hand-tools&ie=UTF8&qid=1488169337&sr=1-8&keywords=circular+saw&refinements=p_n_size_browse-bin%3A387625011

The Makita 5007 series saws are workhorses at an affordable price. Used by lots of contractors.

I found that a lot of advice is usually given by people with more disposable income than I have. I've had a 14.4v cordless dewalt for 10+ years, it has been the only tool I'd call indispensable for anyone who does anything even remotely handy around the home/garage. The only update to it that I'm really considering is an impact driver.



When I started purchasing my tools for projects (fairly recently) I picked up the following:

• Circular saw: I agree that a table saw is much better, but the price is at least double that of a circular saw. You can do 85% of what a table saw does with a circular saw and a simple diy jig. I got this at my local Lowe's and it's been great - inexpensive and the laser really comes in handy when you're starting out.
  
• Clamps: An assortment of clamps - pipe clamps, quick clamps, c-clamps, etc. I've found that I use my Irwin Quick-Grip clamps for MANY things that I never thought I'd need them for prior to having them
  
• Electric sander: The speed advantage of electric sanding is probably 10-20x over hand sanding.
  
• Router: As others have said, it's a good tool for finishing work and can be used as a cutting tool in the right circumstance. This, of anything listed, is the most important to study-up on and learn how to use properly. It's so versatile, I've only scratched the surface of what I can do with it and I love it already.
  
• Levels/squares/measuring: As important or more so than your power tools are your precision tools. My drywall t-square gets used just about every time I use my circular saw. The saying is true - measure twice (or thrice) and cut once.
  
• Safety gear: Eye protection is a must - you'd be very surprised how often little flakes of (insert any material) fly up towards your face. Ear protection is important because a circular saw will do damage to your ears over a not-very-long period of time. Respirator - if you do any dust-creating work, wear one. MDF is bad for your lungs... wood is bad for your lungs... paint is VERY bad for your lungs.
  
  
  
  

No worries! Below is a link to a circular saw by Skill (or you can search “circular saw” on amazon. It’s one of the first results and is just over $60). It’s kind of the bread and butter of circular saws. It’s the one everyone has. It’s the one I have (minus the laser)! Good saw and it can be used for a whole lot of stuff. Different tool than what is shown above, however. The posted tool is a planer which helps make boards a uniform thickness.

skill saw

Edit: After reading your comment again, he’s definitely asking for the circular saw; however, if you’re already buying tools and want to buy more tools, a reciprocating saw would work way better for something like cutting through a wall. It’s a good general purpose tool as well (I’d stick with the circular saw if you’re only getting one though).

reciprocating saw

I'm not a big fan of cordless saws as I feel like they just chew through batteries too quickly and the power is always lacking over their corded counter part. I also find that if using a circular saw or reciprocating saw that portability isn't that big of a factor and that I'm likely to be doing a lot of cutting with both. That said this is what I would start with for under $400. You can then supplement as needed with the tools that you actually need as you need them.

Bosch CLPK234-181L Drill and Impact Driver $205

Makita 5007F 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw $99

Dewalt DW304PK Reciprocating Saw $79

Angle Grinders, work lights and jig saws can be handy when needed but they don't need to be part of a set in my opinion. A halogen work light will get you a lot further in my opinion.

Are electric chainsaws loud?

Also, I'll leave this (non-affiliate) link here--you can do the same thing with your skill saw.

https://www.amazon.com/Prazi-USA-PR7000-Cutter-4-Inch/dp/B0000224SA

What a time to be alive!

I'm still a bit of a beginner and I've been working with a lot of the tools my dad has along with building my own set of tools and wood stock.

Here's my mid-range/semi-dream version but it's tools I work with every day:

Probably a bit controversial, but consider picking up a radial arm saw. You can find these used fairly easily and with a little TLC they'll be in great working order. These saws can do everything a miter saw can do with a bit more ease in my opinion. My dad has had his Craftsman since the '70s and is running like a champ. You can check out my thread on it here: https://www.reddit.com/r/woodworking/comments/7m0w22/any_radial_arm_saw_love/

I will say, you can't go wrong with a quality miter saw though. Get a dual bevel compound miter saw and there's nothing you can't make. My RAS can do this but requires a bit of set-up and isn't necessarily the most efficient.
Look at Dewalt, Makita, and Rigid for these. They'll be at a higher price point, but a Makita Miter Saw might just outlive you (my dad's Miter saw is older than me and still cutting through just about everything with ease).

