SAWS
- BEST LIGHT-DUTY CIRCULAR SAW
Hart HPCS2 $128
We test homeowner and profes-
sional circular saws the same
way. In the case of this 20-volt
Hart, that meant cutting
Douglas fir framing lumber,
sawing through the 1.5-inch
thickness and also with the
board turned on edge so the
blade was fully submerged at its
maximum depth in the lumber.
Our verdict: You won’t confuse
this saw with one used to frame
houses; push it too hard and
you’ll trip its thermal cutoff.
But it’s got enough oomph for
cutting some lumber, includ-
ing a 4x4. We liked the lock
button (officially, the spindle
lock); press it to hold the blade
in place to more quickly turn
off the nut that tightens down
on the blade. We also liked its
safety latch designed for right-
or left-handed users. - BEST MID-DUTY CIRCULAR SAW
Worx WX520L $199
This petite saw weighs a mere
8.6 pounds, yet we found it to
be unusually capable. Equipped
with a 7.25-inch blade, it
made short work of 4x6 pres-
sure-treated lumber, 2x10
Douglas fir, ¾-inch plywood,
and laminate f looring. And with
the 4-Ah battery, this saw will
do a significant amount of work
before you need to swap in a new
battery or give it a recharge.
→ BEST SAW FOR LAMINATE FLOORING
Ryobi PGC21B $175
Thin-plank laminate f looring is popular for its ease of
installation. But if you’re a homeowner, you may not
have the tools to accurately rip and crosscut the mate-
rial should you need to. And that’s where this 18-volt,
5.5-inch circular saw comes in. It sits on a guide rail
and is supported on a trolley (somewhat like that
found on a gantry crane), free to slide back and forth
to enable crosscuts. Or you can fix its position with
the f lip of a lever. We tried the saw in ripping, cross-
cutting, and miter cuts. Powered by an amazingly fast
6,500-rpm motor, it did everything we asked of it.
It’s actually fun to use, accomplishing the rare feat of
making f looring work, dare we say, enjoyable.
1272 March/April 2022