Need new cordless circular saw

[makitaman]

Hi, my Dewalt 18v cordless circular saw has given up the ghost - I got it in 2004 so can't complain.

Anyway I'm looking at what to buy as a replacement, I don't use it every day (or the saw) but I want something that will perform well and be reliable. Maximum price £400.00.

Looking at the usual suspects Dewalt, Makita and Bosch. If anyones got any experiences with these it would be great to hear them.

Many thanks.

 

[big-all]

whats your main use ??
if its sheet material with the odd worktop then the plunge saw and track are great 2 marks throw the track on and cut 10 seconds a cut
i have had mines for a year or 2 now and its brilliant
off course it chews up the batteries but you will know that anyway

dewalt 18v plunge saw i paid £235 for 2 tracks and the saw without batteries or charger from ITS london although they dont seem to have it now

 

[makitaman]

Thanks Big Al,
I hadn't even thought of a plunge saw. My main use is dimensioning sheet materials, cutting kitchen worktops etc. At the moment I'm clamping a straight edge to the work as a guide and then sawing with the circular saw.

Logically I think I should be looking for a plunge saw - can you use the saw without the guide rails?

Thanks again.

 

[^woody^]

I can't see the advantage of a plunge saw for irregular use, and especially for use outside of a workshop.

A circular would be more versatile, and if you made a jig out of some tufnol or laminate, then that is the rail

And would it not be best to buy a tool that uses existing batteries, if possible?

 

[big-all]

yes you can use it without the track
i personally would get frustrated if i had more than 5 to 7% off worktop as a percentage off work because the way it cains the batteries and chugs along in worktop
i have cut several worktops to length and sink cutouts no probs but having to take up to 5 batteries is a pain i have 1-2ah li-ion 2-2.6 nmh which would be enough for most kitchens but with the jigsaw and drills i also need 2 nicads
the other good thing is it can cut 11mm off doors in situ skirting in situ and laminate flooring in situ before installing the skirting

 

[makitaman]

My old Dewalt DC390 ran on 18v NiCd batteries which are now dead along with the charger. I've been running it off my other Dewalt 18v tool batteries. I just think that by the time I've bought 2 new batteries and a charger I may as well upgrade to a new saw.

I think if I went with the plunge saw I'd choose 240v, as you said Big all the batteries take a real hammering.

I know what you mean about the versatility issues but I've spent years ripping 8x4 sheets on a table saw or setting up straight edges with bits of timber or spirit levels clamped to the pieces to get a straight edge.

Also fancy having a new toy to play with.

 

[ladylola]

I recently used an 18v lithium ion makita saw and found it pretty decent. It wasn't mine but a friends who had brought it as a kit with the reciprocating saw which I also liked.
That aside if your dewalt batteries are dead you could do worse than give this idea a try , you've nothing to lose.
//www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=826199#826199

 

[27neth]

I have the Hilti 22v li ion cordless saw, lots of power and also comes with a clip on base that you can use to attach to festool, makita rails etc..

John

 

[makitaman]

In the end I bought the Dewalt DWS520KR corded 240v plunge saw from Lawson's with 1.5 and 2.7m rails and 2 clamps.

Have to say I'm really impressed with it, very easy to use, quick to set up and position and the quality of cut is superb, almost zero breakout on laminates - and I'm being fussy re breakout. The rail 'sticks' very securely to all types of material without any slippage, even when the work is dusty.

An excellent piece of kit.
Cheers all.

 

[big-all]

cut the last 12mm from the rubbers on the corners because when you stand on end the rubber gets bent back slightly unsticks and fills with crud and gets progressively worse
another trick is to find the overlap you need on each track the points where the back off the machine hooks on the end off the track plus a bit more and draw a pencil line this allows the maximum length off cut without thinking just line up the the pencil line with the board edge before laying on the marks
mines is at 180mm