Smaller circular saw for plywood

[Dueane Hicks]

I'm thinking of purchasing a smaller circular saw for cutting up plywood (not finish cutting). Do any of you have any recommendations?

[Roger Feeley]

are you thinking cordless? Like breaking down plywood in the parking lot at the lumber yard?

The only consideration I can think of is that the motor would have to run faster to get the same cutting speed at the saw tooth.

[Frank Pratt]

I have a Milwaukee 6 1/2" M18 cordless that is nice. I think I've only used my corded circular saw 1 time in the last 3 or 4 years since I got the cordless one.

[Wakahisa Shinta]

Makita 5 1/2" circular saw is what I use sometimes. It runs off of your wall outlet. Depth capacity, 1.75". Good for 2x4 too. Light and easier on the wrist/arm. OR the Festool track saw. For rough cutting plywood, I like the little Makita.

[John Lanciani]

The Porter-Cable 314 is the holy grail of small circ saws.

[David Buchhauser]

I have a Milwaukee 6 1/2" M18 cordless that is nice. I think I've only used my corded circular saw 1 time in the last 3 or 4 years since I got the cordless one.

Ditto!!!!!

[Andrew Hughes]

The Porter cable saw boss is ever more holier and grailyer . If you can find on get.

[lowell holmes]

I have one. It is a sweet saw.

[scott lipscomb]

Ive been eying that tiny Dewalt 20v cordless, anyone got one?

[Alan Schwabacher]

If you get a cordless, the first consideration is which other cordless tools do you have to share the batteries. That said, the Milwaukee fuel 12v saw works well for me.

[joseph f merz]

go cordless ,has to have a brushless motor . I have the makita 6 1/2" .one of the nicest saws i have ever used . turns fast ,small,light,and easy to see the blade .The easiest saw i have ever used in terms of following a scribe or cutting freehand .it is a blade left saw .A client had the cobalt from Lowes ,blade right saw .It seemed like a great little saw .any of the brands will have something you'll like.I have 2 of the old makita corded ,5 1/2" and then an even faster smaller bladed one .they had weak bases that caused trouble when trying to follow a guide .had a few of those skill 5 1/2" . went through 3 in short time .not well made . Why would you want a cord in the way anyhow .think about how nice not having a cord in the way will be .

[Carl Beckett]

Agree on the cordless. I have a small Makita cordless circ and it is rare I reach for my corded circ.

You mention plywood.... a lot of talk about track saws. If you like spending $ maybe a Makita cordless track saw would be worth a look.

[Prashun Patel]

I have this one:
Makita XSR01Z 18V X2 LXT

Personally, I'd get a 7 1/4" saw. If you have to occasionally break down 2" lumber or need to use this in a track, you may (as I definitely do) appreciate the additional depth. It's still remarkably light. You can use it one-handed. The absence of a cord makes it easier to store and handle even with the additional weight of batteries.

[Charles Lent]

I use my DeWalt 18 volt circular saw to break up sheet stock. With the Li-Ion battery, I can break up a full 4 X 8 X 3/4 sheet of plywood into 1' squares on one charge and still have power left. I'm constantly reminded how little chip-out I get when using this saw with a fairly new DeWalt blade and how easy it is to use it with no cords dragging behind. I break up sheet stock outside my shop on a cutting table. Then, if the dimensions are really critical, I'll trim all pieces inside on my shop on my Unisaw. I don't have the room inside the shop to manage full sheets for cutting, so it's always done outside.

Charley

[Ron Selzer]

The Porter cable saw boss is ever more holier and grailyer . If you can find on get.

agree 100%
I use a DeWalt 18v at work for small cuts, rarely use one at home (have 2 ).
At home I use a SSC 60" (nominal), panel saw for sheet goods in the garage
down in the basement shop I use the PC Saw Boss if I need to cut something when the TS, or RAS or BS are tied up or just the wrong fit
The PC saw Boss rarely travels and NEVER is loaned out
old fashioned I guess, a 7 1/4 worm drive saw (have 4) does the majority of my saw work away from home

[Jak Kelly]

I have a Dewalt cordless as well. This past weekend I was ripping some 3/4 MDF and it is really hard for me to handle sheet goods that size by myself, so I oversize it then straighten it out on the table saw.
I do realize that adding in-feed and out-feed tables would eliminate this problem, I just do not have the room in my garage for such.
Actually my out-feed table, when needed or used, is a set of saw-horses, a couple 2x6 stretchers and a sheet of 7/16 OSB. The height is not dead on perfect but is close enough that I can handle keeping it straight on the front in and pushing it through!!

[Stephen Rosenthal]

I'm a worm drive guy. I invested in a Forrest WWII for my PC 314. Never used a Saw Boss, but worm drive power plus high quality blade = a dream saw. As weird as it sounds, it convinced me to invest in a Forrest for my Skilsaw. Couldn't be happier with either one.

[Rich Engelhardt]

Well - let's see - small circular saws:
1.) - Makita cordless track saw & two 55" tracks. (https://www.amazon.com/Makita-XPS01PTJ-Lithium-Ion-Brushless-Cordless/dp/B07TFBVWG7/ref=asc_df_B07TFBVWG7/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=366290009890&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10996662212989607092&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9015361&hvtargid=aud-829758849484:pla-813738485017&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=80266838870&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=366290009890&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10996662212989607092&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9015361&hvtargid=aud-829758849484:pla-813738485017) I picked mine up for $399 & got an extra set of batteries (5 AH ((about $115)) ) from a Home Depot online sale a couple/three years ago. I use it to break down sheet goods to exact size in the parking lot of where I buy them. Makes transport easy & gets that part of the project out of the way like - right now... It can't be beat for breaking down sheet goods and/or doing a million and one other things that a track saw makes mindlessly easy. MY Festool TS55EQ is just a tad more accurate and produces a hair better quality of cut, as well as having slightly better dust pickup - but - the extra cost of the Festool is difficult to justify.