As for sanders, I highly recommend picking up a Dewalt random orbit sander. I started with my dad's old makita palm sander but the orbital sander makes leagues of difference both in hand fatigue and speed of sanding.

While I recently picked up an impact driver, you honestly do not need one to start off with. Unless you find a deal on a drill/impact driver combo then skip it until you have a job that'll require a lot of driving.
Another point on this, when you buy a battery operated tool, stick with the brand as much as possible. Every company has their own rechargeable battery pack and mix and matching is a pain in the butt!

For a budget, Ryobi works great. Rigid is a step above that. If you feel like going for a higher quality, I'm a huge proponent of Milwaukee drills, impact drivers, sawzalls, etc. I've been using a Milwaukee M18 drill for awhile now and it hasn't let me down one bit.

Probably the next thing you'll need is clamps. Let me just tell you that you can't ever have enough clamps! Harbor Freight sells these phenomenal bar clamps that are amazing for any budget, really these things are awesome. Paul Sellers has a video on these as well as some improvements that can be made to them, too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyKiGmRq3wY
You're also going to want some C clamps. Something sturdy and a cast design. Any time I make a jig for cross cuts or need to hold something to my bench I rely on C clamps or a small set of bar clamps.

Next up, you'll want a good chisel set. I have the four piece Irwin chisel set that comes with three chisels and a mallet and you can't find a better deal for the money. Chisels are great because you can use them to create decorative aspects to a project, flush up an edge, smooth a surface, add a chamfer, etc.

Routers are great, but you really don't need one when you're starting out. Even then, I would say it's worthwhile to get a compact router like a Rigid or Makita for your first one because it's easy to use, you can use it for carving, decorative edges, flush cuts, etc. I have a full sized Porter Cable but I kind of wish I started with a compact router.
The downside of these is that routers can get expensive real quick with the bits and jigs and a table.

If you plan on working with sheet goods, you can't get by without a Skilsaw. I have a Makita Skilsaw that my dad used to basically build the home I grew up in, but I highly recommend going for the Skilsaw brand: https://www.amazon.com/5280-01-15-Amp-4-Inch-Circular-Single/dp/B01BD81BLO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1518905277&sr=8-2&keywords=skilsaw
That link is for a budget Skilsaw, but if you have the funds a Skilsaw Wormdrive will probably outlive you if you treat it right!

For dust collection, you could for for a Rigid Wet/Dry Vaccuum. These guys are powerhouses and I've used them for dust collection and even dealing with flooded basements. Home Depot has a huge selection of these, I would go for the midrange option. I have a 12 gallon Rigid and it's perfect for everything I need it for. Alternatively, you could also use an electric leaf blower, which is what I started with to blow out my shop, but this isn't too good for the lungs.

Safety glasses, ear protection, and a decent dust mask are all musts. I use a 3M respirator for any sanding or heavy sawing on my RAS. I prefer this over the disposable paper masks because it's a little less stuffy and easier to wear.

Now here's the budget version:

For about $200 you can have a tool kit that'll just about do everything the above tools can do and it might teach some better fundamentals regarding woodworking than if you start withy all power tools:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrnohP1V87nCxxFaIJwc6PuvlhqThL0c1

That's a video series from YouTuber Wranglerstar and I really enjoy the videos he puts out. I don't think he's always the most relatable for all audiences, but he really puts out quality content, especially in regards to woodworking. The series I linked to covers some of the tools above, but bundles together a budget build of tools you can use to accomplish just about any woodworking project. Definitely worth the watch!


Lastly, I think your first build should be a workbench custom built to the size of your shop. Run it along the wall, maybe. Now, you can do this with just pine 2x4's and you'll have something extremely sturdy, durable, and cheap. You can laminate 2x4's along their width for a thick top surface, or you can purchase some MDF or plywood and use 2x4s as a frame and the plywood as a work surface.

