Both the bevel angle and depth levers are easy to set and there are easy to read indicators on each to show where you are at. There is also an easy to read oil level indicator on the saw. To prevent oil leaks, oil pressure relief bellows are used internally. The worm gears are precision machined and run in a continuous oil bath that keeps them both lubricated and cool. This saw has a powerful 15 Amp all ball bearing motor. The patented anti-snag lower blade guard helps to reduces snags when making narrow cut-offs and the blade guard automatically retracts on a 45 degree angle cut so it does not cause the saw to bind up. No more worries of trying to balance the saw when you are finished with the cut while you get situated with your next work piece. One of the things that we really liked was the folding hanging hook that is mounted on the back side of the saw that allows the saw to be hung up on a piece of 2x material when not in use. Just pull the trigger and go, this saw has no safeties or extra buttons to push! The trigger is a heavy duty 20A rated on-off style. The handles are comfortable to use and offer a good grip. There is very little plastic used on this saw with the only major pieces being the handles which are made of red ABS. The shoe or base of the saw is made of thick aircraft quality aluminum.
What this does is makes the saw durable yet a full two pounds lighter than the regular model SHD77. The motor & gear housings of the SKIL Mag 77 SHD77M are made of magnesium. Since Skilsaw was the company to first bring these types of cutting machines to the market, almost everyone mistakenly calls every other brand of circular saw a “Skilsaw” too! After more than seven decades of being on the market, it is a pretty safe assumption that a good many homes owe their construction to carpenters being dependent on their “Skilsaw.” Over the last 70+, there have been improvements and updates to the Skilsaw Model 77, but the fact is that it still shares in its original design. This new saw was called the Skilsaw Model 77. Using the Model E as its basis, a new improved worm drive saw was designed and started production in 1937. This saw featured a die-cast aluminum motor housing and was manufactured all the way up until 1939. In 1926, the company was renamed Skilsaw Inc., and a few years later in 1928 a major breakthrough was made with their development of the Skilsaw Model E Circular Saw. The original company that designed and manufactured the first ever electric handsaw was the Michel Electric Handsaw Company which was founded in 1924. You will probably see more older Skilsaws than any other tools around, well maybe a couple of the guys who work there, but other than that, probably not many.Just to pay homage to what we are dealing with here, it is only fitting that we give a bit of the history of the SKIL Model 77 Skilsaw. Now take a look at other tools around the site. Take a look at how many old Skilsaws are still around on the jobsites now a days. Not only are they tough and reliable, but you know it will always be there for you. In my opinion Skilsaw makes the best circular saw. Instead of numbers, it just shows different plywood sizes. Skilsaw even has a nice easy to read measurement system. The saw even comes with a 24 tooth Diablo blade which spins at 5,300 rpm. The numbers are easy to read and I like how easy it is to dial in the degree. I have to say that setting this saw up for bevel cuts is very smooth. Oh yeah I almost forgot about the best part of this saw, it’s in our Ultimate Tool Bag Giveaway. The saw weighs 8.8 lbs and comes with a 10′ power cord. Designed with a 15 amp motor, this is a powerful saw, but seriously would you expect anything less from Skilsaw? According to Skilsaw, this saw stays true, which for obvious reasons, this is important. The housing, guard and shoe are all Magnesium which means you get strength, but don’t have the weight of steel. Now that you know this and its design is to be more compact, Skil took it one step further by building this bad boy out of Magnesium. These saws tend to have a higher speed, but lower torque than the wormdrive saws. This unlike the wormdrive makes it more compact. The sidewinder uses an inline or direct drive motor or Spur-Gear. Today we are taking a look at their 7-1/4″ Sidewinder circular saw, model SPT 67 WM-22. After all, they have the saw that built America with the model 77 and who can argue with that track record? The same holds true for a circular saw and why is that? Because Skilsaw has built an incredible, powerful and reliable circular saw year after year. What do you say when you need clear tape, you say Scotch Tape. What do you say when you need a bandage, you say Band-Aid.