circular saws

[westslope]

After 20 years of running my Porter Cable 315-4 sidewinder - not daily, but maybe weekly on whatever project comes up - I ran across the owners manual for the thing. Wait! I'm supposed to have this thing lubricated every 150 hours? And I'm not supposed to do it myself? Supposed to find an authorized service center? This is all new to me. I just thought you blew them out with compressed air every once in awhile and ran them 'till they dropped. What's up?

Thanks
Firhead

 

[Steve@Advance]

Well,you're probably not too far off schedule.

It would take a looong time to put 150 hours on a saw.

I suspect you found an authorized service center (if any still exist), they would get a good laugh too!

 

[Geo-TH,In]

I bought my dewalt circular saw in 1991. Built many things with it, room additions, garages, sheds. The only thing I've done is repair the cord after cutting it off with saw. I used a green 25 ft extension cord to repair saw. Only cut the cord once.

 

[jeffcat]

Being left handed I just never had good luck with sidewinder saws. Had been looking for a long time for a Skill Saw worm drive. At a paltry $180.oo ea. they ain't cheap. Got a new old stock at the flea market for 100. It is brand new. My STARS what a great cutting tool. If you can get hold of a M-77 you will never look back. As you do, just blow it out to keep it clean. When you turn the blade back and forth by hand and things feel free...don't worry about it. This is a photo of the 7 1/4 saw I found. Worth every single penny.

 

[jeffcat]

Isn't that just the most embarrassing thing to do????. Makes a few sparks too.

 

[Goose]

I hate when that happens.

 

[GEO-TH, In]

I know a woman who cuts cord on hedge trimmer about everytime she uses it.

 

[kcm.MN]

I bought a Dewalt circ saw back in the mid-90's. Took it to work and found out the electricians accidentally wired one of the 120v outlets with 220v. Saw ran like a champ!! Didn't seem to hurt it any. Still going strong all these years later, but I have a new saw now and only use the Dewalt for grunt work. Have used many metal-cutting discs through the Dewalt as well. Had to be careful to make sure nothing got too hot and melted. :shock:

 

[Steve@Advance]

Never thought about the left handed saw dilemma.

Bet that is an awkward chore using about any circular saw.

 

[mtny]

I bought a Milwaukee in 1987 , 114 bucks . Remodeled one house , built 2 barns and a house . Still runs like a watch . Needs a cord bad tho.

 

[Fawteen]

Mine's a Makita, but 10-4 on the left-handed thing!

 

[jeffcat]

Lucky I am half ambidextrous. Chainsaws and stuff are no sweat. Just could never get the hang of a circular saw. With the worm drive I just line it up and pull the trigger. Terrific!!! Cuts like a champ and is very smooth.

 

[BigPapa53]

150 hours over 20 years is right at 9.4 minutes of [i:a5ce1e9654][b:a5ce1e9654]RUN TIME[/b:a5ce1e9654][/i:a5ce1e9654] a week. So, if you were cutting off 2x4s at, let’s say, 3 seconds a cut, that would be @ 180 cuts a week. If you were cutting across a 4’ wide sheet of plywood, that would be @ 12-13 cuts a week.

-Scott

 

[Patsdeere]

Ok, so here's a fact to blow your mind. DeWalt actually makes 2 different circular saws. Internally they are jokingly referred to as west coast and East coast saws. One has the blade on the left, one has it right. Something like 90% of sales on either cost is the same type. Information provided by DeWalt rep.

 

[Stan in Oly, WA]

Fawteen; Is that a Makita hypoid saw? I've had one of those for more than twenty years, I think. Looks and works exactly like a worm drive saw except that the gears don't have to be immersed in an oil bath as with all worm drive saws. I like the Makita because it's light enough for me to use it with one hand out in front of me when I don't have something convenient to rest the work on. I could do that with the Skilsaw 77 I used to own until the smoke got out of it, but I couldn't do it for long. I liked having both those saws---the Skil for heavy work and the Makita for precision work.

Stan

 

[Fawteen]

Ya know, I'm not sure. I'd have to look.

