Circular Saw for under £100

[SVB]

I have reposted this as it was tacked on the end of a three pager - so sorry for the duplication if you are reading this after going through the previous three pages!

I was asking for advice on a c/s for approx £100. The key job I have to hand is to lay a workshop floor (3/4" material) plus a loft to board out. So, with approx £100 in the budget, the options as I see them are the Hitachi C7BU, the Skil Orca or an eBay risk on something like a Dewalt DW62.

Questions - what would you pick from the above, or something I have not listed?

I also would like to know (and thanks scrit for your answer) are C/S like bandsaws, throw away the supplied blade and start again or can they mainly be trusted? If not, any recommendations in combination with one of the above.

And - ---- before you all say, yes I know festool are pdg but the budget (and er indoors won't allow so I am really looking for experiences to help find the best for my budget);->

Thanks,

Simon.

 

[George_N]

The Hitachi saws have a pretty good reputation...don't know about the prices though, might be a little over your budget at £120. I have a 7.5 in Makita 5704, about £85 from Screwfix. I've had good service from it, even use it in my Triton Workcentre. I would probably get a crosscut blade for sheet material as it will give a cleaner cut. I am currently using a B&Q 40t blade that cost £15, which would take you to your £100 budget. The Makita is a very solid tool which will give you years of work.

cheers

George

 

[Newbie_Neil]

The Makita is a very solid tool which will give you years of work.

Another vote for the Makita 5704RK, D&M sell it and the link also shows a Freud 40T blade which would make it excellent for cutting sheet goods. At D&M it would come in at 110, including the blade.

Axminster sell the saw for 84.95.

Or, DIYTOOLS.COM at 84.84. Also, as George said, available at Screwfix for 84.99.

HTH.

Cheers
Neil

 

[SVB]

Axminster currently have the Hatachi at £65 (reduced from (£85 from memory) which is making it an attractive option!

Simon

 

[wizer]

in my research, before getting the Triton, the Hitatchi seemed to come out on top.

 

[SVB]

One small problem - just went to order the Hitachi and they are out of stock and it has been discontinued!

Ar*e!!!! :x

So, fall back option, any experience with the Makita 5704RK?

With thanks as ever!

Simon.

 

[shirehorseman]

H Simon,

I cannot personally comment on the Makita. But like George, a mate of mine has used their stuff for years and swears by it.
As far as the Hitachi is concerned I used to have a Triton 2000 with an Hitachi C9U installed and it was a great piece of kit I have to say. So assuming that the C7U is of the same quality (although slightly smaller) no reason it shouldn't be, that is what I would go for.
Trawling the net I notice that they have changed the model nos. But anyway this site is the cheapest I could find. Hope this helps.

http://www.toolbank.com/product.cfm?CFID=3231541&CFTOKEN=55661410&rID=1&code=HITC7SB2&nx=7422F07E007CE177C9D6166FFC3C9AB99yff5e

All the best
Trev