Three corded saws by their makers' figures
| Saw | Drive | Depth 90° | Bevel | Brake | Weight | Upkeep in the manual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEWALT DWE575 / DWE575SB | Sidewinder | 2-9/16 in | 0–57° | DWE575SB only, about 2 s | Not stated in the manual | Brushes |
| DEWALT DWS535B | Worm drive | Not stated in the manual | 0–53° | About 3 s | Not stated in the manual | Gear oil; gear case serviced yearly |
| Makita 5007MGA | Sidewinder | 2-1/2 in | 0–56° | Yes | 10.1 lb | Brushes |
From each maker's manual for its own saw. DEWALT's DWS535B also has a rafter hook. Not a ranking.
Equipment notePaid link
7-1/4-in circular saw
DEWALT DWE575
The DWE575 in the table above: 7-1/4 in, 2-9/16 in at 90° and a bevel to 57°; the electric brake the table notes is on the DWE575SB, not this model.
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Sidewinder or worm drive
A sidewinder's motor sits beside the blade and drives it directly; a worm drive's sits behind the blade and turns it through gears running in oil. DEWALT's worm-drive manual asks owners to check the oil and fill it to the lowest thread of the plug, and to have the gear case serviced once a year; it takes only diamond-arbor blades, with the knock-out removed. The sidewinders here take round or diamond arbors to suit. Which side the blade sits on, and so which side you sight down, differs between layouts and models — hold one before buying if you can.
What to compare for carrying between jobs
- Weight. Makita gives 10.1 lb for the 5007MGA; DEWALT's manuals do not give a weight, so compare the figure on the maker's current specification sheet before deciding.
- Depth and bevel. All three cut a framing 2× at 90°. For bevelled cuts beyond 45°, DEWALT's DWE575 goes to 57°, Makita's 5007MGA to 56° and DEWALT's worm drive to 53°.
- Brake. About two seconds on DEWALT's DWE575SB (not the plain DWE575), about three on the DWS535B. Makita says its brake is no substitute for the lower guard; DEWALT says a brake can occasionally miss its stated time.
- Hook. DEWALT's worm drive has a saw hook for hanging it from a joist or rafter; its manual warns never to use the saw with the hook rotated below the foot plate.
- Cord. The saw is only as portable as its extension cord; see the next section.
The extension cord the manual calls for
| Tool rating | 25 ft | 50 ft | 100 ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Over 10 A, up to 12 A | 16 AWG | 16 AWG | 14 AWG |
| Over 12 A, up to 16 A | 14 AWG | 12 AWG | Not recommended |
From the table in DEWALT's DWE575 manual: the lower the gauge number, the heavier the cord. Read your saw's amperage from its nameplate; an undersized cord drops the voltage and the motor loses power and overheats.
Corded, cordless or a plunge saw
Battery saws, with the trade-offs of a smaller blade on some, are compared in choosing a cordless saw; saws of every kind in choosing a saw. For long straight cuts in sheets, a plunge saw and rail — carried as a kit — are compared in choosing a plunge saw to carry.
Before buying a corded saw to carry
- Sidewinder or worm drive, and the upkeep that comes with it
- Depth at 90° for your thickest stock
- Bevel range for the angles you cut
- A brake, if wanted, on the exact model number
- A weight you can lift overhead and carry
- An extension cord of the gauge your saw's amperage and length need
The parts of the saw are described in the circular saw guide.
Sources
Specification-based: every figure is the maker's own, from the manual of the saw named; where a manual does not give a figure, the table says so. No saw was tested, none is ranked.
- 1.
DWE574, DWE575 7-1/4" (184 mm) Circular Saws, Instruction Manual. DEWALT.
Used for: The DWE575: 7-1/4 in sidewinder, 2-9/16 in at 90°, bevel 0–57°, depth scale in 1/8 in steps, round or diamond arbor; the DWE575SB's brake of about two seconds; the minimum extension-cord gauge by amperage and length.
- 2.
DWS535B Heavy-Duty 7-1/4" (184 mm) Worm Drive Circular Saw, Instruction Manual. DEWALT.
Used for: The DWS535B: 7-1/4 in worm drive, diamond arbor only, bevel 0–53° with detents at 22.5° and 45°, a brake of about three seconds, gear oil to the lowest thread of the plug and annual gear-case service, a saw hook never used rotated below the foot plate.
- 3.
Circular Saw 5007MG / 5007MGA, Instruction Manual. Makita.
Used for: The 5007MGA: 7-1/4 in sidewinder; 2-1/2 in at 0°, 1-3/4 in at 45°, 1-3/8 in at 56°; 5,800 rpm; 10.1 lb; an electric brake that is no substitute for the lower guard.
About this buying guide
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