Spec me / should I buy a circular saw

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 7 Dec 2022 at 10:24

So I need to trim some in place deck boards due to a garden redesign. One end is open so I dont need to plunge into the boards I can start level and just cut straight across.

I was thinking of getting a mini circ saw, then a mid size and now thinking full size.

Ideally I would go battery operated as it would potentially be quite handy at the allotment at times. Which is why initially I was thinking the mini one since I would use it for cutting small timber, sheeting materials etc at times.
But the depth of cut looks close to what I need, many saying 27-28mm which I think is the depth of the deck boards so might not be fully cut through, hence the though to go to 115mm blade side (mid size) for a up to 45mm or so cut depth

Now the considerations are, I already have a compound mitre so I use that for significant cutting and I don't particularly frequently cut sheet materials.
Although I am going to be doing some stuff with 18mm ply early next year, and I am talking trimming large 1.2x2.4M sheets. So a circ would certainly help there.

Now as far as batteries go, I am more leaning to cordless here as I said can take to allotment if needed. I have bosch blue and green both 18v already.

Are the large circ saws (180mm or so blades) much more unwieldy than say a mid size one, (115-120mm blades)

Last thoughts, I can hire at 95% discount from the trade, so I can hire top notch gear for a couple of quid for the weekend. (I often dont pay at all but thats the contract price if I have to pay), I would need to buy my own blade but then I can keep that anyway.
Should I not bother buying one and just hire, or is it a tool I will use more than i am thinking, and if so would say a bosch pro item like https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-Professional-Cordless-Circular-Included/dp/B072J25TPG/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=1E79C5IU4AWFD&keywords=bosch+pro+circular+saw&qid=1670408381&sprefix=bosch+pro+circular+saw,aps,60&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

be worth buying over a green https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-Cordless-Circular-Without-Battery/dp/B00E5Z0DX0/ref=sr_1_22?crid=1E79C5IU4AWFD&keywords=bosch+pro+circular+saw&qid=1670408422&sprefix=bosch+pro+circular+saw,aps,60&sr=8-22&th=1

Looking at half decent others it will cost nigh on the same so as I already have the batteries for these it seems pointless to bring in a cheaper brand tool just for the fact its already got a battery etc.
I must say I am leaning towards the green here, but convince me I need to g blue if I should be buying

Any thoughts suggestions etc welcome

Scrutinize · 7 Dec 2022 at 10:51

Wouldn't you just use a hand held manual Jack saw with a fine finish blade for this?

You would have finished the job by the time you unboxed the elec c saw.....

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 7 Dec 2022 at 11:05

Scrutinize said:
Wouldn't you just use a hand held manual Jack saw with a fine finish blade for this?

You would have finished the job by the time you unboxed the elec c saw.....

Well maybe. The last mod I did involved cutting 6 boards in situ and was a real pain as there is only limited space underneath and its at ground level pretty much so was a real pain to keep straight as your cutting very low down.

This will be cutting around 30 boards (haven't counted) so it certainly wouldn't be quicker than unboxing. Plus underneath are other things again so some areas will be a real pain to cut.

aVdub · 7 Dec 2022 at 11:13

Having the option to set the depth would and was for me an important consideration.

If you will be an occasional user, then Bosch Green should be fine, but but Blue if you think you would end up using more.

Mysterae_ · 7 Dec 2022 at 11:22

Do you need a tool? - Yes
Can you afford the one you really want and you think you need? - Yes

Yes+Yes= Hell yeah!

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 7 Dec 2022 at 11:39

Thanks, I think I am tempted by the blue
I also have more blue batteries but only 1 green so means I can potentially cut more if ever the need arises

Blue also looks to have auto brake as well, will dig more later I think

KompuKare · 7 Dec 2022 at 11:47

Are there no plungers which can be used as a normal circular saw without the track too?

Almost every time I've used a circular I've ended up clamping a piece of timber to use as a guide so having a proper track is very very handy. Plus (presumable) all tracks should have a mark where the centre of the blade is so unlike with timber guides there shouldn't be any reason to be adjusting and measuring the offset.

