What is a Circular Saw?
A circular saw is an electric or battery-powered power tool with a toothed or abrasive wheel.
These spin in a rotary action and can be used for cutting all manner of materials. Generally, they are used to cut lumber, but with new designs, they are now used to cut all materials.
This they do quickly, efficiently, and accurately. Power saws take all the effort of cutting things in any home project.
What Are Circular Saws Used For?
Circular saws are ideal for cutting wood, masonry, metals, and plastics. While some are of the miter, saw variety, fixed to a bench.
There are lots of hands-held circular saw types. These offer versatility and can be used on-site when things are cut quickly.
Circular saws are most often used for making rip cuts, cross cuts, or they can be used to make a combination of things.
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The best saw can make light work of cutting wood sheeting that would take ages by a hand circular saw.
These saws can be corded or cordless, and they can be altered to cut at set angles rather than just cutting through the materials.
Top Rated Circular Saw Reviews
1. WORX WORXSAW 4-1/2” Compact Circular Saw – WX429L
The WORK circular saw is one of the best compact circular saw you can find. It is the lightest on the test and super compact.
The design is ergonomic and is designed to be used one-handed in the tightest spaces.
This means the saw is versatile and isn’t tied to bench work. The motor is 4 amps, but this still delivers plenty of power to the 4 1/2 inch blade.
In use, it is just like using a small electric hand saw. It was more than capable of ripping through 4×2 pieces of the timer without breaking a sweat in testing.
The included blade is thinner than normal, reducing tool strain and improving cutting performance.
The search could be over with this one when looking for the best budget circular saw.
Pros
- 3-year limited warranty
- Very easy to adjust cutting depth
- Very affordable with lots of features
- Space-saving size
- Lightweight – only 4.25 lbs.
Cons
- Can’t cut too deep
- Mainly plastic construction
- Cuts slower than some competitors
Technical Specifications
- Power: 4 amps
- Blade Size: 4 1/2 inches
- Bevel range: 0 – 45 degrees
- Vacuum adapter: Yes
- Parallel guide: Yes
- Blade side: Left-hand blade
- Blade Speed: 3,500 rpm
It is as easy to change the bevel with woodworking tools for beginners as the cut depth. With a left-handed blade, it is super easy to see the line you are cutting along.
With a guide price of under $55, this small circular saw is a dream to use and as powerful as it is affordable, especially when you factor in the 3-year warranty.
This can be the best circular saw 2019 has produced so far for many homes or woodworking projects.
2. Rockwell RK3440K Versacut 4.0 Amp Ultra-Compact Circular Saw with Laser Guide and 3-Blade Kit with Carry Case
This Rockwell saw it was a funny one to test. There is a lot to like, and it does come with features, but it strangely does some things.
This handheld circular saw comes with a laser pointer for accurate cutting, but for some reason, they make it battery-powered.
You can easily forget to power this off after cutting, and you end up wasting batteries. The saw itself is excellent for plunge cutting, but for regular cuts, you need to bear down your weight more than with other compact saws.
This introduces fatigue quicker, making you struggle to keep online. This problem is accentuated because you can’t see where you are cutting very quickly.
Pros
- Ergonomic grip
- Good dust extraction
- Designed to cut multiple materials
- Lightweight – only 3.4 lbs.
- Built in laser guide
Cons
- Hard to see the blade while cutting
- Laser runs on batteries
- It needs a lot of downward pressure
- No beveled cuts possible
Technical Specifications
- Power: 4 amps
- Blade Size: 4 1/2 inches
- Vacuum adapter: Yes
- Parallel guide: Laser guide
- Blade side: Left-hand blade
- Blade Speed: 3,500 rpm
The circular saw with laser is easy to hold and maneuver, but there is no bevel cutting, and it is as if the saw has been designed for flooring or large sheet cutting at best.
With a guide price of just under $105, it is expensive, especially when missing out on features.
3. DEWALT DWE575SB 7-1/4-Inch Lightweight Circular Saw with Electric Brake
The DeWalt circular saw delivers power when needed with the 14 amp motor. In addition, like many other 7 1/4 inch circular saws, it cuts through most things with ease.
