I have a Hitachie circular saw, it was a good saw for what it cost and
lasted several years of hard use, but the brushes have give up the ghost
and due to its age, I'll replace it rather than repair it.
Faced with a job away from home, my son generously offered the use of
his Skilsaw HD5687, what a piece of crap. I needed to rip a long board,
clamped a straight edge to it for a guide, began the cut and the saw bound
up within a foot. On further inspection the saw foot is 1/8 inch out of
square with the saw blade, making it useless for practically everything.
It is all riveted together with no way to adjust the alignment of the
foot to blade.
Reminds me of an old AMC car, where the body and chassis
were never quite in line with each other and the whole mess went down the
road like a dog with its ass end off to one side.
I have never owned any "Skilsaw brand tools" and this pretty much
guarantees I never will.
basilisk (done bitching about cheap tools)
On Saturday, March 2, 2013 10:30:27 AM UTC-6, Upscale wrote:
> On Sat, 02 Mar 2013 08:49:29 -0600, Leon <lcb11211@swbelldotnet> >For a view at the other end of the spectrum, may I recomend a Festool >track saw? ;~) Who would of guessed that you'd suggest a Festool?
Festool? Phooyie! Try this one, it's only $149.88
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-ANTIQUE-DRILL-DRIVEN-CIRCULAR-SAW-HOME-MADE-/330605772781?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cf9a3bfed
Sonny
On Sat, 02 Mar 2013 14:23:32 -0600, Leon <lcb11211@swbelldotnet>
wrote:
>On 3/2/2013 10:22 AM, basilisk wrote:
>> On Sat, 02 Mar 2013 08:49:29 -0600, Leon wrote:
>>
>>> On 3/2/2013 8:20 AM, basilisk wrote:
>>>> I have a Hitachie circular saw, it was a good saw for what it cost and
>>>> lasted several years of hard use, but the brushes have give up the ghost
>>>> and due to its age, I'll replace it rather than repair it.
>>>>
>>>> Faced with a job away from home, my son generously offered the use of
>>>> his Skilsaw HD5687, what a piece of crap. I needed to rip a long board,
>>>> clamped a straight edge to it for a guide, began the cut and the saw bound
>>>> up within a foot. On further inspection the saw foot is 1/8 inch out of
>>>> square with the saw blade, making it useless for practically everything.
>>>> It is all riveted together with no way to adjust the alignment of the
>>>> foot to blade.
>>>> Reminds me of an old AMC car, where the body and chassis
>>>> were never quite in line with each other and the whole mess went down the
>>>> road like a dog with its ass end off to one side.
>>>>
>>>> I have never owned any "Skilsaw brand tools" and this pretty much
>>>> guarantees I never will.
>>>>
>>>> basilisk (done bitching about cheap tools)
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> SKIL does make a good worm drive saw but IMHO discounting that saw SKIL
>>> is an entery lever tool.
>>>
>>>
>>> For a view at the other end of the spectrum, may I recomend a Festool
>>> track saw? ;~)
>>
>> I do have a need for a track saw.
>>
>> I am doing a good bit of volunteer work for an equine assisted therapy
>> barn, and some additional portability in my tools would make the work
>> faster and better.
>> Still pondering the wisdom of dropping dollars to augment volunteer work,
>> and how much I would use it for other stuff.
>>
>> basilisk
>>
>
>If doing volunteer work, all the more reason to get the track saw. Make
>it easier on yourself, these thing are a breeze to operate and can
>replace a table saw for many operations.
>
Virtually all "consumer" level saws, from any manufacturer, are dodgy
at best. You only get what you pay for (if you are lucky). The same
companies usually also make "trade" and "professional" level tools.
You need to know what to look for - and lowest price is NOT it!!!!
On Sat, 02 Mar 2013 17:17:26 -0600, Unquestionably Confused wrote:
> On 3/2/2013 5:13 PM, Unquestionably Confused wrote:
>> On 3/2/2013 10:30 AM, Dave wrote:
>>> On Sat, 02 Mar 2013 08:49:29 -0600, Leon <lcb11211@swbelldotnet>
>>>> For a view at the other end of the spectrum, may I recomend a Festool
>>>> track saw? ;~)
>>>
>>> Who would of guessed that you'd suggest a Festool?
>>
>>
>> Never, ever underestimate the power of a Craigslist search.
>>
>> Looky, looky!
>
>
> Oops, it's $425, not $450. Anyone interested, go for it. I have no
> intention (actually, with SWMBO watching, I don't have the guts) of
> going for it. Sweet deal though!
>
>
>
>>
>>
>> <http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/tls/3650665254.html>
>>
>>
>>
I would be sorely tempted, but that joyous season is upon us, I had a good
year last year(for which I am grateful), having to save all the
dead presidents I can, to fork over on 4/15.
basilisk
On Sat, 02 Mar 2013 10:27:06 -0600, Swingman wrote:
> On 3/2/2013 10:11 AM, basilisk wrote:
>
>> In the 70's, I had the oppurtunity to work with a builder of that skill
>> set, worked as part of a 3 man crew building from ground up, foundation,
>> framing, roofing, siding, sheetrock, trim etc. It was an education by
>> people that knew the business
>
> > no such path to building skills exist this day and time.
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> Well said, and the absolute, and IMO sad, truth.
>
> Then again, I suppose it is to be expected ...
>
> In my younger days I had the pleasure of working with some horseman who
> came from an era when horses were still the major means of
> transportation and an everyday experience for most of the population.
>
> Those guys died knowing more about horses and horsemanship than 100% of
> the current crop of "horseman" in the last 50 years.
No doubt.
I remember the last working horses(almost horses) in the cummunity
I grew up in, a matched pair of Belgian cross mules used to skid logs.
The work they could turn out in a day was impressive.