Might be a pricey though:

GKT 18V-52 GC Cordless Plunge Saw BITURBO | Bosch Professional

GKT 18V-52 GC Plunge saws | BITURBO Brushless technology and ProCORE18V for maximum cordless cutting performance equal to corded 1,620 W plunge saws, Superior mobility due to a uniquely compact design allowing operation with only one battery, Very compact design enables minimum distance between...

www.bosch-professional.com

That's around x4 the price of the blue in the OP. Guess it is somewhat less from other vendors. And that seems to be without the track, ouch!

aVdub · 7 Dec 2022 at 12:25

Should have added that depth helps keep the saw on the straight as full depth cuts can wander.
I've recently bought a Blue one, which can be had at a good price if you shop around.

200sols · 7 Dec 2022 at 12:41

Buy cheap buy corded imo. I use makita xgt circular saw now, previously makita corded, the extra grunt is well worth it on a circular saw. You can make a guide any length for any circular saw with a sheet of ply and a length of timber as well.

LuckyBenski · 7 Dec 2022 at 18:06

Recently used a small/medium cordless circular saw recently and it's completely changed my perspective. I've got an old large mains powered one... Noisy, scary, makes a mess... Not a fun tool so never my go-to. A friend brought his Makita DHS680 and we used it for slicing between tongue and groove floorboards, chopping up pallets, trimming stuff flush, all weekend. It was just a joy:

- Small and light
- Quiet because it's Brushless and safe because it has a brake
- Super versatile due to depth adjustment and almost no wasted space on the body. Never got in the way of itself, blade always visible, etc.

I've since been lusting after one for weeks and shopping around, but I'm in the DeWalt battery ecosystem so should look for their very expensive Brushless equivalent

In short: do it!

jellybeard999 · 11 Dec 2022 at 16:49

I have the DeWalt DCS391 18v 165mm and would recommend.

I don't use it heavily, but I've cut used it for fence boards, kitchen worktops, plywood sheets, trimming doors etc and had no issues. It does the jobs I need and I find it much convenient being battery powered.

I don't find battery life an issue as I've 2 big batteries and only use it for DIY, but it does go through the batteries quite quickly compared to a drill. Similarly, I've had no issues with the cutting depth for my uses.

However, corded is generally more powerful, cuts deeper and cheaper if you don't mind the wire.

Deleted User 298457 · 11 Dec 2022 at 23:02

200sols said:
Buy cheap buy corded imo. I use makita xgt circular saw now, previously makita corded, the extra grunt is well worth it on a circular saw. You can make a guide any length for any circular saw with a sheet of ply and a length of timber as well.

I think I agree if you are pro. Semi/amateurs rarely need a circ and when they do they put off corded due to faff and inclination to "force it". I did, at least. Now I have the cordless Milwaukee Circ i get it out at any occasion.

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 23 Dec 2022 at 12:09

Just thought I would bump

This took an unexpected turn but I have now secured a saw

I got my normal £50 voucher from work for xmas and set about working out how to actually spend it. I dont like highstreet shopping and the vouchers are typically restrictive online.

I happened to check B&Q and they had a black and decker with battery for £60 which seemed a bit of a bargain compared to what i could find it for elsewhere
Plus of course this voucher could be used in store

So i bought, which seemed to tick all my boxes, not overly large, blade brake, 140mm blade so in the mid size

Black+Decker 18V Li-ion POWERCONNECT 140mm Cordless Circular saw (1 x 1.5Ah) - BDCCS18C1-GB

The cordless circular saw is perfect for delivering versatile cordless free cutting, with a powerful 3700rpm motor enabling of cutting through wood and plastic materials. The saw delivers power and performance and can be used for rip cutting, cutting with the grain and crosscutting which is...

www.diy.com

I know its not going to be the perfect tool, but for the odd sheet cutting job and for the deck trimming I need to do this is perfect

The odd thing is I do already have one other Black and decker 18v battery since we have a strimmer that uses the same. I hadn't considered this really, so I have 2 batteries of this series now.
Which helps a lot potentially. Whilst 18v unlike the vast majority they do not quick charge so having 3ah in effect is a big benefit as long as I remember in advance to charge them.
I often use the strimmer at the allotment and really could do with more life.