2.) - Makita 18V LXT 3 tool kit w/6.5" Circular saw (https://www.homedepot.com/p/Makita-18-Volt-LXT-Lithium-Ion-Brushless-Cordless-Combo-Kit-3-Tool-XT333X1/305926556?cm_mmc=Shopping%7CG%7CBase%7CD25T%7C25-9_PORTABLE+POWER%7CNA%7CPLA%7c71700000034127218%7c 58700003933021540%7c92700046460801986&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2K3rBRDiARIsAOFSW_5AEa1_1IOcPXAhA-YwuuFQX93WhGWveurNJ7aYAtpwco-nCvnUCa4aAgc7EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds) I again picked mine up from an online saw at Home Depot for $399 - plus it came with two free tools (cordless router & multifunction tool are the two I picked). I gave my old DeWalt cordless stuff to my grandson and a nephew and switched to Makita 18V because of the batteries. This saw is a real workhorse. Aside from not having the depth of cut a 7.25" saw has, the new brushless 18V LiIon technology provides a s much oomph as needed. The battery it uses is the same as the track saw and also the same blades can be used.

3.) - Makita 3 3/8" 12V cordless saw. (https://www.homedepot.com/p/Makita-12-Volt-Max-CXT-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-3-3-8-in-Circular-Saw-Kit-Case-2-0Ah-SH02R1/206727700?cm_mmc=Shopping%7CG%7CBase%7CD25T%7C25-9_PORTABLE+POWER%7CNA%7CPLA%7c71700000034127218%7c 58700003933021540%7c92700046460802046&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2K3rBRDiARIsAOFSW_6oGX6RNHDP7ogJ0tkr 4wo7hmX1d4JL0RRZy73P0kms7opIBDvZNMsaAsNDEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds) I picked this saw up as a one time tool. I messed up making some drawers and had to cut 1/4" off the width of some already installed face frames. I only allowed 1/2" total for the drawers I made & rather than remake all the drawers, I figured it would be easier to just enlarge the drawer openings. This handy little saw did the trick & then some. This small saw & a Clamp 'n Cut type straight edge (https://www.rockler.com/all-in-one-low-profile-contractor-clamps-new-improved-clamps?sid=V9146?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_content=&utm_campaign=PL&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2K3rBRDiARIsAOFSW_4BgtVqihIr0n_mQMXw jGjVIsxcLkClxLM1n4hMfZ_ur6RDsOfZdSMaAiiPEALw_wcB) would be my first choice for cutting down MDF, plywood other than the good stuff, laminate flooring,,,,just about anything really - that didn't require the super accuracy of a track saw.
I simply can't convey how light and handy this little guy is.
This little guy would be ideal for cutting out sink openings in counter tops.
Naturally, at only 12V there isn't a whole lot of power to spare - - but - - it does seem to get the job done.

4.) - Corded Black and Decker 5.5" (long discontinued so - no link)(there are plenty of other 5.5" saws though - most cordless. What a total joy to use. Small and light and just about the upper limit of what a normal person can manage to use cutting overhead and/or on a vertical surface - those cuts don't happen often,,but,,when they do, this size saw is perfection. Also excellent for trimming off door bottoms. I prefer it to a track saw - but - that's just me & it does require a high tooth count blade.

Bottom line IMHO is - -there is no one "perfect" small circular saw. You need to figure out your specific needs and go from there.

[Osvaldo Cristo]

I'm thinking of purchasing a smaller circular saw for cutting up plywood (not finish cutting). Do any of you have any recommendations?

For many years I used a Bosch 6 1/2-inch blade power saw. I constructed virtually all stuff at home with that single saw many moons ago.

[Gilbert Vega]

Same here on Dewalt 18v cordless that has the battery adapter for newer 20v Li batteries. Use it when I'm trimming 12 ft boards in my back storage garage as it doesn't have power.

[Greg Parrish]

I have the M12 cordless saw that I use for quick cuts. It works well.

But this looks handy
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Makita-12-Volt-MAX-CXT-Lithium-Ion-3-3-8-in-Cordless-Circular-Saw-Tool-Only-SH02Z/206825229?cm_mmc=Shopping%7CG%7CBase%7CD25T%7C25-9_PORTABLE+POWER%7CNA%7CLIA|71700000044155732|5870 0004615424082|92700045026638625&gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuo-Ei4qy5AIVCY3ICh0sqwXkEAQYAyABEgJGsvD_BwE

[Peter Kuhlman]

If you are invested into a specific battery powered tool brand then stick with their stuff. I am all in on Makita so I have their small brushless saw and it is incredibly light weight. I have the Makita adapter that allows it to utilize my Festool guide rails. This saw is so handy to use. Mainly for sheet good breakdown in my driveway where dust collection is not needed. I take this or my Makita jigsaw to the store when I need to reduce size of something in the parking lot.

[Stan Calow]

The Dremel Saw-max might not be robust enough for serious use, but its handy enough for small jobs. It will cut just deep enough to get through 23/32 plywood.

PC Saw Boss.