Circular Saws - Worm Drive vs. Direct Drive

[Joe G.]

I have an old Rockwell worm drive that my father-in-law gave me years ago. Heavy! Have to lay it down on it's side because there is no guard on it. OSHA whould faint. It really cuts! I had a problem with the trigger switch and found out I can't buy parts for it. I managed to fix the switch. Maybe my son will wear it out one of these days.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Joe, I don't want to start a big disagreement. But IMHOI think having a guard on a worm gear is very important. I've had guards jam and come screaming back for my foot when I set it down - thank you Jesus! I got in the habit of always laying them down on their side . I've also been guilty of using a shim to block the guard on a few occasions for particular applications - short term.



But think about you son, a friend, or another family in ignorance or a moment of inattentiveness getting ripped accidently.



Or maybe even tmacc's "friend". Then you would probably get sued for everything you got. :-laf



A new or used one from the pawn shop could be cheap insurance.

 

[tmacc]

But think about you son, a friend, or another family in ignorance or a moment of inattentiveness getting ripped accidently.

Amen to that. I had a partner back in MD that removed the guard from his B&D 8-1/4" saw so he could put a 9" balde on it. This allowed you to cut two stacked 2xs at the same time and leave a kerf on the next one below to cut the next two. However, you can't lay it on it's side. I did the double quick step when I had a momentary brain fart and set it down before the blade stopped rotating.

 

[Joe G.]

I don't use it much anymore because of no guard. I have a new direct drive that works for most stuff I want to do. The old monster has a abrasive blade on it now for cutting steel and pipe. However, when I have something to cut that takes some power I use it. I have the habit of laying a saw on it's side regardless of the type. The blade guard on my old direct drive saw would decide to stick every so often so it was more dangerous than the old monster.

 

[daveshoe]

I wish I would have posted this sooner,but the local Dayton Home Depot was moving out new Rigid worm drives[magnesium,and had a sky hook hanger included ]for 99 bucks. I bought one for myself and PM'd a guy on this thread about the other one that was left. HD has some pretty good promations from now until after Christmas if you just happen to be in the store at the right time. This is the time of the year when they may clear out tools for the new models . That was the explanation I got for the great price on the worm drive. It was new in an unopened box.

Very,very nice,except for the gay 2 prong plug that lights up when you plug it in and does not stay plugged in to the extension cord. Use the blade guide on the front of the saw [don't look at the blade itself] and you can make a cut almost as straight as a table saw.

The big horse of a Milwaukee will be for sale as I probably will not use it again.

Another worm drive of note is the little fella made by Porter Cable that is a 41/2'' blade and the best little saw for 3/4'' material or thinner that you will ever use. The only drawback is the cost of the carbide blades for it. I hope they still make it as I have not seen one in a store for a few years.

 

[JohnRobinson]

i went to home depot today to check out those rigid saws they are verry reminisant of of old b&d &latter dewalt i looked at the label closly & saw MADE IN CHINA

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

I found an NIB Bosch wormgear and a NIB sawsall at a pawn shop this weekend. I negotiated them down to the pair for $225.



My old, correction ancient, Milwaukee sawsall could sure use replacing. My old Skil 77 still works good.



BUT I'm having a terrible case of TOOL LUST :{ Somebody talk me down. :-laf



Should I do it? They won't let me take them out of the box to look at, because then the boxes would be opened. They have always treated me well before. Has anyone used a Bosch worm gear. Is it the same as a Skil 77

 

[Hohn]

OOOO!!! I just came from Home Depot. .



They have a Makita saw that's HYPOID drive, not worm! It's the best of all worlds!



It's looked like it would be an AWESOME saw.





jh

 

[rbattelle]

OOOO!!! I just came from Home Depot. .

They have a Makita saw that's HYPOID drive, not worm! It's the best of all worlds!

It's looked like it would be an AWESOME saw.

CAREFUL! I read a lot of stuff about that Makita Hypoid drive being VERY short life. Very short. In fact, the box for my Skilsaw said "lasts 5x longer than hypoid drives" [not that that means anything, but it is ironic that the box said that and now you're asking about hypoid saws].



