Popular Woodworking 2003-11 № 137, страница 85

Bosch 1584AVS

This saw made nice cuts in the speed tests, but required more effort than expected and we noticed surprising vibration in the rough cut. It handled the curve cuts well enough with acceptable blade deflection. It's a shame that Bosch's latest design wasn't ready for testing (see "Looking Ahead" on page 86), because the 1584AVS suffered from its outdated blade-changing system.We also ran into some problems with the knob on the blade-changing system popping off the saw - it's

Craftsman 27719

Made for Craftsman by Bosch, the 27719 essentially is the top-handle version of the above saw. There were no problems with the blade-change system, but it's still awkward compared to the newest lever designs. Performance was good with worse deflection scores than the Bosch. The Craftsman performed comparably with the Bosch through the curves and registered one of

DeWalt DW321

Similar in design to the Craftsman, the DeWalt adds a toolless shoe-bevel adjustment and a three-position blower. The blade-change system is similar to the Craftsman, but the locking mechanism is a retracting clamp system rather than the turn-and-lock system, keeping the blade oriented straight ahead. The DeWalt did well in the speed cutting tests, but showed some difficulties in cornering and worse deflection scores. We noticed some problems with the blower sending dust

Festool PS300EQ TRION

The Festool is a nice saw, and it's priced accordingly. Available in a barrel-grip or top-handle (PSB300EQ, $250) design, the saw proved smooth and strong in the speed tests, but fought with us a little in the corner test. The forked-guide system with its adjustable carbide pads and rear-bearing support gives superior blade support. The lever-assisted toolless blade-change system is our favorite, requiring little effort and no learning curve. The detachable 13' rubber cord is high

Freud FJ85

The Freud is a strange mix of good and not-so-good at a nice price. It performed well in the corner tests and had decent cutting speed. It did vibrate a bit much, had a drift problem during the cut and was fairly loud. It features a lever-style toolless blade change, but again there's a good/bad mix:The blade must be pushed against a spring in the holder to engage the lock, allowing it to be ejected when changing, but the necessary "push" isn't mentioned in the manual, making it

designed that way, but it comes off a little too easy for our taste.The saw is sold in a top-handle (1 587AVS, $127) or barrel-grip design, so there's something for everyone. The shoe is marked for bevels at 15°, 30° and 45°, but includes a positive lock only at 0° and requires a wrench to make the change. The Bosch is a workhorse and the progenitor of many of the tools tested here, but we'd suggest waiting for the next generation. (boschtools.com)

the quietest noise levels in the test. It uses the same shoe and beveling design as the Bosch and shares the single positive-stop location and necessary wrench.The variable-speed control is mounted on the trigger. It's a good tool but if you check prices, the top-handle Bosch (1 587AVS) costs about $20 less than the Craftsman for essentially the same tool. (craftsman.com)

toward the operator, which is a pet peeve with us. Variable-speed controls are on the trigger. The shoe is marked (but there are no positive stops) for 15°, 30° and 45° bevels and employs a toolless adjustment lever. One nice thing is the ability to lock the shoe in a setback position for close-to-the-wall cuts. In the end, the DeWalt is an acceptable tool that is comparable with the Bosch in price, offering better performance and a couple of extra features. (dewalt.com)

quality, extra long and is a nice upgrade for replacement concerns and even for storage and blade changes. The shoe, which was difficult to adjust, is marked (but has no positive stops) for 15°, 30° and 45° and requires a wrench to make the chnage.The Festool is the lightest saw in the test and was one of our favorite tools to use. That's why it gets an Editor's Choice award. (festool-usa.com)

frustrating until you figure it out.The shoe adjustment is accomplished with a wrench and offers a single positive stop at 0°. The air exhaust seems excessive and poorly directed at times, but a dust wand attachment is included for use with a vacuum. There are some slight fit and finish concerns (the guide was off-center to the blade in the tool we tested), but the saw provided a good cut with a nice blade change at a reasonable cost. (freudtools.com)

84 Popular Woodworking November 2003