Let me know if you have any questions! I'll be glad to help!

SKIL 5280-01 15-Amp 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw with Single Beam Laser Guide https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BD81BLO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_gnuBzb5NNEHDQ

I'm sure there are better circular saws out there but for $60 I've been completely satisfied.

It's the same principle basically as the barn door; the barn door puts the wheel on top of instead of inside the channel, but essentially the same thing. Strut is better since you put it right on the ceiling -- barn door needs three inches or so of clearance for the top wheel so there would be a substantial gap if you used the barn door stuff. Send me a napkin sketch of the situation and I will draw up something more complete for you.

In terms of tools, you'll for sure need a good stud finder to locate either wall studs or ceiling joists, unless you want to just randomly drill holes all over the place ;). A useful tool to have in the kit.

The other reason I ask about tools is that the door panel itself will be somewhat tricky to make. There is no existing door that is that big, so you will need to make something. Depending on what kind of cutting services your local hw and lumber stores offer, you may need to cleanly cut some of the panels yourself. This is best done with a tablesaw, but you can use a circular saw and make a sawboard in the meantime.

I would use two sheets of 1" foamboard with a 2x2 frame and face it with 1/4 masonite on both sides. This will paint really nice and should cost about $50 total. You can also do something more creative like clad it with pallet wood etc. I'll draw this up an send later so it's clear

Lots of people like worm-drive (hypoid) saws because they are easier to work for a right handed person. Example. They have much more torque than a regular circular saw.

Most regular circular saws have the blade on the right side, but they also make left-side circular saws too. Example.

I hate cordless tools because I hate having to wait on batteries to recharge, and hate that most of them go to a landfill once they are spent. But if you're going to be cutting 2x4s mostly, or smaller things on a jobsite, then a smaller-blade cordless saw will be a good fit. If you will be mostly working in a garage or shop, get a corded saw. You'll get more power, and won't have to recharge or replace any batteries ever.

I bought this drill set on Amazon and ended up breaking 2 pilot bits so had to buy more lol. Also I bought this saw and these clamps. Let me know if you have any questions and we can try to figure this out together!

Best advice I can give is to buy things as you need them. I added a bunch of stuff to my Amazon wish list (jigsaw, reciprocating saw, orbital sander, router, etc) and it really adds up, but I'm going to take it one step at a time so I don't blow my entire paycheck on tools.

Agreed, the limited depth is really my only complaint thus far. They do make another compact circular with depth up to 2"

> And yes, you had better believe that I would gladly use a beauty of a skilsaw like that:)

I like the part where the housing is live at mains and requires the grounding wire before grounding pins existed... Better not use it in the rain <3

Also, you have to consider, things were hand built. Hand milled. There were very limited automation, if any.

Which means


A. Expensive as hell to produce quality.

B. Things were beefed up to deal with variances introduced from human errors

Today, it's 95% fully automated with high precision and tight tolerances. Which allows manufactures to reduce materials to get the same job done while reducing the cost drastically.

I looked up the prices for circular saws in the 1940's. Can't find archive for the Model 77, but I found this sweet catalog for power tools, including the model 520 circular saw. Look, it costed $60 in 1940's. Sweet, it costed the same as a new one today!

Oh wait, better account for inflation.... oh....my... $1,000 in today currency. LMAO

There might possibly be somewhere that would do that for a fee... but that fee would almost certainly be higher than the cost of a cheap Circular Saw, like this. Probably half your neighbors have one, too, for that matter.

Or if that's too rich, and you're feeling anti-social, drill a hole in it and use a jab saw... though that will take a while. Sigh... no drill? Yeah, just get the circular saw.

Buy this circular saw.

Tomahawk and a circular saw!

I'm a professional carpenter and general contractor, and from my personal experience and the anecdotal evidence from the guys I regularly see, Bosch is of the best you can get for cordless tools nowadays. DeWalt used to be the go-to, but their quality has dropped considerably over the last 5-10 years. They still have some decent products, but I know of a lot of people who have had major issues with their drill chucks being off center.

This said, you kind of need a grab bag to get the best of each tool.