For the most part the old timers were glad to be rid of the beast,
and wouldn't even considered owning another horse.
basilisk
On Sat, 2 Mar 2013 08:20:35 -0600, basilisk <[email protected]>
wrote:
>I have a Hitachie circular saw, it was a good saw for what it cost and
>lasted several years of hard use, but the brushes have give up the ghost
>and due to its age, I'll replace it rather than repair it.
>
>Faced with a job away from home, my son generously offered the use of
>his Skilsaw HD5687, what a piece of crap. I needed to rip a long board,
>clamped a straight edge to it for a guide, began the cut and the saw bound
>up within a foot. On further inspection the saw foot is 1/8 inch out of
>square with the saw blade, making it useless for practically everything.
>It is all riveted together with no way to adjust the alignment of the
>foot to blade.
>Reminds me of an old AMC car, where the body and chassis
>were never quite in line with each other and the whole mess went down the
>road like a dog with its ass end off to one side.
>
>I have never owned any "Skilsaw brand tools" and this pretty much
>guarantees I never will.
>
>basilisk (done bitching about cheap tools)
Silly person. Simply drop it on the concrete on its OTHER side to
square it up. That's likely how it got OOS in the first place.
--
If more sane people were armed,
crazy people would get off fewer shots.
Support the 2nd Amendment
"Mike Marlow" wrote in message news:[email protected]...
CW wrote:
> I don't know if I just got lucky or they were made better back then
> but I have a Skillsaw, a sidewinder, that I bought in 1983 for the
> sole purpose of cutting rear fenders on M1 Abrams tanks.
One has to ask... why? Tubbing it out for fatter tracks? For that
muscle-tank look?
=================================================================
Google a picture of an M1. Notice how the rear fender is cut out so you can
see the sprocket?
The first ones (80s) didn't have that cut out, it covered most of the
sprocket. Mud would build up between the fender and sprocket and it would
blow the fender off. We ran a couple of tanks with modified fenders as a
test and then sent it in as a suggested fix. These tanks were very new at
the time and they were still working the bugs out.
On Sat, 02 Mar 2013 08:49:29 -0600, Leon wrote:
> On 3/2/2013 8:20 AM, basilisk wrote:
>> I have a Hitachie circular saw, it was a good saw for what it cost and
>> lasted several years of hard use, but the brushes have give up the ghost
>> and due to its age, I'll replace it rather than repair it.
>>
>> Faced with a job away from home, my son generously offered the use of
>> his Skilsaw HD5687, what a piece of crap. I needed to rip a long board,
>> clamped a straight edge to it for a guide, began the cut and the saw bound
>> up within a foot. On further inspection the saw foot is 1/8 inch out of
>> square with the saw blade, making it useless for practically everything.
>> It is all riveted together with no way to adjust the alignment of the
>> foot to blade.
>> Reminds me of an old AMC car, where the body and chassis
>> were never quite in line with each other and the whole mess went down the
>> road like a dog with its ass end off to one side.
>>
>> I have never owned any "Skilsaw brand tools" and this pretty much
>> guarantees I never will.
>>
>> basilisk (done bitching about cheap tools)
>>
>
>
> SKIL does make a good worm drive saw but IMHO discounting that saw SKIL
> is an entery lever tool.
>
>
> For a view at the other end of the spectrum, may I recomend a Festool
> track saw? ;~)
I do have a need for a track saw.
I am doing a good bit of volunteer work for an equine assisted therapy
barn, and some additional portability in my tools would make the work
faster and better.
Still pondering the wisdom of dropping dollars to augment volunteer work,
and how much I would use it for other stuff.
basilisk
On Sat, 02 Mar 2013 09:07:00 -0600, Swingman wrote:
> On 3/2/2013 8:20 AM, basilisk wrote:
>> I have a Hitachie circular saw, it was a good saw for what it cost and
>> lasted several years of hard use, but the brushes have give up the ghost
>> and due to its age, I'll replace it rather than repair it.
>>
>> Faced with a job away from home, my son generously offered the use of
>> his Skilsaw HD5687, what a piece of crap. I needed to rip a long board,
>> clamped a straight edge to it for a guide, began the cut and the saw bound
>> up within a foot. On further inspection the saw foot is 1/8 inch out of
>> square with the saw blade, making it useless for practically everything.
>> It is all riveted together with no way to adjust the alignment of the
>> foot to blade.
>> Reminds me of an old AMC car, where the body and chassis
>> were never quite in line with each other and the whole mess went down the
>> road like a dog with its ass end off to one side.
>>
>> I have never owned any "Skilsaw brand tools" and this pretty much
>> guarantees I never will.
>>
>> basilisk (done bitching about cheap tools)
>
> Yet the older US made worm drive Skilsaw HD77 is one of the best saws
> ever made, and they can still be found in pawn shops, garage sales and
> CraigsList.
We have a number of 77's at work that are used to trim sharp ended lumber
ahead of high speed planers, to prevent lapping and hang ups, this is
heavy duty work and they hold up to it(a straight drive saw won't last a
day)
>
> Mine, USA made, is only about 20 years old and like new, but damn you
> gotta be helluva man to hoist that thing all day ... too much of a saw
> for most of the jockey sized framers these days. ;)
My arthritic shoulders cringe at the thought :)
>
> If you appreciate such things, there is nothing that will get your
> respect more than working with an old time framer who uses a '77,
> particularly those old union guys. Watched one, working for me a few
> years back, shave a continuous and dead on 1/4" strip off the height a
> 20' beam using a '77, with no pencil mark, just using a finger as a
> guide, AND at a fast walk!
In the 70's, I had the oppurtunity to work with a builder of that skill
set, worked as part of a 3 man crew building from ground up, foundation,
framing, roofing, siding, sheetrock, trim etc. It was an education by
people that knew the business, no such path to building skills exist this
day and time.
