6-1/4 Circular Saw Regrets?

[John McKissick]

In the market for a new circular saw to replace my 20+ year old Crapsman corded 7-1/4". Getting lose, deck is a bit bent up and cord sketchy.

I "think" I can easily get by with a 6-1/4 vs the traditional 7-1/4" for almost any job I can think of and never miter with a circular saw (table saw or band saw). I have a heavy duty 7-1/4 worm drive for those thicker jobs.

Any regrets over getting the smaller 6-1/4 saw from any who went that route?

[Dave Cav]

Why stop at 6 1/4"? Take a look at the 5005BA 5 1/2" saw. Very light and handy and will crosscut a 2x, although it won't bevel deep enough for 2x stock. All in all a very handy saw. I've had one for years and probably use it more than my 7 1/4" saw.

[Paul F Franklin]

I have an older 6 1/2" dewalt cordless and love it. I've even taken it to the sawmill and lumberyard to break down really long boards. Like you, I have a corded wormdrive for big jobs, but I don't drag it out unless the smaller saw just can't do the job. The dewalt has completely displaced my old corded porter cable 7 1/4 saw. The dewalt I have does cut slower than a corded saw, but I think the newer ones have improved that as battery tech has improved.

[John McKissick]

Why stop at 6 1/4"? Take a look at the 5005BA 5 1/2" saw. Very light and handy and will crosscut a 2x, although it won't bevel deep enough for 2x stock. All in all a very handy saw. I've had one for years and probably use it more than my 7 1/4" saw.

Interesting but pretty pricey for a corded saw

[Rich Engelhardt]

I have a 7 1/4" & a 6 1/2" plunge (track) & a 5 1/2" cordless & a 3 3/8" Makita 12V cordless.

I really do like the 5 1/2" cordless Makita 18V. Light - handy beyond words with no cord.

The 12V 3 3/8" is too slow & under powered - well, underpowered & slow, only until you goof up & it takes of for points only known to it - then it's a rocket sled.

[John McKissick]

I have an older 6 1/2" dewalt cordless and love it. I've even taken it to the sawmill and lumberyard to break down really long boards. Like you, I have a corded wormdrive for big jobs, but I don't drag it out unless the smaller saw just can't do the job. The dewalt has completely displaced my old corded porter cable 7 1/4 saw. The dewalt I have does cut slower than a corded saw, but I think the newer ones have improved that as battery tech has improved.

I was thinking Dewalt too since that's what I have already. Some pros are telling me (another brand) is somewhat better but for my use the Dewalts are very good

[Dave Sabo]

I've been pleased with this:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-12-Amp-Corded-6-1-2-in-Magnesium-Compact-Framing-Circular-Saw-R3204/205076385

Don't use it often and wish it had a port for dust collection, but no complaints. The new cordless version does have a dust port interestingly enough.

[Jim Becker]

The battery powered circular saw I have is 6.25" and it's been fine for general utility. It will cut 2x stock fine as well as sheet goods for construction/renovation projects. I actually originally bought it so I would have a saw I could use at my storage rental if I go to collect material and don't want to take the trailer...I can cut things down to shorter lengths to fit in my SUV. I used it recently in support of the renovation I did on the shed in our backyard and have used it surprisingly a lot in the shop to break things down quickly for utility. (But I'm not using it for portable precision work...I have a track saw for that) My "legacy" circular saw from back in the 1980s is a an old, orange Black and Decker 7.25" saw and if I need to cut thick stuff and have power available, I'd grab that over the battery powered saw for sure, just as you would grab your worm-drive for the same reasons.

BTW, the battery powered saw I have is actually the Bauer 20V from HFT as it uses the same batteries as other devices I have of that brand. It works fine.

[Bill Dufour]

I like my mini Porter Cable skill saw. But it is hard to find the 4.5" blades. It cuts just under 2" deep at 90 degrees which is enough for 2 x lumber and door bottoms.
I bought it used and struggled with it until I bought new carbide blade.
Bill D

[Cliff Polubinsky]

I've been pleased with this:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-12-Amp-Corded-6-1-2-in-Magnesium-Compact-Framing-Circular-Saw-R3204/205076385

Don't use it often and wish it had a port for dust collection, but no complaints. The new cordless version does have a dust port interestingly enough.

