Corded Circular Saws - A Toolstop Buying Guide
Posted by Katy | Toolstop on 16th Mar 2021
This Toolstop Buying Guide focuses on Corded Circular Saws, their benefits, uses and some of our must haves. Corded Circular Saws come with their benefits. We will reccomend some of our favourite 110V Circular Saws to hopefully help you find the best corded circular saw.
This Toolstop Buying Guide focuses on Corded Circular Saws, their benefits, uses and some of our must haves. Corded Circular Saws come with their benefits. We will reccomend some of our favourite 110V Circular Saws to hopefully help you find the best corded circular saw.
What is a Circular Saw used for?
If you need to quickly make an accurate cut through a piece of wood, look no further than a circular saw.
But why choose a corded circular saw over a cordless one? This Toolstop guide will explain the benefits of choosing a corded circular saw, features to look our for, and our top picks! If you are looking for a cordless circular saw, check out our blog post here.
This buying guide has been put together to help you decide what the best circular saw on the market is for you.
In this guide we’ll focus on corded circular saws. We’ll cover:
- Cutting capacity, cutting depth and bevels
- Speed and control
- Extra features
- Our top circular saw suggestions
Should I opt for a Corded or Cordless Circular Saw?
Cutting Capacity, Cutting Depth and Bevels
Look out for the maximum cutting depth at 0°. That’s how deep you’ll be able to cut when the saw isn’t being used to cut a bevel. Our guide below presents the maximum cut at 0° per saw, along with the maximum cut at a 45° bevel.
With regards to cutting bevels, if you’re planning on cutting mitres with your saw, the ability to adjust the base plate to allow you to cut a bevel is essential. Look out for the amount of adjustment your saw offers you, typically 45° and 90°.
Blades are hugely important as your saw will only perform at its best if you’ve fitted the correct blade for the cut you’re undertaking and you’ve set the blade at the correct depth for the cut. Please take some time to refer to our circular saw blade buying guide.
The motor rating of your saw is important. Basically, the higher the number the better. Why? A 1500W motor will spin the saw blade faster, resulting in high RPM of the blade. The higher the RPM of the blade, the better the cut in terms of control.
So, more power equals more control and more control equals the ability to cut tougher materials. A more powerful motor also typically affords you the ability to run bigger blades on your circular saw.
Hence when choosing your circular saw, pay attention to the blade speed.
Right off the bat, if your work day consists of plunge cut after plunge cut, please invest in a plunge saw. Click here for our guide to making plunge cuts.
However, if you find yourself having to perform the occasional plunge cut on the job site, then a circular saw can ably tackle this for you, as long as the circular saw doesn’t have a riving knife, or the riving knife can be removed.
Therefore, when choosing your circular saw, look out for this feature if plunge cuts are on the menu for you. Bear in mind, though, that a riving knife is a safety feature than helps prevent "kick back".
What Circular Saw Should I Buy?
Refer to our table below which will, at a glance, allow you to compare and contrast the various offering from HiKOKI, Makita, Bosch and Dewalt.
Click the name of the saw to visit our website where you can learn more about the tool. And if we’ve got a video demo of it, you’ll be able to see the saw in action.
What is the Best Corded Circular Saw?
Below we have listed our top 5 corded circular saws from various bestselling brands.
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Makita 5704RK Circular Saw
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Dewalt DWE560K Compact Circular Saw
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Evolution R185CCSX+ Circular Saw
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Bosch GKS190 Hand Held Circular Saw
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Makita 5008MGJ Circular Saw
Key Specification:
- Input wattage: 1,200w
- No load speed: 4,900 rpm
- Blade diameter: 190mm
- Bore diameter: 30mm
- Cutting capacity at 90°: 66 mm
- Cutting capacity at 45°: 46 mm
Key Features:
- Over 2" maximum depth of cut
- Supplied with anti-kickback riving knife
- Low noise and vibration for operator comfort
- All ball bearing construction for prolonged service life
- Rugged for general site use
- Double insulated
- One of the most popular saws in the UK and Ireland
Dewalt DWE560K Compact Circular Saw
Key Specification:
- Power Input 1350 Watts
- Power Output 850 Watts
- No Load Speed 5500 rpm
- Blade Diameter 184 mm
- Blade Bore 16 mm
- Bevel Capacity 48 °
- Max. Depth of Cut at 90º 65 mm
Key Features:
- Compact, Lightweight, Easy to use circular saw with 65mm depth of cut
- High power 1350W motor gives increased cutting performance
- Cutaway inner guard gives improved line of sight to cutting line
- Dust blower clears dust and debris from cut line
- Efficient dust extraction port to minimise airborne dust particles when connected to a dust extraction unit
- Direct compatability with DEWALT AirLock system for easy, secure connection to extraction hose
Evolution R185CCSX+ TCT Multi-Material Circular Saw
Key Specification:
- No Load Speed (110v): 3700 min/rpm
- Max Blade Bevel Angle (Degrees): 45°
- Mild Steel Plate (Max Thickness): 6 mm
- Mild Steel Box Section (Max Wall): 6 mm
- Blade diameter: 185mm
Key Features:
- The blade included cuts steel, aluminium, wood with embedded nails, plastic and more
- Optimised gearbox and blade system, increases motor & blade life to cut through a variety of heavy-duty materials
- No heat, no burrs & virtually no sparks when cutting mild steel
- LED light for visibility of the cutting line
- Adjustable cutting depth with ergonomic, soft grip handle
Bosch GKS190 Hand Held Circular Saw
Key Specification:
- Rated power input: 1400 W
- No-load speed: 5500 rpm
- Saw blade bore: 30 mm
- Saw blade diameter: 190 mm
- Cutting depth (90°): 70 mm
- Cutting depth (45°): 50 mm
- Max bevel capacity: 56°
Key Features:
- Highest cutting depth (70 mm) and bevel capability (56°) in its class for flexibility in any work situation
- Turbo blower for a dust-free view of the cutting line
- Optimised wood chip deflector for a better view of the work surface
- Robust closed aluminium die-cast pendulum guard
- Compact tool design for best handling
Key Specification:
- Max cut @ 0°: 75.5mm (3")
- Max cut @ 45°: 57mm (2¼")
- Max cut @ 50°: 51.5mm (2")
- Blade diameter: 210mm
- Bore diameter: 30mm
- No load speed: 5,200rpm
Key Features:
- Maximum Cutting Depth of 75.5mm (3")
- Magnesium die cast base plate makes it very light but very strong and robust
- Twin LED job light
- Easy-to-read depth scale
If you’ve got any questions about circular saws, please get in touch with our experienced team and if you’ve found this guide helpful, share it with your friends! Or if you’ve got any questions about the circular saws featured in this buying guide, we will be happy to help!