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08-10-2020, 05:41 PM
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"?
"Truth is a highway leading to freedom" --Kris Kristofferson
Wild Turkey
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I'd look into fixing the Milwaukee if you can or watch Craigslist for a throw away maybe.
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08-10-2020, 06:24 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-10-2020, 06:24 PM by 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.
WoodNET... the new safespace
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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.
"I tried being reasonable..........I didn't like it." Clint Eastwood
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I wouldn't put a good wood saw down for that job.
Go buy a 40.00 throwaway saw and get-er-done
Steve
Mo.
I miss the days of using my dinghy with a girlfriend too. Zack Butler-4/18/24
The Revos apparently are designed to clamp railroad ties and pull together horrifically prepared joints
WaterlooMark 02/9/2020
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What about just renting something that will do the job? (Then fix the Milwaukee for you to use on wood.)
I started with absolutely nothing. Now, thanks to years of hard work, careful planning, and perseverance, I find I still have most of it left.
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(08-11-2020, 05:17 AM)fredhargis Wrote: 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
"Truth is a highway leading to freedom" --Kris Kristofferson
Wild Turkey
We may see the writing on the wall, but all we do is criticize the handwriting.
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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.
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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...