With this comes the cost of weight; it isn’t the heaviest on test, but after a while, the 8.8 lbs. It can take its toll when cutting a large sheet of plywood.
The worm-drive motor helps it power through timber up to 2.55 inches at the upright 90-degree angle, or it can cut to 1.9 inches when at 45 degrees.
The DeWalt 7 1/4 circular saw makes it easy to set the bevel angle and comes with an electric brake to stop the blade as you release the trigger.
This saw comes with one nifty feature not seen on others, and the cord comes with three times the resistance against the cord pulling out.
Pros
- 3-year limited warranty
- Tough cord system
- A good line of sight
- Electronic braking
Cons
- Dust control a problem
- Heavy
- Very expensive
- Shoe can wobble
Technical Specifications
- Power: 15 amps
- Blade Size: 7 1/4 inches
- Bevel range: 0 – 57 degrees
- Vacuum adapter: Yes
- Parallel guide: Yes
- Blade side: Right-hand blade
- Blade Speed: 5,100 rpm
- Weight: 8.8 lbs.
The DEWALT DWE575SB isn’t a cheap circular saw and comes with a guide price of around $145. For this, you get durability, onboard storage, and a saw carry case for when you are finished.
With a 3-year warranty, it is built to last, albeit at a price. It could be the best-corded circular saw for the corded feature alone.
4. Makita SP6000J1 6-1/2-Inch Plunge Circular Saw with Guide Rail
Makita is one of the biggest names in power tools, and this Makita circular saw is a top tool for demanding projects.
While others come with guides, you can run along edges. This saw comes with a whopping 55-inch guide rail. If you need precision cutting, this can be the saw for you.
However, if you need to rip through narrower wood than the guide, it is hard to fasten the guide securely.
For exact cutting, the Makita skill saw comes with variable speed. This is great when cutting different materials than just wood.
It excels in plunge cuts with the precision cutting system. This delivers a splinter-free cut like no other saw can do.
Pros
- Close to wall cutting
- Powerful
- Cuts very clean
- Electronic Speed control
Cons
- Heavy construction
- Cutting timber narrower than the guide can be a problem
- Very expensive
Technical Specifications
- Power: 12 amps
- Blade Size: 6 1/2 inches
- Bevel range: 0 – 48 degrees
- Vacuum adapter: Yes
- Parallel guide: 55-inch guide rail included
- Blade side: Right-hand blade
- Blade Speed: Variable 2,000 to 5,200 rpm
- Weight: 16.5 lbs.
With a guide price above $450, this is almost four times as much as an 18v circular saw Makita has with roughly the same specs.
It is a lot of saws, and for use around the home, it costs too much and is restrictive in use.
5. SKILSAW SPT77WML-01 15-Amp 7-1/4-Inch Lightweight Worm Drive Circular Saw
The Skilsaw might not be the largest on the test, but it is the heaviest apart from the previous saw.
Saying this, though, it is a genuinely high-quality powerhouse, and with the 15-amp worm drive motor, it can rip its way through almost anything.
Couple this with the high spin speed of 5,300 rpm, and it can take a fraction of the time as other saws that are the same size.
Arm fatigue is reduced, and the magnesium construction does help to keep the weight manageable on the Skilsaw circular saw.
Pros
- Good build quality
- Very easy to adjust cutting-depth
- Magnesium body
- Anti-snag lower guard
- 1 year limited warranty
Cons
- Heavy
- Expensive
Technical Specifications
- Power: 15 amps
- Worm drive motor
- Blade Size: 7 1/4 inches
- Bevel range: 0 – 45 degrees
- Vacuum adapter: Yes
- Parallel guide: Yes
- Blade side: Left-hand blade
- Blade Speed: 5,300 rpm
- Weight: 11.6 lbs.
When you want angled cuts, this is a breeze, but it commands a high price for how it slices through the timber.
Guide prices of just under $190 make it a serious investment, even if it will last for years. However, a small Skilsaw could be a viable option, leaving the budget for another power tool.
The cut-ready depth system works like a charm, and the anti-snag feature was a worthy inclusion.