Here's my current setup, which is the same as quite a few contractors I work with:

• Bosch 18V impact driver/drill set. I've dropped my driver with a 6" bit attached directly onto the bit from 10' up, on concrete, and the entire thing was unscathed. Batteries last forever and charge very quickly.
  
  
• Festool jigsaw. Festool makes AMAZING products, but it's probably way overkill for most, and this Bosch model is a great second option I've seen used by many guys with a ton of success.
  
  
• Skil Mag 77 circular saw. This is the be all end all saw. It has enough torque to change the rotation of the earth. It's heavy, though, so a decent sidewinder might be your best bet. I would never use anything else, personally, though.
  
  
• Bosch compound sliding miter saw. I love this thing. You can put it flat up against a wall and still use the slider, which is a feature unique to them.
  
  
• DeWalt table saw. The major plus of this saw is that the rip fence is on a track, so both sides move together. I still never trust their gauges, but to know that both the front and back are equidistant from the blade 100% of the time is worth its weight in gold.
  
  
• DeWalt thickness planer. Never thought I'd buy one, and now I wouldn't be without one. With the combination of the above 3, you can pretty much make anything out of anything. Have a 5/4 board at the house but you need a 1x? 2 passes through the planer and you're set.
  
  
• Bosch Rotary Hammer. The demo master. It can hammer drill massive holes in concrete, or switch to hammer only mode to remove tile or glued on drywall particles. These are bulletproof.
  
  
• DeWalt orbital sander. Nothing fancy, as I don't do a ton of heavy sanding. Something to look for in these is the variable speed; makes jobs much easier.
  
  
• Bosch oscillating tool. Most brands are similar, and depending on your uses a corded model may be better. I have a second tool that uses these batteries so I have lots of backups (and they charge very quickly), and I often use it in places that running a cord would be a pain in the ass. This is great for trimming things that are immovable and can't be sawed: think door frame bottoms for new floors, baseboard trim to accommodate a new vent, drywall patching, anything. Love this thing.
  
  
• RotoZip spiral saw. Great for drywall, and there's a masonry style bit that works good for cutting pieces of tile (like around a faucet or control).
  
  
• Bosch planer. Again, nothing fancy and I definitely don't use it daily...but when you need a planer, there's not much else you can use.
  
  
  So there you go. Those are the ones that have gone through the ringer on a construction crew and have survived heavy abuse and regular moving/dropping without any signs of letting go. Some may be overkill for your situation, but they're what I've found to be best. I'm probably missing a few loose ends so look out for edits.

A circular saw is basically an electric motor with an on-off switch, so they're pretty durable and for most purposes they're interchangeable. That particularly model is a 13 amp motor. You might want to consider getting the 15 amp version for the additional cutting power but honestly you'll probably be fine with the 13 amp version.

If you're doing any sort of fine woodworking you're much better off sinking money into a good blade. (As the Shop Talk suggests.)

$45 shipped. Maybe you are thinking of a table saw?

Go to a pawn store or craigslist and buy two named brand saw for the price of one good new one. Use one for the driveway/masonry work, the other for woodworking.

To test them, spin the blade/arbor. Is it smooth or are the bearings clunky/shot? Turn the saw on, motor still sounds strong or is it struggling even with no load? What's the condition of the casing/shoe/plate.

If you're dead set on buying new off amazon then whats your price range. Corded or Cordless?

Skil makes a good entry level corded.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BD81BLO/

Personally I'll never use another corded circular saw again.

Video games rock!

and um... maybe a Skilsaw takes a lot of skill to use?

When I'm going to purchase something rather pricey on Amazon. I just refresh the product page a couple times a day for a couple days. I've done this for multiple items and there almost always seems to be a random temporary price drop.

The price drop only lasts a short time before it goes back to the normal selling price though. I've bought a circular saw for $95 that was selling for $150 and most recently a graphics card for $125 instead of $160.

It's not from other sellers either it's just a price drop for some reason. YMMV.

EDIT: The saw was regularly $139 and dropped to $103.

