Best Scroll Saws for 2023
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Top 10 Best Compact Circular Saws for 2023
There are hundreds, if not thousands of compact circular saw brands and models to choose from both online and at your local warehouses. That alone is usually enough to make the thought of shopping for the Best Compact Circular Saws for your projects a nightmare. If not careful, you may end up selecting a product that doesn’t directly meet your specifications. The product will be okay, only that its features may not be set to perform the activities you need it to. That’s why our team of experts came together and compiled a list of the top ten Best Compact Circular Saws in the market as of now. Hopefully, this should help ease the work for you as well as save you precious time.
Metrics Used to Shortlist Our Top 10 Best Compact Circular Saws
Arriving at the best buying decision for such a tool can be a daunting process, especially if you have no clue what to look for. However, there are several features that you need to factor in your decision making to boost your chances. These features should guide you towards finding the perfect Compact Circular Saw. We came up with the product list based on the factors mentioned below:- Power
- Price
- Usability
- Blade size and depth of cut
Our Best Overall Compact Circular Saw For 2023
#1
Dremel SM20-03 Saw-Max
Vendor: Dremel
Item Weight: 4.45 pounds
Product Dimensions: 14.2 x 5.5 x 4 inches
Material: Other
Power Source: corded-electic
Dremel SM20-03 Saw-Max Review
As our number one pick, this saw comes packed with a powerful 6amp motor that can easily tackle even the toughest projects. It has a versatile cutting system that is perfect for straight cuts, plunge cuts, and flush cuts for all types of materials, including wood, metal, tile, and plastic. It is perfect for one-hand use, easy to control, and provides a superior line of sight as well. These features alone make this saw a tool to reckon with.
It can cut long lines along with longboards like plywood with ease both accurately and with unmatched precision. Its ergonomic and compact design makes it the perfect tool for long hours use. You will hardly even notice as the hours go by without feeling any fatigue.
#2
Makita SH02R1 Cordless Circular Saw Kit
Vendor: Makita
Item Weight: 9.4 pounds
Product Dimensions: 14.5 x 8 x 10.2 inches
Power Source: Battery
Voltage: 12 volts
Makita SH02R1 Cordless Circular Saw Kit Review
The Makita SH02R1 is our runners up, and with good reason too. It has an in-built Makita motor that delivers up to 1,500 rotations per minute. That’s enough power to ensure faster cutting and can take on even the toughest projects. It comes equipped with a 3 3/8” blade that can deliver a maximum cutting depth of 1 inch for many cutting applications.
For a cordless compact saw, this tool can cut through plywood, pegboard, melamine, MDF, particleboard, and more. It also has a tilting base to enable bevel cuts of between 0 and 45 degrees. Even though this model runs on batteries, it packs enough torque to ensure it provides you the cut you need. It is a decent compact circular saw option and worth a look.
#3
Rockwell RK3440K Versacut Circular Saw
Vendor: ROCKWELL / WORX
Item Weight: 3.4 pounds
Package Dimensions: 17.3 x 8.6 x 4.5 inches
Material: Other
Power Source: corded-electric
Rockwell RK3440K Versacut Circular Saw Review
This Rockwell compact circular saw can cut through numerous materials. Tile, wood, flooring, plastics, and sheet metal are just a few materials this saw can slice through. And why wouldn’t it, with its powerful 4amp multi-functional motor that delivers up to 3,500 rpm?
Its ergonomic, compact design plus slim grip handle significantly improves its comfort and control when being used. Atop that, it has a built-in laser guide that helps you to align the best, most accurate, and precise cuts. It also has a spring-loaded base plate which covers its blade after the completion of every cut. Its dust extraction adapter is perfectly suited to keep the cut line free of any dust and debris when working to improve visibility.
The only feature that may annoy users, especially ones with large fingers, is its slim grip, which can be very uncomfortable. Otherwise, there doesn’t seem to be a better choice to opt for.
#4
WORX WORXSAW Compact Circular Saw – WX429L
Vendor: WORX
Item Weight: 4.4 pounds
Product Dimensions: 15.1 x 4.2 x 5.8 inches
Power Source: corded-electric
Voltage: 120 volts
WORX WORXSAW Compact Circular Saw – WX429L Review
At only $54.34, this compact circular saw boasts some incredible features. For one, it can cut 2”x4” in a single pass. It has a compact saw that can easily maneuver in-between cuts. Plus, its thin blade gives its user less tool strain when cutting. Thus, factoring in its fast cutting speed and enhanced performance.
It is also very easy to adjust for occasions where you’re either setting the depth or bevel angles. This saw also has a comfortable grip and feels perfectly balanced in hand. You have more control over the saw while cutting. It is great for people with smaller hands and women who may have it rough holding on to larger saws.
