I ask forgiveness for OT but I’d like to know the opinions of people as users of Swaylock (each of them is a craftsman) of a tool that I like so much and I can not find news:
I have seen movies of American carpenters that build wooden houses (frame houses I suppose), and I was amazed and marveled at the speed and technique and all the tricks they use! I bow to these people who build houses with wood !!!
I have seen all of which use the “worm drive saw” and not the traditional (for Europe at least) circular saw.
I’m in love with this wonderful tool and I’d like to buy one to build sheds in my area … BUT IN EUROPE DOES NOT EXIST !!! this is possible?
I found that Bosch makes the “worm drive saw” for US but not for Europe … I do not understand these choices. It seems to me a better tool for carpentry, of what we have in Europe.
Why this worm drive saw only exists for the US?
Some people said that worm drive saw is less safety that circular saw but I don’t belive it…
Once you use a worm drive and get to know it, you’ll never go back. They are heavy and solid. Use the weight to your advantage and cut down hill when you can.
Skil 77, and only the skil 77. They last until you drop it off the roof, or it gets stolen. Blade on the left so you can see the cut. Smaller “sidewinder” saws have the blade on the right. The blade on the right are harder to use, but less likely to take off your thumb.
They are dangerously powerful, and really shouldn’t be used unless you have someone show you how to safely use it. A pinched blade will kick back and take off fingers or worse.
A better choice is the Mag77 version of the Skil77. It is lighter,but has the same motor. Probably wouldn’t be able to use in Europe as they are 110v for the US market. I don’t believe they make a 220v European version. If you got one, it seems like it would be a real drag hauling a power inverter around the jobsite.
Only real men use skil worm drives, and Manly Men don’t care about the weight of the mag. We’re framers , damn-it! 24 and 28 Oz waffle face hammers and stout women!
I already own a big transformer (3300W) that I use for my skil 100.
Now I’m undecided between:
Skilsaw SPT77W-22 7-1/4" : heavy but cheap, about 230$ with shipping in Italy.
Skilsaw SPT77WML-22 7-1/4" : Light but expensive, about 320$ with shipping.
Bosch CSW41: Light, pretty cheap (265$) but not Skil!!!
I don’t know…
Any tips?
PS: I not considered used saw because I saw in Youtube carpentry movie how they use this tool!! Very intensive use!!!
My father is a retired carpenter. He has Skil worm drive saws that are older than I am. Much like our Skil 100 planers these things will last forever with just a little bit of care. I’ve watched him relief cut a concrete slab all the way across with one using a diamond blade. Once you learn how to use one they are easier and more accurate to use. Like comparing a Skil 100 to a Harbor Freight planer. Having the blade on the left and a lower angle of attack with the handle are both huge advantages over the modern style circular saws. The lower angle of attack gives you much more control so that you are less likely to bind up the blade.
Skil made many versions of the worm drive, a 6 1/2", an 8-or 8 1/2", and one that would tilt more than 45 deg. I’m not sure if they are still available.
I have the model 77 and the 6 1/2" version, which I purchased online. Its kinda tough to find blades for it tho, the big box stores carry them sometimes, most the 6 1/2 " blades now are missing the diamond cutout the skil requires.
thanks whynot, a long time ago I used to run a framing crew. I would cut the roof myself, the whole package, in advance. Even on a big house like the one I did in these pics would get a roof up in a couple days once we started stacking it out. The industry in my area has largely gone to truss roofs now, the work I used to do is kinda becoming a lost art, but there’s still a few guys out there.
