Makita 5007N
Price $110
The Makita was one of the top-rated sidewinder circular saws in the test. The testers liked its great blade and excellent shoe that helps produce a fantastic cut.
The tool is quieter than most, and has good dust flow out of a port at the back of the guard. And the quiet ride can be attributed to a lack of blade vibration, which leaves a very smooth cut behind.
When changing a blade on the Makita, there is an on-board Allen-key storage area and an arbor lock that activates in 1⁄12 of a rotation by a metal push flange that’s positioned well, at the right of the front handle.
The only negative reported is the front handle grip. Testers found the saw to be well-balanced and easy to grab, but they also found the hollow front grip to be too small and flimsy.
Porter-Cable PC15CSLK
Price $100
The best feature of the Porter-Cable circular saw is its comfort level. The tool was designed with a large top grip for easy control. This unique, full-width front handle is very useful when cutting at odd angles or pushing the saw from the side. This comfort level also helps you control the cut while following a line. The tool is also equipped with a laser guide, which is aligned accurately, although some testers felt its beam was too thick.
When changing blades, our testers found the on-board wrench storage was handy but thought the wrench itself was thin and short, and that it protruded too far when in storage. Also, the blade nut has only about 1⁄8" of hex-head depth, making it easy for the wrench to slip off the nut while tightening or loosening.
Dust control was another issue for the testers. One tester called the dust chute ineffective and often testers thought its dust collection wasn’t nearly as good as the other saws.
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