The 15-amp motor runs off 120 volts and maxes out at 6200RPM so you’ll be able to make a full range of cuts with power and precision. There are beefier and more powerful circular saws out there but for this size and price range there’s a great deal of performance at your disposal. You’ll be more than able to cut through ¾ inch of plywood or dense material without getting bogged down or overheating the saw.
Tweaking the depth of cut can be awkward with some saws. It’s incredibly straightforward with the Bosch. You hit a lever and vary the depth accordingly.
At 90 degrees, you’ll get a maximum depth of cut of 2 7/16 inches. At 45 degrees you’ll be able to cut 1 7/8 inches and at 50 degrees the maximum cut is 1 5/8 inches. Unfortunately, there are no positive bevel stops so you won’t be able to make interim adjustments.
The blade has 24 carbide-tipped teeth. Swapping out the blades couldn’t be less hassle. With a tool-free spindle lock, you can change them without breaking your stride. Loosening or tightening the blade nut lets you stop the blade from rotating with ease. Replacing the blades is a breeze and most regular 7-¼ will fit without a hitch. On-board storage allows to you keep your wrench close at hand.
You can bevel to 56 degrees with the Bosch. The sidewinder of this left blade has an anti-snag lower guard. Alignment is super-simple thanks to the line guide. Use the notch on the left for straight 90-degree cuts and the one on the right to bevel.
If you use your power tools for lengthy stretches, it’s important that they feel right. The soft grip of the Bosch’s handle lets you work away without any discomfort.
The 9-foot cord means that although you’ll be restricted to a power outlet, you should have sufficient room for maneuver.
There’s no safety switch, electric brake or rip fence but at this price point you can’t ask for much more. We should strongly stress that with no safety switch in place you should always use this circular saw with the utmost care.
The dust chute is highly effective with the sawdust being channeled away from the cut line nicely. On the downside, the debris is blown straight in your direction making for messy work. This really is unexpectedly poor design from a brand like Bosch so know this in advance and decide for yourself whether this is reason enough to put you off.
We’ll break down the pros and cons of the Bosch for you before we move on to the final circular saw review in our top 5…