How to Know Which Circular Saw to Buy? (Buying Guide)
When searching for a circular saw, there are things to consider. Here is some helpful information to help you sort through the best compact circular saws.
How to use a circular saw
Here are the very basics of using a circular saw power tool.
- Place your wood or material on a stable surface.
- If making crosscuts, you will be cutting across the grain. Rip cuts are cuts down the grain, and plunge cuts are directly into the wood without cutting from the edge.
- When cutting with a circular saw on large sheets, it can be hard to keep a straight line. To make things easier, you can draw a pencil line, use a laser guide, or clamp a piece of wood to use for a guide.
- With the power off, set your cutting-depth.
- The good side of the wood to be cut should be face down.
- Before introducing the saw to the wood, make sure you power it on.
- Make a full cut in one motion, if possible.
- Let cut pieces fall. Trying to hold them up will snag the blade.
Types of Power Saws
There are a few types of saw power tools available. Some are specific to particular work, unlike a circular power saw is versatile.
- Circular Saw – these make perfectly straight cuts in wood or other materials.
- Mitre Saw will make exact and rapid cross cuts, miter cuts at 45 degrees or 90 degrees.
- Reciprocating Saws lacks the precision of a circular or miter saw but delivers lots of cutting action. They need a two-handed operation and are best suited for corner areas or demolition jobs where it doesn’t matter how the material is cut.
- Jigsaws – these have very fine blades for cutting intricate shapes
- Scroll saws – these can cut curves and joints. The cuts are so fine, there not be any need for sanding
- Band saws – these are the huge siblings of a scroll saw and cut much larger materials
- Table Saws – these are much like a circular saw but built into a solid bench
Saw Features to Look For
Blade Size – Circular saws are best equipped for cutting timber two inches thick. With this in mind, the bottom of the blade teeth needs to pass through the bottom by up to a quarter of an inch.
There are two sizes; these are 7 1/4 inches for full-size saws and 4 1/2 inches for compact circular saws. Depending on the size of the blade will determine the amount of power your saw needs to deliver.
When you look at blades, many are intricate in their design. However, you can whip out a chain sharpener once they become blunt and give them a touch-up.
It may only be on some blades, but this can come in handy if you read our chainsaw buying guide.
Adjustable Blades – All saws allow you to cut different depths or thicknesses up to the maximum. Ease of adjustment makes it easier to work with the saw.
This can be for the depth or the bevel capacity. This can range from 90 degrees to 45 degrees or any other angle.
Power – You need a saw that can cut through most pieces of wood quickly. If it is underpowered, it can come to a stop when you get halfway through cutting.
The higher the amps, the more power and better-cutting action your saw will have. A corded circular saw will always be more powerful than a battery-powered one.
Weight – The heavier your saw, the harder it will be to push through your wood. Not only this, if you are using it on-site and cutting away from a bench, you do need to hold it up single-handed.
Fatigue can easily set in, and you can lose your cut line. A mini circular saw will be better suited to this kind of task. (Find the Best Wood Splitter)
Features – there are additional features that come with some power saws. For example, there are lasers, dust extractors, and LED lights for when you need a little extra light.
One of the most important features is an electric brake. This automatically slows the blade when you release the trigger.
You can also find left-hand and right-hand saws. Again, these can be down to preference, but depending on which hand you are, you can block your line of sight, or the dust blows directly onto you rather than to the side.
Final Verdict
After cutting no end of a timber in all manner of positions, thicknesses, and length, we matched all the saws against our criteria to see which was able to deliver power and performance against value.
The Makita circular saw guide system, as good as it was. Unfortunately, this was unfeasible for many users, whether using the saw around the home or working on big furniture projects.
Our deserved winner was the WORX WORXSAW 4-1/2” Compact Circular Saw – WX429L. It came with a smaller blade, but the thinner blade made this slice through timber like a knife through butter.
On top of this, it was easy to use up against a wall or with the correct safety gear upside down. The performance value was astounding, and none of the other circular saws were anywhere near matching it.
With the 3-year warranty, it would be a hard decision not to rush out and buy the best Skil saw straight away.
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