Around here in the 70's all the framers kept the guard wedged up on the
saws, it was considered a nuisance not to be tolerated.
>
> That said, and last I heard, the new ones are now made in China, but are
> still pretty rugged according to some of my carpenter subs ... whether
> they will last as long as the old US made model remains to be seen.
On Mar 2, 8:49 am, Leon <lcb11211@swbelldotnet> wrote:
> For a view at the other end of the spectrum, may I recomend a Festool
> track saw? ;~)
Skil was the big dog on the block when I was framing back in the 70s.
All the guys from the west coast that passed through here had them.
We all learned on "sidewinders", so we used circular saws. I have the
first Milwaukee I ever owned, and it has had too many triggers,
brushes, cords and sets of bearings installed to rebuild it to count.
It is so expensive to rebuild one now (bearings, brushes and a cord)
that it makes more sense to just buy a new one. And with the poor
quality of today's tools if they are used well they seem to stay
together long enough to get your money's worth, but it best to trash
it if anything goes wrong with it. Nothing there worth rebuilding.
A couple of years ago Karl showed me his Festool track saw. I was
hugely impressed. He even made a doodad to make it better and more
efficient for the guy that works alone. The cuts it made would rival
most table saws.
Came back home and went to Woodcraft thinking I would buy one.
WTF..... a grand? A thousand bucks for that setup? I almost
fainted. BUT.... the sales guy told me, it virtually replaces a table
saw! (Don't you just love old farts that have no frickin' clue what
tools do that work in a tool store? I should have asked him where you
attached the tenon jig or the dado set.) I was so surprised at the
price that didn't even make a nasty remark to that bonehead.
I could see the track saw if I was making store fixtures on site, or
had a need to have a saw that cut long lengths perfectly straight when
job conditions preclude a table saw. If I built a lot of cabinets, I
would buy that over a table saw. But for occasional use, it is way
out of range. And with the latest bunch of those saws, the internet
woodworking community doesn't seem to feel they are built as well as
the old systems.
If I get the bid on a remodel I just put together, I will have a small
set of cabinets to build and finish as part of the overall work. I
was trying to justify the price of the Festool track saw, so I went
down to see it again to see if I would catch "green fever". They are
now a squirt over that one grand number with all the stuff I want to
go with it. (Oh yeah.... add $83 in tax, too...).
I contacted a semi retired buddy of mine that is always looking for a
way to put his Jet table saw to work. Instead of buying a track saw,
I am now going to smoke a brisket and buy the beer for both of us
after we take down the sheet goods.
Robert
"basilisk" wrote:
>I have a Hitachie circular saw, it was a good saw for what it cost
>and
> lasted several years of hard use, but the brushes have give up the
> ghost
> and due to its age, I'll replace it rather than repair it.
>
> Faced with a job away from home, my son generously offered the use
> of
> his Skilsaw HD5687, what a piece of crap.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Years ago Bosch bought Skil in order to get one thing, the "77".
The rest of the product line was strictly entry level junk and was
marketed to the low end consumer market.
Lew
On 3/2/2013 10:30 AM, Dave wrote:
> On Sat, 02 Mar 2013 08:49:29 -0600, Leon <lcb11211@swbelldotnet>
>> For a view at the other end of the spectrum, may I recomend a Festool
>> track saw? ;~)
>
> Who would of guessed that you'd suggest a Festool?
Never, ever underestimate the power of a Craigslist search.
Looky, looky!
$450 for what appears to be a like new Festool TS55 with the rail and
systainer. Prefers pickup but will ship.
<http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/tls/3650665254.html>
On 3/2/2013 5:13 PM, Unquestionably Confused wrote:
> On 3/2/2013 10:30 AM, Dave wrote:
>> On Sat, 02 Mar 2013 08:49:29 -0600, Leon <lcb11211@swbelldotnet>
>>> For a view at the other end of the spectrum, may I recomend a Festool
>>> track saw? ;~)
>>
>> Who would of guessed that you'd suggest a Festool?
>
>
> Never, ever underestimate the power of a Craigslist search.
>
> Looky, looky!
Oops, it's $425, not $450. Anyone interested, go for it. I have no
intention (actually, with SWMBO watching, I don't have the guts) of
going for it. Sweet deal though!
>
>
> <http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/tls/3650665254.html>
>
>
>
On 3/3/2013 11:49 PM, Dave wrote:
> On Sun, 03 Mar 2013 14:37:43 -0500, willshak <[email protected]>
>> You liked the Hitachi circular saw and not the replacement one, Why buy
>> another when the repair is cheap and easy to replace?
>
> He's looking for an excuse to buy some latest and greatest new
> technology.
>
> It doesn't have to be a good reason, just any reason that he can use
> as motivation.
>
Obviously a young pup or one who's not refined his sense of self.
At my age, me and my peers, will ridicule the use of the word "Need"
We just say, we WANT something and then go buy it. Used to be I had to
justify more expensive tool purchases to SWMBO. Now the long-suffering
light of my life acts as a scout (or maybe that should be tout) and bird
dogs many of my purchases of tools that are, as yet, unneeded but still
wanted<g>
On Sat, 02 Mar 2013 10:38:43 -0600, Swingman <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Who would of guessed that you'd suggest a Festool?
>
>Had a laugh at that also ... you gotta love watching your drug dealer
>hooking another.
It's even funnier watching the drug dealer sitting in the wings just
waiting to pounce.
On 3/2/2013 8:20 AM, basilisk wrote:
> I have a Hitachie circular saw, it was a good saw for what it cost and
> lasted several years of hard use, but the brushes have give up the ghost
> and due to its age, I'll replace it rather than repair it.