That is a big saw. Incidentally, just spotted this at the end of the page you linked:

link

Always gotta check if you can. I picked up DWE575SB on Amazon for $89
a couple weeks ago. [CamelCamelCamel] (https://camelcamelcamel.com/) is super helpful when you can wait.

if you really think money is no object, i recommend the dewalt flexvolt, particularly for the circular saw. it is the strongest cordless circ saw on the market, running on 60/54v, and the batteries are backwards compatible with Dewalt 20v tools. it is a 7.25" blade. DCS575T2

Any reason you are wanting a Bosch specifically? Makita is well know for excellent circular saws; this one is excellent: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000N5SVEY/

Then I'd pass.

Assuming your budget is around $200. Here's what I'd do.

1. Wait till Home Depot has a Ryobi sale. You can usually get a Drill + impact driver and 2 batteries for $100 when they do.
   
2. Buy one of these two
   
3. Catch a good circular saw on craigslist for $50, or something like this from Amazon if you can't find anything good used (good = retail price $100+).
   
   If your budget is a bit more, I'd plan to spend $100 to $150 on a nice powered circular saw, and still get the Ryobi drill, and the read reviews on jig saws to find a good one.

Some things are still on sale.

Home Depot:

The 6 pack of Bessey F clamps for $15 is a good start.

The pack of spring clamps for $10 is debatable.

Amazon:

Porter cable 7 1/4" circ saw: $50

http://www.amazon.com/PORTER-CABLE-PC15TCS-Amp-Heavy-Duty-Circular/dp/B00NI2CFAA/ref=sr_1_5?s=power-hand-tools&ie=UTF8&qid=1451410075&sr=1-5&keywords=Circular+saw

Combo square

Tape measure

Utility knife

Framing square

Hammer

Screwdrivers

Chisel

Straight edge e.g. 4'

Sandpaper

Plane

I've got a 20v Max DeWalt 7 1/4" and got my FIL a 60v 7 1/4"... The 60v is awesome, my 7 1/4 works really well too. Got my Dad a Milwaukee 7 1/4" which is really nice too.

​

Get a 7 1/4" if you can, not much more and you get more depth of cut and a stronger saw.

I wouldn't be hesitant to buy a cordless circular saw for your use. FIL built my deck with the 60v I got him. He went all day without going through a battery on 2x12, 2x6, 2x4, etc. Where i've heard cordless will kill batteries is on cutting a lot of sheet material (plywood/OSB).

​

Bought my FIL this kit for $307. https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DCS575T2-FLEXVOLT-Brushless-Circular/dp/B01H9BLW90/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=60v+dewalt+circular+saw&qid=1554923930&s=gateway&sr=8-2

I have an older version of this saw.

Get a good quality circular saw, a thick straight edge - 5 feet long, and a couple Irwin trigger clamps. You'll be good to go.

http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-CS5-120-Volt-4-Inch-Circular/dp/B000WMDBIE/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

http://www.amazon.com/Swanson-60-Inch-Straight-Edge-Yellow/dp/B000IOCNSK/ref=pd_sim_hi_7

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202214073/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

I work in construction and bought one similar to this over 30 years ago (Fewer features.) and it has never let me down. It's a great saw for the money.
http://www.amazon.com/Makita-5007MG-Magnesium-4-Inch-Circular/dp/B000N5SVEY/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1419277152&sr=8-7&keywords=makita+circular+saw

Circular saw all the way. You can get a good Makita for ~100 bucks and it should last you at least a decade. It really is BIFL quality if you're not a pro. You don't need the magnesium or worm-drive if you're just starting out. I highly recommend getting a plug-in saw, as even with powerful batteries I've had bogging issues with battery-powered circular saws.

From a circular saw you can cut your planks, square edges, make rip and cross cuts, etc. Even having a table saw and jig saw, I still use my circular saw quite frequently. Especially with something like a speed square or This little guy from BenchDog you can get pretty darn great cuts with the circular saw.

When you get to the point of needing curves or whatever, then you can add a jigsaw. But truth be told, I almost never use mine. The table saw and a hand saw are the only other two saws I use as much as my circular, with my bandsaw coming in a distant 4th. Most places I'd use a jijgsaw, I instead use a bandsaw to hog off most of the waste, then take it to a stationary belt/disc sander to sneak up to the lines.

