Circular Saw Reviews
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Corded Circular Saw Review

Thanks for stopping by how to get started woodworking.com! I just finished writing a post on "Choosing a Circular Saw." So I wanted to follow-up with this set of reviews for my favorite circular saw brands.

I know it can be a headache trying to make the best purchase when there are so many options available.

The top rated circular saws in this review range in price from about $40 to $150, and every one of them is a quality tool that should meet your needs.

Sometimes when shopping, your choices are based on hard data and specific functionality.

As a beginning woodworker, you might just end up making your final decision based on the color you like best!

In any case, each of these tools can be the right choice.

In this Review...

ALL circular saws have these Same features:

  1. 15 Amp Motor
  2. 7 1/4" Blade and 5/8" Arbor
  3. Lever, not screw type bevel adjustment
  4. Magnesium or Aluminum construction material
  5. Shoe made from Magnesium or Aluminum
  6. No Dust Collection port
  7. All have 4.5 to 5 Star Ratings

These features are Different . 

  1. Minimum 8-Foot Cord
  2. Weight of the saw appropriate for your needs or preference
  3. Smooth action on the Retracting Lower Blade Guard
  4. Carrying Case
  5. Electric Brake
  6. Warranty

I'll list these below...

Makita (5007Mg) 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw

  1. Min. 8-Foot Cord: Yes, 10-foot
  2. Weight: 10.6 lb
  3. Smooth Blade Guard: Yes
  4. Carrying Case: Yes, Tool Case
  5. Electric Brake: Yes
  6. Warranty: 1 Year and 30-day replacement or refund.

Pros: Makita's 5007Mg has two LED lights! These are so much more helpful than a laser! When using a circular saw, I like to see the line that I have drawn, not a laser beam that may or may not be accurate. Excellent job, Makita! A 56° bevel is also standard on this saw, as is the Spindle lock to make blade changes easier and safer. I also really like the feel of the rubberized levers on this tool. Only saw with a full 5 star rating.

Cons: Makita's rip guide could use an update. Also, the plastic storage case should be updated with more space for blade storage.

DeWalt (DWE575SB) 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw

  1. Min. 8-Foot Cord: Yes, 10-foot
  2. Weight: 8.8 lb
  3. Smooth Blade Guard: Yes
  4. Carrying Case: Yes, Carrying bag
  5. Electric Brake: Yes
  6. Warranty: 3 Year 

Pros: The DWE575SB boasts a 57° bevel capability. This saw also has DeWalt's patented "Tough cord protection system" that they claim provides three times more durability against the Cord being pulled out. (I'll take their word for that one. I'm not going to test it;)

Cons: Some users report the dust blower blowing too hard, especially in a small workshop.

Bosch CS10 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw

  1. Min. 8-Foot Cord: Yes, 10-foot
  2. Weight: 10.2 lb
  3. Smooth Blade Guard: Yes
  4. Carrying Case: Yes, Carrying bag
  5. Electric Brake: No
  6. Warranty: 1 Year

Pros: The CS10 has a "Saw Hook" that makes it easy to hang this tool from rafters or from the edge of a workbench or anywhere you can fasten the hook. A 56° bevel gives this saw a broader range than most other saws. Spindle locks are not found on every circular saw you find. This model has a spindle lock that prevents the blade and arbor from turning while you are replacing the blade.

Cons: Some owners reported the plastic blade depth lever breaking. Users that force the saw through heavy material have experienced inaccurate cutting.

Metabo HPT (C7SB3) 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw

  1. Min. 8-Foot Cord: No, 7-foot
  2. Weight: 9.5 lb
  3. Smooth Blade Guard: Yes
  4. Carrying Case: Carrying Bag
  5. Electric Brake: No
  6. Warranty: 3 Year/ 30 day

Pros: Metabo's C7SB3 Circular saw is one of the only saws I have noticed that has an "on-tool tool cord holder." It helps keep the Cord out of your way and reduce the chance of accidental cord-cutting. The maximum bevel angle is 55° on the C7SB3. A spindle lock is also built into this circular saw for safe and fast blade changing.

Cons: Rip guide is sold separately.

