A circular saw is an essential piece of a home builder’s power tool arsenal. Circular saws cut clean lines and are easy to handle. However, circular saws range in design, size, and strength so it’s important to consider what you’re planning on using them for before picking your weapon. Also, keep in mind that a heftier circular saw can do larger and smaller cuts, but a lesser saw can only do smaller cuts.
Corded Or Cordless?
Wiser words were never spoken than to show up with the right tool for the job. Builders depend on their tools to do the job right the first time. You save time, materials, cost, and your good mood by having the right tool in your hand.
If you’re in the market for a circular saw to cut a few 2x4s and sheets of plywood with, you’ll get by with a battery-operated model. However, if you’re cutting through a lot of 2x4s and beams, planning to attach a mason blade at some point, or want something brutish, unapologetic, and as strong as a Viking, you should invest in a heavier corded model.
Blade Sizes
If you plan to use your circular saw for material thicker than 2 inches, don’t get a blade smaller than 6 inches.
If you’re planning on making a career out of cutting 4x4s and beams, use a 7 ¼ inch blade because the cut depth of your first cut will be deeper and make things easier on your second pass.
If you’re a part-time home DIY person, consider the extent of your experience and what kind of projects you plan on getting yourself into before deciding what size circular saw/blade you should buy.
Motor Strength
Once again, are you a DIY type that plans, and even invents, projects around your home to use your circular saw for? Or, are you purchasing a circular saw for the basic utility of the tool?
If you want to go with a work horse, just purchase a 15-amp motor circular saw and be done with it. For mid-level projects, a corded worm-drive circular saw will be more than fine. For basic 2×4 and plywood cutting, a battery powered tool is your best bet.
The Best Circular Saws On Amazon
DEWALT 20V Lithium-Ion Circular Saw
Estimated Price: $200
Weighing in at fifteen pounds, this Dewalt cordless packs a serious punch and rivals its corded contemporaries. In addition, you should know Dewalt is arguably the most trusted brand in the carpentry business and their tools are tough, reliable, and durable.
The DCS391 fires off a 20V battery, which gives the saw tons of torque. That power, added with its 5,250 RPM blade speed, will provide you with all the follow-through you need to push through your cuts.
BOSCH 18V 6-½ Inch Lithium Ion Circular Saw
Estimated Price: $119
Bosch has a large following because their power tools are light, skillfully designed, and easy to maneuver. This unit is no different.
The CCS180B’s 6 ½ inch blade has a 2 inch blade depth max to clear the width of any 2x, and with EMP motor protection you can trust that the unit won’t overheat. At 10 pounds, this saw is light and compact.
The only thing to keep in mind is that you have to purchase the 18V battery separately. Though the investment is worth it because this battery powered saw punches far above its weight.
DEWALT 7-1/4-Inch Lightweight Circular Saw With Electric Brake
Estimated Price: $125
You’re going to see this saw on a lot of commercial and remodel job sites. This 8.8-pound champ comes with a 7 ¼ inch blade, 2,000-watt output, 5,000 RPM for max cutting carnage, and a near 3 inch cut depth.
For your convenience, the built-in blower unit keeps dust away from your sight-line, and the onboard wrench is ideal for quick blade swapping.
This model also has an electric brake to stop your blade as soon as you depress the trigger. This circular saw is a brute with a conscious and you’ll be happy it’s on your side.
SKILSAW Worm Drive Circular Saw
Estimated Price: $215
This saw is a pure beast.
The 15-watt motor keeps the tool cool while it races through thick cuts. The two-handled design helps for better control and also evenly distributes the unit’s weight of 15 pounds.
This Skilsaw takes 7 ¼ inch blades and can be swapped out for a mason blade if you feel like cutting your ugly stone retaining wall in half. It will take a few blades, but the saw will remain the same, asking for more.
If that’s not enough, the SPT77WML has a cut depth of 3.9 inches, which will slice through a 4×4 in a single pass.
SKIL Corded 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw
Estimated Price: $52
This Skil saw is affordable, powerful, and great for the DIY builder. Its 14-amp motor ensures that you’ll get through your cuts. The versatility of its 7 ¼ blade means you can keep going through your materials until your project is complete.
This tool contains a bevel range of 50 degrees, and the easy to read bevel and depth scales make blade adjustment simple.
The Skil-5180 is only 7.2 pounds, which will curtail hand and wrist fatigue.
If you simply need a nuts and bolts circular saw to do what it’s supposed to do, this unit is for you.