>
> Faced with a job away from home, my son generously offered the use of
> his Skilsaw HD5687, what a piece of crap. I needed to rip a long board,
> clamped a straight edge to it for a guide, began the cut and the saw bound
> up within a foot. On further inspection the saw foot is 1/8 inch out of
> square with the saw blade, making it useless for practically everything.
> It is all riveted together with no way to adjust the alignment of the
> foot to blade.
> Reminds me of an old AMC car, where the body and chassis
> were never quite in line with each other and the whole mess went down the
> road like a dog with its ass end off to one side.
>
> I have never owned any "Skilsaw brand tools" and this pretty much
> guarantees I never will.
>
> basilisk (done bitching about cheap tools)
>
SKIL does make a good worm drive saw but IMHO discounting that saw SKIL
is an entery lever tool.
For a view at the other end of the spectrum, may I recomend a Festool
track saw? ;~)
"basilisk" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
I have a Hitachie circular saw, it was a good saw for what it cost and
lasted several years of hard use, but the brushes have give up the ghost
and due to its age, I'll replace it rather than repair it.
Faced with a job away from home, my son generously offered the use of
his Skilsaw HD5687, what a piece of crap. I needed to rip a long board,
clamped a straight edge to it for a guide, began the cut and the saw bound
up within a foot. On further inspection the saw foot is 1/8 inch out of
square with the saw blade, making it useless for practically everything.
It is all riveted together with no way to adjust the alignment of the
foot to blade.
Reminds me of an old AMC car, where the body and chassis
were never quite in line with each other and the whole mess went down the
road like a dog with its ass end off to one side.
I have never owned any "Skilsaw brand tools" and this pretty much
guarantees I never will.
basilisk (done bitching about cheap tools)
==================================================================================
I don't know if I just got lucky or they were made better back then but I
have a Skillsaw, a sidewinder, that I bought in 1983 for the sole purpose of
cutting rear fenders on M1 Abrams tanks. Using an abrasive wheel, I cut many
of these. It did some serious work. I don't know what those things were made
of but it was the hardest to cut metal I ever got ahold of. A torch wouldn't
touch it. I still have the saw. It works fine, bearings in good shape and
cuts along a strait edge just fine.
basilisk wrote:
> I have a Hitachie circular saw, it was a good saw for what it cost and
> lasted several years of hard use, but the brushes have give up the
> ghost and due to its age, I'll replace it rather than repair it.
>
On the other hand, a set of brushes shouldn't cost more than a couple of
bucks.
Even if you get a new saw, the two-dollar investment will enable you to have
a spare...
On 3/2/2013 10:22 AM, basilisk wrote:
> I am doing a good bit of volunteer work for an equine assisted therapy
> barn, and some additional portability in my tools would make the work
> faster and better.
> Still pondering the wisdom of dropping dollars to augment volunteer work,
> and how much I would use it for other stuff.
If that work entails much sheetgoods work, a plunge track saw may be
something to think about. Being "cost effective", generally a function
of use/time, is another matter.
Also to consider, since portability is a factor in your decision, is
security ... being expensive makes them targets.
--
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Wood Shop: www.e-WoodShop.net
https://plus.google.com/114902129577517371552/posts
http://www.custommade.com/by/ewoodshop/
KarlCaillouet@ (the obvious)
On 3/2/2013 10:30 AM, Dave wrote:
> On Sat, 02 Mar 2013 08:49:29 -0600, Leon
>> For a view at the other end of the spectrum, may I recomend a Festool
>> track saw? ;~)
>
> Who would of guessed that you'd suggest a Festool?
Had a laugh at that also ... you gotta love watching your drug dealer
hooking another.
(Financial) misery loves company.
--
eWoodShop: www.eWoodShop.com
Wood Shop: www.e-WoodShop.net
https://plus.google.com/114902129577517371552/posts
http://www.custommade.com/by/ewoodshop/
KarlCaillouet@ (the obvious)
On 3/2/2013 10:11 AM, basilisk wrote:
> In the 70's, I had the oppurtunity to work with a builder of that skill
> set, worked as part of a 3 man crew building from ground up, foundation,
> framing, roofing, siding, sheetrock, trim etc. It was an education by
> people that knew the business
> no such path to building skills exist this day and time.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Well said, and the absolute, and IMO sad, truth.
Then again, I suppose it is to be expected ...
In my younger days I had the pleasure of working with some horseman who
came from an era when horses were still the major means of
transportation and an everyday experience for most of the population.
Those guys died knowing more about horses and horsemanship than 100% of
the current crop of "horseman" in the last 50 years.
--
eWoodShop: www.eWoodShop.com
Wood Shop: www.e-WoodShop.net
https://plus.google.com/114902129577517371552/posts
http://www.custommade.com/by/ewoodshop/
KarlCaillouet@ (the obvious)
On Sat, 02 Mar 2013 13:29:47 -0800, Larry Jaques wrote:
> On Sat, 2 Mar 2013 08:20:35 -0600, basilisk <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>>I have a Hitachie circular saw, it was a good saw for what it cost and
>>lasted several years of hard use, but the brushes have give up the ghost
>>and due to its age, I'll replace it rather than repair it.
>>
>>Faced with a job away from home, my son generously offered the use of
>>his Skilsaw HD5687, what a piece of crap. I needed to rip a long board,
>>clamped a straight edge to it for a guide, began the cut and the saw
>>bound up within a foot. On further inspection the saw foot is 1/8 inch
>>out of square with the saw blade, making it useless for practically
>>everything. It is all riveted together with no way to adjust the
>>alignment of the foot to blade.
>>Reminds me of an old AMC car, where the body and chassis were never
>>quite in line with each other and the whole mess went down the road like
>>a dog with its ass end off to one side.
>>
>>I have never owned any "Skilsaw brand tools" and this pretty much
>>guarantees I never will.
