Power Saws Reviews

I didn't perform as much research before buying this tool as I usually do and I may have paid the price, literally. That was two years ago, I have since learned my lesson.

This is a trim saw designed for smaller tasks and it cuts plywood and smaller stock cleanly just as it does into your wallet. This saw costs more than most circular saws and I'm not sure the price justifies it's capabilities. After purchasing the 4200NH I realized I probably should have chosen the Porter Cable worm drive. The PC costs just a hair more and is a better quality tool.

My 4200NH has 7.8 amps of power as opposed to the stated 9.1 now so I assume Makita has made some changes. Still, with just under 8 amps of power this little guy does pack a pretty good punch. My little brute has an atypical arbor diameter of 20mm, not an easy task to find quality blade replacements. The black painted stamped metal base is a little cheap as are the height and angle adjustments. The paint on the blade guard had bubbles in it that eventually chipped off, but still it performed well. I would have expected more from Makita, a known producer of quality products.

This tool (my version) was not made in the U.S. or Japan but instead Brazil. I'm not sure if this is the reason for the fair quality, but regardless, Makita could have done better. It now resides happily unseen, bolted under a 1/4" aluminum plate with a homemade Biesemeyer style "T-square" fence as a mini table saw alongside my Jet-Gold series 10" full-size and Microlux 3-3/8" micro-table saw. It's a happy little family.

The Pros:
**Easier to control than full size circulars
**Lots of power for it's size
**Left sided blade

The Cons:
**Price-$$
**Quality of fit/finish fair
**Quality of height/angle adjustments fair
**Odd size arbor (20mm)

Summary: A lightweight contender with good power and fair quality of craftsmanship but Porter Cable's worm drive packs a k.o.

Works well. I recently used it for paneling and to install a laminate (Faux hardwood) flooring.

The thin blade and high RPM will give you excellent cuts. The small size and weight are a real plus. As a righty, I enjoy the left blade arrangement, which is similar to my Skill 77.

I've had mine for 10+ years, so some of the features may have changed. The blade gard hangs under certain conditions and I wish the depth adjustment was better engineered. (Both may be on the current model)....

This has been the most used tool in our garage for 13 years. It's blade diameter is big enough for lumber (using a combination blade. A small tooth finish blade is good for paneling and plywood.) and its light weight makes it my choice whenever possible. I'm a woman who can't hold and control the weight of an ordinary full size circular saw in one hand. So this is a safety issue. I also noticed some time ago that masonry, ceramic tile and tile roofing contractors always seem to have one of these with a carbide blade in it to do quick cutoffs. A lot of the smaller blade circular saws are only good for paneling and thin plywood. This saw was hard to get for a number of years and I 'm happy to see it back on the market again. My husband uses it whenever he can, because it is light and powerful and he does a lot of work with oak, which never stops this saw. The only down side is the expense of blades, but this wouldn't stop me from buying it. In fact we bought a new one to have in case the old one finally gives out.

I like Milwaulkee quality, but both jigsaws have a seperate speed control on the end. It is difficult to turn on and off and it's also impossible to change the speed while cutting. Sometimes you need to start out with a slow speed and increase the speed after you are into your cut. I returned mine for a jigsaw with the on/off and speed control in the switch. It's also rather large and heavy.

This a great saw. It's powerful, durable, and the quick-change blade release is the best I've seen.

The only reason I gave this saw four stars instead of five is because of the price, but if you make a living with your tools it's definitely worth it.

This tool is a piece of art and definitely worth the money if your cuts need to be accurate. This is the first barrel grip I've used, you won't believe what a difference this grip makes in control and lack of effort required, I'll never go back to a top handle. Vibration is non-existant, cuts true, straight and fast.
The side mounted slide switch is the only good/bad part. Good part = no effort needed to run saw (no finger fatigue no matter how long or curved the cut). Possible bad part = be VERY aware of switch position and saw location when plugging into power source.
This saw makes using this type of tool a pleasure, actually look forward to cutting with it.

