Today I bought the Harbor Freight’s Bauer 4-1/2” Compact Circular Saw. I had a coupon for 25% off and it cost me only $52.47. They sent me this coupon because they said they missed me. Lucky me.
The saw comes with a blade, edge guide, hex wrench and a vacuum attached. I checked the blade for square against the bottom plate and this saw was spot on.
Here I’m cutting a 2” x 1” white oak board. It cuts well the cut is clean and almost square even with the supplied carbon tipped blade. The guide takes a little getting used to. I set it off the blade but it can be set from the top side. The metric measurements are close to the zero mark and the imperial is in the back side of the guide. It’s easy to convert the measurement from metric.
I set the guide to 5 cm or 2”. It cuts very accurate. I like this saw a lot. It feels very solid, built well and has a lot of power.
This saw isn’t for furniture makers, maybe for breaking down lumber but it’s a great construction tool.
I frequently have to go over to my oldest sons house to help with repairs and this is a great alternative to my heavy 7-1/4” circular saw.
If you buy this saw and you want to store it in its box take a few photos before and while your unpacking it.
This site doesn’t seem to have a review section so it put it on a blog.
Thanks Corelz I really didn’t give it a very good workout cutting 8x4’ x 3/4” plywood but I wanted to try it out before the return date expires. The down side of this saw for left hand workers it blows the sawdust at your crotch.
Yeah I know what you mean about those heavy 7-1/4” blade Saws My forearms start to burn.
Careful Jim, you'll put you eye out with that thing!
Actually I've been needing something for breaking down planks before trying to weave them into the shop. Same deal as with you, I can drag out the circular saw or jig saw, but then need to place the board near an outlet. It would be nice to just slide an end out of the shipping container and whack off what I need.
Of course the name "Bauer" doesn't inspire strength and cunning, unless you think of Jack Bauer (24), then hell yeah!
I have a Milwaukee 5” circular saw that I use for the same sorts of things. No dust port, but otherwise good, and metal cutting blades will fit it as well, so I use it to cut 1/8” O-1 steel for making knife (or screwdriver) blanks, too.
Being an animal lover and hate feeding mice to snakes...I choose to be a battery guy (no, not the arrestable type)... convenience... permits toting emergency tools in the boot of the car... including cordless saws (wont embarras a picture of my Ryobi cordless... though it's not as compact).
Please don't get me wrong, it's great to reveal handy tools you come across... many may be motivated or at least enlightened (no sarcasm inferred).
More reviews should be posted to make us non internet surfers/readers become aware of products we normally wouldn't come across. Hell, the more gadgets I have in the workshop, the less chance for dust to settle on the floor.
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
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