>>
>>basilisk (done bitching about cheap tools)
>
> Silly person. Simply drop it on the concrete on its OTHER side to
> square it up. That's likely how it got OOS in the first place.
hmmm,
How far should I drop it, I have access to a man lift that goes up to 84
feet, but if needed I can probably pitch it 12 feet or so up :)
Nah, I'll give it back to my son, say thanks, and point out its
shortcomings.
basilisk
On 3/2/2013 8:20 AM, basilisk wrote:
> I have a Hitachie circular saw, it was a good saw for what it cost and
> lasted several years of hard use, but the brushes have give up the ghost
> and due to its age, I'll replace it rather than repair it.
>
> Faced with a job away from home, my son generously offered the use of
> his Skilsaw HD5687, what a piece of crap. I needed to rip a long board,
> clamped a straight edge to it for a guide, began the cut and the saw bound
> up within a foot. On further inspection the saw foot is 1/8 inch out of
> square with the saw blade, making it useless for practically everything.
> It is all riveted together with no way to adjust the alignment of the
> foot to blade.
> Reminds me of an old AMC car, where the body and chassis
> were never quite in line with each other and the whole mess went down the
> road like a dog with its ass end off to one side.
>
> I have never owned any "Skilsaw brand tools" and this pretty much
> guarantees I never will.
>
> basilisk (done bitching about cheap tools)
Yet the older US made worm drive Skilsaw HD77 is one of the best saws
ever made, and they can still be found in pawn shops, garage sales and
CraigsList.
Mine, USA made, is only about 20 years old and like new, but damn you
gotta be helluva man to hoist that thing all day ... too much of a saw
for most of the jockey sized framers these days. ;)
If you appreciate such things, there is nothing that will get your
respect more than working with an old time framer who uses a '77,
particularly those old union guys. Watched one, working for me a few
years back, shave a continuous and dead on 1/4" strip off the height a
20' beam using a '77, with no pencil mark, just using a finger as a
guide, AND at a fast walk!
That said, and last I heard, the new ones are now made in China, but are
still pretty rugged according to some of my carpenter subs ... whether
they will last as long as the old US made model remains to be seen.
--
eWoodShop: www.eWoodShop.com
Wood Shop: www.e-WoodShop.net
https://plus.google.com/114902129577517371552/posts
http://www.custommade.com/by/ewoodshop/
KarlCaillouet@ (the obvious)
On 3/2/2013 10:22 AM, basilisk wrote:
> On Sat, 02 Mar 2013 08:49:29 -0600, Leon wrote:
>
>> On 3/2/2013 8:20 AM, basilisk wrote:
>>> I have a Hitachie circular saw, it was a good saw for what it cost and
>>> lasted several years of hard use, but the brushes have give up the ghost
>>> and due to its age, I'll replace it rather than repair it.
>>>
>>> Faced with a job away from home, my son generously offered the use of
>>> his Skilsaw HD5687, what a piece of crap. I needed to rip a long board,
>>> clamped a straight edge to it for a guide, began the cut and the saw bound
>>> up within a foot. On further inspection the saw foot is 1/8 inch out of
>>> square with the saw blade, making it useless for practically everything.
>>> It is all riveted together with no way to adjust the alignment of the
>>> foot to blade.
>>> Reminds me of an old AMC car, where the body and chassis
>>> were never quite in line with each other and the whole mess went down the
>>> road like a dog with its ass end off to one side.
>>>
>>> I have never owned any "Skilsaw brand tools" and this pretty much
>>> guarantees I never will.
>>>
>>> basilisk (done bitching about cheap tools)
>>>
>>
>>
>> SKIL does make a good worm drive saw but IMHO discounting that saw SKIL
>> is an entery lever tool.
>>
>>
>> For a view at the other end of the spectrum, may I recomend a Festool
>> track saw? ;~)
>
> I do have a need for a track saw.
>
> I am doing a good bit of volunteer work for an equine assisted therapy
> barn, and some additional portability in my tools would make the work
> faster and better.
> Still pondering the wisdom of dropping dollars to augment volunteer work,
> and how much I would use it for other stuff.
>
> basilisk
>
If doing volunteer work, all the more reason to get the track saw. Make
it easier on yourself, these thing are a breeze to operate and can
replace a table saw for many operations.
On 3/2/2013 10:41 AM, Sonny wrote:
> On Saturday, March 2, 2013 10:30:27 AM UTC-6, Upscale wrote:
>> On Sat, 02 Mar 2013 08:49:29 -0600, Leon <lcb11211@swbelldotnet> >For a view at the other end of the spectrum, may I recomend a Festool >track saw? ;~) Who would of guessed that you'd suggest a Festool?
>
> Festool? Phooyie! Try this one, it's only $149.88
>
> http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-ANTIQUE-DRILL-DRIVEN-CIRCULAR-SAW-HOME-MADE-/330605772781?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cf9a3bfed
>
> Sonny
>
LOL...You've got to wonder when the handle/knob is almost as big as the
blade.
On Sat, 2 Mar 2013 08:20:35 -0600, basilisk <[email protected]>
wrote:
>I have a Hitachie circular saw, it was a good saw for what it cost and
>lasted several years of hard use, but the brushes have give up the ghost
>and due to its age, I'll replace it rather than repair it.
>
>Faced with a job away from home, my son generously offered the use of
>his Skilsaw HD5687, what a piece of crap. I needed to rip a long board,
>clamped a straight edge to it for a guide, began the cut and the saw bound
>up within a foot. On further inspection the saw foot is 1/8 inch out of
>square with the saw blade, making it useless for practically everything.
>It is all riveted together with no way to adjust the alignment of the
>foot to blade.
>Reminds me of an old AMC car, where the body and chassis
>were never quite in line with each other and the whole mess went down the
>road like a dog with its ass end off to one side.
