The circular saw is a handheld cutting tool that was initially devised as a basic saw used to turn logs into lumber, but now it is a must-have in any professional’s collection or an amateur wood cutter’s arsenal.
The average homeowner or DIY’er does not want to spend a lot on a circular saw to meet most of their casual woody needs. There are some cheap models available under $50, which can do what you need from them and can do just fine.
In this article, we have conducted a detailed study to find the worthiest tools for your budget, the best circular saws available under $50. However, the key is to use a good blade with your circular saw, and more specifically not the blade that is included with the saw.
Top 7 Best Budget Circular Saws Under $50
Unfortunately, or fortunately, there are not many circular saws available in this price range, but it means that the fewer the options, the lesser the headache when choosing a tool. We have put together seven fantastic tools in our breakdown with a bit of additional research prior to purchase. This investigation will lead you to purchase the most appropriate circular saw for your requirements.
Here is my list of the 7 Best Circular Saws Below $50 in 2021;
1. BLACK+DECKER (BDCCS20B) – Ideal Candidate for Your Smaller Projects
The Black & Decker BDCCS20B 20 Volt Max is a 5-1/2-inch cordless Circular Saw which is designed with a high torque motor. This cordless saw operates at a 20V Lithium-ion battery pack within Black & Decker’s Power Connect framework.
Its 5-1/2 inch fast cutting blade is an excellent choice for a compact circular saw made for light-duty work. It is an ideal tool for novice users and DIY’ers. The small blade along with compactness makes it the ultimate tool for small and complicated cutting jobs.
Its tool-less adjustment system provides accuracy and time saving by quickly and efficiently adjusting cutting depth and bevel angles without using any accessory. The compact design of the saw is accentuated by the unique handle design to provide excellent control during cutting operations.
Overall, BDCCS20B is an accurate, lightweight, light-duty, cordless circular saw designed for new/casual users and DIY’ers for small home projects.
2. Skil 5080-01 – Interim Saw
SKIL 5080-01 is a compact circular saw primarily designed as an interim saw for the transition between beginner’s models to pro tools. The powerful 13 amperes (2.3 horsepower) motor rotates the 7-1/4 inch blade at a whopping 5300 RPM. It can be used for anything from trimming, ripping to cutting shelving and is an ideal tool for home projects.
It is equipped with an 18 toothed carbide blade with a 5/8-inch arbor diameter to give a reasonable cutting depth giving it the ability to be used in almost any kind of cutting job. Its spindle lock mechanism lets you change the blade quickly and safely.
Designed with a maximum bevel angle of 51 degrees and positive stops on most common angles, it gives you the freedom, accuracy, and speed to make intricate cuts. Designed with a unique 2-point line-of-sight system, it basically helps you cut in a straight line.
Weighing only 6.95 pounds, this saw is relatively lightweight for reduced fatigue. It also includes several safety features including a dust blower to keep the cutting line free from sawdust, a safety lock, and an anti-snag guard along with a guarded trigger to avoid any accident.
3. BLACK+DECKER BDECS300C – Powerful tool for DIY’ers
The BLACK & DECKER BDECS300C is a corded circular saw model designed for medium to heavy-duty cutting. It is powered by a 13-ampere motor working on a no-load speed of 5300 rotations per minute (RPM), which makes it good for medium-sized projects.
It comes equipped with a 7-1/4-inch blade which gives a maximum cutting depth of 2-1/2 inches. The provided blade works just fine for cutting 2X4’s, fence planks, and wood frames. And the spindle lock mechanism for easy blade changes makes it a versatile and highly convenient tool.
It only weighs around 7 pounds and is fairly lightweight to be handled with a single hand. Additionally, the large bevel can be adjusted up to 45 degrees effortlessly and accurately making this tool ideal in terms of power, precision, and compactness.
The BDECS300C also features a laser light to guide you towards the cutting line for a straight cut quickly and easily. Together with its powerful and reliable motor, this circular saw is the best choice for most casual workers and DIY’ers.
