You’ll get a maximum cutting depth of just under 2-½ -inches. You’ll be able to churn through 2x4s with absolute ease. If you want to cut 4x4 pieces, you’ll need to make more than one pass so bear this in mind if you plan to work with chunkier pieces. This is not a flaw of the SKIL but something in common with all 7 ¾-inch saws.

At 45 degrees, the depth of cut is 2 and 3/8-inches. There is a positive stop at 45 degrees. You can bevel to 51 degrees. This all comes together to give you an impressive selection of angled cuts and miter cuts along with light rip cuts and cross cuts. Whether you’re working with decking or making alterations to your home, this circular saw is a versatile ally.

The blade supplied has 24 teeth and is great for general cuts with wood.  It’s 7 ¼ inches in diameter. The 5/8-inch arbor hole is a standard size. An onboard wrench and locking feature makes swapping the blades quick and easy without needing to grab your toolbox.

The cord is slightly too short at just 6 feet so make sure you have an extension cable. There’s little excuse for manufacturers cutting costs in this area so it’s best to be aware of this in advance.

There’s an integrated dust blower that will keep all the sawdust out of your line of sight. The laser guide shoots out a single beam that makes following the cutting line a cinch. There are a couple of niggles with this laser, though. You won’t be able to see it too clearly in the sun so give this some thought if you’ll be using your SKIL outdoors on a regular basis. It’s not possible to adjust the laser either so it’s a handy function but only under optimum conditions.

Added features include a safety button and guarded trigger to prevent accidental starts, lever adjustments on the baseplate and a torque clutch to minimize kickback. Safety is absolutely key with any kind of power saw and SKIL has you covered.

The gear and motor housing is made from resin and the base plate is made from steel. It’s durable enough but not designed for sustained and heavy punishment. In return, though, it’s highly maneuverable and lightweight. Coming in at less than 9 pounds, you can work for a long time without feeling the pinch. There’s nothing worse than a circular saw which leaves you fatigued after half an hour on the job.

A soft, padded case comes free of charge so you’ll avoid any damage to your saw if you need to carry it around.

There’s a 1-year limited warranty included which allows you to buy without worrying about your saw letting you down.

If you’re looking for an affordable, quiet and smooth circular saw, the SKIL 5280-01 is well worth further consideration.

SKIL has a hard-won reputation for producing great tools without charging a fortune. The 5280-01 is very reasonably priced without compromising functionality. There’s nothing worse than picking up a cheap power tool thinking you’ve got a bargain only to be let down by poor performance.

While it’s not cut out for heavy-duty and relentless commercial work, if you want a manageable and capable circular saw for your home workshop, it’s a great choice.

While 7 ¼-inch circular saws have long been the kneejerk choice and 6 ½-inch blades are growing in popularity, Rockwell have gone for a 4 ½-inch blade with inline body styling. As well as much more maneuverability than you’ll get with a bulkier and more cumbersome circular saw, you’ll enjoy far more control into the bargain.

Although this nifty circular saw tips the scales at less than 5 pounds, the 5-amp motor generates more than enough power for cutting through most wood. Maxing out at 3500RPM, you can rip your way through 2x4s without undue effort. You’ll be able to make these cuts with a single pass so you can work through larger projects without eating up too much time.

It has a pretty small footprint, too. The dimensions are 18.2 x 4.2 x 6.9 inches meaning you can get into tight spots where larger circular saws would struggle. With an ergonomic, slimline handle, you’ll get a good grip without the risk of blistering your hands.

At 90 degrees, you’ll get a maximum cutting depth of 1 1/16 inches. You will cut 1 1/8 inches at 90 degrees. Making adjustments to the cutting depth is a breeze. Simply lift up the lever and push the base plate either up or down to your required depth. The scale is clear and easy to read. This saw really comes into its own for rips, plunge cuts and cut-offs.

The blade on the Rockwell is significantly thinner than the ones on many competing saws in this size bracket. This is another excellent way to gain control. It’s made from carbide so it’s strong as well as accurate. The left-handed design of this blade means you’ll gain a completely clear line of sight as you toil away. This is a lovely touch. Changing the blade is straightforward. There’s a push-button arbor lock taking all the sting out of what can be a fiddly and tiresome task.