>
>I have never owned any "Skilsaw brand tools" and this pretty much
>guarantees I never will.
>
>basilisk (done bitching about cheap tools)
I still have my dad's old Skil saw all aluminum body. Only a 6.5"
blade but it's got more power then a lot of new saws. I'm guessing
it's at leaar 50 years old. I won't be parting with it. But I do
have TS55 when needed.
Mike M
On 3/2/2013 1:31 PM, [email protected] wrote:
> If I get the bid on a remodel I just put together, I will have a small
> set of cabinets to build and finish as part of the overall work. I
> was trying to justify the price of the Festool track saw, so I went
> down to see it again to see if I would catch "green fever". They are
> now a squirt over that one grand number with all the stuff I want to
> go with it. (Oh yeah.... add $83 in tax, too...).
It was lot easier to do during this last boom, that ended a couple of
years back, but that's basically how I justified all my Festools, and
Festool accessories ... I built them into the price of a big job, then
Section 179'd them ... legitimate, and makes business sense.
We just need another boom ... but there is always a boom, or a bust, on
the horizon, so biding my time, once again, for the opportunity to make
some more hay while the sun shines.
--
eWoodShop: www.eWoodShop.com
Wood Shop: www.e-WoodShop.net
https://plus.google.com/114902129577517371552/posts
http://www.custommade.com/by/ewoodshop/
KarlCaillouet@ (the obvious)
On Sat, 2 Mar 2013 10:35:53 -0500, dadiOH wrote:
> basilisk wrote:
>> I have a Hitachie circular saw, it was a good saw for what it cost and
>> lasted several years of hard use, but the brushes have give up the
>> ghost and due to its age, I'll replace it rather than repair it.
>
> Somehow, replacing the brushes doesn't seem like a "repair" to me.
You're right isn't much of a repair, but it is old an tired and I don't
want to deny myself the oppurtunity to upgrade :)
basilisk
On 3/2/2013 8:20 AM, basilisk wrote:
...
> Faced with a job away from home, my son generously offered the use of
> his Skilsaw HD5687, what a piece of crap. I needed to rip a long board,
> clamped a straight edge to it for a guide, began the cut and the saw bound
> up within a foot. On further inspection the saw foot is 1/8 inch out of
> square with the saw blade, making it useless for practically everything.
> It is all riveted together with no way to adjust the alignment of the
> foot to blade.
...
> I have never owned any "Skilsaw brand tools" and this pretty much
> guarantees I never will.
>
...
It generally gets good reviews--wonder if check w/ Skil they'd back it
up. It is, however, clearly priced at an entry-level price point.
As Leon says, the Skil 77 (mag case or not) is (or at least always has
been; I've not used one built since the late '70s or earlier) the top
dog amongst framers particularly on west coast where they're really
partial to worm drives. Mine is still going after about 50 years of
reasonable use; for some 20 it was used very heavily but not so much
over last 15-20 altho got a good workout during the barn restore for a
while when first came back to farm...
Skil did, however, other than the 77 for a number of years try to hit
the consumer market rather than upper level HO/pro so they weren't
building much other than it that was of much account. So, all to say
not sure whether it's really in general or just a bum particular item...
--
basilisk wrote:
> I have a Hitachie circular saw, it was a good saw for what it cost and
> lasted several years of hard use, but the brushes have give up the
> ghost and due to its age, I'll replace it rather than repair it.
Somehow, replacing the brushes doesn't seem like a "repair" to me.
--
dadiOH
____________________________
Winters getting colder? Tired of the rat race?
Taxes out of hand? Maybe just ready for a change?
Check it out... http://www.floridaloghouse.net
"Leon" <lcb11211@swbelldotnet> wrote
> SKIL does make a good worm drive saw but IMHO discounting that saw SKIL is
> an entery lever tool.
We dug up an OLD Skil circular saw with some inheritance stuff. Not a worm
drive, but shaped like any old other saw. Aluminum ergo shaped body, kinda
California art du jour shape of an aluminum race car. Don't know how it
works, frayed cord, dust caked on it. Maybe one day I'll play with it and
see if it runs. Asked a pawn guy if it was anything special, and he said
they make good boat anchor unless you have too many rocks.
Steve
"dpb" <[email protected]> wrote
> As Leon says, the Skil 77 (mag case or not) is (or at least always has
> been; I've not used one built since the late '70s or earlier) the top dog
> amongst framers particularly on west coast where they're really partial to
> worm drives. Mine is still going after about 50 years of reasonable use;
> for some 20 it was used very heavily but not so much over last 15-20 altho
> got a good workout during the barn restore for a while when first came
> back to farm...
>
The one thing I like best on the 77 is when you are cutting a two by, you
tilt the board forward, and set the saw in the right place to start. You
then hit the start, and (if you have the protector pegged), the vibration
takes the blade right into the workplace, and the weight of the saw
practically takes it through the piece of wood with very little effort of
pushing. All day long.
I use mine a lot for field fitting ornamental metal. I put a metal cutting
blade on it, and can cut tubing just like a two by, even at angles, and
after a while, get it pretty close. Good for demo, too.
Steve
"dadiOH" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> basilisk wrote:
>> I have a Hitachie circular saw, it was a good saw for what it cost and
>> lasted several years of hard use, but the brushes have give up the
>> ghost and due to its age, I'll replace it rather than repair it.
>
> Somehow, replacing the brushes doesn't seem like a "repair" to me.
>
> --
>
> dadiOH
Line up ten young whippersnappers, and I'd bet no more than three could do
it in less than an hour.
Steve
In article <[email protected]>,
basilisk <[email protected]> wrote:
>I have a Hitachie circular saw, it was a good saw for what it cost and
>lasted several years of hard use, but the brushes have give up the ghost
>and due to its age, I'll replace it rather than repair it.