It's a heavy old bugger, but can be operated with one hand. In addition to being able to see the line better with the blade on the left, it's also unstoppable. I don't think I've EVER stalled that thing and I've had it since shortly after I retired from the Navy in 1990. I've built a garage, a barn, an addition onto a house and a half-dozen sheds of varying sizes with it.

 

[Copperhead don't play]

You need to change the oil in the gearbox ever so many hours. My Skill 77 will cut bricks and concrete blocks with a mason blade almost as easy as a 2x4. You can not stall it. You have to really try to make a crooked cut. When I cut, I try to leave half the pencil mark it is that accurate.

 

[rossow (mn)]

Porter-Cable also makes right- and left-handed 7-1/4" circular saws. They are models 347 and 743. I have one of each that I bought years ago but have never used -- I have several others I reach for first. My favorites are a couple of smaller Makitas -- 5-1/2" or 6-1/2"? Can't recall size for sure without looking in a cold shed.

 

[Crazy Horse]

Jeffcat ...... are you saying that the saw in your photo is designed for a left-handed person?

 

[Crazy Horse]

Jeffcat ..... this right/left handed thing is interesting. Left side blade, right side blade, left handed person, right handed person .... etc etc etc. This video below is a good one, sounds like there are reasons for arguments which one is the one to use for yourself. If you scroll down you will see the comments, some operators (most are right handed of course) prefer the blade on the right side of the saw, others on the left side of the saw. So while your photo shows a left handed blade, it is not necessarily the favorite for all left handed users. A lot of right handed people would prefer yours as well. The video does a good job of explaining all of this. A similar thing whether a guy should vote right or vote left in the next election .... it depends on who you talk to and what they feel more comfortable with.
Untitled URL Link

 

[whereswaldo]

ALWAYS store it blade up. else the heavy weight oil will seep past the seal behind the blade and catch the sawdust, which then makes the guard stick open. I've had my model 77 since the mid 70's and other than LOTS of blades, several trigger switches, a couple sets of brushes and several oil changes-that saw is one of the best portable electric tools I own.

 

[jeffcat]

No trouble it is just the M-77 works for me. I pull the switch and push with my right hand on this saw. On the front of the base plate there are two notches for straight 90? or an angled or tilted cut. I just look from the left side, and put the correct notch on the line, look at the blade and see it is also right on the line, and pull the switch. Makes a dead on perfect straight cut. Damn near as perfect as a table saw. If I try to use a sidewinder from the right, the saw always drifts to the right and starts binding . As I said being left handed I have grown up somewhat ambidextrous. Very helpful! You want to see something really crazy. My nephew is right handed but he has some kind of lefthand recessive through my sister. He cannot use a regular grip type can opener either made for left or right hand people to save his life. Just can't get them to work. The photo shows a standard right hand type. I can use either type and am pretty quick with a P-38 can opener too. Go figgure. Every Mc Culloch chainsaw I have is right hand. NO troubles at all. No in the 50s they actually made a lefthand saw. Sold a boatload of them in Canada. Called a D-33 "Le -Sabre" if I remember. Know a guy who has 2 of them.

 

[jeffcat]

Yes, I have watched several of the videos these guys have done. Every thing they said was great about the lefthand saw applied to me. Just Love my M-77. Now if you want to see a PRO/ CRAZYMAN with a M-77 watch this guy. He is either a real old time life long or someone with a death wish. After you watch this video and your head stops spinning you want to go build a new tractor shed just to try this stuff out. Way Cool! Just remember he is doing framing work. If you want it super accurate then just slow down a little and take a tiny bit more care. But still, this is pretty sharp.

M 77 how to use it.

 

[Crazy Horse]

Well, he certainly knows his stuff. Most You Tube stuff is for novices to learn from, not sure I would want a novice trying any of his techniques. I like his shoes, very cool for shop work as long as he doesn't drop his saw, even worse when it is in action mode.

 

[Bret4207]

I subscribe toe Essential Craftsmans channel, good stuff. Don't always agree with him,but I get a lot of ideas.

I wanted a Skil 77 worm drive for years. Finally snagged one for $10.00 at an auction. It's an older one from the 70's I'd say. I rally like it, except for the weight. So now I want a Mag 77, but Makita has one that even lighter I think. My shoulders and wrist aren't what they used to be!