Chuck likes to give me a hard time about my Skilsaw because he says I bought it for the sole reason of not using the term “circ saw.” That’s of course untrue — I also got it because it was on clearance. It’s lasted 5 years thus far and is still going strong, but it has nothing on longtime reader Putnam Eco’s old Black & Decker.
This saw has lived through about 8 American presidencies and roughly 4 major wars, and its still sees service today judging by the modern Diablo blade perched on the spindle. Folks love to talk about the Sawcat, which is one of the saws that built Black & Decker’s rep in the American workforce back in the day. But this bad boy was the foundation that the Sawcat was built on. Sidewinders today don’t look that much different, in fact.
I dig the full-metal jacket on the saw as well as the case. Black & Decker doesn’t do this sort of combo anymore; however, there are saws out there that still follow in this mold. Even though today’s saws have more power and less vibration I’d love to get a hold of one of these just to see how it holds up for a day’s work. I’m betting that, other than the obvious power increase, if I put a fresh blade on both the difference wouldn’t be as much as you might think.
Toolmonger Photo Pool [Flickr]