4. GALAX PRO GP76321L – Premium Customer Choice
GALAX PRO-A team specializes in the production of power tools, including circular saws, mini circular saws, and much more. GP76321L is a 7-1/4 inch, compact corded circular saw from GALAX PRO with an ergonomic handle and double switch controlling (to prevent accidents) making it the go-to choice for a DIY lover.
GP76321L incorporates a pure copper 12 Amp powerful motor running at a maximum speed of 5500 RPM to delivers fast and full-size performance to cut a wide range of materials including tiles, lumber, metallic panels, plastics as well as flooring in a one-pass but with a specific quality blade. Because the provided 24 teeth TCT circular saw blade is only good to work on wood.
This saw has a strong iron framework with steel fortification and tough gears which make it well balanced to provide a smooth cutting ability. With that, the saw also features an adjustable fence to accommodate thinner cuts, with graduated ruler markings designed on the base and fence, along with an integrated flexible laser, all offer for straighter and easier cuts.
Additionally, this saw also includes a dust blower to keeps the cutline sawdust free to provide clear vision when cutting as well as a dust removal facility allowing maintaining a clean job site.
Moreover, this compact saw also offers a 0-45° bevel tilt function with an adjustment lever allowing for quick and easy depth adjustment.
5. Genesis GCS445SE – Ideal for Home Renovations
Genesis GCS445SE is a compact mini saw with a 4.0-ampere low noise motor operating on a no-load speed of 3500 rotations per minute (RPM). It is equipped with a 4-1/2-inch blade having 24 carbide teeth to rip through 2X wooden materials.
The 4 1/2 Inch mini circular saw has several features from the pro models such as depth adjustment and bevel control with a maximum bevel angle of 45 degrees making it comparable to larger circular saws. It has a spindle lock mechanism for changing blades in a quick and efficient manner.
Weighing only 6 pounds, this lightweight and compact circular saw has a dual dust collection mechanism. The saw has a built-in dust collection port as well as a vacuum adapter for attaching it with any existing vacuum system in your workshop.
In addition to great build quality, this saw is equipped with a rip guide and an ergonomically designed barrel grip for single-handed operation. All in all, this saw is a lightweight and compact solution under a $50 budget for your garage and/or workshop.
6. Ryobi One-P505 – Great for Small Projects
Searching for a circular saw for your household, DIY woodworking projects look no further because the Ryobi P505 is the perfect solution for your needs. It is a cordless circular saw runs on One+ 18 Volt lithium-ion battery and can deliver up to 4700 revolutions per minute to the blade for your DIY construction needs.
It is an easy-to-handle saw in different environments because of a collection of features along with its portability. The handle is lined with rubber grip mold which increases friction between the saw and your hands providing maximum control. With that, it also has an extra handle on its left side for added control and stability.
For safety reasons, this saw comes with a polyurethane clear blade guard which allows for maximum visibility during the cutting operation. With an adjustable bevel adjustment from 0 to 50 degrees, you can easily make cuts on a variety of angles.
The included 5-1/2-inch blade can cut through any type of wood that you can think of. The battery pack is compatible with the Ryobi’s ONE+ line-up and the battery can be used on any other Ryobi tool interchangeably. Whether you’re a casual homeowner or a DIY’er or even a professional, the Ryobi P505 is a reliable backup.
7. GALAX PRO GP76331 – Lowest Priced Full-Size Saw
GALAX PRO-A team is specialized in the manufacture of power tools. The GP76331 is a lightweight and compact but robust and well-balanced circular saw with an iron base plate. GALAX PRO is an ideal choice for the DIY enthusiast.
This 7-1/4 Inch corded circular saw features a powerful 1,200 watts, 10 Amp motor generating a no-load speed of 5800RPM which is capable to slice through lumber, laminate flooring, plastics, MDF, PVC, and plasterboards with ease, but with specific blades. The included 7-1/4 Inch Blade is specific for cutting wood.
