Recommend me a circular saw

I'm not a heavy user, I do need one periodically though.  My last one was a $10 yard sale special, but the body started coming apart and I felt it was unsafe to continue using it.

I rarely cut more than 3/4" sheet.

I do have some Dewalt 18v stuff, but I don't really need cordless (I think).

I do need it to do a decent bevel cut.

I don't need a worm drive.

Other than that my biggest concern is simply that it is reliable in the long term and it cuts straight.

Will a harbor freight saw do the trick?  What size?  What amperage?  What about lowes/hd... are their house brand saws any good, and how is the warranty?

"Reliable in the long term and cuts straight"

That kind of rules out HF and big box house brands. 

But I think they could serve you well. You just might need to accept they are throw aways. 

This is a good, basic, tough saw. Framers everywhere use them. I have for years. Don't get the next model up with blingy do-dads. https://www.amazon.com/Makita-5007F-7-1-4-Inch-Circular/dp/B004YIALZI/ref=sr_1_2/144-7760737-0221526?ie=UTF8&qid=1526738738&sr=8-2&keywords=makita+skill+saw

ProDarwin said:

I'm not a heavy user, I do need one periodically though. 

Quoting for the mag...

Trackmouse said:

ProDarwin said:

I'm not a heavy user, I do need one periodically though. 

Quoting for the mag...

huh?

Which of these would you choose?  They all seem very comparable to me.  Obviously the Kobalt and the Rigid being the house brands are kind of suspect.  

What is the advantage of magnesium corded?  Anything I should look for when standing in the aisle and putting my hands on them?  I think the only thing I really planned on looking at is how robust the bottom plate/fence/whatever it is called is, as well as the adjustment for the bevel angle & cut depth.

At my local Lowes:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/DEWALT-15-Amp-7-1-4-in-Corded-Circular-Saw/3712158 $119

https://www.lowes.com/pd/DEWALT-15-Amp-7-1-4-in-Magnesium-Corded-Circular-Saw-with-Brake/3711470 $109

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-15-Amp-7-1-4-in-Magnesium-Corded-Circular-Saw-with-Brake/1000226425 $89

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Bosch-15-Amp-7-1-4-in-Corded-Circular-Saw/1092609 $99

HD

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Makita-15-Amp-7-1-4-in-Corded-Circular-Saw-w-Dust-Port-2-LED-Lights-24T-Carbide-Blade-5007F/202873973 $119

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-15-Amp-7-1-4-in-Circular-Saw-R3205/204631167 $99

Those all have the blade on the wrong side.  Only a couple of saws that put the blade on the left (like a wormdrive), I like  my Milwaukie -  I can cut a straight line with it.  There are also  a couple 4 1/2" saws with the blade on left (Rockwell, Porter Cable) -  They cut 2x4's and plywood fine.  If it's less than a Benjamin, you don't want it.

If you want the blade on the right, the Makita 5007 is just about impossible to beat.   If you want the blade on the left, and you don't want a worm drive,  it's tough to beat the skil southpaw.

If you're only going to use once in a while, I suggest corded.  You never have to worry about keeping the batteries alive.

I have an antiquated corded blade-on-right Black & Decker (garbage, I use it with an abrasive disc for cutting metal). Got it used.

I have a really good corded blade-on-right DeWalt which I really enjoyed.  Got it used.

I recently got a corded blade-on-left DeWalt and I really enjoy that one. Got it used.

I also recently acquired an older cordless (NiCd) Milwaukee that even with a BRAND NEW battery only makes it through half the cut I want to do (regardless of how small those cuts are). Nice saw for the limited life I get out of it.

I bought the WEN track saw for $150 on Amazon a bit ago. I hear good things. I did spend $30 on a decent blade. It came with 50" of track too. It appears to be identical to the Grizly and shop fox models for much less money and with tracks.

Why would I want the blade on the right or the left?  I assume there is a reason most of them have the blade on the right?

I think we had this thread a couple months ago.  I’ll say now what I said then. Porter Cable circular saw with the Magnesium deck.  It’s a pound or two lighter than the competition and is more than powerful enough.  My dad was a residential carpenter for years before he retired and that’s the only saw he used.  In fact I inherited his old saw when he died so I now have two identical PC circular saws.  One 30 years old and one 20 years old.  Both work perfectly.

cord with a laser beam equals you know what.....and buy quality it'll last forever!!!

I've got an 18v dewalt and I pull it out more than my corded makita.  It just feels safer.  Even been cutting something long and the cord catches something? yeah, that doesn't happen.  It also works amazingly well. 

Jeremy- The old porter cables were great saws (they had a left blade model). Unfortunately PC dropped the good tools when Black and Decker bought them. 

Re right and left: If you are right handed, the blade on the left is easier to see where you are cutting. (Reverse if left handed). Otherwise you are trying to look over the saw.

Michael

One by one, I’m switching all my tools over to Makita 18v. Got the circular saw last month when I was building a driving simulator for my son. It’s just plain awesome.  Plenty of power, good battery life, lightweight, no cords.