Seems a bit of a bargain tool for the money to me.

dave28 · 23 Dec 2022 at 12:35

Watch your fingers, legs, arms. And get life insurance lol

Employee Amputates Fingertip When Struck By Circular Saw
2	118612.01	07/31/2019	0317000	✗	Employee Dies After Falling Into Stairway Hole
3	115332.01	04/09/2019	0418300	✗	Employee Is Killed When Struck By Circular Saw Blade
4	114814.01	03/20/2019	0521700		Employee Amputates Finger When Struck By Ripsaw Blade
5	116047.01	03/11/2019	0552652		Employee Amputates Finger While Using Table Saw
6	113270.01	01/24/2019	0418100		Employee Operating Circular Saw Amputates Two Fingers
7	112919.01	01/18/2019	0521700		Employee Amputates Finger While Using Circular Saw
8	111694.01	12/04/2018	0418300		Employee Amputates Finger While Processing Chicken Parts Wit
9	111383.01	11/26/2018	0626700		Employee Operating Circular Saw Cuts Leg
10	112350.01	11/21/2018	1054114		Employee Amputates Thumb When Struck By Circular Saw Blade W
11	114396.01	11/08/2018	0950621		Employee Amputates Middle Finger While Using Circular Saw
12	110827.01	11/05/2018	0523400		Employee Amputates Two Fingers With Circular Saw While Cutti
13	110673.01	10/22/2018	0521400		Employee Lacerates And Amputates Fingertip When Struck By Sa
14	109236.01	09/10/2018	0521700		Employee Amputates Finger And Lacerates Three Others When Ci
15	111695.01	09/07/2018	0950633		Employee Operating Circular Saw Lacerates Leg
16	111533.01	08/30/2018	0950631		Employee Amputates Two Fingers And Partially Amputates A Thi
17	111251.01	08/01/2018	0950641		Employee’S Thumb Is Amputated While Using Circular Saw
18	107946.01	07/19/2018	0420600		Employee Lacerates Arm While Using Circular Saw To Cut Plywo
19	110026.01	06/26/2018	0950623		Employee’S Fingers Are Cut When Circular Saw Kicks Back
20	111982.01	06/26/2018	0950644		Employee Receives Arm Laceration While Using Circular Saw Bl

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 23 Dec 2022 at 12:40

dave28 said:
Watch your fingers, legs, arms. And get life insurance lol

Employee Amputates Fingertip When Struck By Circular Saw
2 118612.01 07/31/2019 0317000 ✗ Employee Dies After Falling Into Stairway Hole
3 115332.01 04/09/2019 0418300 ✗ Employee Is Killed When Struck By Circular Saw Blade
4 114814.01 03/20/2019 0521700 Employee Amputates Finger When Struck By Ripsaw Blade
5 116047.01 03/11/2019 0552652 Employee Amputates Finger While Using Table Saw
6 113270.01 01/24/2019 0418100 Employee Operating Circular Saw Amputates Two Fingers
7 112919.01 01/18/2019 0521700 Employee Amputates Finger While Using Circular Saw
8 111694.01 12/04/2018 0418300 Employee Amputates Finger While Processing Chicken Parts Wit
9 111383.01 11/26/2018 0626700 Employee Operating Circular Saw Cuts Leg
10 112350.01 11/21/2018 1054114 Employee Amputates Thumb When Struck By Circular Saw Blade W
11 114396.01 11/08/2018 0950621 Employee Amputates Middle Finger While Using Circular Saw
12 110827.01 11/05/2018 0523400 Employee Amputates Two Fingers With Circular Saw While Cutti
13 110673.01 10/22/2018 0521400 Employee Lacerates And Amputates Fingertip When Struck By Sa
14 109236.01 09/10/2018 0521700 Employee Amputates Finger And Lacerates Three Others When Ci
15 111695.01 09/07/2018 0950633 Employee Operating Circular Saw Lacerates Leg
16 111533.01 08/30/2018 0950631 Employee Amputates Two Fingers And Partially Amputates A Thi
17 111251.01 08/01/2018 0950641 Employee’S Thumb Is Amputated While Using Circular Saw
18 107946.01 07/19/2018 0420600 Employee Lacerates Arm While Using Circular Saw To Cut Plywo
19 110026.01 06/26/2018 0950623 Employee’S Fingers Are Cut When Circular Saw Kicks Back
20 111982.01 06/26/2018 0950644 Employee Receives Arm Laceration While Using Circular Saw Bl

