Laser guide necessary or not? I am looking at $30 for a decent saw, $70 with the laser... Is it worth $40? Just wondering... I have been needing a new saw for a while, my old circular is from the 70's and sounds like a banshee...
I have a table saw that I paid $200 for 10 years ago. No laser guide. I also have a radial arm bench saw. No laser guide. Would be a "nice to have" but not essential as I can still cut a straight line without a laser, but if it was in at the same price then I probably would have it.
My table saw doesn't have a either... but it has the advantage of having a fixed blade, so I guess it doesn't need it. My miter saw does, and it's pretty handy, though not as accurate as I'd like. With the circular saw, the cuts I do are much more under my control than a guide... so I was thinking it might be very handy... don't know though.
Absolutely NOT needed. Make yourself a cut guide out of scrap wood for like $10 MAX. I have 3 different ones and it's no issue.
My father-in-law is a Master CArpenter and generally hooks me up well at Christmas in the tool department. He figures if I have the right shit he won't ever have to bring HIS shit to fix anything that is beyond my ability. I just got a very nice Makita circular saw for Christmas. No laser guide.
To make the cut guide we just took a peice of thin wayne's coating he had and screwed a 1x4 to it. I just adjust the depth fo the saw to whatever I need and use the guide of the saw (metal part at the bottom that the saw sits on) butted up to the cut guide. Straight line every time.
You could also get one of those handy triangles for like $5 at the hardware store. It can be used for a myriad of things....one end is made to hold onto the edge of a piece of wood and you use it like a mini cut guide. Very handy.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_118095-1099-T0118_4294857432_4294937087?productId=3009613&pl=1¤tURL=/pl_Layout%2B_4294857432_4294937087_?rpp=15$No=45
This thing is perfect for small jobs.
I use a speed square to do any cuts on anything smaller than a 2x10. Pretty simple really. I have no idea whether a laser would help, no experience with them.
I've somehow managed to make straight cuts w/o a laser. So save your money to help pay for our new Healthcare reform! ;) :D
Mine has the laser guide and it come in handy near the end of the day when most of the beer is gone.