The best circular saws for the home 2022, rating 13, which is the most reliable

A circular saw is a universal carpentry tool designed for cutting any type of wood in a short time. With the support of the master, Andrey Perepelkin, we checked several dozen circular papers. As a result of tests and checking customer reviews, we prepared a rating of the best circular saws of 2021. The TOP includes the most successful and reliable models to date. We considered only hand-held universal circular saws for home use.

Thanks to its special design, the saw can guarantee precise straight cuts at any angle. Traditionally, the best equipment for cutting wood is produced by the Japanese company Makita. Next in terms of reliability are the companies HITACHI, BOSCH, DeWALT, ZUBR, HAMMER. The manufacturer Bosch has a blue tool - this is a professional tool, which means it is made of higher quality and more reliable, the green series is a tool for the home, also of high quality, but the components are simpler.

Technical characteristics of circular saws

When choosing a circular saw for your home, first of all pay attention to the technical characteristics that are given below.

Motor power

Power affects the performance of the tool. The higher this indicator, the thicker the products can be cut using a saw.

If you need to spread the board lengthwise, then the power needed is from 1600 W.

In carpentry, there are 3 classes of circular saws, depending on power:

Up to 1000 W – lightweight and compact devices designed for cutting plywood or thin boards.
1000 – 1500 W – semi-professional saws for use on a small construction site. Suitable for cutting small beams, logs or thick boards. If used at home, such a saw will last longer than a low-power one.
From 1500 W – a professional tool with a long engine life allows you to work up to 6 hours a day with breaks.

Disc rotation speed

A characteristic that affects the speed of operation. Most often, this indicator directly depends on engine power. When processing hardwood at high speeds, the risk of jamming of the working element due to the resistance of the material is reduced. Semi-professional models have a rotation speed of 5200 - 6000 rpm - this is a good indicator for purchase.

Cutting depth

One of the main criteria for choosing a circular saw is the cutting depth of the material. A characteristic that directly depends on the power and diameter of the cutting disc. When purchasing a household saw, the maximum cutting depth will not exceed 55 mm, and a professional tool will easily cut wood 80 mm or more thick.

From 40 to 46 mm , which is considered a shallow depth, and a tool that satisfies this parameter is a household one.
From 50 to 55 mm – the saw is capable of cutting thick floorboards or small bars.
From 65 to 70 mm – using the tool you can cut non-load-bearing elements of the frame of a wooden house.
From 65 to 140 mm - a professional saw that can quickly cut small beams or several boards at the same time.

Working at an angle

This characteristic most likely relates to the base of the device rather than to the saw itself. The bed on some hand saws has skids and a locking mechanism to allow you to set the angle of inclination, which is convenient when working with doors, baseboards or furniture.

Which sole (platform) is better?

All experts write that a cast sole is best. But saws with good cast soles are expensive.

The main thing is to look at the quality of the sole, and not at the production method. Even if the sole is forged, but thick and hard, then such a sole is no worse than a cast one.

Circulars costing up to 5,000 rubles generally have flimsy stamped soles.

Saws with a price of 5,000-10,000 rubles are cast or stamped, but thick and hard!

Battery type

Wireless, battery-powered devices allow you to cut wood in any hard-to-reach place. Although it sounds like an advertising slogan, it is truly a useful type of tool. If you deal with sawing work once every six months, then a cordless saw is of no use to you; this category of saws is more suitable for professional use.

There are two main types of batteries for household power tools:

Lithium-ion (Li-Ion) are modern batteries that do not lose capacity after replenishing energy at any level of residual charge. The downside is low frost resistance - the battery loses efficiency when used in subzero temperatures (this is in theory). In practice, people calmly work with them in both cold and hot weather.
Nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries are obsolete but still widely used. To replenish the capacity, they require complete discharge, but at the same time, they are convenient when working in extreme conditions. It is better not to buy such batteries, and there are not many of them left on the market.

Battery voltage - there are 3 main types on sale - 10.8 V, 12 V, 18 V. As a rule, the higher the voltage created inside the battery, the more powerful the tool. The best batteries on the market are considered to be products from brands such as Metabo and Bosch. Before purchasing a new battery, you need to study what voltage range a particular device is designed for.

Do you need a level or a laser pointer?

This option allows you to accurately adhere to the cutting path when operating the tool, since the beam indicates the direction of movement of the saw. However, the presence of such equipment does not guarantee an ideal result, since its achievement depends on the experience of the master and the steadiness of his hand when working.

Additional devices

Additional functionality will not only extend the life of the saw, but also prevent situations that are dangerous for the master.

The soft start device will protect the engine from overloads;
The speed control device automatically adds power for denser material;
The anti-jamming device will prevent the disc from breaking when it is clamped by the material;
Overload protection will protect the tool from damage;
The instantaneous braking device will stop the rotation in the shortest possible time;
Adjustment of rotation speed and depth of cut;
The sawdust drainage pipe will keep the work surface clean;
The laser pointer and LED are optional, but can greatly simplify the work in some cases.

Which circular saw to choose for your home or garden?