To be honest its partly why I have never had one.
Ive got just about every other tool but circ saws I have avoided.
Its pretty much the only option for what i need to do this time though

When I was picking up some insulation the other day a guy was using a battery circular saw in wickes car park, cutting down some boards he had bought.
Ive wanted to do the same before when they were going to be cut down later, now I can

aVdub · 23 Dec 2022 at 12:46

dave28 said:
Watch your fingers, legs, arms. And get life insurance lol

Employee Amputates Fingertip When Struck By Circular Saw
2 118612.01 07/31/2019 0317000 ✗ Employee Dies After Falling Into Stairway Hole
3 115332.01 04/09/2019 0418300 ✗ Employee Is Killed When Struck By Circular Saw Blade
4 114814.01 03/20/2019 0521700 Employee Amputates Finger When Struck By Ripsaw Blade
5 116047.01 03/11/2019 0552652 Employee Amputates Finger While Using Table Saw
6 113270.01 01/24/2019 0418100 Employee Operating Circular Saw Amputates Two Fingers
7 112919.01 01/18/2019 0521700 Employee Amputates Finger While Using Circular Saw
8 111694.01 12/04/2018 0418300 Employee Amputates Finger While Processing Chicken Parts Wit
9 111383.01 11/26/2018 0626700 Employee Operating Circular Saw Cuts Leg
10 112350.01 11/21/2018 1054114 Employee Amputates Thumb When Struck By Circular Saw Blade W
11 114396.01 11/08/2018 0950621 Employee Amputates Middle Finger While Using Circular Saw
12 110827.01 11/05/2018 0523400 Employee Amputates Two Fingers With Circular Saw While Cutti
13 110673.01 10/22/2018 0521400 Employee Lacerates And Amputates Fingertip When Struck By Sa
14 109236.01 09/10/2018 0521700 Employee Amputates Finger And Lacerates Three Others When Ci
15 111695.01 09/07/2018 0950633 Employee Operating Circular Saw Lacerates Leg
16 111533.01 08/30/2018 0950631 Employee Amputates Two Fingers And Partially Amputates A Thi
17 111251.01 08/01/2018 0950641 Employee’S Thumb Is Amputated While Using Circular Saw
18 107946.01 07/19/2018 0420600 Employee Lacerates Arm While Using Circular Saw To Cut Plywo
19 110026.01 06/26/2018 0950623 Employee’S Fingers Are Cut When Circular Saw Kicks Back
20 111982.01 06/26/2018 0950644 Employee Receives Arm Laceration While Using Circular Saw Bl

114396.01

11/08/2018

0950621

Employee Amputates Middle Finger While Using Circular Saw

That imo is the worst one there. Imagine a lifetime of just showing other motorists your missing finger

mid_gen · 23 Dec 2022 at 12:47

Should I buy <insert powertool>?

Answer : yes.

LuckyBenski · 23 Dec 2022 at 12:56

mid_gen said:
Should I buy <insert powertool>?

Answer : yes.

DON'T INSERT THE POWER TOOL!

:eek:

aVdub · 23 Dec 2022 at 13:00

LuckyBenski said:
DON'T INSERT THE POWER TOOL!

Unless correctly lubed.

Spec me / should I buy a circular saw

Deleted User 298457

Deleted User 298457