Looking for a Saw Suggestion

Cordless ones are pretty badass nowadays. You may be able to get a bare tool to use with your other cordless-tool batteries.

Are we talking about a circular saw?

Circle saw, Craftsmen has a really good one. Sure battery power tools are nice, but when comes down to it, 120v tools are 100% better in the long run that will last the avg guy a life time and then some.

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I'm not a carpenter, but need a saw for use around the house. Not too expensive, easy to use, and versatile

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I do a lot of carpentry and a good 7-1/4" circular saw can do a lot around the house, depending on the skill and experience of the person using it. A large speed-square (those big orange or blue triangles they sell next to the levels at HD or Lowes), a plate-vise (sold near the triangles), an extendable saw guide (same area), and some plastic sawhorses can handle a lot projects. I have DeWalt and Hitachi circ. saws and both work equally fine though the DeWalt's base doesn't get hung up on bevel cuts like the Hitachi tends to. Makita makes great saws, arguably the smoothest running and cutting, and a 5007NK will be the last one you'll even need. Just be aware the aluminum base won't tolerate a drop off a 5-gallon bucket. Get a few spare blades too to keep in the case with the saw, Freud Diablo and DeWalt construction blades are cheap enough and cut well for any project.

Like others have said a circular saw is on of the most versatile saws you can buy. You can cross cut, rip, break down plywood. You can also use it as tablesaw with a little backyard engineering.

Dados With a Circular Saw

Crosscut Jig

Homemade Track Saw

For a homeowner starting out you don't need anything extravagant or to spend a ton of money. A basic 7 1/4" 15 amp circular saw will serve you well. I have an older Craftsman and its never let me down.

Some decent ones....

Ridgid

Makita

Bosch

Skil

The only SAW for the OB is the FN M249 SAW.



If this is your first circular saw 120v is what you want. A cordless is nice to have on occasion but I wouldn't use one as my only circular saw. Stick with any of the good brands (Makita, Dewalt, Milwaukee, Rigid, etc) and you will have a fine saw that will last a lifetime of homeowner use.

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A cordless is nice to have on occasion but I wouldn't use one as my only circular saw

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Exactly. I burned up the motor on one. If I had a corded one at the time it wouldn't have happened.

Laugh if you want, but a couple of years ago I bought a Craftsman hand saw. I think I paid about $30 for the saw. I have a Makita circular saw, a DeWalt corded sabre saw, a Milwaukee cordless sabre saw, but I find myself grabbing that hand saw more often than not. I wouldn't want to frame a house with it, or try to do cabinetry grade cuts, but for the occasional 2x4 or even a long rip on 1/4" to 1/2" plywood it's awesome. I was shocked how good my cuts were with a well made sharp hand saw as opposed to the old dull saw my dad had laying around the house when I was a kid. And with a good sharp saw, the cutting requires very little effort. I would never give up my Makita for it, but it's handy in the woods or if you just don't want to drag out an extension cord.

I agree with the post above. Start with a sliding compound miter saw and some rollers. Then get a decent table saw. Buy a new tool every time you start a new project. Before long you will have more shite than you need.