This is not a high quality saw. Blade was not at right angle to the base. No bevel adjustment. Returned to Amazon. Check out the Evolution brand of metal cutting saws. http://www.evolutionpowertools.com/

I am a metal worker by hobbie.
I needed to cut several squares out of 1/4 plate steel.
I was looking at having them sheared by the steel company for $20 cutting charge per square... That was going to get very expensive...
I decided to buy jigsaw blades ($12 worth) to attack the job myself. I set up a guide and cut them... Went through the 8 blades for 2 squares. It took at least an hour to make the cuts.
I realized that the jigsaw method was a false economy.
I sprang for the Milwaukee 6370-21 circular metal saw kit.
No lie... I cut the same squares out in 5 minutes! The saw seriously ripped through the metal. It did a better/cleaner cut than the jigsaw.
I give the saw a 5 rating right now. I can't address any cons because I have only had it a few days. It worked fantastically for my purposes in the short term, with no signs of future problems.
I can now begin to incorporate more plate steel into my work without concern as to my ability to cut it to size. That's a big savings at the steel yard. Always a requirement of a tool purchase to me is how quickly it will pay for itself in productivity. I am confident that this tool will do that quickly.
Obviously you have to judge any tool by your usage needs. If you are looking to accurately mitre a lot of steel cuts, you might want to get a cold cut mitre chop saw with the same blade technology as this saw... Any portable hand held saw has it's accuracy liablities, you have to choose the right tool for the job at hand....Good luck

Probably the most surprizing power tool that I've ever bought. Cuts through a 2" EMT conduit in 7 seconds, cuts double height strut in seconds.
I no longer take my SawAll and band saw to job anymore.
It's fast, makes an acceptably clean cut, best of all its cordless.
When 20 feet up in the air hanging strut and conduit this is the BEST tool to have with you.

I bought this saw based on Milwaukee's reputation and the satisfaction I have had with their electric tools. This recip saw is no comparison to my DeWalt. It has no battery life and seems to lack the power of the DeWalt. Even when fully charged it seems to struggle through the work piece. Possibly a bad battery because I'm sure that Milwaukee would not intentionaly produce something which posesses the lack of quality as displayed in my saw.

Had two carpenters and an electrician working on a project at my house this week. They were in the middle of something, and needed a reciprocating saw. One guy was going to go out to his truck (a hike from where we were working), but I said I'd grab mine. Handed him the cordless sawzall, and he couldn't believe it. "I've GOT to get one of those -- that's the best sawzall I've ever used, corded or cordless." All of them had to give it a try.

The big features for him(and for me) are the reversable battery, the 90 degree adjustable handle, the balance and "feel" of the tool, and the blade locking mechanism. If your need is for all day destruction -- get a corded Milwakee sawzall, but for intermittent use this tool can't be beat. And will get into places no corded tool can handle. Comes with two long life, and quick charging, batteries. Enough that you'll hardly ever not have a fresh battery when you need it. You may be able to pay more for a sawzall, but you can't buy a better one.

The previous reviewer of the Milwaukee 6515 18v Sawzall must have obtained one manufactured on a Monday morning or something. I do not own this saw myself, but I have frequently borrowed it from a co-worker and have been very impressed. Battery life is surprisingly decent, and the saw performs nearly as well as its plug-in counterpart. It's a bit pricey though, costing around twice as much as a corded saw.

Notice that the open side of the blade faces to the right, unlike most circular saws that face to the left. So if you like to hold the saw with your right hand it is near impossible to see the position of the blade relative to the cut. You have to use the sight window which clogs up very fast with sawdust. It works ok for quick light jobs but forget using it as a big project cutter unless you are left handed. I think this design is more of a gimmick than truly practical.

I bought this saw for my husband and he absolutly loves it. He would be lost with out it. I also think it's great my house has had a lot of improvements.

This jigsaw has a few features you don't normally find on jigsaws in this price range, like:
1. A powerful / quiet motor.
2. Tool-less fully adjustable foot for bevel cuts. Adjusts up to 45 degrees in both directions (But no degree markings.)
3. A variable speed trigger that really works.
4. You can attach to a vacuum and catch most sawdust.
5. "Sightline" cutting guide helps you stay on course.
6. On board blade storage (Holds 3 blades.)
7. Tool-less blade change.
This saw does not have "orbital action." If you want that feature you have to step up to the next model.
So far, I am very pleased with the price, ease of use, performance and features of this jigsaw.

I would recomend this product for anyone, I bought this for my husband and was amazed that I fell in love with it. It is lightweight and easy to use. He uses it for building shelves and I use it for things like Christmas ornaments.

