I recently decided to purchase a circular saw, but before I was able grab the cheapest one I could find, my wife suggested that I do a little research first.  After an extensive look at all of the major brands and models, I finally came to one conclusion:

If you’re in the market for a circular saw like I was, look no further than the Milwaukee 6390-21 7-1/4-Inch 15-Amp Tilt-Lok Circular Saw.

Milwaukee 6390-21 Review

Backed with Milwaukee’s legendary reputation for rugged durability and power, the 6390-21 shatters the myth that sidewinder style circular saws can’t compete with their worm-drive brethren on the jobsite. Whether you’re a full-time contractor or a weekend warrior, the 6390-21 circular saw will see you through even the most demanding projects with ease and precision.

The Milwaukee 6390-21 features a best-in-class power to weight ratio, thanks to a lightweight 10.4 pound design and its beefy 3.25 horsepower, 5800 RPM motor.  This allows the 6390-21 to slice its way through tough materials such as headers, microlams or wet lumber like they weren’t even there.  In addition, the 6390-21 is designed with superior visibility in mind, allowing a clear line of sight at all times.  Thanks to the innovative 8-position TILT-LOK adjustable handle, you will also have maximum comfort and control through each and every cut.

But that’s not all.  The Milwaukee 6390-21 circular saw also features a one-touch spindle lock design, allowing for quick and easy blade changes while on the job and a bevel capacity of up to 50 degrees for maximum flexibility.

Before you pick up this amazing tool though, let me walk you through the thought process I used to decide that the Milwaukee 6390-21 was the best circular saw on the market today.

What to Look for When Buying a Circular Saw

When I started my research, it became clear to me that I needed a game plan to help me break down and analyze each circular saw that I was considering.  These are the most important features to keep in mind when you’re shopping:

• Blade Size
• Worm-drive vs. Sidewinder
• Power
• Corded vs. Cordless
• Ergonomics

Blade Size

If you go with too small a blade size, you’re going to be limited in the kinds of jobs you can tackle.  The best size to go with is a 7 ¼ inch, which allows you to cut through material that is more than 3 inches thick.  This size also gives you the widest variety of blades to choose from, and is one of the reasons why I settled on the Milwaukee 6390-21.

Worm-drive vs. Sidewinder

Worm-drive circular saws are heavy duty, but they’re also heavy weight.  Their motor is located parallel to the blade.  Sidewinders on the other hand have the motor perpendicular to the blade, which allows for a far more lightweight design, but this usually means sacrificing some power.  The Milwaukee 6390-21 is a sidewinder that delivers all the power you could ever need on the jobsite, without weighing you down, which is probably why it’s so popular with contractors and homeowners.

Power

The last thing you want on the jobsite is for your tools to wimp out on you, that’s why your circular saw needs to be at least 15-amps.  You also need to consider RPMs because if the blade moves too slowly you’re going to get rough, jagged cuts.  Milwaukee’s 6390-21 features a 15 amp, 3.25 horsepower motor that runs at a blazing fast 5800 RPMs for smooth cuts every time.

Corded vs. Cordless

Cordless circular saws have made progress, but they’re still not as powerful as their corded brethren.  Longevity is also an issue if your saw is going to see heavy use all day long.  I went with the Milwaukee 6390-21 because it features a long, 9 foot cord, which gives me plenty of mobility without sacrificing power.  Add an extension cord and I can take this puppy wherever I need to go on the job.

Ergonomics

Whether you’re using your circular saw 40 hours a week or just a few times on the weekend, it still needs to feel well balanced and comfortable in your hand at all times.  The Milwaukee 6390-21 features an 8-position TILT-LOK handle for maximum comfort, control and balance no matter how or what you’re cutting.

How Much Should You Expect to Pay?

The Milwaukee 6390-21 can be purchased online from various retailers for around $260, but Amazon consistently has the lowest price.  You can pick it up from them for around $130 bucks.

What’s In the Box?

• 15 AMP 3.25 HP 5800 RPM Circular Saw w/ TILT-LOK Handle
• Carbide Circular Saw Blade
• Hex Blade Wrench
• Impact Resistant Carrying Case

Does it include a Warranty?

Yes, the Milwaukee 6390-21 features a 5 year warranty.

What Others Are Saying

This circular saw has been a huge hit with professionals and homeowners alike, so it’s no surprise that it has received an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from many reviewers on Amazon and other online retailers.  Here is what people are saying:

• “The saw has the power to tackle even the hardest hardwood with ease, yet is precise enough to cut the tiniest fraction of an inch from a piece of soft end stock.”
• “This saw laughed at cutting microlams and plunging into scaffolding grade 2×10′s on exposed intricate ridge/tail rafter cuts. None of my other saws would do this.”
• “There are many well-designed features on this saw but the best thing is the power and toughness.”
• “First class construction. Every component of this machine is precision.”

Any Complaints?

There were surprisingly few complaints about the Milwaukee 6390-21, and most of those seemed to center around the included blade.  Some users found that it was too thin and replaced it with a heavier carbide blade, which are inexpensive and easy to find.

Where Can You Buy the Milwaukee 6390-21 Circular Saw?

You can buy the Milwaukee 6390-21 circular saw from Amazon.  They currently offer FREE Super Saving Shipping and have the lowest price of any online retailer.

Where Can You Read More Reviews for the Milwaukee 6390-21 Circular Saw?

If you would like to read more reviews, the best place to look is Amazon, which has a huge number of reviews from homeowners and professionals.