Looking for a new 240v 190mm CC.......shortlisted these so far:
Bosch GKS65 £116 Skil 5866 Skilsaw classic £81 Hitachi C7U2 £112
All specs are similar, Skil is a bit cheaper but is the build quality as good as the others? Bosch has no hard card, just a bag but Lawsons have it at a good price compared to others.
I have the earlier version of the Hitachi C7. At the time, it was getting the best reviews on both sides of the Atlantic mainly because of the sturdiness of the cast plate and positive adjustment controls. I've been pleased with its results.
If a portable circular saw is going to be your principal method of panel cutting, you might find the Bosch interesting because it has adaptors to fit their guide rail system. That works for other tools in their professional range as well. OTOH, you can use any circular saw with a generic guide rail anyway, so it's not a huge advantage.
Mafell has an interesting product, Flexistem, which has a flexible guide rail as a metal band. It's about twice the price of the others but includes the rail. It would be interesting for someone doing a lot of site work. I've seen one demonstrated and doing a very credible job.
Skil is owned by Bosch these days, and tends to be a mid price offering. Quality is often better than the Bosch green tools, but perhaps not as good as the Blue ones. It does represent good value for money though.
I have used the large version of the Hitachi (the C9U) and would rate it as the best circular saw I have used. It has a high quality cast sole plate that keeps the whole thing rigid, and square. Controls operate nicely, and are sensibly positioned.
I have not tried the Bosch, so can't comment much other than to say the sole plate looks reasonable from the photos.
Makita 5704RK 190mm 1,200W £91:06 at Lawsons I have the smaller 5604 165mm jobby which is truly excellent.
Unimpressive. Like most Bosch power tools it's a premium price and not discounted by much. Some of their tools (jigsaws, drills, some sanders) are worth this, but others (circulars) aren't.
Skil kit used to be good and there seem to be old-stock Classics around at present. However the new design stuff is disposable crap and unworthy of their name.
Not bad. Good sole plate, splitter is a bit flimsy though (easily bent sideways and hard to straighten)
Best of the lot is the Makita
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