Im new to woodworkong. Two weeks ago I bought the 15 amp Skil circular saw and have only been cutting 3/4 inch thick plywood so far without issue. I was trying to make Mathias wandel's sawhorses tonight. When I was trying to make the 18 degree cut through the 2x4s the wood started smoking and I could barely move the saw. I stopped and tried once more with the same results and then quit for the evening. My stupid question is am I screwing something up, my saw can't handle the cut, or is there something wrong with my saw?

Thanks!

References:


Saw: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01BD81BLO/ref=sxts1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484700942&sr=1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65

Sawhorse plan: http://woodgears.ca/sawhorse/

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000P9H4VO/ref=pd_aw_vtph_469_lp_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0V21MN5QWDQ133XJ63Q5

would the pediatrist use something like this?

There's a Makita deal going on Amazon right now where you get $25 off every $100 you spend, so you can get this Makita track saw for $100 off of the normal price right now: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CHN6L74/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

This is the saw that you will find in garages and construction sites across the country. It is an extremely well built, sturdy, accurate saw. And it's not crazy expensive.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004YIALZI/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1367836425&sr=8-2&pi=SL75

After that, I'd consider getting one of the 4ft clamp guides, like this one from Emerson, or Kreg makes one as well: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0000DYV40/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1367836606&sr=8-4&pi=SL75

The Porter Cable for $50:

https://amzn.com/B00NI2CFAA

Review Meta drops it from 3.7 to 3.3 stars and only 1 fail for suspicious reviews.

Here's the Ironton on Ebay for $30 - https://www.ebay.com/itm/3-Inch-Electric-Cut-Off-High-Speed-Power-Saw-Grinder-Metal-Cutter-Garage-Tool/253537007326

Also was recommended the Worx 4.5" - https://www.amazon.com/WORX-WORXSAW-4-1-Compact-Circular/dp/B00ZFR4GJE/

Not sure what the best size is for general use with small things.

seems to be zip code specific, but this Skill saw is showing up for $71.60 for me http://www.lowes.com/pd_81341-353-SHD77M_0__?Ntt=shd77m&UserSearch=shd77m&productId=1101667&rpp=32

and it sells on amazon for $179 http://www.amazon.com/SHD77M-4-Inch-Drive-SKILSAW-Circular/dp/B000P7MAGA/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1407890419&sr=1-1&keywords=SHD77M

Definitely a flippage opportunity, but its out of stock at all of my local stores :(

They each have their purpose. For less than $200 you can have all 3.

https://www.amazon.com/Skil-5480-01-Amp-4-Inch-Circular/dp/B000P9H4VO

https://www.amazon.com/PORTER-CABLE-PCE345-6-Amp-Orbital-Jig/dp/B00OZEUL7Y

https://www.amazon.com/PORTER-CABLE-PCE606K-Oscillating-Multi-Tool-Accessories/dp/B00L47A9CC

I can unscrew the legs. I don't know if that would make it less sturdy. I was thinking of just trimming the edges, but they only come out to an inch. I have about 8 inches to spare on the other end: Imgur

How much do you think I can cut without messing up the balance?

And would one of these saws do?
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-12-Amp-7-1-4-in-Circular-Saw-
CSB124/100634339
http://www.amazon.com/Skil-5480-01-Amp-4-Inch-Circular/dp/B000P9H4VO/ref=lp_552922_1_1?s=power-hand-tools&ie=UTF8&qid=1410487729&sr=1-1

Do I need to buy a higher toothed blade?

I can also replace that side of the table with this http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00251338/ and these: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30264301/

But then the table could only sustain 50 lb instead of 170.

Can someone help me turn my old computer desk into a STANDING computer desk? I basically wanna do this.

I don't wanna get rid of my current desk. I decided I should BUY a second table top and stack it on top of my desk using table legs or something so I can have a sort of double decker standing desk like the picture above.

Here is my desk already bought 8 years ago.

Here is the extra table top that I plan on buying. The image is misleading. I'm going by measurement. I need 40-45 inches wide.

So I guess what I need help with is:

• buying table legs that screw from BOTH ends so the second top is secure to the desk. No sliding!!
  
• letting me know how to make the installation in case I miss an important step. Or just telling me that this is a bad idea.
  
