Before the invention of the Prazi Beam Cutter adapter a little over 10 years ago, cutting large beams typically meant making multiple passes with a circular saw. If you didn’t have the Prazi adapter and wanted to gang-cut rafters or floor joists, you may have pulled out a gas-powered chain saw.
Cordless tool technology has made chain saws more common on many framing sites today, and there are footplates available to make them more accurate for framing tasks. Skilsaw took things a few steps further by creating a dedicated carpentry chain saw that looks like a worm-drive saw (it is, at its core), and added a chain to it (Festool has had a similar product available in Europe for many years). Named after its 16-inch circular-saw cousin, the 16-inch Sawsquatch Carpentry Chain Saw has a 14-1/2-inch cut capacity. It is self-lubricating, it features a 56-tooth full house chain for more precise and efficient cutting, and it has on-board tool-less tensioning controls. Skilsaw says the 15-amp dual-field motor is specifically designed to keep the motor cool during use. The end of the blade is supported by the stationary blade guard and it can bevel up to 60 degrees, making it a legitimate choice if you want to gang-cut rafters. You can raise the unit slightly up from the footplate, setting the angle of the chain back slightly, which Skilsaw says helps make for a more accurate cut. There's also an adjustable splinter guard mounted to the footplate to minimize splintering. Depth of cut: at 90° is 14-1/2 inches; at 45° is 9-3/4 inches; at 60° is 6-7/16 inches. It comes equipped with a 10-foot cord and adjustable dust port, and includes an auxiliary handle and stand. Cost: $700
This article originally appeared in Tools of the Trade.