I have the cordless version of that saw and it works well for me. The nice thing about Ridgid is if you register it properly it has a lifetime service contract that includes the batteries. I've got Ridgid drills that use the same battery and when a battery went bad it was replaced no problem. One of the drills had a problem after 5-6 years and it was fixed no charge.

Cliff

[Stephen Rosenthal]

I like my mini Porter Cable skill saw. But it is hard to find the 4.5" blades. It cuts just under 2" deep at 90 degrees which is enough for 2 x lumber and door bottoms.
I bought it used and struggled with it until I bought new carbide blade.
Bill D

I prefer worm drives. They never bog down and, with proper maintenance, will outlive me and whoever gets it after me. Like Bill I’ve got a PC314 Trim Saw, equipped with a 4 1/2” Forrest WWII blade. Also have a SkilSaw 7 1/4” with the same blade for bigger stuff, but use the PC a lot more. A lot cheaper than a track saw and rip cuts are just as clean with a guide and the Forrest blades.

If you’re patient 314s turn up on Craigslist from time to time.

[Dave Sabo]

I like my mini Porter Cable skill saw. But it is hard to find the 4.5" blades. It cuts just under 2" deep at 90 degrees which is enough for 2 x lumber and door bottoms.
I bought it used and struggled with it until I bought new carbide blade.
Bill D

Shouldn’t be that hard Bill.

Pretty much all the borgs stock at least one 4.5” blade at stores. Orange has a Diablo 24t, Blue has a Rockwell 24t. HarborFreight has a 24t that’s a stock item too. Amazon has large number of choice for that size too, some available in a day or two with prime.

[Steve Rozmiarek]

Why would you want a 6 1/4" saw, I can't think of any reason you would benefit from one? 7 1/4" is not a big saw, what are you gaining by losing capacity with the smaller ones?

I get it if you just really want one to add to your collection, but they are really quite pointless if you already have a 7 1/4".

[Jim Becker]

One reason might be lighter weight, Steve. I know that's a nice thing for the little, inexpensive battery powered unit I mentioned above. With my hand and wrist foibles, the lower weight was a lot more comfortable. My 7.25" saw is a beast and it's not anywhere as heavy as the OP's worm drive 7.25" saw that he mentioned.

Honestly, aside from the portability it's given me while doing things around our new property, it's also become my "board cut down" solution in the temporary shop because dragging the miter saw out onto the driveway is a pain in the you-know-what. :)

[Jim Dwight]

I have a little Ryobi, I think it's 5 1/4, that is underpowered and not very useful - even with lithium batteries. It sometimes does not go through 2X material presumably because it is a little over 1 1/2 thick. I also have a 6 1/4 inch Skil batter powered saw and it works great. Cuts 2X hardwood fine. I mostly use it to cut hardwood to rough length. But I have used it to cut construction lumber and it works fine. Battery lasts a long time too.

[Zachary Hoyt]

I have an 18v DeWalt 6-1/2" saw that I bought used in a set, and it seems pretty weak. It would be fine for cutting a clapboard or something, but I never use it since I haven't worked with clapboards since I got it. Maybe with a new blade it would be better or maybe it's just worn out, I don't know. I had a 6-1/2" Skil corded that was OK, that I gave to someone who had no circular saw. I paid $5 for it at an auction years ago and used it occasionally. My new Makita 7-1/4" is great, lots of power and not very heavy. My previous saws were all 1990s and older.

[Stan Calow]

I have the PC Saw Boss 6 1/2 left-blade and have used it for years. But for smaller things and general handyman stuff, I find the Dremel Saw with a 3" blade to be enough for most things. It'll cut up to 3/4". Not quite stable enough for fine woodworking, but I use it for cutting down plywood.

[Phillip Mitchell]

I have 6 handheld circular saws ranging from a cordless Makita 6 1/2 (subcompact, brushless 18v) up to a 16 5/16" beam saw for cutting timbers and pretty much all sizes in between. The one I use the most by a large margin is the cordless 6 1/2" Makita (and the cordless track saw, but that's a different application) because of speed and convenience. It is plenty powerful with a good blade for crosscuts up to 2" thick. I do not typically use it to rip hardwood as I have other tools for that (bandsaw or larger corded saws) but these little saws were not designed for heavy ripping.

