Thanks everyone for the feedback. I have been looking at 14 and 15 amp saws. When I went home yesterday, I looked at the label on my old Black and Decker and it has a 9 amp motor. Between that and the fact it is 38 years old, I understand why it was bogging down on me last weekend when I was trying to cut through 3/4" plywood.
Earlier in the post it was mentioned to get good saw blades.
+1 for Diablo saw blades. They are the best for the money IMHO. They stay sharper longer and last longer then regular saw blades.
Are any of you handy and do some carpentry? My Black and Decker circular saw is an early 80's model and I have used the heck out of it through the years. It struggled to cut the last time I used it so I am looking to finally replace it. So what is the best circular saw to get? I have been researching them and there are tons of different models to chose from. Any suggestions from experienced saw users? I am just a DIY guy, so I do not need the absolute top of the line.
Or get a Skill wormdrive, they last fore ever
I'd probably pick up a DeWalt 20V. Since most companies now have their specialty lines, I'd rather buy into something with consistent quality across the board instead of spending beaucoup bucks investing in the best of every system.
I hand built my entire kitchen with the DeWalt 20v system. Granted, I'm a hobbyist and not using my tools eight hours a day, five days a week.
That said, I know more than a few full-time tradesmen that use the DeWalt 20v system and are quite happy with it.
Mike
So I think I have decided to get this Skil circular saw from Home Depot for $99. For my purposes it is more than good enough. I just do light work around the house from time to time. I also recently bought a cordless Ryobi 18v circular saw with a 5-1/2" blade for quick little projects. That Ryobi surprisingly cuts very very well. I tried it on a 2x4 and it cut it very easily. It fact, it cut through a 2x4 better than my 38 year old Black and Decker with the 9 amp motor that I am replacing.