>
>Faced with a job away from home, my son generously offered the use of
>his Skilsaw HD5687, what a piece of crap. I needed to rip a long board,
>clamped a straight edge to it for a guide, began the cut and the saw bound
>up within a foot. On further inspection the saw foot is 1/8 inch out of
>square with the saw blade, making it useless for practically everything.
>It is all riveted together with no way to adjust the alignment of the
>foot to blade.
>Reminds me of an old AMC car, where the body and chassis
>were never quite in line with each other and the whole mess went down the
>road like a dog with its ass end off to one side.
>
>I have never owned any "Skilsaw brand tools" and this pretty much
>guarantees I never will.
>
>basilisk (done bitching about cheap tools)
I'm not familiar with that particular saw model, but I've straightened up
several old cheap saws of similar construction by clamping them down to
a work bench, sticking a prybar or board through the handle, and prying
at the appropriate angle.
--
When the game is over, the pawn and the king are returned to the same box.
Larry Wasserman - Baltimore Maryland - lwasserm(a)sdf. lonestar.org
CW wrote:
> I don't know if I just got lucky or they were made better back then
> but I have a Skillsaw, a sidewinder, that I bought in 1983 for the
> sole purpose of cutting rear fenders on M1 Abrams tanks.
One has to ask... why? Tubbing it out for fatter tracks? For that
muscle-tank look?
--
-Mike-
[email protected]
On 3/2/2013 8:20 AM, basilisk wrote:
> I have a Hitachie circular saw, it was a good saw for what it cost and
> lasted several years of hard use, but the brushes have give up the ghost
> and due to its age, I'll replace it rather than repair it.
>
> Faced with a job away from home, my son generously offered the use of
> his Skilsaw HD5687, what a piece of crap. I needed to rip a long board,
> clamped a straight edge to it for a guide, began the cut and the saw bound
> up within a foot. On further inspection the saw foot is 1/8 inch out of
> square with the saw blade, making it useless for practically everything.
> It is all riveted together with no way to adjust the alignment of the
> foot to blade.
> Reminds me of an old AMC car, where the body and chassis
> were never quite in line with each other and the whole mess went down the
> road like a dog with its ass end off to one side.
>
> I have never owned any "Skilsaw brand tools" and this pretty much
> guarantees I never will.
>
> basilisk (done bitching about cheap tools)
>
The first circular saw I ever saw was a Skill Saw. My father
was a carpenter and he bought one back in the 40s, right after
WWII. It was a big heavy thing that came in its own big
red metal box. I think that Skill must have been the first
circular saw for general use. At least we always referred to
circular saws as Skill Saws. That one did last for a long
time. But then that was a long time ago.
Bill
basilisk wrote the following on 3/2/2013 9:20 AM (ET):
> I have a Hitachie circular saw, it was a good saw for what it cost and
> lasted several years of hard use, but the brushes have give up the ghost
> and due to its age, I'll replace it rather than repair it.
>
> Faced with a job away from home, my son generously offered the use of
> his Skilsaw HD5687, what a piece of crap. I needed to rip a long board,
> clamped a straight edge to it for a guide, began the cut and the saw bound
> up within a foot. On further inspection the saw foot is 1/8 inch out of
> square with the saw blade, making it useless for practically everything.
> It is all riveted together with no way to adjust the alignment of the
> foot to blade.
> Reminds me of an old AMC car, where the body and chassis
> were never quite in line with each other and the whole mess went down the
> road like a dog with its ass end off to one side.
>
> I have never owned any "Skilsaw brand tools" and this pretty much
> guarantees I never will.
>
> basilisk (done bitching about cheap tools)
Not reading all the responses following yours.
Changing the brushes is easier than any other repairs to an electric motor.
I've done it more than once, the last time for my central vacuum cleaner
motor.
The brushes are cheap. Just take one of the brushes to an electrical
repair store to get the same sizes.
You liked the Hitachi circular saw and not the replacement one, Why buy
another when the repair is cheap and easy to replace?
--
Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeros after @
On Sun, 03 Mar 2013 00:32:58 GMT, basilisk <[email protected]>
wrote:
>On Sat, 02 Mar 2013 13:29:47 -0800, Larry Jaques wrote:
>
>> On Sat, 2 Mar 2013 08:20:35 -0600, basilisk <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>I have a Hitachie circular saw, it was a good saw for what it cost and
>>>lasted several years of hard use, but the brushes have give up the ghost
>>>and due to its age, I'll replace it rather than repair it.
>>>
>>>Faced with a job away from home, my son generously offered the use of
>>>his Skilsaw HD5687, what a piece of crap. I needed to rip a long board,
>>>clamped a straight edge to it for a guide, began the cut and the saw
>>>bound up within a foot. On further inspection the saw foot is 1/8 inch
>>>out of square with the saw blade, making it useless for practically
>>>everything. It is all riveted together with no way to adjust the
>>>alignment of the foot to blade.
>>>Reminds me of an old AMC car, where the body and chassis were never
>>>quite in line with each other and the whole mess went down the road like
>>>a dog with its ass end off to one side.
>>>
>>>I have never owned any "Skilsaw brand tools" and this pretty much
>>>guarantees I never will.
>>>
>>>basilisk (done bitching about cheap tools)
>>
>> Silly person. Simply drop it on the concrete on its OTHER side to
>> square it up. That's likely how it got OOS in the first place.
>
>hmmm,
>
>How far should I drop it, I have access to a man lift that goes up to 84
>feet, but if needed I can probably pitch it 12 feet or so up :)
>
>Nah, I'll give it back to my son, say thanks, and point out its
>shortcomings.
Oh, please! Use your Ford hammah to finesse it into alignment for him
before you give it back, at least.
--
If more sane people were armed,
crazy people would get off fewer shots.
