Power Saws Reviews

I've been using this saw for about three years now (when I bought it it was called the Platinum Edition, not X5; everything is identical though).

It's a great contractor saw. It cuts well and can be transported with two people. However, there are a few drawbacks.

First, moving the saw always throws the extension table out of alignment. If you move the table between sites, I suggest that the table be completely removed. The table is attached with wood screws and they just are not substantial enough to hold the table while moving it.

Second, dust collection is atrocious. If you plan on using this is a cabinet shop, you need to attach something to collect dust. I tried the dust chute manufactured by Delta and it is a complete waste of time. Instead, I attached 1/4" hardboard. NOTE: the best way to do this is to attach it between the legs and frame, which requires a lot of effort.

Third, the blade height mechanism is very difficult to adjust. The blade height mechanism loosens over time. So, if you are cutting dados and it is loose, you can end up with a dado that starts at 1/2" deep and finishes at 1/4" deep. Tightening it requires that you be a contortionist or that you turn the saw upside down.

Fourth, the blade guard is tough to work with. The plastic housing does not stay up and out of the way. I eventually tossed the blade guard and purchased a Beisemeyer after-market splitter, which works great.

Fifth, I don't see any benefit to the UniFence. In the three years I've used it, I've never had a situation where I wanted to change the oriientation of the fence. But I've had many occasions where a Beisemeyer fence would have been useful. Also, attaching jigs to a UniFence is much more difficult than attaching to a Beisemeyer. [Actually, there is one thing--say you need to make 20 cross cuts in 2x4 lumber all the same length. With the Unifence, you can slide the fence back and use it as a depth stop.]

Sixth, the motor will bog down when cutting thick tough wood, like 5/4 oak or rock maple.

So, this machine gets four stars (and I put a cabinet saw on my Christmas list).

I have put hundreds of hours behind this saw and enjoy using it every time. I am a machine design engineer and I am impressed with the performance of this saw. One of my best all time tool purchases. Make sure you get the contractor and not the contractor II sold at Lowes etc.

I've been shopping for a contractor's saw for awhile and I checked out the Delta, DeWalt, Jet, Grizzly, Etc. Most woodworkers I knew had either a Delta or a Jet and both saws have staunch supporters. The things that swayed me toward the Delta were: 1) The Unifence (easy to set up/adjust, versatile, and extremely rigid/accurate) 2) Delta has a great reputation for customer service 3) The X-5 version has some heft at almost 300lbs 4) I can take advantage of the X-5 rebates that have been going on 5) 5yr warranty...I probably won't need it. The saw is well built.

I had high expectations for this saw...

Now that I've had the saw for about a month. I am still very satisfied with my choice.

I had a small shipping damage issue with a couple of parts that Delta sent replacements for without delay. I had to wait on hold, but when they talked with me, the response was immediate and courteous. I love a company that cares for customers.

I set up the saw by myself with little or no difficulties. The only thing that was close to time consuming was mounting the motor and aligning the belt properly. The Unifence was easy to set up and align. The best way to ensure that you have great fence alignment...MAKE IT EASY TO ADJUST. The fence is solid with no side deflections (I checked out all fences at retailers and at Woodworking shows, the Unifence is up there with the best). Blade 45 and 90 deg stops were also very easy to adjust.

Part finish was excellent and the saw looks like a quality piece of equipment that I will give to my sons...after 30 years or so.

Cutting with the saw was a great experience. The saw is very stable, quietly powerful and safe to operate with splitter and guard.

When I get the mobile base, I'll be able to move it around when I am using other tools.

I really couldn't ask for more out of a Contractor's saw.

Except maybe one thing...If power tools are going to be sold by Amazon or any other vendor that ships. The packaging needs to be a little more robust to withstand the abuse that individually shipped tools can get. Replacing parts for shipping damage can't be a good way to make profits. I want Delta to be around for a long time, so please spend a little more on packaging.

This saw works great! It's small and compact (folds up), but cuts almost like butter through branches 3 or 4 inches in diameter. When my ratchet pruners are not sufficient, the little saw does the job. I can put it in my pocket. I am really pleased with this purchase.

I purchase a saw to fit in a small toolbox on a small tractor / riding mower. I keep it with me to cut branches that grow low. (You know the kind that hit you in the head when out mowing the grass). Now I stop (hopefully before getting hit with an un-seen branch) and cut off the culprit. Its small enough with a tight enough blade pitch to cut small branches, and large enough to cut branches as large as about 1-3" before you'll want a bow saw or the like. It folds small enough to safely carry in your pocket while also hand carrying a large pruner or other tools.

I bought this because I mixed up the brand name of what I was actually looking for, but I found it to be excellent for what I need. It fits in my bucket with all my other garden tools and it's the only saw I have that I can stick in my back pocket. Great product, I would recommend it as a must have item.