Traildog - how can you go wrong? Bosch makes a fine tool, from what I've read, and they OWN Skil now. I'd have no qualms about getting their wormdrive.



-Ryan

 

[JohnRobinson]

OOOO!!! I just came from Home Depot. .



They have a Makita saw that's HYPOID drive, not worm! It's the best of all worlds!



It's looked like it would be an AWESOME saw.





jh

hi Hohn . i bought a mikita sometime in the late 80's the hypod had plastic gears witch broke w / less than 2 months of service it was a ''B'' sires saw although i belive they may have corrected the problem soon after that mine went into the trash can anyway good luck john

 

[JohnRobinson]

I found an NIB Bosch wormgear and a NIB sawsall at a pawn shop this weekend. I negotiated them down to the pair for $225.



My old, correction ancient, Milwaukee sawsall could sure use replacing. My old Skil 77 still works good.



BUT I'm having a terrible case of TOOL LUST :{ Somebody talk me down. :-laf



Should I do it? They won't let me take them out of the box to look at, because then the boxes would be opened. They have always treated me well before. Has anyone used a Bosch worm gear. Is it the same as a Skil 77

hi OL'TRAILDOG yes i have used that saw i dont own only because ihave so many old ones still working good they are the same but a little upgraded & price too if you buy one you will have no regrets good luck john

 

[daveshoe]

i went to home depot today to check out those rigid saws they are verry reminisant of of old b&d &latter dewalt i looked at the label closly & saw MADE IN CHINA

I guess you gotta consider that my Dodge is made in Mexico. The reason I bought this saw was an impulse buy,driven by the sale price on closeout. My real reason for the tool buying trip was to find a replacement compressor for the one I had stolen when I left it for a coffee run at a jobsite. I needed a compressor that I could throw on the truck,put in the truck,and afford to replace if stolen. I looked at the compact units that had a synthetic oil fill for longer life--I'm sure that they will not equal my old unit for durability,but are better than pancake models. When I considered price and warranty,Rigid seemed worth a chance. When I compared the Rigid to Dewalt,weld quality was far superior,as was the three year warranty. Output was identical.

A saw is important to me for what it will do,not who makes it. After purchasing and either destroying ,wearing out,or setting on the shelf because I hate the handling characteristics of eight circular saws,I am taking a chance on the Rigid. It handles great,and if it is a POS mechanically,it is in good company with two Milwaukee saws[one sawzall and one worm drive] that I own.

It will ride on the truck with my twin Porter Cables -one righty and one lefty. I figure that if Chinese can build TV's, they can handle building a saw. If anybody can tell me about Rigid problems or poor warranty service,then I am all ears. Since Porter Cable was acquired by Dewalt,I have lost some degree of confidence in that brand,and am trying other manufacturers.

 

[JohnRobinson]

I guess you gotta consider that my Dodge is made in Mexico. The reason I bought this saw was an impulse buy,driven by the sale price on closeout. My real reason for the tool buying trip was to find a replacement compressor for the one I had stolen when I left it for a coffee run at a jobsite. I needed a compressor that I could throw on the truck,put in the truck,and afford to replace if stolen. I looked at the compact units that had a synthetic oil fill for longer life--I'm sure that they will not equal my old unit for durability,but are better than pancake models. When I considered price and warranty,Rigid seemed worth a chance. When I compared the Rigid to Dewalt,weld quality was far superior,as was the three year warranty. Output was identical.

A saw is important to me for what it will do,not who makes it. After purchasing and either destroying ,wearing out,or setting on the shelf because I hate the handling characteristics of eight circular saws,I am taking a chance on the Rigid. It handles great,and if it is a POS mechanically,it is in good company with two Milwaukee saws[one sawzall and one worm drive] that I own.

