Skil Worm Drive Saw (SPT77WML). Pros and Cons.

I learned a lot after buying the SKILSAW SPT77WML-01 15-Amp 7-1/4-Inch Lightweight Worm Drive Circular Saw. In this video, I will share why the worm drive skil saw is good and some ways that I think it is worse than the sidewinder style saw.

[adamjames]

I own many battery & 120v saws.
6-½" blade left battery saws
7-¼" 120v sidewinders
7-¼ wormdrives
And a rear handle 36v makita.
I use and like them all for different purposes, but if I could only keep one, it'd be the mag77.

[marks]

every saw I have ever owned has had a blade lock out, including a 40 year old $30 Black and Decker.

[interman]

Fwiw, I have been building and renovating houses for over 30 years and have used a Makita corded sidewinder saw exclusively, I am right handed and I can see the left hand side of the blade easily for accurate cutting, the sawdust is ejected out the right hand side so it doesn't cover me .The saw is lightweight and doesn't wear you out.Blade right saws such as mine are easy to cut compound mitres to the long point mark and most of the base sits on the desired timber..When choosing a sidewinder saw make sure it has the cutaway on the blade guard so you can see the blade on the left hand side. 99% of saws sold are blade right and for good reason.

[AlaskanFreedom]

I've worked in construction since the 90's. It's like comparing a Prius to a work truck. Never seen a sidewinder on a job site once. It's a great starter tool for DIY personnel. If you're new to the Skil worm drive, remember the oil checks and changes. Also, it's a saw you can own for a very long time. It's easy to work on and replace parts like brushes, cords, and the switch. I don't think it's fair to knock the placement of the handle on the worm drive. Isn't that just for carrying it? It's a one-handed tool. Plus you can easily add a sky-hook to the worm drive, that way you're hanging your saw rather than setting it down.

[byranyates]

Owned a Skilsaw worm drive saw for over 50 years. Bought it when I started framing homes back in the 70’s . Never had an issue with other than replacing the cord ( cutting the cord sometimes ) Big box store had replacements on the shelf along with the trigger switch until a couple years ago. Still use it but have bought the Milwaukee 6-1/4 “ sidewinder. Do love my wormdrive but am loving the light weight Milwaukee for breaking down sheets. Doubt the Milwaukee will last 50+ years.

[medawc]

Regarding the blade lock - virtually all sidewinders but except the cheapest crap or very old ones have a blade lock...

[martinpoulsen]

The worm drive wins hands down, absolutely no question.

The points you have as wins for the sidewinder would be fails for me in other context. So here goes:

2) you do NOT want your saw landing on the table! ...especially not if you have a tendency to throw it as you kinda suggest. It can both bend the table and/or knock it out of alignment. So either tie or win to the mag77. If you do need to get rid of it real bad up on a roof or something, you'll likely be able to find a spot you can dive the blade in without causing structural damage, or get a hook for it - most do, if not already on.

5) 90% of cuts are square. This means you probably use the speed square as a guide to run along, holding that with your left hand, which makes left the right side to have the blade for right-handed people. Single hand on the saw. Is it advised, OSHA approved or other? No. But that's how framers do. Top handle is basically only used for carrying and storing the cord.

6) Heft is good. Makes the saw more steady, and along with your torque extension, less likely to fly out of the cut, should it pinch and catch something. Can it? Of course. And it'll eat your lunch too if you're not careful, but it will eat through more because of it, without jamming, and should it happen anyway, you bought yourself a couple of extra milliseconds to react. Heft is good. As a side note, framing is mostly done on the floor, so there are a lot of cuts going top down, so the weight of the saw will actually help drop it through the cut.

That the weight has nothing, or much anyway, to do with how it wiggles through a cut or not is an old wives tale. The thing that really sets it apart from the side winder is the distance along the cutting direction from the arbor back to the handle, where the handle sits almost on top of the arbor on the sidewinder, which means you have much more room to make finer adjustments on the worm drive, a better aim, and can probably reach all the way across a 4' sheet. Win: mag77 (x2)

[stoof]

Fyi skilsaw does sell a left blade sidewinder (only company that i know of for plug in saw) ititially they called it the "southpaw" but on their site they just call it "left blade sidewinder" now SPT67M8 is the nodel number.
I owm both the southpaw and 2 worm drives.
In reality i just like left blade saws as im right handed

[edwinmondragon]

I use my worm drive for single handed cuts, especially without sawhorses doing gravity cuts .If i have all of my equipment out, i use the sidewinder.

[michaelshelnutt]

I have never used a worm drive, or a rear handle saw... but looking to upgrade my cheapo Ryobi side winder.

[JeffB]

some of your differences are simply because you are comparing a professional saw to a homeowner version
i won't by a dewalt or makita again circle saw again are decent saws but my all magnesium skillsaw is more powerful and still runs like a champ after almost 10 years of use and abuse .

[derekbryant]

The Worm Drive saw is a professional saw and you do lay it on its side laid down it's intended to be used by construction workers concrete form workers framers siding contractors and roofers this type of Saw has plenty of torque to cut through wet Lumber and difficult to cut Hardwoods they don't kick back as much as a Sidewinder will and you can fit them in places that you can't put a sidewinder they have excellent line of sight because if your right-handed you can see the blade at all times they are a true gear-driven system the direct drive saw also known as a sidewinder doesn't have as much power as a warm Drive I'm 42 and I have used both types of saw since I was 15 years old the direct drive saw does not require very much skill to use it's easier to use it and it is lighter worm drives are typically much heavier than a direct drive but they will last much longer than a direct drive circular saw and that is because they are oil lubricated they require gearbox oil they're not maintenance-free and they are more expensive than a direct drive saw if you are an occasional user a direct drive saw is best for you but if you're framing houses every day horse setting concrete forms they are the circular saw for you and there are much better saws out there than a skill saw but the skill saw is the best value and it is the circular saw That Built America but pretty much now it's just a brand name they're made in China they used to be made here in the US

[dustinkrebs]

If you change the oil in the mag 77 once in a while, it will last for a lifetime 💯

[stephenmendenhall]

The worm drive stops faster after you release the trigger because it has a brake.

[brucenator]

Your twin brother does great wine making videos!

[iphone]

Isnt your blade on backwards on the worm?
The Blade needs to be reversed.

[mogul]

Raiders the height all the way up on the worm drive and it sits upright!!