Circular Saw: Just Buy One
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A circular saw is the Swiss army knife of power tools. It rips plywood, crosscuts lumber, and handles most cuts a table saw or miter saw would make. At $50-100 for a corded model, the math favors buying.
The Numbers
Why Borrow
- If you genuinely have no project on the horizon and just need one cut today, borrowing makes sense
- If you already own a table saw and miter saw, a circular saw is redundant for most shop work
- Cordless models on high-end platforms (DeWalt, Milwaukee) cost $150+ bare tool, so borrowing saves money if you are not in the ecosystem yet
Why Buy
- A corded circular saw costs $50-80 and lasts 20+ years. Two borrows cost the same as buying.
- It is the one power tool that can substitute for almost any other saw in a pinch
- Paired with a straightedge or track, it rips plywood as accurately as a table saw
- You will reach for it on almost every project: framing, shelving, decking, sheet goods, trim
- Compact enough to store on a shelf, light enough to carry one-handed
Check Before You Buy
Someone in your neighborhood probably owns a circular saw and uses it a few times a year. Borrowing saves money, saves garage space, and keeps tools in use instead of collecting dust.
See How FriendsWithTools WorksCommon Questions
Corded or cordless circular saw?
Corded models are cheaper, lighter, and never run out of battery. Cordless is better for jobsite work and outdoor projects where running an extension cord is a hassle. For home workshop use, corded saves money. If you are already on a battery platform (DeWalt 20V, Milwaukee M18, etc.), the cordless version is convenient.
Can a circular saw replace a table saw?
For straight cuts, mostly yes. Clamp a straightedge or use a track guide and you can rip plywood and sheet goods accurately. Where it falls short: repetitive cuts to the same width (table saw fence is faster), dado cuts, and narrow rip cuts where the offcut is too small to manage safely.