I'm finding this blade tough to beat for the price. Crosscuts are easily as clean as my Forrest's at about half the price, and it rips better than other crosscut blades I've used. In fairness, my Forrest rips thick material better. The LU88 has large teeth, Frued's best carbide, anti-vibration slots, and teflon coating. Great for crosscutting and general purpose use on a TS, but I wouldn't recommend it for a CMS or RAS because of the aggressive hook angle.

Most crosscut blades cut cleanly but fall short in their ability to rip well or handle thick stock. The LU88 has some general purpose capabilities that many crosscut blades don't. It's tooth geometry features ATB carbide and a 15 degree hook angle that allow it to rip materials up to about 1" thick. Most crosscut blades have a very low or even a negative hook angle which provides a polished edge, but it also burns on almost any rip cuts. The LU88 is alot more versatile than most crosscut blades and cuts about as cleanly as my Forrest WWII. If you don't need to do alot of heavy ripping, I think you could do nicely using just this one blade. It's thin kerf design makes life pretty easy on my small saw. Very nice blade, and priced pretty reasonably too.

I've been an amateur woodworker for 25 years and in the last 5 or 6 years gotten into more and more projects that require the "right tools". I bought this blade 4 years ago when it first went on sale in our local area and I love it! Cuts whatever I feed into it with no difficulty and leaves a glass smooth edge. A little pricy in my local area to sharpen but that's life.

At this point all my blades are Freud and I'm a cheap SOB at heart so that's saying a lot.

Jim - a frugal New England woodworker

I bought the Makita 4341 FCT because of the reviews listed here.My old Jig saw was 40 year old B&D.I was looking at a Milwalke but concerns where expressed with the blade changing.The Makita blade change is fast and easy taking less than a 3 seconds.Using the Bosch blades I was impressed with the power of the saw cutting through 1 1/2 of plywood.Vibration seemed to be quite low.The on/off button would be better as a toggle switch but this is a minor point. I'am glad I bought the barrel type as I can see you have more control plus enables you to get in to tight spots.The LED light works but could be even brighter for my tried eyes it certainly better than nothing at all.The soft start is a bonus plus.The Makita case is notlike the old metal ones this a plastc effort hardly gives enough room for the cord and a couple blades packages.I say drop the price and forget the case minor point though.All in all I am happy with the Makita 4341FCT Barrel Grip.

Plenty of power, comfortable to handle, and has less vibration than any jigsaw I've ever used. Even the light, which I at first thought was just a gimmick, has come in handy on several occasions. I also own two Milwaukee jigsaws, two Bosch jigsaws, and have used numerous others, and while the Milwaukee and Bosch saws are excellent tools, in my opinion, the Makita is definitely the cream of the crop.

I used to own a porter cable jigsaw. After I read a tool test in one of my wood magazines, I sold my PC and bought me the Makita. One of the best decisions I've ever made. I should have bought this one the first time. It is just a great power tool. I HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to anybody that is thinking of buying a jigsaw. It is powerfull, handles awesome and it is very quiet.

I've owned this saw for two years now and I'm overall pleased with it. I've cut pipe, angle iron, rebar and auto bodies with mine, and of course the easy stuff like wood and light pruning. The saw is well balanced, fairly strong and well built. If I were to buy a recip saw today, I'd go for one with more power, say around 10 amps or so. Orbital cutting action would be nice as would an easier to use speed controller. The one on this saw is that screw in the trigger type that is rather differcult to adjust under its protective rubber boot. But once set, the speed stays fairly constant and will help increase blade life cutting metals. Many folks pass up these saws in favor of jig or circular types. But, if you remodel for a living, or just for your self, this type of saw is indespensible.

If you've ever used a "Sawzall" or similar product, you know that the biggest drawback of any of these guys is vibration. These puppys just want to jump all over the place. Makita is famous for making vibrationless tools, and this is no exception. As soon as you pull the trigger, you'll notice how quiet this saw is. The biggest problem is the allen screw chuck, which is typical of all makes. There is now a keyless chuck model. I reccomend it. Still, unless you are changing blades alot, it's not a big deal. For remodeling. this tool is a must. Why force and split a 2x4 out of a frame when you can simply cut the nails and slide it out undamaged. Need to install a roof jack in a 2x6 T&G roof? This saw will cut circles around any thing else (litteraly). I don't use this tool every day, but when I need it, nothing else will do.

I use this saw for everything: demolition, metal, even tree branches! It will cut anything you put to the blade. It's easy to handle and use whether you're ripping out door jambs, galvanized piping, or tackling some hefty tree branches (using 12" 6 TPI blade). Very powerful.

Milwaukee always represents quality and this set is no exception. Well worth the expenditure.

