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Add to SafariWhen comparing SKIL 5180-01 vs Makita SH02Z, the Slant community recommends SKIL 5180-01 for most people. In the question“What are the best circular saws?” SKIL 5180-01 is ranked 1st while Makita SH02Z is ranked 4th. The most important reason people chose SKIL 5180-01 is:
At just $50, this tool is capable of doing about 90% of the work more expensive circular saws can do. It has a small and lightweight body packed with all the essential features, such as top and lower guards, a dust blower, and a trigger lock.
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Very good performance for the price
At just $50, this tool is capable of doing about 90% of the work more expensive circular saws can do. It has a small and lightweight body packed with all the essential features, such as top and lower guards, a dust blower, and a trigger lock.
Pro Perfect for deep and inclined cuts
This tool has an impressive maximum cutting depth of 2-3/8", which makes it perfect for deep cuts. It can also handle the bevel angles between 0 and 51 degrees. Thus, it's suitable for wide angle cutting.
Pro Well constructed
The body of this circular saw is made from rugged and tough plastics. The handles are coated with a soft rubber, and metals are used for the guard and base plate design. The tool is decently constructed and does not feel cheap.
Pro Power-on indicator
Once you connect this saw to the mains, the power-on indicator LED will alert you. A lot of expensive tools lack this feature.
Pro Beginner friendly
Even without any prior experience, it's easy to learn how to use this power tool.
Pro Easy and comfortable to work with
Due to its lightweight design (7.2 lbs), the tool is quite handy, even for working overheads. The handles are coated in rubber which adds to the comfort and minimizes the chances of accidental slips. Furthermore, the blade has an unobstructed line of sight, so you won't have to lean over to see the workpiece.
Pro Perfect for extra light use
This circular saw is suitable for light-duty jobs. It can cut 1" thick plywood, MDF, pegboard, particleboard, melamine, and drywall.
Pro Extremely compact design for work in small spaces
Regarding the form factor, this is one of the smallest circular saws available on the market. It is also one of the lightest saws (4.2 lbs). Such features are beneficial for working in tight spaces.
Pro Easy to handle
It is easy to sustain a safe and firm grip over this tool, as it has a rubber-coated ergonomically correct handle.
Pro Very portable during work
Due to the cordless design of this circular saw, you don't have to worry about electrical cords and power outlets while working with this tool.
Cons
Con Unsafe trigger lock
The trigger lock is designed very poorly. It works much like a trigger lock on a gun. Once it’s released, there is nothing to stop the trigger from accidentally activating. After you finish a cut, you must disable the trigger manually.
Con Lacks electric brake
As this circular saw does not have an electric brake, the blade will keep spinning even after you release the trigger. The blade will continue turning until all its inertia is gone.
Con Limited cutting depth
Due to the tiny, 3-⅜" blade size, the maximum cutting depth of this tool is only 1 inch. This is an important limiting factor that must be considered before purchasing this saw.
Con Batteries and charger need to be bought separately
Batteries and a charger are not included in this saw's set. This will add another 90-100 dollars to the tool's cost.
