CIRCULAR SAW

[Alexam]

A circular saw is on my shopping list, but I don't have a clue what is good or bad. Not too heavy use, more to start off with and no space foe a table saw

Limiting choice to cost of £130ish and powered, not battery. Any advice would be appreciated, as I don't want to make a mistake.

Thanks

Alex

 

[MMUK]

I picked up an Evolution Fury (the orange one) from Tradepoint on half price offer a while ago, £50. It's absolutely brilliant. Not only will it pi$$ through hard and soft woods, it will also cut plastic without chipping and easily slice through 4" x 2" extruded thick wall aluminium section. It glides through concealed screws and nails like they weren't there.

They have them on offer at B&Q/Tradepoint every other month or so, sometimes on "buy the Mitre Saw for £100 and get the circular saw free".

 

[Alexam]

Thanks MMUK, that offer of a mitre saw for £100 and throw in a circular saw sounds good, but do not know the Evolution Fury make and will look into that.

I had seen the BOSCH GKS190 190MM CIRCULAR SAW WITH CARRY CASE + SAW BLADE! 240V at £109 and although I know the make, I don't know if this is a good starter saw. Can you, or anyone else comment please?

Alex

 

[Alexam]

Should I consider a table top saw instead on a circular saw? Problem is that prices vary from rater low to be good - to to high for me

Is there a reasonable table top to consider that has a price tab of under £200 and would that be more versatile for someone starting out?

Alex

 

[paultnl]

What sort of work are you trying to do?

 

[Alexam]

What sort of work are you trying to do?

Just starting to develop my woodworking with my son, so hobby woodwork, but hope we will develop this.
Only have a few hand saws and expect to be doing more work requiring a lot more sawing. Toying with the idea that we may want a saw table, but feel that a circular saw will initially be more useful. Looking for advice on reasonable tools to start with and hope that this site will help.

Alex

 

[Phil Pascoe]

For hobby woodwork I'd be tempted to save for a small bandsaw - on a small scale there's very little a circular saw can do that a bandsaw can't, and a whole lot more it can do. I'd take a good jigsaw and a bandsaw any day over a circular although I accept your needs may be different.

 

[Alexam]

I'll take a look at bandsaws, which I have not done so far. Forgiver my ignorance, but is it generally though that a bandsaw is better than a table saw and can you say why please ?

Thanks

Alex

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Unless I were spending my days flooring or flat roofing, I wouldn't have a 7 1/4"circular saw. I loathe the things. An odd 8" x 4" sheet you can cut easily with a jigsaw and easily enough by hand. A circular saw only cuts straight lines, a bandsaw will cut curves and tenons as well. I paid £265 new inc delivery for mine, and with a tuffsaws blade will rip 7" ash accurately. Don't underestimate what you can do with a good jigsaw either. Other people will tell you differently, of course.

 

[Alexam]

Thanks Phil, perhaps I need to re-think. I do have a B&D Jig saw that I've had for years and do get it out occasionally

It's just that I have very little experience and to many years behind me. Thinking of tools mainly for my son and we have the double garage to work in, so space is limited for free standing equipment.

Alex

 

[MMUK]

You could always build (or buy) a table to mount a circular saw under

 

[Alexam]

You could always build (or buy) a table to mount a circular saw under

Ahhhhh ....... if that can be done, it may be an answer. Are pre-built tables available to mount circular saws in as well as using them on their own? Or are they fixed circular saws only? any + or - sides to that?

Alex

Also ....... I have been looking on e-bay and Gumtree for used tools, are there any other sites that are good for tools please?

 

[marcros]

preloved is worth a look. there isnt always a lot on it, but it is more like an online newspaper classified section. People that cant be bothered with ebay use it.

 

[Alexam]

Thanks Marcros, I had forgotten about that one and have recently looked for several things.

Alex

 

[MMUK]

Any circular saw can be fitted to a table. If you make your own, you'll also need to make a guard as the one on the saw will be held in the open position.

I made mine from a 3x2 CLS frame with an offcut of 1/4" ply for the bed. I fitted 8mm ID tube under the bed to take a home made fence.

 

[Alexam]

Any circular saw can be fitted to a table. If you make your own, you'll also need to make a guard as the one on the saw will be held in the open position.

I made mine from a 3x2 CLS frame with an offcut of 1/4" ply for the bed. I fitted 8mm ID tube under the bed to take a home made fence.

Thanks for the info. As I am in the early days of carpentry, this will need to be a ' job to do' for later on, depending on which way I go - saw wise.

Alex