If you want good, really really good, drill bits - GET THESE! The differance between these and cheap ones is unbelievable. Worth every penny. Accurately sized, finely machined, SHARP, properly ground angle, and somewhat larger sized index case with size markings that are easy to read. I first used these to drill some holes in metal for tapping. Granted I was using a drill press but I hardly felt any resistance at all in the handle. A perfect clean hole.

Good drill bits are getting harder and harder to find! These are the fastest and smoothest bits I've found for drilling metal hands down.

i'll preface this by saying i'm a professional carpenter and make my living using my tools.

i have owned or used worm-drives from skil, makita, and bosch, as well as sidewinders from porter-cable, makita, hitachi, skil, and dewalt. this milwaukee is my saw of choice in nearly every situation--it is light (4+lbs less than a worm-drive), powerful, accurate, and the tilt-lok handle is a great feature. at first, i thought i'd not use the tilt-lok often, but i end up using it in a different position several times a day. another feature easily overlooked but crucial is the positioning of the secondary handle. i most often cut one-handed anyway, but when i do grab the front handle, my hand and wrist are far enough forward to stay well away from the blade sightline.

my only (small) complaint is that i'd prefer the dust collection to be a bit more organised. porter-cable saws do a great job with this, and i wonder why the other manufacturers can't seem to get it together.

if i had it to do over again, i'd spring for the blade brake model--the blade can do a lot of damage in the 8-10 seconds it takes to spin down.

I received this saw as a birthday present, allowing me to retire my old underpowered and inaccurate Black & Decker "Sawforce" saw. The Milwaukee arrived in perfect condition and purred like a kitten from the start. I have been very impressed with every aspect of this thing, most notably:

The tool-less ability to change the base plate angle as needed;

The POWER. It cuts wet framing lumber and quarter sawn white oak with equal ease;

With all that power, I have not experienced any binding, stalling, kicking, burning etc;

The tilt lock handle is fantastic. I cannot conceive of using a saw without it now that I have it;

The blade that came with the saw is quite good.

Overall I cannot say enough good things about this saw. Its relatively light, very accurate, powerful, and feels like it will outlast me. Buy one yourself and you won't be sorry!

I bought this saw about 5 months ago to replace an old Makita and have used it almost daily since. I did a lot of research before buying using online reviews and magazine comparisons. After reading the reviews and having previous experience with other Milwaukee products, I opted for this one.

The tilt-lok handle makes it very easy to change positions, allowing for maximum control and comfort while sawing. I especially like the adjustable front handle. It makes beveled cuts a snap, keeping maximum leverage right where it needs to be. Once you use it, you will miss it if you have to use anything else. With 15 amps, I haven't found any wood too tough to cut with it even with a dulling blade. I purchased the edge guide about two months ago. This is a necessary addition if you cut lots of plywood.

I am becoming quite a Milwaukee "fan-boy". Every tool of theirs I've bought has been a winner. As long as they keep making tools with this kind of quality, performance and features, I'll be a user for life. This saw will be a welcome addition to any serious woodworker's shop or contractor's truck. If you're still undecided, give this saw a try. You won't regret it.

I own just about every 19.2v PC tool. This is a stout product line and the Tiger Saw (I always just called them "sawzalls") from PC can cut through anything with the right blade.

You will need more than one battery, as has already been stated, but if you want lots of power, you are going to sacrifice battery life. That's just physics. This tool has lots of power, so I make sure I've got backup batteries. I have a multitude of them since I own so many 19.2 devices, so keeping a fleet of batteries charged is a non-issue for me. PC's newer chargers and batteries are better than they were three years ago, so anyone who had bad experiences with the older chargers really should contact PC for a replacement.

One recommendation: when you get the saw, it will come with a very basic blade. Keep it, but go and order yourself a couple of other blades, because the one it ships with will not impress you. I would suggest a long, combination blade for general use, a carbide blade for cutting metals, and a fine-tooth blade for more precision work.

Nothing beats a good sawzall, and this is a great one.

As a professional plumber, the sawzall is my primary tool. Almost every time I do a job, its one of the first tools to come off the truck. The only trouble was when I do renovation work. It was always such a pain to drag out the old PC Tigersaw to make a couple of cuts. Draging it in, finding a plug, pulling an extension cord, all made me think of using a hacksaw. Not really liking any of the red or yellow corded saws, I was thrilled when PC came out with the cordless saw last year. I ordered myself one for christmas and took it to work. Needless to say, I was very happy with it. It works almost as well as its corded brother with the exception of the short charge. But if you are cutting more than two batteries worth(I have the drill and saw set too), then you should have pulled out the corded version.

