Tool Test: Worm Drive Saws, continued
Bosch 1677M | Amps: 15 Weight: 14.0 pounds Rpm: 4,400 Maximum bevel: 50 degrees Maximum depth of cut at 90, 50, 45
degrees: 2 3/8", 1 13/16", 1 15/16" Street price: $199 |
Bosch and Skil are
part of the same company, so it's no surprise that the
1677M resembles the Skil models. Skil's saws haven't
changed in years, but the 1677M has a number of
improved features. It weighs about the same as the Skil
HD77M but is equipped with a more powerful 15-amp
motor. It has a built-in rafter hook, comfortable
rubber grip, and a maximum bevel of 50 degrees. The
guard doesn't stick, and the magnesium base plate is
reinforced with waffle-patterned ribs. The bevel
adjustment worked well, but the depth adjustment
mechanism began to stick after a few weeks of use. |
Bosch 1678 | Amps: 15 Weight: 15.0 pounds Rpm: 4,400 Maximum bevel: 50 degrees Maximum depth of cut at 90, 50, 45
degrees:
2 3/8", 1 13/16", 1 15/16" Street price: $179 |
When I pulled
this saw out of the box, the crew crowded around to try
it. We're all dedicated wormdrive users and wanted to
try this inline model that looks like a sidewinder. The
1678 has the same features as the 1677M — the
only difference is that the handle is on top. After
using it, we all agreed it was the most uncomfortable
saw we ever tried. We're used to pushing from the back
of the tool, and the top-mounted handle forced us to
bend our wrists at what seemed like a very unnatural
angle. |
DeWalt DW378G | Amps: 15 Weight: 13.0 pounds Rpm: 4,600 Maximum bevel: 50 degrees Maximum depth of cut at 90, 50, 45
degrees: 2 1/2", 1 13/16", 2" Street price: $139 |
The unusual
configuration of the DW378 took some getting used to,
but it soon became our favorite saw. It's stable,
maneuverable, and, at 13 pounds, very easy to lift. The
rear-mount handle is unusually short, and that makes
for better balance. The guard works well; I don't
recall it ever snagging during normal use. The DeWalt
saw features a 50-degree bevel, 15-amp motor, and a
built-in rafter hook. The base plate is Teflon coated
and reinforced with waffle-patterned ribs. |
Makita 5277NB | Amps: 15 Weight: 15.0 pounds Rpm: 4,300 Maximum bevel: 50 degrees Maximum depth of cut at 90, 50, 45
degrees: 2 3/8", 1 9/16", 1 3/4" Street price: $159 |
We didn't know what
to expect from this saw because none of us had ever
seen inline Makita saws on local job sites. But once we
started using it, this quickly became one of our
favorites. The motor runs very smoothly and, unlike
most of the other saws, reaches full speed as soon as
you press the trigger. The 5277NB has a comfortable
rubber grip, a bevel scale that's easy to read and
adjust, and a well-designed guard that doesn't hang up
on small cuts. |
Makita 5277B | Amps: 13 Weight: 15.0 pounds Rpm: 4,300 Maximum bevel: 50 degrees Maximum depth of cut at 90, 50, 45
degrees: 2 3/8", 1 9/16", 1 23/32" Street price: $179 |
This is the 13-amp
predecessor to Makita's 15-amp 5277NB. The bevel and
depth adjustments work smoothly, and the guard doesn't
hang up on small cuts. It feels a little lighter than
the 15-amp model, and the motor is definitely less
powerful. Because of this, the 5277 was one of the saws
that tended to stay in the truck. |
Milwaukee 6377-6 | Amps: 15 Weight: 16.8 pounds Rpm: 4,400 Maximum bevel: 45 degrees Maximum depth of cut at 90, 50, 45
degrees: 2 3/8", n/a, 1 7/8" Street price: $229 |
Our first
reaction to this saw was, What a beast! It weighs 16.8
pounds, and that's a real load. The added weight made
it easier to keep the saw on the cut line when we
ripped, but it made it hard to use the tool for
anything that required finesse. The 15-amp motor is
smooth and powerful, and the super-thick cord will
probably last forever. On the other hand, the cord's so
thick you can't knot it to the extension, so it's
always coming unplugged. |
Skil HD77 | Amps: 13 Weight: 16.0 pounds Rpm: 4,400 Maximum bevel: 45 degrees Maximum depth of cut at 90, 50, 45
degrees: 2 3/8", n/a, 1 15/16" Street price: $165 |
The HD77 is the
benchmark for wormdrive saws; it's been around longer
than most of the framers on our crew and has earned a
reputation for running smooth and being durable. That
said, there are a number of irritating things about
this saw. The guard snags when you cut shims or trim
1/4 inch off the end of a board. It's inevitable that a
saw will get dropped, and the depth adjustment on this
one started to bind after a couple of falls. |
Skil HD77M | Amps: 13 Weight: 14.0 pounds Rpm: 4,400 Maximum bevel: 45 degrees Maximum depth of cut at 90, 50, 45
degrees: 2 3/8", n/a, 1 15/16" Street price: $175 |
This saw is nearly
identical to the HD77 but is a couple of pounds lighter
because the base plate and housing are magnesium. It
cuts smoothly but shares the same irritations as the
HD77. The guard tends to snag, and the depth adjustment
binds after a couple of falls. The flat magnesium base
plate is not very sturdy. The saw we had fell off the
horses onto the ground, and the edge of the base got
bent. I would expect even more damage if the saw ever
took a big fall onto concrete. |