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i got this from amazon at first but i returned it as it did not have the more powerful saw part. great saw that does what it is intended, cutting thick material. got one from the company that makes the modifications for a little cheaper.
That having been said, it is a wonderfully powerful saw, zipping through the hardest cuts you can throw at it. Another thing, and probably the most important in framing is that I can build a doubled rafter and cut it at 45 degrees or a lesser angle in one pass without having to follow up with the handsaw. No more having to roll 4x4 or 4x6 material to complete the cuts with your 7 1/4 inch saw, or finish the cut with a hand saw either. To use it one handed you need forearms like Popeye. Evidently in the time since the more critical reviews of this saw were written, the manufacturer has corrected the cosmetic flaws that existed with the earlier models.The fit and finish and resultant usability of this saw are as good as any available on the market today.
Big Foot does them in one pass. This saw is heavier than the worm drive saws you might be used to. Knots in old wood and hidden nails do not even slow it down. If you are a builder you need this saw. You might get smoke and sparks, but that would be the only indication.
We are using this saw with a Freud, 40 tooth Diablo 10 1/4" blade to cut our timber frame house. We are cutting about 3 3/4" deep in all of the big timbers with a smooth as glass finish.
This saw will only cut through a "nominal" 4x4. In those days, this saw could gang cut your studs, but no longer, unless you're not building to code.If you want to cut through doubled plates, then an 8-1/4 inch saw will do the same for a fraction of the cost and far less weight. The only saw that competes with it might be the Big Foot 14 Inch Circular Saw. The Makita cuts 6-1/4 inches deep, the Big Foot 14 cuts 5-3/4 inches deep.
I own the Makita. If you are going to be cutting green 4x4's, this saw will not cut through them. Or, if you want to gang cut a stick framed house, this saw won't help you. There's no doubt that they are fine saws, and powerful, but take a deep breath. The Makita costs less.The Big Foot 14 inch saw looks cooler.Choose wisely.
if you want to build that log cabin or timber frame out of true 4x4's, this saw won't help you. This circular saw really will cut just about all your beams in one pass and will gang cut a modern stick framed wall. The advantage of the Big Foot is that it weighs half as much as the Makita. Grown men act like babbling little boys running for the ice cream truck whenever they hear the words "worm drive". It's relatively new).If you just have to have a 10-1/4 saw, then I would probably choose the Big Foot over the Makita 5201NA 10-1/4-Inch Circular Saw.
except convert it to a 10-1/4 Circular saw.However, who really needs 10-1/4. There is a Worm Drive cult in the carpentry world. So. You'll need at least 5-1/2 inches to gang cut the modern stick framed house. I've used the Big Foot 14 incher. I too can't resist the siren call of the worm-driven saw, even if it's going to cost me $50 dollars more.However, if you *really* want a saw that cut's everything, the Makita 5402A or 5402NA is the saw you want.
I can due virtually anything a worm drive can do with my little 10.5 Amp makita circular saw. I suspect that when this conversion kit was invented, 2x4 walls were code. (As of writing this, Amazon still isn't selling the saw. Makita's new 5008MGA, Magnesium 8-1/4 Inch SideWinder cuts 3 inches deep, 3/4 of an inch less than the Big Foot for twice the price.
I'm really happy with this saw. If you're cutting 4x stock, you shouldn't be without one of these. It performs just as I expected. I've been using the Big Foot for several years now.
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