Milwaukee (6391-21) 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw

  1. Min. 8-Foot Cord: Yes, 9-foot
  2. Weight: 10.4 lb
  3. Smooth Blade Guard: Yes
  4. Carrying Case: Yes, Carrying Case
  5. Electric Brake: No
  6. Warranty: 5 Year

Pros: Milwaukee's 6391-21 Circular saw is unique in that the main handle is adjustable with their exclusive "Tilt-Lok" System. The handle can be tilted to eight different positions depending on what is most comfortable. The maximum bevel angle is 50°, which for most of us, is very adequate. Note: This saw has the blade mounted on the left side, which provides a much better line of sight for a right-handed user. 

Cons: The rip fence mounting system needs an update according to some users. This is a higher-priced saw that doesn't seem to perform any better than less expensive brands.

Porter-Cable (PCE310) 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw

  1. Min. 8-Foot Cord: Yes, 8-foot
  2. Weight: 9 lb
  3. Smooth Blade Guard: Yes, (see Cons)
  4. Carrying Case: No
  5. Electric Brake: No
  6. Warranty: 3 Year Limited

Pros: Porter-Cable's PCE310 Circular saw has some higher-end features available in a very reasonably priced saw. A 55° maximum bevel with stops at 22.5° and 45° is not typical for a saw in this price range. The PCE310 also has a spindle block, making blade changes safe and speedy.

Cons: Porter cable attached the Allen key for changing your sawblades to the accord directly behind the handle. This is an awkward and poorly placed Allen key holder, but not a deal-breaker for purchasing the saw. There are some complaints about the lower blade guard having too much side to side play, but no safety problems as a result.

Perspectives on Tool Manufacturing

  1.  Every major brand of circular saw is mass-produced. Just like everything from automobiles to underwear. There are bound to be some defects in the products along the way.
  2. After reading several hundreds of product reviews. It has become evident that many people writing negative reviews have never read the owners manual for the product they've purchased. 

So...

Please be sure to check out the warranty and return policy for the tool before you purchase.

One of the main reasons I am an Amazon affiliate is because they have an amazing 30-day return policy and exceptional customer service.

Before buying, you should still double-check and make sure your product is being "fulfilled by Amazon."

Many of the third-party sellers offer the same return policy as amazon.com.

But, if you do not see "Ships from and sold by Amazon.com" under the "add to cart" and "buy now" buttons, then you know you should check on that seller's return policy.

Conclusion

Deciding on which circular saw to buy can be a difficult task, but after reading this article, I trust you can make a choice with confidence.

I will love to hear from you if you have purchased one of these saws. Let me know how you like it.

If you have any other questions about circular saws or any other tools, please leave a comment below. I have a great list of tools for beginners that you can access here: "Beginner Woodworking Tool List."

For my detailed post on circular saw blades, click this link. I even have a great post on cleaning saw blades.

Take a look and be sure to ask me any questions you might have.

You can comment below and also contact me via this Facebook link, or use one of the convenient button links on this site.

I look forward to hearing from you!

 

12 thoughts on “Corded Circular Saw Review”

  1. sabrinamou

    I truly appreciate your effort in assembling this incredible site and composing this article. Thank you so much for sharing with us such a beautiful article. I am glad to see your article. My uncle has a woodshop. My uncle works on wood. After reading your article, I relieved. I can help my uncle through this article. I liked the DeWalt (DWE575SB) Saw. I will gift this saw to my uncle. I think it will make my uncle’s work much easier. I have a question. What should I look for when buying a saw? Thanks for writing such a beautiful article. 

    I appreciate your articles. I must say that this article is very helpful and informative. If you don’t mind, I will share this article on my social media account. Thanks

    1. Greg

      Hi Sabrinamou, I thank you for your kind words, and am glad you found this post helpful! I’m sure your uncle will be very happy to receive the gift from you. For more information on what to look for when buying a saw you can read my post “Choosing A Circular Saw”.

      Thanks so much for the social media sharing too, it is greatly appreciated!

