Tool Ratings

Circular saws need to have torque to do the work they are required to do; cutting through the tough materials they usually face necessitates this. Due to that fact, corded tools are often the preferred choice for this section of the tool cabinet as the battery-powered option may have a short useful lifespan when faced with the harder slicing. The toolmaker with the great cordless products also manages to score with the cabled variety. Enter the DeWALT D23620 circular saw.

The DeWALT D23620 circular saw runs on both 110/120 and 220/240 volt power, so the buyer will need to choose the appropriate model – choose wisely. It will provide 570 unit watts of power while drawing 1150, but that gives an unladen speed of 5000 RPM for the 7¼ inch (184 mm) blade - which has a 16 mm arbor. That motor runs through gears and a spindle mounted within a cast aluminum housing which is attached to a pressed-steel shoe which itself allows a bevel capacity of 50º. Those measures are easily notched at 90º and 45º and give a 65 mm and 45 mm depth at those angles, respectively. A handy dust extraction port is integrated into the body of the DeWALT D23620 and is easily hooked up to an extractor unit. The tool is about 12½ by 10 inches and weighs in at a fairly lightweight 11¼ pounds (5.1 kg), and it has a large safety guard - easy to use with gloved hands - retraction lever.

In the box with DeWALT D23620 light-weight corded circular saw and its attached cord is an 18 tooth Series 30 blade, your standard rip fence and a blade spanner/wrench.

A circular saw needs one important characteristic to be considered a good tool, it needs to be easy to control – balanced – and the DeWALT D23620 is that and more. The hard plastic and rubber-coated grip helps in this regard, too, as it is comfortable in the hand and less fatigue equals better action. The cut is more dependent on blade sharpness than the anything about the saw itself, but this thing will move and will cut through anything within its size limits. This saw is very easy to use for complex tasks and fancy angle cuts, and the light weight really assists greatly in this area. Most users seem to really enjoy using this saw regularly; it is not the most powerful, but it is extremely versatile and efficient. The DeWALT D23620 is a good bargain for someone who uses this tool in their day job, and it will perform any task it is set to admirably.

Suggested retail price for the DeWALT D23620 circular saw is US$179 (£110), but there are many retailers selling it for less, so look around.

Tool Rating: 4.5 of 5.0