What Circular Saw to Keep?

Jaeger_S2k · Post by **Jaeger_S2k** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 2:10 pm

Hi,
I could well be setting myself up for a dam good thrashing here but I'd like your advise not on my method but on the tools below.

I've not got the funds to go out and restock my tools shed from new so I've picked up a few 'bargains' in the last few weeks and I find I've now got 3 quite large Circular Saws. I didn't go out and buy 3 circular saws they kind of came with other things.

I don't need 3 maybe 2 but not 3 and I've got a small light weight sorted in the form of an Elu MN151 beautiful saw compact and light 150mm (6") blade and Elu is my favourite brand.

The others are BIG buggers the Makita is 9"!!!

Don't know which to keep which to move on.

If you were starting out and knowing what you now know now which would you have in your shed/van that you know you'd need/use?

The saws are ...

Skilsaw Classic 5466 (1400w, 190mm 7" blade)

AEG HKS66 (1200w, 7" blade)

Makita 5900BR (1380w 9" blade)

They're in reasonable condition bar the usual scars and all fully operational.

The Skil is like new (as the photo), AEG is missing a front knob (but doesn't effect it's use) other than you can't hang on to the front knob, the Makita could use a new blade guard (but just because it's got a nick on it)

For anyone that feels the need to tell me the pro's and cons of buying second hand power tools read this it's especially for you.
It'll save me telling you later and this is more polite.
Please don't come on giving me advise about buying second hand power tools, I don't need the lecture.
I know you think I'm mad buying second hand that's fine you think what you like but keep it to yourself.

Your picks guys, what to keep what to ditch?

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 2:16 pm

I'd keep the Makita one

I bought a 9 inch Bosch a few years back from the Loot, it was £50 and is a brilliant saw and very powerful.

As long as you can adjust the depth of the cut then I would always go for the larger one.

Hitch · Post by **Hitch** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 2:24 pm

If youve got a small elu trimsaw, id be inclined to keep the 9" Makita for the big jobs.

8-)

foamcutter · Post by **foamcutter** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 2:33 pm

Alan, unless you need the funds don't sell or dispose of any of them as Murphy's Law will inevitably come into play.

EG you get rid of one and next week the brushes go in another (which aren't made anymore says the shop assistant) and the other is borrowed by a so called friend who burns it out. End result your left with none.

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 4:29 pm

i personaly would use them all rotate them for several weeks

take a sheet of 18mm do 2 passes on the fence with each one then 2 passes with a batton

do a further 2 passes with the blades at different angles

look for ease of operation accurecy how good the cut is for the state off the blade check the motor for sound and sparks

check the base plates are flat
check the blade gaurds retracts and springs back cleanly and smoothly at different depths
check the riving knife if it has one is in line

check the base plate and blade are parralel [if not the back end will cut on the down stroke

then after that as foam cutter says keep the least usefull as a spare because the £25 you will get for it aint worth it

panlid · Post by **panlid** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 5:22 pm

jaegs i sell 2, with the money you get i would go out and get well pissed

Hitch · Post by **Hitch** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 5:31 pm

Jaeger_S2k · Post by **Jaeger_S2k** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 5:33 pm

panlid wrote:jaegs i sell 2, with the money you get i would go out and get well pissed

Jaeger_S2k · Post by **Jaeger_S2k** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 9:48 pm

big-all wrote:i personaly would use them all rotate them for several weeks

take a sheet of 18mm do 2 passes on the fence with each one then 2 passes with a batton

do a further 2 passes with the blades at different angles

look for ease of operation accurecy how good the cut is for the state off the blade check the motor for sound and sparks

check the base plates are flat
check the blade gaurds retracts and springs back cleanly and smoothly at different depths
check the riving knife if it has one is in line

check the base plate and blade are parralel [if not the back end will cut on the down stroke

then after that as foam cutter says keep the least usefull as a spare because the £25 you will get for it aint worth it

Good suggestion but that'll be an 8 x 4 trashed with that many cuts

I've got some shuttering lying about from the build will go chop it up later, can practise with my G-Clamps!

Keeping them all seems a bit mean but then I have the catalogue list of your Ryobi collection so why should I feel bad?

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 11:52 pm

lol i just gave away a bxd 1600w pro circ saw a 82mm planer to a man with a new blade for £10 each and my ryobi 1525 table saw for £50 because he is just starting out an needed a hand up
i also offerd an ancient 3 inch belt sander with 8 new belts for a tenner but he prefered his 1/2 sheet orbital

any way my remaining collection of circular saws is a dw62 230v a bosch 24v and as you know 2 ryobi 18v

to be honest in your case you could take the one with the worst blade and get a fine toothed blade for laminate work

Jaeger_S2k · Post by **Jaeger_S2k** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 12:08 am