Advice on a circular saw

I'm going to undertake some light carpentry projects soon, all of which will require a good circular saw. I'm not too hip on power tools, but know that I need one that can cut on an angle. Can someone tell me what I should look for? Best case scenario would be to find something at a pawn shop, as I hate buying new.

Thanks!

My friend, a professional carpenter, years ago told me that the best circular saws had bearings and not bushings. One with bushings would only last one house. One with bearings would go hundreds.

Two words: Porter Cable.

Light, durable and accurate for everyday use, Makita. I have a good friend that is a carpenter. He has three. A RH saw, a LH saw and a junker for abusing. He won't buy anything else.

For the rest of us, Porter Cable works pretty good. I have one that I use exclusively for cutting aluminum.

I have to second, or I guess third, Porter Cable. I bought one when I built my house. At the time, the Porter Cables were significantly lighter because they used magnesium. I believe that they also make left handed versions if you need that.

If you have ro make angle cuts i would recomend a table saw. I have had a mikata circular saw for years. With the miktas shoo them by amps. Higher is generally better. Makira makes some home owner stuff as well as some comercial grade stuff. Stick wuth the cimercial grade.

Re the table saw i picked up a 10very inch ryobi off craigs list for 60LBB dollars. It ia a myst for angle cuts that matter. It also lets tou rip plywood and regular lumber down accuratly. You can do all this with a skilk saw but you dont get tge accuracy. I was replacing sills and trim areond my house. The tablesaw was the better tool. Really the only tool for the job.

^ I think Dean wins the Most Autocorrect Fails Per Post award for this one.

Thanks for the recommendations so far. Dean (from what I could decipher ), a table saw would be nice too, but I'm very limited on space so I may try to use a circular saw for all my (limited) needs.

How would this Porter Cable be? Negotiate him down to $50?

http://gainesville.craigslist.org/tls/3937190139.html

All circular saws cut on angles.

You meant bevel, but they all do that too.

That Porter Cable is a good saw, but you should not buy it. You'll cut your arm off.

Know any good carpenters? Hire him.

The table saw is never the "only tool for the job" for home repairs. There are very few jobs that can be done with a table saw that can't be done with a circular saw (in the right hands).

Some specialty cuts- dado cuts, rabbet joints, rotary molding heads, re-sawing timbers can be done with a table saw but not (easily) a circular saw, but these are cuts that are not generally done by amateurs anyway, and have very little to do with home repair.

Therefore, a circular saw is fine.

SVreX wrote: All circular saws cut on angles. You meant bevel, but they all do that too. That Porter Cable is a good saw, but you should not buy it. You'll cut your arm off. Know any good carpenters? Hire him.

LOL. Trust me...I'm not planning on tackling anything too tough.

I've got an old Skil saw that was made in the U.S.A. Don't think you can get them anymore. It still works great, but I did have to put a new set of brushes in it recently.

Only other thing I can think of is.... don't get it near your hootus!