The saw is powerful, and is just what I wanted. But, I am disappointed with the appearance. The casting at the end of the arm, just under the on/off switch is missing a chunk. This does not reflect good on Delta's inspection practice.

Purchased this from Amazon after my local Delta distributor quoted me a delivered price $450 above Amazon. Box was in good condition upon delivery and the packing done at the factory was well thought out to minimize damage in transit. Setup was easy and alignment was perfect right out of the box.
I used the local distributor for my cabinet saw last year because the price was competitive and I had read all kinds of horror stories about shipping damage/issues for heavy items on Amazon customer reviews. Because of the price difference I took the chance this time and am very satisfied...absolutely no issues with the motor freight. The saw was deliverd to my house on a liftgate truck and the driver had a pnuematic lift and moved it with no problem right into the garage. I haven't been able to give the saw a good workout yet but I cut 40 ft of red oak for some bookshleves and performance is as expected.

A solidly-built saw, I'm very pleased with it. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because changing the blades can be somewhat difficult. In all other respects it's a wonderful tool.

Very powerful unit that has held up well, the shoe leaves a lot to be desired and it is very fatigueing to use. The saw is difficult to control because of the hammering effect it seams to have. I perfer my partners Super Sawzall by a huge margin. Dollar for dollar a great saw.

Nice functionality on drill and hammer function.
Lots of torque and battery life is remarkable.
I am right-handed and have large hands which means that I have to use care to fully depress "forward" button when changing from "reverse" to "forward" (it is a little awkwardly positioned). I did have difficulty engaging the hammer function one time, which sorted itself out after switching from "forward" to "reverse" and back again...

The saw is a dream with regards to weight, balance and power.
It does however, as everyone says, use up the batteries quite quickly (more than 4 long diagonal cuts of a 2x10 will kill a battery). But remember, it isn't expected to compete with a normal AC power tool...

I would recommend that Dewalt sell this kit with one of the normal heavy duty 18V batteries and one of the extra heavy duty batteries to make the kit even better.

This is an excellent combo with more power than most people will need for the job. The drill is the heart of the deal with the drill alone retailing for only $100 less than this kit. It has 450 inch-pounds of torque, which is enough to ripe the head off an unsuspecting dry-wall screw (this is great! nice power). The chuck and grip are well designed. If these tools have a draw back it would be the price (a bit on the high side) and weight (there are not light...which feels good, but what about the end of the day?), but ultimately these tools are comfortable, powerful, and really loveable.

Note: only a very unwise person would use this tool without thoroughly reading the directions. In addition, if you are new to chain saws, I highly recommend that you spend your time reading/understanding/buying the approriate protective gear. Tradtional chain sawing is itself a risk business; chain sawing large limbs over-head is doubly so.

Pro's...
+ Very good price to value
+ Extremely simple set-up
+ Good tool for pruning small to medium trees (but get a professional on those trees with large limbs or if you have to climb anything to reach the branches!!!)
+ Chain rips through soft and hard wood branches up to 6 inches thick

Why I took away one star...
+ It does not come with the chain lubricant (argh!); this is the only time I've ever purchased a home-use tool that required a lubricant without a sample being provided
+ The instructions are only fair
+ I had to trim the electrical plug for the provided remington plugs to connect (chainsaw to the pole) -- QA should be higher on a peice of equipment this serious

Net/net: it does this job Remington says it does, but it is not for folks who are unwilling to make the time to take the appropriate saftey steps.

basically,this saw will do what it is supposed to,but there are a few caveats.if you stand underneath while cutting,wear protection-chips/dust drop into eyes,hair.if using extended away from you,all the weight is out on the end.gets really heavy after 6=7 cuts.as the cut finishes,it is almost impossible to keep the saw from dropping down 5-6 inches,so ck for wires,etc first.it may be more controllable working on a ladder w/pole retracted-didn't try it that way.what did annoy me the most is that this tool, like almost everything else in the world,is made for right hand use only.to use it on the pole,i had to switch support hand/controlling hand. i have a strong engineering background & know the trigger interlock button could easily [and inexpensively] been made to be pushed from either side,at least on the pole.i will probably modify mine,but someone could get hurt because they were unable to control cutting w/their dominant hand.