• finding a better table top to match the original top on my desk. It's the best one I could find but the laminate is not as shiny as my current one. I'll live, though.
  
• I have a power drill with drill bits including a hole saw drill bit. I also have a Worxsaw which I don't wanna use unless I'm desperate.

Having just put in a raised garden in the last 3 weeks, I used this saw and just about any cordless drill will get the job done for drilling pilot holes/driving screws.

You could get a speed square, as mentioned, for straight cuts with the saw. I'd recommend it as they're cheap enough.

I used deck screws because why not. The garden was for my wife and I got extra points for using higher quality screws.

You hear correctly. I have this and can't imagine why I'd need to spend any extra money for something else - it's freakin' awesome.

I grew up in the construction industry, everyone used a version of this saw. So this is the one I got, must have had it for a good 15 years now and no complaints.

http://smile.amazon.com/Makita-5007F-7-1-4-Inch-Circular/dp/B004YIALZI/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1408595797&sr=1-1&keywords=makita+circular+saw

I did a bunch of research a few months back and landed on this one as well. The electric brake is awesome. It's $125 right now but I think I paid around $105 when I got it.

Regarding pricing, Honestly I can't actually quite tell. the TS 55 REQ is 660 on amazon, but I can't tell if it actually comes with the track? Meanwhile, the Dewalt is 517 with a 59 inch track.

If the Festool comes with a track, which it probably does (thought I'd like to be certain...) then it's maybe just barely worth paying the premium. But it's over 100$ so....I dunno.

DEWALT 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw with Electric Brake, 15-Amp (DWE575SB) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007QUZ16A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_6jNGDb9KG0NGP

Nice! Pretty piece of wood!

Next time buy one of these though. You'll never regret it!

http://www.makita.ca/actionimages/5402NA_act_1.jpg

(Ha, just kidding...although it would be great to show off)

Here is another option:

https://www.amazon.com/Prazi-USA-PR7000-Cutter-4-Inch/dp/B0000224SA

Ok, done now...

I have this Porter Cable my wife got me for Christmas a couple of years ago. It works great. No complaints. I use it almost purely for cutting sheet goods.

http://www.amazon.com/PORTER-CABLE-PC15CSLK-4-Inch-Circular-Saw-Laser-Guide/dp/B003IXPNRG/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1417571289&sr=8-5

I've never had that problem. Or I'll get an 8'x4' sheet and have them cut it down into four 2'x4' which makes it fit in my car and easy to cut when I get home.

To the OP though, it is easy. Go buy a circular saw and read the instructions. Place your wood on a surface that makes sense, use a tape measure to mark it up, and just cut the damn thing, Maybe even look into one of these little 4 1/2" blade circular saws. I got an open box one of those on amazon for 30 bucks and really enjoy it for quick cuts where I don't need much power. Plus, you don't need perfect cuts for cutting down for the laser. Just close enough so it fits and you aren't wasting material.

Thanks for the suggestion, really appreciate it. Out of curiosity what is the difference between the
Makita 15 Amp 7-1/4-Inch Hypoid Saw and the [Makita Magnesium 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw] (http://smile.amazon.com/Makita-5007MG-Magnesium-4-Inch-Circular/dp/B000N5SVEY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1452544752&sr=8-2&keywords=makita+15+amp+magnesium) (Hyoid vs Circular)? Is it just the ergonomics? It seems like the like the circular saw is smaller than the hypoid.

You can make a tracksaw out of a regular circular saw and some plywood.

If you want to avoid the "cut from both sides" problem, you can rent a beam saw which should do 6"+ of depth and use that with your plywood track.

Are you only looking for compactness in size or maybe just weight? I got the DeWalt DWE575SB circular saw for Christmas and it's awesome. It's 7-1/4" but only eight pounds or so. It's really light and cuts like a dream. It also has the electric brake so the blade stops spinning really quickly.

Amazon Link

> $900

Heck, $900 for eight pounds of machined metal? A really nice power tool, of similar complexity and precision might cost 1/4 of that.

That looks nothing like any Festool I've ever seen, but I'm not an expert: http://www.amazon.com/Festool-TS-55-REQ-Track/dp/B00C2AKZCO