Customer Reviews
Great saw with great power 
2008-05-03
I picked up this saw at a pawnshop for $99. Hadn't been too heavily used (it appeared to have the original Dewalt blade on it). I slapped a $17 Dewalt diamond blade on it and cut through 25 linear feet of 2cm granite with it in an afternoon. It's technically a framing saw, but it's powerful enough to work as a masonry saw.
Pros: Lots of power. Better balanced (in my opinion) than most other worm-drive or sidewinder circular saws. Fairly water resistant (I was running a hose over the granite and blade while I cut, about a gallon per foot). Easy to change blades, quick-release levers for adjustments.
Cons: Trigger is not very ergonomic, nor is the handle. I wear welding gloves when doing cutting, and have big hands, and there wasn't much room to spare in the grip. The trigger spring weight is very heavy and can get wearying on your finger on long cuts.
Simply put, if you want a quality circular saw that's at close to professional level without having to pay exorbitant prices, this is a good bet.
Disappointing Durability 
2007-12-01
Nice Saw and I've owned it for three years. Not a lot of use and it always performed well. I loaned it to a fellow I know well to build a dog house. When I get it back it acts like I need new brushes. Take it into service center and they say the armature has a burned spot. I don't think the guy that borrowed it abused it. Anyway DeWalt says $86 to repair it, still have to add tax to that.
I can get another recon for $109 (free shipping and no tax) and that comes with a new saw warranty. Keep in mind also this saw has a current recall for safety problems. Maybe the Makita or Skill Mag would be a better choice. The Makta is the same price in a recon so maybe I'll give that a try. Since the Delta/Porter Cable accqusition more and more stuff is coming from China. I just don't think DeWalt is the same quality it used to be.
pretty damn good 2006-12-21
this thing has some spunk. nice torque and cuts through everything.i guess i just don't like the design. i own alot of dewalts, and this one does cut among the best of them.
The DEWALT CEO manager only drink coffee every day 
2006-10-13
I am professinal contractor,I own so many saws , mostly Makitas . Before I want to buy new circular saw, I check Consumer Report and all customer reviews from Amazons. I decide to buy Dewalt, because come with case and its heavy duty with good price. My other 2 choice is BOSCH which you have to buy extension cord seperad and you can't find it anywhere . Another one is Milwaukee wormdrive saw which I have to pay $50 for a none professinal steel case.Total will be over $300. Anyway,When I open my new DEWALT saw,
I find out, First its made in Mexico. Second, the case is very bad design, there's a 1 inch screw under the saw, thought the saw already have a lot scartch. Third, the saw is not bevel exactly on Zero, and you can't setup.
Because you need special tool to do that.I had to return the saw, That's why I advise all Managers from Dewalt don't just drink coffee in your office, or you loose power buyer like me and all my professional contractor's friends.
Good, but there are better 
2006-07-30
I have used this saw on a couple job sites, and have found it to be a very nice saw. it is powerful, light, and comes with a built in skyhook. The only problem with it is that dewalt turned the motor up at an angle and moved the handle in. I am sure that this contributes to the saw's excelent balence and light feel, but I prefer the handle setup on the skil/bosch saw due to the fact that it provides just a little more reach, and being used the Mag77, it just feels weird. In my opinion, the bosch is a better saw. It has all the good points of the dewalt, but a more convential and comfortable handle.
The ultimate framing saw 2006-05-11
DeWalt's high-torque framing saw is a good option for people who prefer the torque of a traditional worm drive saw but don't have time (or memory) for the regular oiling worm drives require. It has a 15 amp motor that provides 2,000 watts of output power. The bevel and depth-of-cut gauges cannot be recalibrated, so after taking a few hard jolts users may want to rely on a tape and secondary bevel gauge for accuracy. That said, although the base is narrow, it's one of the toughest bases we've seen and it isn't likely to warp easily. While its design is similar to that of a worm drive saw, the gearing is situated at an angle to the base, keeping the handle closer to the blade and making for better balance and control than what most worm drives offer. The shaft lock button is on the opposite side of the saw from the blade, so blade changes require some awkward hand positioning to use the wrench while holding the button--not an ideal situation, but not a huge inconvenience either. We appreciate the easy external brush access on this tool, which can eliminate a trip to the repair shop as the saw ages. We also like the built-in rafter hook, a bonus feature not found on other circular saws. This DeWalt has only been on the market for three years, so while the hypoid gearing lets it provide the same level of torque as a worm drive saw, it remains to be seen whether it has the long life span we've come to expect from our old worm drives. We think it's a great saw for people looking for a burly circular saw at a reasonable price.
--Brian Trinen
Excellent Choice 
2006-03-25
I had read several reviews before making a purchase on a saw. I am extremely glad that I chose this one. The only gripe that I have with it is it can be tough to hang on to when you start it up. After that It is great. It cuts very nice and has plenty of power. I also bought one of the blades for cutting concrete and the saw works beautifully for that also. I would reccomend this saw for anyone wanting a quality saw for not an extreme amount of money
Nice balance and handling 2006-03-13
The saw feels natural in your hand. Controls are easy to use and logically placed. I prefer the metal base on my old "Skilsaw" though.
Four Stars- Until It Broke 2005-11-23
This DeWalt saw has been excellent to me over the past 4+ years. It is comfortable, light in weight, powerful, and accurate. The rafter hook is great, and i've used this saw for cutting green wood, dried wood, engineered lumber, rebar, sheet metal, aluminum decking, stucco, and concrete. Recently while scoring a concrete slab, the gears gave out. While the shaft gear is in perfect condition, the armature gear is obliterated, and that happens to be the most expensive piece to replace as the gear is not available seperately from the armature.
WOW! What a saw! 2005-04-13
I am a carpenter and have owned a lot of different circular saws throughout the years. This saw is by far the best one in my arsenal. The power and speed that it plows through any stock that I am cutting is just amazing. Even on angle cuts or when the stock is wet, this saw just plows right through it where other saws bog down. And being right handed, I now have an excellent view of the cutting surface. This saw is now the only one that goes to the job with me. I won't be without it.
