how do you replace the blade on a circular saw?

It's not just a case of "precision" work! I've got both an older Crapsman 7" and a newer PC 7 1/4" LH blade. The Crapsman gets used ONLY with a guide, the PC both free-hand and with it's own guide. Until you've experienced the difference the better saw and BASE can make, you find it hard to believe. The PC just seems to *glide* along the cut, and you have to *push* the Crapsman on its stamped steel base. Yes, I've tried cleaning, smoothing, waxing, you name it, still can't come close to the way the PC works.

Reply to
Norman D. Crow
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My circular saw IS the stone axe of my tool selection. It is right there next to the Sawzall and chain saw.

Reply to
Greg

FWIW, my Dad had a Craftsman, I have worm-drive Skil. In practical terms I can't see any real difference between them except that my great grandchildren if I ever have any and if they are interested in such matters, will likely still be using the Skil.

What's special about the PC base?

Reply to
J. Clarke

On 28 Jun 2004 00:17:36 -0700, snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com (c a) vaguely proposed a theory ......and in reply I say!:

remove ns from my header address to reply via email

You are either a twit or a medium-good TROLL.

reply with thanks to the nice gentlemen who have helped, ya'all.

Reply to
Old Nick

Absolutely. In my shop I have a collection of circular saws. I have an old B&D plastic wonder 7 1/4" that I bought a long time ago. It gets used only to cut nasty materials like masonry and the bushings scream all the while. I really should throw it out, but I don't want to use any of my better saws for this nasty work and so until it quits cutting, it stays in my shop. I also have a Milwaukee 7 1/4" saw that I like a lot. It's so steady in your hand, it never jumps when you hit the trigger. It's a bit of a pain to set the depth, but it's a Milwaukee, so you're really not allowed to complain about that. I've got a couple of other old timers laying under the work bench as well, but the one I grab the most now is this really cheap 5 1/2" B&D that was I brother's and I ended up with it after he was killed. It's light as a feather, very easy to cut with, jumps more than any saw should when you hit the trigger, so you quickly learn not to pull the trigger right at the cut, but is just so doggoned easy to use that I use it most. It's a junk saw by every definition, and it will break some day, I'm sure, but until it does, I'll just keep on using it.

Just my little story - but then again, I'm one of those guys with a 30+ year old Craftsman Model 100 Table saw, and I love the thing. Still can't see any reason to upgrade it. I put a decent fence system on it, built extensions, and it's rewarded me by acting like a more expensive saw. On the other hand, I'm also one of those guys that ditched a Craftsman 1/4" router and bought a DeWalt 618B.

Reply to
Mike Marlow

Not absolutely sure right this moment. This is the 743/843, now discontinued, replaced by their "MAG" series. I *think* the base is magnesium, ribbed, and powder-coated. I know that it slides along very nicely, and cuts beautifully, and has PLENTY of power. DAMHIKT!(kicked back on me when cutting free-hand once. My fault, board slipped off support.)

Reply to
Norman D. Crow

I can see where the ribbing and possibly the powder-coating would help. FWIW, a piece of wide UHMW tape stuck on the shoe should smooth up the movement of any saw, the problem is that a 4" wide roll of the stuff costs more than the Porter Cable saw. I've got a big box of engineering samples of that kind of stuff that I collected over the years--sometimes I don't quite realize what I'm using until I use some of it up and go to replace it .

Reply to
J. Clarke

I do, when I can't get the piece to the table saw....

Reply to
bridger

Agreed, but i am inclined to suppose there is a big difference in sales volume between Lee Valley and Sears.

Reply to
Fred the Red Shirt

Gaaawd - I love the smell of a good Craftsman string in the morning!!!

Oh hell - Ill Jump In. I just replaced the brushes in a 35 year old Craftsman circular saw. I believe this was the first set. On the shelf next to it is a 32 year old Craftsman Scroll Saw and similar vintage belt sander. All good tools that seem to last forever, if you install enough replacement cords and plugs. I have a set of Craftsman hand tools that were given to me by in-laws nearly 38 years ago and a 1956 vintage Craftsman 4" Jointer that is built like a fire plug and works fine. I used to go to Sears anytime I needed a tool. That was 25-35 years ago.

Would I buy a Craftsman tool today - Probably not. Sometime during the past

25 years or so, they turned their backs on their loyal following.

Yes their hand tools are still good, but why pay 2 to 3 times the price of a Master Mechanic socket set with exactly the same warranty - lifetime!

About 20 to 25 years ago they started selling gaseous features like 1 HP motors with 2HP starting power - excuse me, but I cut after the saw blade comes up to speed. Also digital readouts for table saws that didn't even work on the store floor. In my opinion this kind of marketing was a direct insult to intelligent customers like us.

Has anyone looked at their new line of lathes or their so-called cabinet saw? They seem to cost as much as the competition. Are serious woodworkers buying these stylized plastic laden tools?

I think Sears positioned themselve so serve the consumer who wanted a tool NOW, didn't have cash available but did have a Sears charge account. That Worked for a while.

It is particularly telling that Sears is now selling Jet machinery. Wonder why?

Enough

Reply to
RonB

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