Some customers have, however, complained about this saw bogging down a little when doing long cuts. It is also a left-sided blade design. Thus, it doesn’t seem to be a good match for left-handed users.
#5
Genesis GCS545C Compact Circular Saw
Vendor: Genesis
Item Weight: 6 pounds
Product Dimensions: 16 x 4.2 x 8 inches
Style: Circular Saw
Power Source: Corded-Electric
Genesis GCS545C Compact Circular Saw Review
It has a powerful 5.8amp motor that can deliver up to 3,500rpm. It also comes with a triple-gear reduction, which increases its torque while reducing potential damage to its gears by lowering stress places on them. It is relatively easy to use. Thanks largely to its lightweight design which also makes it easier to control. Its ergonomic grip only enhances its cutting accuracy.
It is fairly light, which means that you can even use it with one hand while using the other hand to steady the material being cut. It also has easily adjustable depth and bevel. It comes with a carbide tipped blade and blade wrench which sounds awesome. But you may probably need to replace these before long as they are not too reliable and get worn out quickly. The saw can easily cut through harder woods and metal, but you need to replace the blade first.
#6
PORTER-CABLE PCE381K Compact Circular Saw Kit
Vendor: PORTER-CABLE
Item Weight: 6 pounds
Product Dimensions: 17 x 5 x 6 inches
Material: Other
Power Source: corded-electric
PORTER-CABLE PCE381K Compact Circular Saw Kit Review
This saw comes with a proper and handy design, which is perfect for handling most DIY projects. It is a fairly small circular saw with a 5.5amp motor. That makes it a great tool for handling most of the heavy-duty applications as well. Its design is so compact and convenient both for use and for the user.
For a small saw, its motor can deliver up to 3,500rpm, which enables it to cut through materials very fast. Its lightweight and small design enable you to easily fit it into smaller spaces and carry around without much fuss. The depth of its cut is about 1 11/16,” which is fair and enables it to cut through some of the tough materials with a single shot as well.
A laser guide is probably the only thing that this saw doesn’t have. But other than that, it becomes a contender in this list for many reasons.
#7
Rockwell RK3441K Compact Circular Saw
Vendor: Rockwell
Item Weight: 5 pounds
Product Dimensions: 18.2 x 4.2 x 6.9 inches
Material: WOOD, DRYWALL, PLYWOOD SAW
Power Source: corded-electric
Rockwell RK3441K Compact Circular Saw Review
At just 5 pounds, the circular saw is so compact and versatile, much to the point that you can use it comfortably for hours without experiencing any fatigue. It also has a firm grip to enhance control and precision when cutting materials.
The laser guide system is another amazing feature that significantly improves accuracy and precision when cutting. Its smaller design lets you work in even some of the smaller spaces that other models couldn’t reach. And with bevel cuts of 1 ½”, this saw seems to have it all when looking at the features that matter most.
#8
BLACK+DECKER Cordless Circular Saw (BDCCS20B)
Vendor: BLACK+DECKER
Item Weight: 6 pounds
Product Dimensions: 14.1 x 8.2 x 8.9 inches
Material: Plastic
Power Source: battery-powered
BLACK+DECKER Cordless Circular Saw (BDCCS20B) Review
BLACK+DECKER manufactured a one-of-a-kind compact circular saw model BDCCS20B. At only $42.36, this powerful saw boasts an incredible 3,700rpm. It has a high torque motor that, together with its 5 ½” cutting blade, can slice through a variety of materials with ease.
It has a maximum cutting depth of 1.625” at 90 degrees and 1.375” at 45 degrees which is relatively fair. The good thing about this saw is that it’s so compact to the point that you can see everything that you are doing. Your visibility of the workspace it incredible. It uses a lithium-Ion battery to run which is sold separately. But that aside, this is one good saw to think about.
#9
Makita SH01ZW Cordless Circular Saw
Vendor: Makita
Item Weight: 1.5 pounds
Product Dimensions: 12 x 8 x 8 inches
Power Source: Battery
Voltage: 12 volts
Makita SH01ZW Cordless Circular Saw Review
This compact circular saw runs on batteries which allows you to use it just about anywhere, provided its batteries are charged. A fully charged battery can make up to 70 cuts of ½”x12” of plywood. This super-lightweight saw weight an incredible 1.5pounds. It runs on a Lithium-Ion battery of 12 volts.