Support the 2nd Amendment
On 3/2/2013 1:31 PM, [email protected] wrote:
> On Mar 2, 8:49 am, Leon <lcb11211@swbelldotnet> wrote:
>
>> For a view at the other end of the spectrum, may I recomend a Festool
>> track saw? ;~)
>
> Skil was the big dog on the block when I was framing back in the 70s.
> All the guys from the west coast that passed through here had them.
>
> We all learned on "sidewinders", so we used circular saws. I have the
> first Milwaukee I ever owned, and it has had too many triggers,
> brushes, cords and sets of bearings installed to rebuild it to count.
>
> It is so expensive to rebuild one now (bearings, brushes and a cord)
> that it makes more sense to just buy a new one. And with the poor
> quality of today's tools if they are used well they seem to stay
> together long enough to get your money's worth, but it best to trash
> it if anything goes wrong with it. Nothing there worth rebuilding.
>
> A couple of years ago Karl showed me his Festool track saw. I was
> hugely impressed. He even made a doodad to make it better and more
> efficient for the guy that works alone. The cuts it made would rival
> most table saws.
>
> Came back home and went to Woodcraft thinking I would buy one.
>
> WTF..... a grand? A thousand bucks for that setup? I almost
> fainted. BUT.... the sales guy told me, it virtually replaces a table
> saw! (Don't you just love old farts that have no frickin' clue what
> tools do that work in a tool store? I should have asked him where you
> attached the tenon jig or the dado set.) I was so surprised at the
> price that didn't even make a nasty remark to that bonehead.
>
> I could see the track saw if I was making store fixtures on site, or
> had a need to have a saw that cut long lengths perfectly straight when
> job conditions preclude a table saw. If I built a lot of cabinets, I
> would buy that over a table saw. But for occasional use, it is way
> out of range. And with the latest bunch of those saws, the internet
> woodworking community doesn't seem to feel they are built as well as
> the old systems.
>
> If I get the bid on a remodel I just put together, I will have a small
> set of cabinets to build and finish as part of the overall work. I
> was trying to justify the price of the Festool track saw, so I went
> down to see it again to see if I would catch "green fever". They are
> now a squirt over that one grand number with all the stuff I want to
> go with it. (Oh yeah.... add $83 in tax, too...).
>
> I contacted a semi retired buddy of mine that is always looking for a
> way to put his Jet table saw to work. Instead of buying a track saw,
> I am now going to smoke a brisket and buy the beer for both of us
> after we take down the sheet goods.
>
> Robert
>
Time for the pusher to strike again.... ;~) Oh yeah you have to get
the vac too. ;~)
On Sun, 03 Mar 2013 14:37:43 -0500, willshak <[email protected]>
>You liked the Hitachi circular saw and not the replacement one, Why buy
>another when the repair is cheap and easy to replace?
He's looking for an excuse to buy some latest and greatest new
technology.
It doesn't have to be a good reason, just any reason that he can use
as motivation.
On Sat, 2 Mar 2013 19:54:54 -0800, "CW" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>"basilisk" wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>
>I have a Hitachie circular saw, it was a good saw for what it cost and
>lasted several years of hard use, but the brushes have give up the ghost
>and due to its age, I'll replace it rather than repair it.
>
>Faced with a job away from home, my son generously offered the use of
>his Skilsaw HD5687, what a piece of crap. I needed to rip a long board,
>clamped a straight edge to it for a guide, began the cut and the saw bound
>up within a foot. On further inspection the saw foot is 1/8 inch out of
>square with the saw blade, making it useless for practically everything.
>It is all riveted together with no way to adjust the alignment of the
>foot to blade.
>Reminds me of an old AMC car, where the body and chassis
>were never quite in line with each other and the whole mess went down the
>road like a dog with its ass end off to one side.
>
>I have never owned any "Skilsaw brand tools" and this pretty much
>guarantees I never will.
>
>basilisk (done bitching about cheap tools)
>==================================================================================
>I don't know if I just got lucky or they were made better back then but I
>have a Skillsaw, a sidewinder, that I bought in 1983 for the sole purpose of
>cutting rear fenders on M1 Abrams tanks. Using an abrasive wheel, I cut many
>of these. It did some serious work. I don't know what those things were made
>of but it was the hardest to cut metal I ever got ahold of. A torch wouldn't
>touch it. I still have the saw. It works fine, bearings in good shape and
>cuts along a strait edge just fine.
Their worm gear saws were VERY good - most of their products 30 years
ago were pretty good.
On Sat, 2 Mar 2013 13:41:50 -0600, basilisk <[email protected]>
wrote:
>On Sat, 02 Mar 2013 10:27:06 -0600, Swingman wrote:
>
>> On 3/2/2013 10:11 AM, basilisk wrote:
>>
>>> In the 70's, I had the oppurtunity to work with a builder of that skill
>>> set, worked as part of a 3 man crew building from ground up, foundation,
>>> framing, roofing, siding, sheetrock, trim etc. It was an education by
>>> people that knew the business
>>
>> > no such path to building skills exist this day and time.
>> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>>
>> Well said, and the absolute, and IMO sad, truth.
>>
>> Then again, I suppose it is to be expected ...
>>
>> In my younger days I had the pleasure of working with some horseman who
>> came from an era when horses were still the major means of
>> transportation and an everyday experience for most of the population.
>>
>> Those guys died knowing more about horses and horsemanship than 100% of
>> the current crop of "horseman" in the last 50 years.
>
>No doubt.
>
>I remember the last working horses(almost horses) in the cummunity
>I grew up in, a matched pair of Belgian cross mules used to skid logs.
>The work they could turn out in a day was impressive.
>
>For the most part the old timers were glad to be rid of the beast,
>and wouldn't even considered owning another horse.
>
>basilisk
Lots of work horses still earning their keep around these parts -
Old Order and Amish farmers.