With 5 ah batteries the subcompact brushless Makita (the little black one) does a lot of work even in 6/4 and 8/4 hardwoods. Aside from more general carpentry type tasks, I keep it in the shop with me and routinely use it to make quick "rough" crosscuts. It's hard to beat the convenience, IMO.

[Steve Rozmiarek]

One reason might be lighter weight, Steve. I know that's a nice thing for the little, inexpensive battery powered unit I mentioned above. With my hand and wrist foibles, the lower weight was a lot more comfortable. My 7.25" saw is a beast and it's not anywhere as heavy as the OP's worm drive 7.25" saw that he mentioned.

Honestly, aside from the portability it's given me while doing things around our new property, it's also become my "board cut down" solution in the temporary shop because dragging the miter saw out onto the driveway is a pain in the you-know-what. :)

I'll concede that maybe if lighter saws = better, a DW 573 is 8.2# with a 7 1/4" blade, and a DW 565 is 6.3# with a 6 1/2" blade. I don't agree with that though, the reason we use worm drives is the stability with the torque they generate, and a little more weight is part of that. I personally don't use much else.

Festools are revered by many, a TS55 weighs 9.92#, very close to the same weight as the cordless DW worm drives that I use extensively.

To each their own, but I don't keep anything other than 7 1/4" saws for use on a daily basis in our business.

[Jim Becker]

Since you are a contractor, Steve, there are other considerations, for sure. Were I in the business, I'd likely feel the same way. I could be wrong, but I "think" that the OP is a non-commercial user. For me (and I suspect for you, too), I'm generally trying to use the best tool for the particular job and the "little thing" really has provided some utility to my personal activities. That may not be the case for others. The only downsides I've identified are less power and depth of cut and if that's a factor, I'll pull out the corded circular saw or my Festool Track Saw, as the case may be.

[Kris Cook]

Another vote for cordless. I have a heavy corded Milwaukee right blade saw that I rarely use anymore. It has been replaced by a Milwaukee left blade 6-1/2" 18V saw which I prefer even though I am left-handed. Except for the initial framing of my shop building I haven't used the corded saw since. Haven't had anything come up as far as depth that has been an issue. YMMV.

[Derek Meyer]

I have the Dewalt 20V cordless 6.5" saw, and before that the 18V 4.5" and 5" saws. The old saws were fine for sheet goods - I used them with a straightedge when cutting up plywood and MDF before I got my track saw, but would struggle a little with 2x material. The 20V saw has no issues with 2x and cuts through it like butter.

[John McKissick]

Why would you want a 6 1/4" saw, I can't think of any reason you would benefit from one? 7 1/4" is not a big saw, what are you gaining by losing capacity with the smaller ones?

I get it if you just really want one to add to your collection, but they are really quite pointless if you already have a 7 1/4".

Weight is a serious consideration as well access. For a full time framer their needs are a lot different mine as homeowner/part time wood worker.
My next project will be cutting 1-1/16 oak stair treads and the smaller saw attached to my Kreg Accu-cut adapter and tack I think will be more than robust enough

[Warren Wilson]

I find I pick up my DeWalt 18v 6.5” all the time. I originally bought it when I was doing patch work in a truss set after they were up — wanted to be able to crawl around with a smaller saw and no cord. My big ol’ Makita with the tail is the special purpose saw now; the small one has become the regular go-to.

I did have to get used to the shoe being “on the other foot”.

[John McKissick]

I have the cordless version of that saw and it works well for me. The nice thing about Ridgid is if you register it properly it has a lifetime service contract that includes the batteries. I've got Ridgid drills that use the same battery and when a battery went bad it was replaced no problem. One of the drills had a problem after 5-6 years and it was fixed no charge.