It packs a good 1,400rpm. That’s enough power to cut through any material quickly. Its blade is, however, not that big. It’s usually 3 3/8” and cuts only up to about 1” deep. When the material’s depth is at 1”, you can make 90 degrees cuts. 45-degree cuts are, however, only possible with depths of up to 5/8”. Its tilting base is also another amazing factor to marvel at, for bevel cuts of between 0 to 45 degrees.
#10
MasterMind 800344 Circular Saw
Vendor: MasterMind Tools
Item Weight: 9 pounds
Product Dimensions: 18 x 11 x 5 inches
Power Source: corded-electric
Voltage: 110 volts
MasterMind 800344 Circular Saw Review
This marks the last compact circular saw on our list. But that doesn’t make it any less desirable. It retails at $144.00 and weight 9 pounds. It has an LED and laser light, all of which significantly enhance your vision and enable you to make more precise and accurate cuts. You cannot, however, use both at the same time. Even though LED light has proved to be much more effective.
The MasterMind 800344 compact saw comes with a 2.8amp motor which delivers up to 2,800rpm.
On the flip side, most customers have complained of difficulty in seeing the sides of the blade. This makes it even more difficult to tell where you are cutting. The LED light or laser light is sure to help, but only a little. But still, it’s a pretty useful tool and can take most of the smaller projects with ease.
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Criteria Used for Selecting the Best Compact Circular Saws
Before you even think of buying a compact circular saw, there are numerous factors that you must consider. Ensure you know what you want to use the compact circular saw for, the kind of materials you plan on cutting, whether it will be indoors or outdoors, whether the saw is for a few projects or many long-term projects. These are just a few factors to think about when shopping for the best compact circular saws.
Then you think about the key features you want your saw of choice to have. Generally, all saws are good for one thing or the other. It depends on what the customer is looking for, and whether the selected saw can provide that necessity.
Here are some critical factors and specifications that will take you a long way and likely lead you in the right direction.
Power
First and foremost, it is vital to note that buying the most powerful compact circular saw isn’t always the best solution. In most instances, it doesn’t solve many people’s problems. The reason is quite simple.
You may go for the saws with the most powerful motors thinking that they provide the best service and are a worthy investment. However, there is always the chance, and in most cases, it happens, where these saws with powerful motors don’t have the precision you need. Or perhaps you were looking to use some other features, but the circular saw doesn’t have it. So, you have a saw with a powerful motor bursting with energy but cannot serve you how you want it to. Plus, there is also the likelihood that you may need a secondary power supply if the powerful motors use excessive electricity.
It is, therefore, really important that you choose the saw power and motor wisely. Saws with the most powerful motors are usually more expensive. So, purchasing an expensive motor only to underutilize it looks more like a waste of resources.
You also don’t want to go for saws with less power. Lest they the break down while trying to cut materials they are not designed to cut. You can determine the power of a saw’s motor using its torque, amps, and volts. If you find the correct balance of all these factors, you should be good to go.
Price
Price factors in on just about commodity being bought. You will be more hard-pressed to get a certain compact circular saw if you are under a budget. This also helps to make the choosing process to become a little bit easier.
A budget of around $100 should be enough for you to find some of the best compact circular saws that cater for all your needs. You will also come across some pricey saws. But there really isn’t any need to consider them, especially if a decent one can get the job done as you want as well. At the day’s end, however, the amount you put down to buy your saw is your decision.
Usability
Here, you want to concentrate more on the saw’s ergonomic feature and design. The basic idea of buying a saw is so that you can finish your tasks using the saw with minimal effort, and without having to hire someone else to do the job.
As such, you also want to check the ease-of-use of the saw you want to buy. Look for a saw that feels comfortable and has a firm grip when you hold it in your hands. Saws that are much easier to use are better for you as you don’t have to go through so much trouble to get the work done.
Blade Size and the Depth of Cut
By the depth of cut, we mean how deep your saw can cut into your materials. Generally, a typical mini circular saw has a depth cut of 1”. However, some have been known to go as far as 2”. You will also find compact circular saws that are capable of making bevel cuts. This is an especially great feature to look into as it ensures that your saw is a lot more versatile. Minus the bevel feature, your saw will only be able to make straight rips, cross, and miter cuts.
The size of the saw’s blade plays a huge role in determining the depth of cut. Typically, you should go for a 4” circular saw. This is the standard blade size, or choose one that’s just under that diameter.
Our Overall Consensus
Each of the saws mentioned above is top-notch and perform extraordinarily well at some capacities. But that doesn’t necessarily make them the best compact circular saws that you are looking for. If that’s the case, then this article should have provided you even more relevant insight on how to shop for a good compact circular saw. Ensure that you factor in all the features and criteria mentioned below. This should significantly boost your chances of finding the saw of your preferences.