I have owned a few circular saws over the years, a Craftsman and a Skil corded, and two DeWalts, 18v and 20v cordless, all of which were sidewinders.
I am now in the market for a good worm (or hypoid) drive circular saw. The field has been narrowed down to the Skilsaw SPT77WML-01, which is the classic Skilsaw upgraded with magnesium body and baseplate, and Makitas hypoid drive 5377MG. A third choice is the Ridgid Through Cool worm drive, but only because it has a lifetime unlimited warranty. Mainly I am looking at only the Skil and Makita.
The Skilsaw is the tried and true workhorse that remains mostly unchanged except for the magnesium construction. One thing I like about it is the fact that you can change the oil in the worm drive transmission. Price on it right now is $147.
The Makita, on the other hand has the hypoid drive, which is similar to the worm drive, but an improved gear interface which is supposed to put more torque to the blade. The downside is the drive is sealed and has a limited lifetime. The Makitas pluses are that it is a more refined design than the Skil, and it also has magnesium construction like the Skil. It is supposedly more comfortable to use and has more precise controls. Price is $195.
I would love to hear from some pros what their choice would be and real world experiences from owners of these saws, and if you would recommend a different model or brand altogether. I am basing my choices on reviews I have gleaned from the web. Here is one of the best I have read so far. He is a long time user of Skilsaws, but really likes the Makita for the ergonomics and features.
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