It will ride on the truck with my twin Porter Cables -one righty and one lefty. I figure that if Chinese can build TV's, they can handle building a saw. If anybody can tell me about Rigid problems or poor warranty service,then I am all ears. Since Porter Cable was acquired by Dewalt,I have lost some degree of confidence in that brand,and am trying other manufacturers.

hi daveshoe no flame intended i was just suprised to see china it was a very nice looking saw we dont get good deals like that around here wish you all the luck with your purchase & my DODGE was made in MEXICO also - john

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Thanks John,



I read some reviews on Amazon.com and it sounds like a solid saw. However, the sawsall reviews were not as good - great blade change system and adjustments but a lot of vibration. I called and asked them to hold it for me until next Monday. I'll also see what they will give me for my "trade ins" which may help sweeten the deal.



Man, I just want to cut something. Reminds me of a Calvin and Hobbes cartoon I have posted at home in BZ. Calvin has a hammer banging on things and says something to the effect "I can pound things together! I can beat things apart! Ahhh, it's great to be male!" :-laf



I have another one with Calvin ripping off a great belch on the inside of the pantry door - but we won't go there. :-laf

 

[GFritsch]

It will ride on the truck with my twin Porter Cables -one righty and one lefty. I figure that if Chinese can build TV's, they can handle building a saw. QUOTE]





Too bad, when tradesman give up on buying American made tools, we surely have lost our own battle. Remember as the China market/jobs/prosperity grows, ours shrinks. Won't really matter how much a saw costs when foreigners are holding our land and jobs. Hey, maybe we could clean our old homes for them after they buy us out.



The fact that less and less American made tools are available makes it all that more important that we buy American. Consumers reign supreme. If no Asian made crap were purchased, it would not be sold here in America.



What country should we be investing in?



Off my soap box,



Greg

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Heck, why worry about buying American when we can't even hire American???



Jobs that American's won't do - B[\b]ear S[\b]cat. Wasn't long ago that tradesmen were good jobs - I was one and proud of it and my son still is.



The real truth is the construction companies and service industries are couping the profits while the rest of us pick up the tab both monetarily and socially. Stupid is as stupid does, see france.



Now off my soapbox.

 

[daveshoe]

I have always given American tools the first consideration. Porter Cable became my first choice after Milwaukee seemed to slip in quality. It used to be that a Milwaukee tool showed your customers that you were in business for keeps. When Milwaukee tools became available at the local hardware store,they became equivalent to better quality homeowner tools--tools that you could order from the old hardware store with creaky linseed oiled floors. Mass marketing changed all that ,and price point marketing cheapened the little things like switches and bearings. The old generation stuff I have from Milwaukee just will not burn up and has outlasted the new. When my sawzall puked a cheap switch[Cutler Hammer]then later lost the armature,that was it for red tools for me. I have yet to kill the old metal body sawzall.

I am really concerned that Porter cable has been acquired by Black & Decker. If B&D does to PC what they did to DeWalt, I'm gone [plastic gears in drills don't get it] . I guess at this point,I am dipping my toe in and sampling tools from their build quality and fit and finish.

As far as buying American,that works both ways. I was in the process of bidding a house for a friend at church. His fellow Delphi employees hooked him up with Amish carpenters from out-of state,and he became his own contractor. I live in Chevy country,as most contractors buy GM so as not to offend the customers who work for GM or Delphi. After that incident,I bought the Cummins and did not look back

 

[Hohn]

hi Hohn . i bought a mikita sometime in the late 80's the hypod had plastic gears witch broke w / less than 2 months of service it was a ''B'' sires saw although i belive they may have corrected the problem soon after that mine went into the trash can anyway good luck john

The cutaway pic on the box certainly made it look like METAL gears.

It wouldn't be the first time a company has used false advertising, though.

 

[JohnRobinson]

The cutaway pic on the box certainly made it look like METAL gears.

It wouldn't be the first time a company has used false advertising, though.

hi Hohn I do belive they did change the gears as to many saws were coming back warenty repair as i stated i had a '' B'' series they should be way past that by now with improvements. Actually I really liked the saw . the new makita should give the casual user 2 lifetimes of service . its a good saw . my late 80;s model just wasent up to rough service hope this helps - john

 

[JohnRobinson]

hi OL"TRAILDOG BTW maybe i should have statted earlyer bosch makes 3 versions of the worm drive #1 like a regular 77 - 1 like a 77 but w / no cord you plug your extenion cord into the back of the handle & 1 that has a top handle on it -hope this helps . john