circular saw conundrum

[Wild Turkey]

In the next couple of weeks I need to cut an old pool table slate into two or three pieces.

Diamond blade in circular saw is my best bet but that brings us to the problem


I have three circular saws: Craftsman that doesn't work (surprise
 ) Black and Decker that works but is pretty lightweight and a Milwaukee 6377 that needs a new worm gear ( bought it cheap since it needed work)

So here's the problem -- do I bite the bullet and buy a new saw?  If so, worm drive or not?  I will only use it rarely, but I have a bad case of "Timitis" -- more power is always better


I think the parts for the Milwaukee would be under $75 plus my own labor.

"Standard" circular saw ~$125, worm drives ~$180

I may make a pass through a local pawn shop tomorrow


What thinks the "brain trust"?

[stav]

I'd look into fixing the Milwaukee if you can or watch Craigslist for a throw away maybe.

[ajkoontz]

In the next couple of weeks I need to cut an old pool table slate into two or three pieces.

Diamond blade in circular saw is my best bet but that brings us to the problem


I have three circular saws: Craftsman that doesn't work (surprise
 ) Black and Decker that works but is pretty lightweight and a Milwaukee 6377 that needs a new worm gear ( bought it cheap since it needed work)

So here's the problem -- do I bite the bullet and buy a new saw?  If so, worm drive or not?  I will only use it rarely, but I have a bad case of "Timitis" -- more power is always better


I think the parts for the Milwaukee would be under $75 plus my own labor.

"Standard" circular saw ~$125, worm drives ~$180

I may make a pass through a local pawn shop tomorrow


What thinks the "brain trust"?

Sounds like a good excuse to buy a tracksaw.

[Splinter Puller]

I've cut hundreds of concrete pavers and dozens of yards of concrete expansion cracks with a diamond blade in a cheap old weak skillsaw I had.    Slate is softer then concrete.

[Bill Holt]

I am biased, love Milwaukee tools.  My "good" saw is a Milwaukee (not a worm) heavy, and high amp.  I would never use it on concrete or slate (too much hard dust).  I have an old heavy duty DeWalt set up with the diamond blade and it has cut hundreds of feet.

I am seventy five, there are no long, hard days ahead of me, but if I had the tools you mentioned, I would want a good reliable circular saw in the arsenal. 

Get you a new or almost new Milwaukee, you will not regret it.

[Stwood_]

I wouldn't put a good wood saw down for that job.

Go buy a 40.00 throwaway saw and get-er-done

[fredhargis]

What about just renting something that will do the job? (Then fix the Milwaukee for you to use on wood.)

[Wild Turkey]

What about just renting something that will do the job? (Then fix the Milwaukee for you to use on wood.)

not in my little town

[R Clark]

Given the saws, and their conditions as you described, here's what I would do:

Step 1.  Throw away the not-working C-man.  It's not worth the waste of precious gravity.

Step 2.  Put a diamond blade on the B&D and cut the slate.  If it burns up, who cares?  It can be replaced with another $20 cheapie for the next cr***y job quickly enough.

Step 3.  Fix the Milwaukee.

[brianwelch]

I have picked up 2 7-1/4" worm drive circular saws from CL, 1 Milwaukee and 1 Skil, each at $25. Changed the oil in each, and now have a dedicated masonry saw (mounted a dry diamond blade) and a near bullet-proof saw for my wood butchery. 
Keep your eyes open on both Letgo and OfferUp as well...