Sidewinder Saws

SIDEWINDER SAWS JUNE JLC 1999 Istill have the first circular saw I ever bought: a Skil model 553. After almost 30 years, it's beat up and the bearings howl, but I still use it once or twice a year with an abrasive blade to cut roof flashing reglets in masonry. Given the probable life span of a good saw and the amount of use it will get, it's worth thinking carefully about what you want in a saw before buying a new one. What Makes a Good Saw? While worm-drive saws are popular in the West (see "In-Line Circular Saws," 4/99), sidewinders are the circular saw of choice among most carpenters. Ultimately, what makes for a good sidewinder is