I am not a fan of circular hand saws - is this an OK substitution for making straight, clean cuts in lumber?
833436
Not really. This is for finesse work where you need to do something delicate - undercut a door jamb, for instance. For lumber, either a circular saw or a chop saw, depending upon you exact application.
833437
No way. You'd get frustrated long before you got through your first cut trying with the Fein. I love the Fein but it won't work as a circ replacement.
833438
I would think that you would have to be pretty good at holding it on the line to make a long clean cut. It is more of a specialty tool that makes life easier by cutting things out of the way such as the bottom of trim on a door frame to put a new floor under so that you don't have to take off the trim .. or cutting holes in sheetrock to put in an electrical box, or cutting apart a metal window frame so you can just pull the window our and put in the replacement.
833439
Absolutely not.....great tool but not a substitute for a circ saw.....you would be better off using a Jig saw as a replacement
833440
not really it is more for tight places that you can't get to or cutting off door jambs that are already set so that you can slide flooring under the jamb things like that it will cut the lumber ok but it will take alot long than a circular saw and it is to hard to hold straight to cut 2x4s and what not. Hope this helps
833441
This is an awesome tool, but it's not a good substitute for straight wood cutting.
833442
It's better suited to trim work and hard to reach cuts. Blades are expensive for all manufacturers. You can use other company's blades with adapter sold at Home Depot.
429115
This is a hack saw that is used for metal. Since you need one to cut light weight wood such as bass wood, poplar or pine check out the Stanley 20-221 mini utility saw. This kind of saw would be good for wood probably less than 1/2" thick. If you want to cut thicker wood check out the cross cut saws. They all are rated not just by length but by the number of points (PTS). The more points the finer the cut, it also means it will take longer to cut through the wood. If you are doing modeling type of work you can use several different types of saws but if you just want to cut straight a dovetail saw may help, there are also gent saws a smaller version. If need to cut circular patterns a coping saw or the lighter weight fret saw may be what you need. I realize that you only asked a simple question and I, obviously, gave a very long answer but I don't know exactly what you want to cut so I apologize. It just may be the first two options should be the choice to make.
1635933
Not unless you have a miter box. The problem isn't the saw - it makes fantastic cuts. The problem is that trim and moulding require very precise angles at the cuts, or else you get ugly gaps and mis-matched joints. To do that with any handsaw you either need superhuman control of your arm, or you need a miter box.
1764561
I have not used it for that purpose.The motor would handle soft wood but I don't think you will get a straight cut as youwould with a different saw.
1811290
If you're able to set up a jig for stability and accuracy - I think I would give it a try. It really puts a circular saw to the test though. Safety first!
1706505
Two totally different saws. Using a straight edge and a circular saw works but is a major PITA. I believe the heart to any home work shop is a table saw and my miter saw. Figure out how to own both and you will never regret the purchase. Let your wife read this post!
17888
I would suggest a more heavy duty saw. I used this one on some 3/8 oak plywood. Although it punched holes and cut through the material. It took way too long and was not very good at clean straight cuts. I would only use this for light sanding.
736718
Previous responses are on target. This is smaller than the typical "sawzall" and well suited to similar but smaller tasks. Is very well-suited to cutting in tight places where a larger saw may not fit.
1307296
The saw itself had no problem cutting 1" ID steel tubing with a wall thickness of 1/8". The cut was neat enough for what we wanted to do with it (re-sizing an air gun piston). When it comes to cutting flat metal, the saw has no problem for any reasonable thickness (less than 3/16) that I have attempted. That said, 1/16 or thinner tends to warp if you are just trying to rip a piece without bracing the sides of the cut. Now, I keep saying the "saw has no problem", because the commonly available Bosch blades don't last too long. HOWEVER, I wasn't going heavy enough with the oil (I assume), and I think the blades were overheating (warping and blackening).... So to sum up, the saw is not the problem, with the proper technique and blade the saw cuts metal of a thickness less than 3/16 quickly, and acceptably cleanly. May not apply to stainless steel though, no experience with stainless. -Edit- Remember to keep this saw spotless if you are cutting metal; it will crud up like crazy if you throw it aside with metal filings all over it. This is a quality tool.
977087
If you work with wood only then it's ok. But if you need to cut something with nails in it...then don't count on it. It simply can't cut it. I was cutting heating holes inside the frames house so they didn't work for me, plus they are too short for my needs. Now I'm using demolition blades only. Milwaukee is the best.
1589366
Yes---however, I would practice the cut first so you get the feel of the job. I rarely use my other hand saws any more.
1966581
I would think that this saw would be a good choice because it is a pull saw and being very thin can make a very clean cut. Hope this helps.
1672163
Milwaukee makes a nice stand for it, ands its very reasonably priced. The stand not a perfect substitute for full sized table bandsaw, in terms of making very fine accurate cuts, but it nonetheless works very well.
18815
You can use a straight edge to guide the saw but it must be quite thin since when the blade is at full cutting depth there is little clearance below the motor housing. The blade that comes with the saw is quite thin and has little set to the teeth, so cuts tend to be pretty clean. However if you plan to rip an 8 ft. sheet of 3/4 inch plywood, you will be disappointed: Not enough power or battery life to work well for an app like that.
2067775
I think the Festool circular saw + track does angled cuts. I imagine some of the less-expensive options do as well. But this jig doesn't even make propper straight cuts, so please don't buy it.
388087
How does a jigsaw compare to a table saw? Its not a rotary tool. I find it well suited for precision cuts or cuts in tight spaces; but, not for long or deep cuts. Molding, door frames, sheet metal. I'd use it to remove grout; but wouldn't be my choice concrete.
1534611
Well, I would not do it-inadequate fence, inadequate miter gage for wood, too much blade exposed for a toothed blade. I like my fingers and eyes too much to try a wood saw blade in a metal cutting saw. Unless you are in need of a metal cut off saw, this is not the saw you want.