  2. Teri

    Hi, thanks for a really informative article. I read this in conjunction with your article ‘Choosing a circular saw’, which I also found very helpful. I want to create some shelving out of pallets to go in my garden, but I’m a complete beginner and haven’t used a circular saw before. This may seem a really stupid question, but can you cut in a curve with a circular saw, or can you only cut in straight lines? Thanks in advance for your help. 

    1. Greg

      Hi Teri! Thanks for reading both articles. I’m glad you found them helpful.

      What an excellent question! Circular saws are only designed to cut straight lines. For curved cuts a Jigsaw is the tool you need. There are some occasions when you can get a curve effect with the circular saw. Example: You want a rounded corner on one of your shelves, so you make a series of straight cuts that trim the 90 degree corner down to a roundish shape then finish the curve with a rasp and a lot of sanding. (not the recommended method, but on rough furniture it could work.)

      Best wishes on your garden project. If you get a chance, share a photo of your shelves on my “Woodworking for Beginners” Facebook page. I’d love  to see it and cheer you on!

  3. Anastazja

    I found this review a little late.  About 3  weeks ago, I bought a craftsman circular saw at a going out of business sale of a local hardware store.  It was kind of sad.  Home Depot had put this family store out of business.  But, the owner basically gave me the saw because I had been a good customer over the years.  I think it might be the same saw that you used in your picture.  I like the saw, but its kind of heavy.  But then, a my age, any saw is heavy.  I have tried the cordless saws, but find that, for a big job, recharging is a pain.  Thanks for the review.  I will look for other tool reviews.

    1. Greg

      Hi Anastazja!

      Thanks for reading the review, even though you just bought a saw.  In my experience, a great deal on a power tool is good reason to overlook a few features. The saw you noticed in my photo is about 25 years old! So if yours is of the same quality you may have it for a long time. Sorry to hear another family run store was closed by the big box store. It seems the big stores never have customer service even close to the quality of the old local hardware stores.

      All the best to you!

  4. Chris

    Thanks for this very detailed review. As a beginner woodworker I definitely have difficulty choosing which one is right for me “and make my final decision based on colour”. I noticed that this review is based on corded saws but there’s also a lot more choices out there if you look at the battery powered saws. Is corded better than battery? Other than the obvious of portability. 🙂

    1. Greg

      Hi Chris!

      Thanks for your comments and questions.  Of course personal opinions are subjective, but I do believe corded saws are “better” than battery operated saws in that they will very likely have a longer usable life span. I have a 25 year old circular saw that still works great. I have some cordless tools, drills etc… that are much younger, but have lost their usefulness because of advancements in the battery technology. Three reasons these tools aren’t used: 1. Stopped working because of low quality batteries, 2. Manufacturer no longer makes that type of battery, 3. Replacement batteries cost more than the price of a new tool.

      Portability is a factor, but for most of us hobbyists and beginner woodworkers, it may not be that important. Also Corded saws will always out perform a battery for speed, power, and durability.

      Best regards!

  5. Travis

    Wow so many different options to choose from! I recently bought a house and am planning on doing some improvements to the house but I am still very new to using a circular saw, is there anything in particular I should be looking for when purchasing one? They all seem to have different pros and cons. The Metabo sounded good but the shorter cord worries me, so I’m thinking the Bosch may be the best option for a beginner like me, what do you think? 

    1. Greg

      Hello Travis,

      Thanks for the questions! It does depend on how you intend to use the saw. The Metabo has a shorter cord, but how often do you really expect to cut large sheets of plywood? If you have someone to help and hold the cord etc… that isn’t an issue. Bosch is an excellent tool as well. Maybe let your budget decide for you. All of the saws in this review should serve you well.

      Congratulations on the new home!

  6. Rodarrick

    Thanks so much for this post and I truly fancy it a lot. In all honesty, having corded circular saw is good and also, the cordless too are great too. However, I feel that having anyone from this reviewed list up there is a great thing for me. Thank you. I love this that you have shared and I will surely checkout any of the following that you have reviewed up here. Thanks

    1. Greg

      Hello Rodarrick,

      Thanks for the comments. I may be doing a review of cordless circular saws soon too.

      Have a great day!

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