Cliff

Well I am in the Dewalt eco-system for better or worse. My local True-Value has the 6-1/2 cordless on sale right now so off I go when it opens. It's a bare tool so I'll probably internet order a battery for it

[Jim Becker]

John, I think that will be a nice addition to your tool corral for sure. It's funny you mention the battery. Despite being "in an ecosystem" and already having several batteries, I always find myself buying one more battery when I acquire another tool. It's an affliction I think... :D

[Dave Sabo]

I'll concede that maybe if lighter saws = better, a DW 573 is 8.2# with a 7 1/4" blade, and a DW 565 is 6.3# with a 6 1/2" blade. I don't agree with that though, the reason we use worm drives is the stability with the torque they generate, and a little more weight is part of that. I personally don't use much else.

Festools are revered by many, a TS55 weighs 9.92#, very close to the same weight as the cordless DW worm drives that I use extensively.

To each their own, but I don't keep anything other than 7 1/4" saws for use on a daily basis in our business.


Clearly a 6 1/2" saw is not for you. But , methinks thou doth protest too much in regard to everyone else's needs and wants.


Your comparison of any of these saws with a TS55 if ridiculous. If you need a general purpose or framing saw - a TS55 (or any other track saw for that matter) is not the right tool for the job. People buying a 6-1/2" saw aren't looking at a TS55 anymore than they are looking at a wormdrive. There's clearly a market for all of them.

[John McKissick]

I have 6 handheld circular saws ranging from a cordless Makita 6 1/2 (subcompact, brushless 18v) up to a 16 5/16" beam saw for cutting timbers and pretty much all sizes in between. The one I use the most by a large margin is the cordless 6 1/2" Makita (and the cordless track saw, but that's a different application) because of speed and convenience. It is plenty powerful with a good blade for crosscuts up to 2" thick. I do not typically use it to rip hardwood as I have other tools for that (bandsaw or larger corded saws) but these little saws were not designed for heavy ripping.

With 5 ah batteries the subcompact brushless Makita (the little black one) does a lot of work even in 6/4 and 8/4 hardwoods. Aside from more general carpentry type tasks, I keep it in the shop with me and routinely use it to make quick "rough" crosscuts. It's hard to beat the convenience, IMO.

Thanks Phillip, your experience is invaluable. I did get the Dewalt 6-1/2 today (on sale for $99) and a 4Ah battery for same price on sale. Seems capable enough for most of my needs and like the smaller/lighter frame.

[Steve Rozmiarek]

Clearly a 6 1/2" saw is not for you. But , methinks thou doth protest too much in regard to everyone else's needs and wants.


Your comparison of any of these saws with a TS55 if ridiculous. If you need a general purpose or framing saw - a TS55 (or any other track saw for that matter) is not the right tool for the job. People buying a 6-1/2" saw aren't looking at a TS55 anymore than they are looking at a wormdrive. There's clearly a market for all of them.

Dave, the title of the tread invites critical reviews, "6 1/4 Circular saw regrets". You have an opinion too or else you wouldn't be reading this far in. In the world I operate in, which is homebuilding, there is no benefit of a 6 1/2" saw over a much more capable 7 1/4". I actually saw one of my guys give one to a high school kid. It had come in a kit and l agree with his take, "It was too weak and pointless to keep around".

Hey, if someone wants to collect tools, have fun! But if you want an opinion on their usefulness from someone who makes a living using these exact tools every day, mines likely relevant.

Lots of people have ts55s, I used it for weight comparison only. Methinks thou may be looking for a reason to dislike my opinion. ;)

[John TenEyck]

For hobby use my 18V 6-1/4" Milwaukee is the saw I reach for first. I built my shed, solar drier, and a bunch of other stuff using it almost exclusively. A couple of batteries usually are enough to last half a day; recharge as needed and I'm good all day. 3/4" sheet goods will drain the batteries fast, but for framing work they last a surprisingly long time. Like battery powered drills and especially impact drivers the circular saw was another of those "Why didn't they invent this 20 years ago? moments the first time I used it.

John

[Richard Hart]

I have the Milwaukee Fuel version. If you do go Milwaukee, go Fuel. I love mine. 2X doesn't slow it down. I'm biased though.. I use the whole M18 system and love it.
I do light work with it though, the 7 inch wasn't in stock, and I have carpal tunnel so it was a better choice in hindsight.