Six saws by their makers' figures
| Saw | Drive and power | Blade | Depth 90° | Depth 45° | Bevel | Brake |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEWALT DWE575 | Sidewinder, corded | 7-1/4 in | 2-9/16 in | Not stated in the manual | 0–57° | On the DWE575SB, about 2 s |
| DEWALT DWS535B | Worm drive, corded | 7-1/4 in, diamond arbor | Not stated in the manual | Not stated in the manual | 0–53° | About 3 s |
| Makita 5007MGA | Sidewinder, corded | 7-1/4 in | 2-1/2 in | 1-3/4 in | 0–56° | Yes |
| Milwaukee 2732 | Sidewinder, 18 V | 7-1/4 in, 5/8 in arbor | 2-1/2 in | 1-7/8 in | To 50° (product page) | Usually within 2 s |
| Milwaukee 2730 | Sidewinder, 18 V | 6-1/2 in, 5/8 in arbor | 2-3/16 in | 1-5/8 in | To 50° (product page) | Yes |
| Makita XSH03 | Sidewinder, 18 V | 6-1/2 in | 2-1/4 in | 1-5/8 in | 0–50° | Not described in the manual |
Each row is the named maker's own figures from its manual. 'Not stated' means the manual reviewed does not give the figure. Not a ranking.
Equipment notePaid link
7-1/4-in circular saw
DEWALT DWE575
DEWALT's corded DWE575 from the table above: 2-9/16 in at 90° and a 57° bevel, by its manual; the brake noted above is on the DWE575SB only.
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What to compare
- Drive. A sidewinder has its motor beside the blade and is the lighter, shorter layout; a worm drive puts the motor behind the blade and turns it through gears in oil. DEWALT's worm-drive manual asks for gear oil checked and topped up, an annual gear-case service and diamond-arbor blades only.
- Blade size and depth. A 7-1/4 in blade cuts about 2-1/2 in deep at 90° on the saws here, enough for a framing 2× in one pass. A 6-1/2 in blade reaches 2-3/16 to 2-1/4 in, still through a 2× and through sheet goods.
- Depth at a bevel. Bevelled cuts in thick stock depend on the 45° figure: 1-3/4 to 1-7/8 in on the 7-1/4 in saws here, 1-5/8 in on both 6-1/2 in saws.
- Bevel range. All tilt past 45°: from 50° on the cordless saws here to 53° on DEWALT's worm drive, 56° on Makita's 5007MGA and 57° on DEWALT's DWE575.
- Brake. Stops the blade in seconds after release. Makita and Milwaukee both say it is no substitute for the lower guard; Milwaukee adds that it may not stop the blade every time.
- Arbor. Round 5/8 in with a diamond knock-out on most 7-1/4 in blades; worm-drive saws take the diamond. See blades.
- Smaller blades. Mini saws with 4-1/2 in blades exist; none were among the manuals reviewed, so none are compared here.
Corded or cordless, and a guide for straight cuts
Corded saws for jobsite and shop use are compared in choosing a corded saw, and battery saws in choosing a cordless saw. For straight cuts in sheets, a saw needs a guide: a clamped straightedge, a shop-made track — built step by step in DIY track saw — or a plunge saw on its own rail, compared in choosing a plunge saw.
Before buying a circular saw
- Blade size deep enough for your thickest stock at 90°
- Depth at 45° enough for your bevel cuts
- Bevel range that covers the angles you cut
- Arbor that takes the blades you plan to use
- Brake, if you want one, understood as an extra and not a guard
- Corded or battery, and which battery platform
What each part of the saw does is in the circular saw guide.
Sources
Specification-based: every figure is the maker's own, from the manual of the saw named. Blanks mean the documents reviewed do not give the figure. No saw was tested, none is ranked, and none of the makers' claims was checked.
- 1.
DWE574, DWE575 7-1/4" (184 mm) Circular Saws, Instruction Manual. DEWALT.
Used for: The DWE575: 7-1/4 in, 2-9/16 in at 90°, bevel 0–57°, round or diamond arbor; the DWE575SB's brake of about two seconds.
- 2.
DWS535B Heavy-Duty 7-1/4" (184 mm) Worm Drive Circular Saw, Instruction Manual. DEWALT.
Used for: The DWS535B worm drive: 7-1/4 in, diamond arbor only, bevel 0–53°, a brake of about three seconds, gear oil and annual gear-case service, a saw hook.
- 3.
Circular Saw 5007MG / 5007MGA, Instruction Manual. Makita.
Used for: The 5007MGA: 7-1/4 in; 2-1/2 in at 0°, 1-3/4 in at 45°, 1-3/8 in at 56°; 5,800 rpm; 10.1 lb; a brake that is no substitute for the lower guard.
- 4.
M18 FUEL 7-1/4" Circular Saw, Cat. No. 2732-20, Operator's Manual. Milwaukee Tool.
Used for: The 2732: cordless 7-1/4 in, 5,800 rpm, 5/8 in arbor, 2-1/2 in at 90° and 1-7/8 in at 45°; a brake that usually stops the blade within two seconds but may not every time.
- 5.
M18 FUEL Circular Saw, Cat. No. 2730-20, Operator's Manual. Milwaukee Tool.
Used for: The 2730: cordless 6-1/2 in, 5,000 rpm, 5/8 in arbor, 2-3/16 in at 90° and 1-5/8 in at 45°; an electric brake that is no substitute for the guard.
- 6.
2732-20 M18 FUEL 7-1/4" Circular Saw. Milwaukee Tool.
Used for: The 2732's 50° maximum bevel.
- 7.
2730-20 M18 FUEL 6-1/2" Circular Saw. Milwaukee Tool.
Used for: The 2730's 50° maximum bevel.
- 8.
Cordless Circular Saw XSH03, Instruction Manual. Makita.
Used for: The XSH03: cordless 6-1/2 in, 18 V, 5,000 rpm; 2-1/4 in at 0°, 1-5/8 in at 45°, 1-7/16 in at 50° with bevel stops for 0–45° and 0–50°; 6.8–7.3 lb; no brake described.
About this buying guide
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