45%
OFF

DeWalt DW369CSK Heavy Duty 7-1/4" Lightweight Circular Saw with Composite Shoe

List price:	~~$238.00~~
Our price:	$129.99 that is 45% off!
Manufacturer:	DeWalt

Average user rating: Average user rating: 3.5

unpleasant surprise

Do not buy this saw unless you have actually held one of them in your hands, and realize what you are buying!!! The Amazon website for the DeWalt DW369CSK is deceptive, although I am sure this was unintentional. None of the pictures show the rear left corner of the saw's composite baseplate. The rear left corner of the baseplate DOES NOT EXIST! The baseplate is not a rectangle, as one would expect. Rather it is a rectangle with a large part of one corner "missing". Because of this, the left side of the saw's baseplate is only 8 1/2 inches long. This, together with the placement of the main handle (grip) of the saw, make it more difficult to make a straight cut by running the saw's base along a fence. I called the DeWalt technical assistance hotline and asked why the base had been designed like that. The man was very nice, but he said that he didn't know, but it may have been to save weight. By the way, the DeWalt website has pictures of the saw, but none show it from an angle that lets you see the "missing" portion of the base.
If you do framing, this saw might be OK. However, if you use a circular saw to make furniture, and you use it to do precise cuts of large sheets of plywood by running the saw along a fence, then you want a saw with a base which is long, especially on the side which rides along the fence. I have since learned (by actually looking at the real saws, not pictures) that there are still plenty of these available. The DeWalt DW364 is one of them. It is an older style, which is a bit heavier than the newer 369CSK, and it does not have a detent at 45 degrees. But it is completely adjustable for squareness, and it has plenty of power, and it has a BIG FOOT. The Porter Cable saws have large rectangular bases. Some other saws have a small triangle missing from the left rear corner of the base, but no other saw that I have seen has nearly as big a cutout as the DW369CSK. The Milwaukee 2390-21 is one of them, but even with the cutout, the remaining straight portion is longer than the entire base of the of the DeWalt DW 369CSK, and you can easily keep it square as you move it along a fence. While all of the alternatives to the DW369CSK that I have listed are heavier than it is, they are easy to hold and are well balanced. I recommend that you choose one of them.
I had searched the web and read reviews of circular saws before buying (and later returning) the DeWalt 369CSK, and the reviews showed that it was light, had detents for two angles of cut, had a composite base, and cut at a good rate if given a good blade. No mention was made of the strange shape of its base.
While at Home Depot last night, I asked another shopper, who happened to be a professional carpenter about the DW369CSK. He said that he had bought one but he returned it as defective because the motor burned out quickly. He said that he got one of the Porter Cables and it works fine.
I recommend that Amazon add a picture of the DW369CSK which shows the base so a potential customer can make a more informed decision. I have made a number of purchases through Amazon and am very happy with them. This is the first item that I have returned.

Best Saw On The Market

I'm a NY framer who uses his saw literally 365 days a year. I had owned a Bosch 1758 prior to owning the DeWalt DW369CSK. After learning that Skil manufactures Boschs' circular saws I decided to put down the Bosch and go with the crewe favorite. I'm not a big fan of Skil..considering that their products are not made well at all and for a guy whos living is made based on functioning tools.....i scrapped the Bosch/Skil. Whether you're a home owner/do it yourselfer or a professional framer or contractor, the DeWalt satisfies and proves it's worth every day..every time. Anthony

powerful, durable, and lightweight

This is the third circular saw I've owned and it is by far the best. My first saw (a Craftsman) gave me many years of light service until it died during a bathroom remodeling project. I killed the next one (12 amp Skil) scoring concrete with a diamond blade. The blade caused too much friction for the underbuilt Skil and literally sheared the blade bearing off. I finally broke down and bought a heavy duty saw and I wish I had done so to begin with. This saw has yet to bog down on me even though I am using my old blades. The saw cuts smoothly and effortlessly and is lighter than the Skil. The depth and miter adjustments also work much more easily than on my old saws. The electric brake is also a nice feature, but not crucial to me. All this for a reasonable price. My only gripe is that the forward handle is a bit too far away from the blade to comfortably hold onto while holding the blade guard lever for making plunge cuts. I highly recommend this saw or at the very least get any 15 amp saw for the power. Eventually you'll need it so don't waste your time or money on the less powerful saws.