This is the first cordless recip saw I ever owned, and it turned out to be a great pick. I got it with the hammer/drill/driver in a combo kit. After considering what the competition offers, I bought the PorterCable 19.2V line partly because of brand loyalty, but also because of the saw's compact design and 2,900 spm speed. This saw is heavier than the Milwaukee, Dewalt, and Makita models, but it is shorter in length and easier to manage with one hand despite its weight, and has more power. It gets into tighter spaces than the others, and its speed is faster, too. Now, I cannot do without this tool. Using the right blade, it literally cuts anything, from plywood and studs, to drywall, to sheet metal and pipe, or old tires, or bricks. I have used it doing renovation work in the attic and under the house where cordless convienience and power is needed. I like to reverse the blade and turn it upside down to use like a sabre saw, pivoting on its foot to do plunge cuts. Believe me, life got easier real fast after buying this. One thing though, the saw can sap a battery quickly when doing long extended cuts in tough material, like for door and window openings. But its performance and conveinience makes up for that. I can't wait to try this saw with an aggressive wood blade for trimming trees and cutting limbs on my property. Look for more of my reviews on the PorterCable 19.2V line and recip saw blades.

I use this saw on a daily basis and there is no other saw I would consider. I have tried both the DeWalt and Bosch versions of this saw and do not care for either. Although each of the saws cut well, the construction doesn't seem to be as sturdy as the Mag.

The Mag 77 is the smoothest and comfortable saw among the three. If this is your first saw beware the torque on start up, it will turn the saw in your hand a little, once you're used to it its not a big deal though. The weight of the saw will also help keep your cuts straight.

Any saw will bind up under too much pressure from any material. If this happens to the Mag, the motor will continue to spin and the blade will stop moving, this is a built-in saftey feature to prevent burning up the motor by seizing it with too much torque.

Skil made a few recent improvements to the table, or plate as many call it. Previously, it was just a flat piece of aluminum, but recently Skil rounded the edges which provides much more ridgidity and will prevent it from warping. I can attest to this as I dropped my newest saw 12 feet off a ladder and the plate is in perfect condition (except for a modest scratch)! I also highly recommend a rafter hook to prevent such occurances.

One other improvement on the latest Mag 77 is a fatter flange on the blade guard. This prevents binding on thinner material, especially when cutting at angles. Some professionals will pin or remove their guards due to this problem, I strongly recommend that the guard be left intact. Saftey is much more important than convenience. I would rather keep all of my limbs and deal with an annoying guard than the other way around. Accidents happen way too often without inviting them.

Overall I believe there is no better saw on the market. Whether you are a weekend warrior or a proffessional builder this is the saw to own and most in the industry agree, just look at the number of these saws on any jobsite.

Make sure you buy the package with the bag as it is the saw with the upgrades I mentioned (HD77M-22).

If you want the best for a lifetime get a Mag 77.

This saw made me a better carpenter. Combined with a Freud Diablo II blade, this saw handles 2 x dimension lumber so easily that you can make incredibly smooth and straight cuts. When cutting a 45 degrees through a 2 x 10, I cut a straighter line cutting freehand with this saw then with a "homeowner" quality level saw and a straight edge. The reason is the even power. You can get into a very smooth rhythm of feed rate based on the saw's power. It's worth every penny.

I own several other circ saws, including a Makita hypoid (Their name for worm drive) They don't even come close. If you can't spend the $190.00 for one of these saws buy a $50.00 black and decker and use a good Marathon blade in it, because everything else in my opinion is in the same class and you would be wasting the extra money. If it was possible to rate this saw with 10 stars I would. The black bag gets dirty easily and the saw doesn't fit with the blade installed, but who cares about that stuff!!!

I purchased this saw to cut heavy timbers for a timber frame project.It is a powerful saw with a great cutting capacity, but it needs some design changes.
-The base shoe is very narrow, making it difficult to get a square cut close to the end of a beam.
-The bottom of the shoe was not machined smooth or flat, again making it difficult to square with the blade.
-When making a full depth cut, the lower blade guard will not open as you cut, you must flip it up with your finger on the lever.

That said, I still think it is a useful saw. I'm also going to be using it to cut I-joists and 6x6 deck posts.

A Great saw...I love this saw!
I purchased this one to square out large Wood Table Slabs, and it does the job well. Tons of power, cuts through thick Table Slabs without bogging down, clean and straight.
I must admit, I have never tried to cut anything small with this saw, and it would probably be somewhat awkward to do so.
The large cast foot keeps it very stable, it feels very solid during the cut....If you are looking for a saw of this size, this is a good choice, at a good price.

This is a great tool for standard 2x4 framing. perfect for cutting 2 plates at once and for cutting all 4x headers. This saw has become a must have for me. I have the 16" makita saw for larger beams and a few 7 1/4" worm drives for everyday use but the big foot light enough to use like a skill saw and has earned its keep.