The GALAX GP76331 circular saw has multiple bevel and miter angles from 0-45°, allowing you to make bevel and miter cuts hence providing you with an option to make joint-forming cuts, along with a depth adjustment lever that permits for adjustment of the base plate.
This saw takes into account its users’ safety by providing a plastic lower blade guard to prevent users from any accident risk as well as incorporates a double trigger on/off switch, which prevents any accidental activation.
Additional features include parallel guide assistance and a dust blower which dissipates the sawdust away from the user keeping the cut line clean, for accurate cuts.
Is it Worth Having a Circular Saw Below $50?
The answer is yes, a cheap, budget circular saw even under $50 can be good but it would be unfair to expect top class features and outstanding performance. It’s also important to remember that at this price range, the constituents and overall durability definitely may not be high-end.
Also be aware that most circular saws under $50 are intended for DIY projects, household repairs, and maintenances, but nothing heavy duty. It is more of a good spare to have in your toolset to avoid slowing down productivity while working on the job in case of any accidents or battery failures.
Things Consider When Buying a Circular Saw Below 50 Dollars
If you are looking for a cheaper circular saw under $50; you will be left with a relatively limited choice. Here we will try to elaborate on key features that you should consider before making a purchase.
- Power
For any circular saw, power is the very first thing to be considered. A direct measure of power is the operating current (ampere) and rotations per minute (RPM) which are mentioned on the tool itself. Another rather indirect specification deciding the power of a tool is its drive mechanism.
Direct drive or sidewinder designs where the motor transfers power to the blade through a spur gear are relatively less efficient and thus less powerful than motors with the worm drive mechanism. As a general rule of thumb, the power a circular saw is, the better it will perform.
- Portability with Cordless design
A major difference between circular saws arises due to the power sources. There are several models under $50 which offer a portable cordless version operating on a battery pack. Such saws come in handy for off-site and/or overhead jobs.
The only drawback is that these are relatively less powerful than their corded cousins. You can opt for any of the two kinds of circular saws according to your needs and budget.
- Blade size and type
When it comes to blades, any power tool, be it under $50 or not, is usually designed for a specific blade size. This means that once you purchase a circular saw, you pretty much have a fixed blade size. Therefore, if your requirement is cutting larger workpieces then it is recommended to purchase a circular saw with a larger blade.
Once the size is decided, you can only play with blade design/type. You can use any standard steel blade for cutting softer materials while for harder materials, carbide-tipped blade, or in case of concrete, a diamond saw blade is needed. At the end of the day, it all boils down to your specific needs.
- Spindle (shaft) lock
If your job requires cutting a variety of materials, you might want to switch to the appropriate blade for that specific job in order to elongate the life span of your tool. For such frequent blade changes, you should look for a circular saw with a spindle (or shaft) lock mechanism which is designed for quick exchange of blade to suitable type.
- Bevel and cutting guides
The circular saws these days come equipped with additional features of bevel capability, dust collection/clearance mechanism, and cutting guides including metallic guides and laser markers.
These features play an important role in terms of improving accuracy, efficiency as well as saving time. You should always focus on these features as they would provide value addition to your power tool.
- Safety
Any power tool (whether under $50 or not), you work with inherently is dangerous if sufficient safety considerations are not given enough thought. In such cases, any or all safety elements from guards to electric brakes should be given priority.
Conclusion
A circular saw is so versatile and is available in a range of varying prices, that it’s a shame not to have one, just in case. A cheap circular saw can go a long way to helping you finish a variety of home or DIY projects, as long as you have different quality blades to swap just when needed.
We hope we have accomplished our goal of helping you make the best decision; these are what we are certain of to be the finest models available in the market under this $50 price range. Also, keep in mind all the factors mentioned in the buying guide above, which can fairly be used when buying any circular saw.
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