[masraum]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Have to disagree. Cutting plywood at an angle is a job for a circular saw. Skilsaw, equivalent, or sidewinder. There are some very good sidewinders available. I use a Makita on a dedicated track set up. Has plenty of power.

Funny story: I spent a year in Talladega AL and worked as a carpenter. For my first job I showed up, took the boss out to my truck and showed him my tools organized in a very secure low roll out drawer box the length of the truck. He never asked a question, just said you're hired. It was a job to convert and old Southern mansion to a B & B. And restore the charm as it had been cut up into rentals.

On my first day I showed up (on time) with about a dozen other guys (you hire half again as many as you need in AL because of spotty attendance). They all had tools belts and hand tools from Walmart. And a WM circular saw with a skinny 16 ga. extension cord. Some weren't bad but others....

I've used circular saws quite a bit. I've never had/used a worm drive. I wasn't certain about the term "sidewinder" since I'd never heard it. I understand now that what you're calling a sidewinder is what I've always thought of as a "circular saw" aka direct drive. It's interesting, I had a cheap sidewinder. Then at some point I inherited a better sidewinder. It felt odd the first time or two that I used it before I realized that the motor was on the opposite side of the blade. I guess maybe it was for lefties.

It looks like the worm drives are heavier, shaped differently, have more torque and lower RPMs and are more expensive.

I found the following article https://www.protoolreviews.com/news/sidewinder-vs-worm-drive-circular-saws/31386/ which I thought was interesting because it says that the preference for one over the other seems to be segregated by coast. East coasters more frequently use sidewinders while West coasters mostly prefer worm drive. That's the oddest thing about it to me.