Im looking to get a new sidewinder (not a worm drive) circular saw. What saw do you recommend?

I had to look up that term. That’s the first time I’ve heard a regular circular saw referred to as a sidewinder. I didn’t know that was a thing.

while I have been very happy with my Milwaukee and it has been running a long time, I use the rigid battery operated saw more now , just so eady to not have to run a cord unless I am cutting a bunch of stuff , I missed the worm drive because of the blade on left side that I used to use working construction.

I see Skilsaw does a blade on left "side winder" I also had to look that term up it appears to be a Skilsaw branding name

being right handed getting the guard out of the way with my left hand thumb and seeing the blade though was easier , it probably depends on what exactly you are cutting like sheet goods I want the saw on the sheet not what I am trimming off but also don't want to have to lean way over the whole sheet

i may be odd , I also bought a lefty bait casting reel

it would be nice if they put a rafter hook on it , seems like every saw should come with a rafter hook these days

worm drive used to be the "standard" circular saw. That's why the sidewinders got a nickname when they came along - so you could tell them from the "standard" worm drive that everyone already had.

I served my apprenticeship in Southern California in the early 60’s and I worked on a commercial building framing crew and the saw we used was a side winder saw. Must be a west coast term.

Generally sidewinders have inadequate torque for all the things a guy needs to do.

If you are asking about regular corded 7 1/4 saw Porter Cable or Makita get my vote.
Though I have not used every modern model made.

I was remodeling the Security Police building at Clear AFS in early 90’s. Lots of outside work all winter. Worm drives had to be kept warm so I bought a Rockwell side winder and it had a grease fitting that I could grease it with low temperature grease and that ended the problem with having to keep saws warm.

I suppose I could have flushed the gear box on the worm drive and that would have worked. Didn’t think of that!

I have never been able to figure out how a righthanded person uses a sidewinder; plus a worm-drive is much more stable and seems to make a truer cut.

I’ve been using a pair of Dewalt 13 amp, 11 pound circular saws since I went into business in 1996. They are just regular circular saws, I guess that’s what you guys call sidewinder saws.

Anyhow they have served me well over the last 26 years. And I never thought they were inadequate in any way, torque or otherwise.

Worked on 9 bridges on the I5 and no power saws. The company kept all our hand saws sharp every week. Then I worked on a framing crew framing 8 plexus and only saw on the job was the one the stair guy had. Everything came Pre cut on flat bed trailers, even all the blocking. Every day and one half we completed one. Day after day!

This is what I use.


Porter - Cable
1 left hand blade
1 right hand blade

Both 15amp - 5800 rpm - electric brake - magnesium base
Approximately 15-20 years old. No issues ever. Both work great.

Look brand new!

I don't do huge amounts of carpentry. Plus these cost a fair amount , I think I paid about $125 each when I bought them. I try to take good care ( mostly ) of my tools , always keep them in their cases and stored indoors in a climate controlled environment. Pay a decent buck for something , ya take care of it. Also I don't loan them out , that's a huge factor too.

I use the one on the right. I have had it for almost 30 years. It has a lot of miles on it and has been a good one. It has built a house, a two story garage, 30 x 60 barn, and numerous out buildings and decks. I don't know if the new ones are the same quality.

I am still using the Makita saw I bought in 1990. I worked on a framing crew for three years, using that saw daily. It's been used moderately since then, but it is my favorite circular saw, by far. I've used most of the others, but the Makita fit me best. I think the model is 5007 NM-B. It is the saw with the aluminum bed. They made one with a steel bed, at the time, that was junk. I've only replaced the cord a couple times because my help had a habit of cutting them in two.

The Makita was the one i was looking for but none of our big box stores carried them.

I also use the makita 5007f , I’ve made thousands of cuts with mine, for the money you can’t beat them, and it doesn’t have that sideways torque that cranks on your elbow like a worm saw does.

What's a rafter hook?

it is a hook that attaches to your saw it folds down to be out of the way when you don't want it , then flips out to habg on a 2x board so you are not trying to ballance your saw some place or alwasy setting it on the ground
you can hang it on the saw horse , floor joist , ladder , scafold or rafter

https://thetoolscout.com/what-is-a-rafter-hook-on-a-circular-saw/