Cheap but reliable circular saw wanted

Pretty much any circular saw will work OK. Green Bosch, Evolution, Worx etc.

ALDI have an 18v cordless for £69:99 at the moment, I've just bought one.

Do make up a sawboard;

It will turn any cheap saw into a precision instrument.

Thanks.

Why didn't I think of that before: I just used to use a straight edge clamped down after adjusting for blade. This is so much easier (slaps forehead for missing the obvious!)

I made a saw-board once, the very next time I used the saw it burnt out! And was the distance from edge of sole-plate to blade on the replacement saw narrower, so I could re-cut it? No, no it wasn't.

So now I have a dymo label on the saw with the offsets from each edge of the sole-plate to each edge of the blade, and use a self-clamping straight edge, if I needed to do a full 8' sheet cut I'd probably get round to making a new saw-board.

I have one of these. It's fine. Buy decent blades.

Would you really buy a cordless circular saw for occasional use? My big circular saw - which gets occasional use - is maybe 30 years old, and still fine. A cordless one would have been replaced several times in that period due to battery failure - even if never used.

What he says!

A vote for the Evolution because they have a special blade which, while fine for wood, will also cut aluminium and thin steel sheet. Screwfix had a good deal on them recently but I think it has now expired. On eBay you will find their own site which also sells so-called B-grade machines (presumably returns or ones which failed some QA check?). I have one of their chop saws from this source and it is absolutely fine.

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This one that you posted about last month

It's still only £50.

Dunno if you saw my reply to your post but I did buy one (and gave reasons for doing so)

Is yours an extra vote in its favour then?

It most certainly is a vote in favour.

Thanks Adam - looks as if a quick trip to town is on for tomorrow.

If you have bought one then give us your feedback when you have used it.

I was tempeted by the 50 quid Evolution, but the reviews on SF's site are rather mixed re. quality, so feedback would be very useful.

Another vote in favour of the evolution. Got one from sf a while back and I like it. I also have the evolution mitre - I think I got that first and followed with the circular saw.

I'm sure they're not up the standard of makita, dewalt, etc, for for a diyer I think they're fine.

FWIW.... only used it so far to cut out some damaged loft boarding but it felt a good balance in the hand and the cut guide seems pretty true to the blade (cut freehand). Sole plate seems pretty robust. Cut depth easily adjustable but can't speak for cutting angle setting as not used.

Much better than my previous c30 yr old B&D - now you know why I only wanted a cheap one! :)

Not much help I know but hope its of some assistance. I'll be using it again in a couple of months or so on some oak which will probably give it a more serious test - I'm not expecting it not to perform though. Won't be used on any form of metal (at least, not that I can envisage).

ok fixed...

If you look at the reviews from low to high I love the second lowest review and the star ratings done by mmcp42.

He said

Good value and worked a treat "needed to trim a couple of doors after new carpet laid cut through both doors in no time really pleased with the results "

and then gave the saw a 1 star rating on everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The mind boggles at that one.