The inbuilt dust port is a nice touch. Since you will usually be using a small saw like this in finished areas, keeping things clean is a must. There’s also a vacuum adapter you can attach to the extraction outlet so there’s no excuse for flying debris and sawdust wreaking havoc around you.

Although it’s scaled down in size, you’ll enjoy most of the functionality you associate with larger, more expensive circular saws but with a great deal more versatility.

Corded tools invariably offer more power but one of the drawbacks is that many manufacturers cut the cords too close. With a 10-foot cable on the Rockwell, you’ll get ample freedom of movement even if you are restricted to a power outlet.

You can buy this saw as bare tool or with the blade provided. There’s a parallel guide thrown in. This helps considerably when it comes to making straight and long rip cuts.

If you want a supplementary circular saw, the Rockwell makes a fine choice. It won’t make the grade for large commercial projects but for small DIY jobs in the house, its portability is a complete winner.

For regular cutting with smaller pieces of material, the RK3441K will not disappoint. With any saw of this size, if you keep your expectations pegged realistically and don’t expect a monster built for the job site, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Where a regular circular saw will generally be stored away and in need of setting up, if you’ve got some modest cutting tasks to take care of in a hurry, you can just whip out the Rockwell and get the job done without standing on ceremony. For craft projects, light detail work or minor renovations, you really can’t ask for much more.

Rounding out these circular saw reviews is an industry favorite, the legendary Festool TS 75 EQ.

If you’re on the lookout for a first class plunge cut circular saw, Festool deliver, albeit at a price. There is no sense in disguising the fact that this manufacturer sells premium tools. The price tag reflects a superb attention to detail and build quality alongside top-tier performance.

The go-to circular saw for many professional contractors and home woodworkers alike is the TS 75 EQ from Festool. The stellar brand also offers a slightly smaller option, the TS 55.

You’ll get an enormous amount of adaptability with this saw. Whether you’re working with rough timber or engaged in fine finishing work, cutting out steps or window frames, you’ll enjoy cuts as straight as you could make with a panel saw with all of the freedom of a more portable unit.

There are a few differences between the TS 75 EQ and a regular circular saw which repay taking into account…

A common issue with circular saws is their tendency to start wandering as you cut. The guides often have too much play. The nifty guide rail on the Festool mean you can get accuracy you might normally associate with a table saw or panel saw without any of the troublesome splintering that can mar your workpiece.

Most circular saws don’t have riving knives but the Festool comes with a spring-loaded splitter that retracts during plunge cuts. With this saw, you’ll be able to start and finish your cut anywhere in the material. You’ll enjoy creating the cleanest of edges however demanding the material. There’s no waste either since the cuts will always be made flush to the scribe line even when beveling.

There’s a small, replaceable plastic guard near the cutting edge. This helps to almost completely eliminate splinters and is a wonderful touch enhancing your finish. Not only that, you’ll save time too as you will generally get what you need done with a single pass.

Cutting depth is a more than acceptable 2 15/16 inches if you are cutting without the rail. With the guide rail in place, maximum depth capacity is 2 ¾ inches. Since you only need to expose the bit of the blade needed for any given cut, depth adjustment is a cinch.

Swapping the blade is a cakewalk thanks to the FastFix blade changing system. As soon as you activate this, the arbor and power switch lock up eliminating any chance of an accidental start-up. The position of the saw means you’ll easily be able to remove the arbor bolt and access the blade swiftly and expediently.

MMC electronics serve you up with a shower of benefits to prolong the lifespan of your saw and make controlling it much easier. The variable speed control allows to match the speed to the application. Speed is monitored so you can rest safe in the knowledge that the blade will spin at a consistent pace even when it’s subject to heavy loads. You’ll get no overheating or overload either so Festool has all bases covered.

You can put the Festool under some pretty heavy cutting action with no drop in performance. It’s a tool built for commercial use so you don’t need to hold back.