Purchasing a new circular saw can be a real problem for a beginner, given the large selection, range of prices and product parameters at the retail outlet. When choosing the most suitable tool, you should be guided by the following principles:

If a tool is constantly needed in a country house or at home to perform standard construction or finishing work, a circular saw with an average power of 1500 W and a cutting depth of at least 55 mm is suitable. If you need to spread the board lengthwise, then the power needed is from 1600 W.
If thin pine boards, for example, lining, as well as laminate or plywood, are to be cut, then a power of up to 1000 W with a cutting depth of up to 40 - 45 mm will be quite sufficient.
If you need to make cuts in hard-to-reach places where you need to hold the device suspended, the best solution would be to buy a cordless tool with a small diameter saw blade.
When it comes to building a wooden house and long-term use, it is better to opt for professional equipment with a power of 1.9 - 2.2 kW.
If you need to create an opening under the sink or hob in the kitchen countertop, you should use a jigsaw.
If you need to constantly harvest wood for large construction projects or for sale, you should consider purchasing a stationary circular saw.

The final purchasing decision depends on the type of intended use and the type of activity of the master. If the work involves woodworking, in most cases, only a professional tool is suitable, but for household use 1 – 2 times a month, you should opt for budget, inexpensive models.

The structure of a circular saw

Last but not least, the popularity of the circular hand saw is due to the simplicity of this tool. The circular electric hand saw consists of the following elements:

saw blade;
electric motor;
housings with a handle or two;
a protective casing, the function of which is to cover the disk from above and below;
a holding platform necessary to position the disc;
a riving knife, which is necessary to prevent the disc from getting stuck in the wood during work.

The saw blade is secured to the electric motor shaft with several bolts. Accordingly, replacing it will not take much time.

The best corded circular saws

Circular saws are very popular among consumers, and people often share positive and negative reviews with each other. As a rule, the quality of the product greatly depends on the brand under which the power tool is manufactured. The best models are presented below in descending order.

Classic circular saws with a cable for connecting to the network are widely used in construction and repair.

Makita 5008MG, 1800 W

Rating:5.0

Power: 1800 W
Disc diameter: 210 mm
Rotation speed: 5200 rpm
Functions: backlight
Weight: 5.1 kg

Average price: RUB 12,987

The first place in the ranking goes to a manual circular saw for the home from Japan. Molded sole. The saw operates from a standard AC mains voltage of 220 V.

The powerful device produces a rotation speed of a disk with a diameter of 210 mm up to 5200 rpm with a cutting depth of up to 75 mm.

The bed can provide bevel cuts in 3 positions - 90, 45 and 22.5 degrees, as well as cutting depth, thanks to the ability to adjust in 2 directions.

The built-in dust collector will keep the work area clean.

The ergonomic rubberized handle fits well in the hand, allowing you to work for a long time, and a bright light will help illuminate the cutting line to improve cutting accuracy.

The working body of the saw is covered with a folding steel casing, guaranteeing safety during operation. The casing does not jam or cling.

When changing the disk, the spindle is securely locked, which reduces the risk of injury.

There is nothing superfluous in the saw.

BOSCH GKS 190, 1400 W

Rating:4.9

Power: 1400 W
Disc diameter: 190 mm
Rotation speed: 5500 rpm
Functions: engine braking
Weight: 4.2 kg

Average price: RUB 9,137

Second place goes to a hand-held circular saw from Germany, whose engine can reach a speed of 5500 rpm.

The device is capable of cutting through a layer of wood up to 70 mm thick at a right angle and 50 mm at a 45-degree inclination. The disc size is 190 mm with a mounting hole size of 30 mm.

The saw weighs only 4.2 kg, which allows it to be used not only on horizontal, but also on vertical surfaces, as well as in hard-to-reach places.

The device has a built-in dust collection option, as well as automatic blowing away of sawdust that interferes with work.

The circular saw is equipped with a convenient steel stand with markings that help you set the exact position of the cutting line for any type of wood.

The disc replacement process occurs while the spindle is locked, which guarantees complete safety.

DeWALT DWE560B, 1350 W

Rating:4.8

Power: 1350 W
Disc diameter: 184 mm
Rotation speed: 5500 rpm
Functions: vacuum cleaner connection
Weight: 3.7 kg

Safety precautions

Carrying out work using a circular saw does not require special knowledge and skills. However, to protect himself from injury, the operator must know the basic rules for using this tool.
When starting work, it is recommended to wear safety glasses so that sawdust does not get into the gas and interfere with making cuts. It is also important to choose the right clothes in which the user will not only feel comfortable, but also completely safe. It is unacceptable to wear loose clothes so that they do not get caught in the moving mechanism. When supporting boards and other workpieces, keep your fingers parallel to the cutting line to avoid damaging them.
After completing the work, you must not only turn off the saw, but also install a lock for accidental activation, if such a function is provided, or be sure to unplug the power cable from the outlet. It is necessary to change elements, repair, clean or inspect only with the unit completely switched off.
The cutting must be carried out carefully, extremely carefully, and slowly.

Saw blade

An important part of the tool that comes into contact with the material being processed. It differs in several ways:

Alloy. Carbide discs are used to work with wood and its derivatives. Soft alloy - for processing metal workpieces, such as profile sheets;
Soldering. Saw blade without soldering for straight cuts in soft woods. Hard metal tipped wheels are used for working with hard wood, plastic, metal - they cut everything;
Number of teeth. The more teeth, the smoother the cut. For example, for plywood - 140 teeth. For wood and laminated chipboard, 56 is enough. For simple housework, an inexpensive disc with 40 teeth is suitable;
Tooth sharpening angle. For wood, discs with a positive sharpening angle are used, in the direction of rotation. For metal, nozzles with a negative sharpening angle are used, against the direction of rotation.