15 Amp 7-1/4 in. Corded Magnesium Worm Drive Circular Saw with Carbide Blade

I own two regular Ridgid saws and decided to buy this saw for its mentioned power and quality. It is incredible power and precision at the time of the cut, it seems heavy but once you have it in your hand ready to cut you do not feel anything, cut the 2x4 like the butter without using any guide you can make precise cuts. Very good construction. No complaints, I already made my favorite saw.

Please watch my video review below. The Bosch 15-Amp 7-1/4" Worm Drive Saw is a powerful tool for your wood-working arsenal. In addition to standard 90° cuts, this 13-pound workhorse can also be used to make bevel cuts up to 53°, and includes line guides on the foot to help you precisely guide the blade no matter what the bevel (also, as a righty, I appreciate that the blade is on the left side of the motor housing so that I can easily and comfortably see the blade). Spinning at 5300 RPMs, the 7-14" blade can cut through wood up to 2-3/8" thick when set at 90°, 1-29/32" at 45°, and 1-5/8" at 53°. An interesting, though questionable feature, is that the depth-of-cut marks on the saw say "Plywood 3/4, 1/2, 1/4" and "Lumber 2x, 1x" rather than showing the depths in generic inch measurements. I am amazed at how nicely the included Bosch 7-1/4", 24-tooth framing blade cut given that blades included with saws are usually sub-par. Installation of the blade was very simple thanks to the included blade wrench, which is conveniently stored in the wrench storage area built into the back part of the foot. In addition to simply being used to loosen/tighten the blade bolt, the multi-function wrench can also be used to knock out a blade's diamond arbor, loosen/tighten the combo oil plug/lock button assembly, loosen/tighten the brush caps, and loosen/tighten the bevel/depth levers. From a safety standpoint, this saw hits all the possible buttons. The retractable lower guard provides nice coverage for the blade hanging down below the foot, and the dual handles (main and auxiliary) allow for a sturdy grip to help avoid unintentional kickback. It is important to note that the instructions specify that "This tool is not designed for use with metal or masonry cut-off wheels" (in other words, only use it on wood products). Additionally, while this saw arrives properly lubricated and ready to use, the instructions say to "change the oil after the first ten hours of use" and then as needed thereafter. Detailed instructions on how to add or replace the oil in this saw are included, which I very much appreciate.

There's a lot to like about worm drive saws in general. The left-sided blade makes it easier to see your cut, the handle and motor position make it comfortable for making some quick cross cuts in boards. They're heavier than sidewinders but that weight can be an advantage. They tend to have more torque but the blade turns slightly slower. The Bosch CSW41 Worm Drive Saw looks like it might be a sort of hybrid between a worm drive saw and a sidewinder style circular saw. It's about 22% less weight than the Bosch 1677M but spins about 20% faster which results in smoother cuts. At 5,300 RPM it's close to the RPM you'd expect in a sidewinder saw. I've cut through some 2x4s, plywood and even composite boards and the CSW41 ripped through them like butter. The CSW41 is fairly quiet, which surprised me, and can bevel a little more (53 degrees) too. The magnesium shoe is solid and provides a very stable base for cutting. A magnesium housing and blade guard also contribute to the lower weight. There are no plastic adjustment knobs, just sturdy metal levers that release and lock with a flip. Very fast to use, smooth and durable. Markings are engraved and inked so they're easy to read and won't fade away. I can't find any part that feels like quality was skimped on. Grips are well placed and offer good control of the saw. The hook comes in handy to hang the saw off the 2x4's on my saw horses. This is the type of saw you want when you need to use a circular saw every day. Bosch did something odd with the depth marking gauge. Instead of having the depth listed in inches, there are different demarcations for 1x, 2x, plywood, etc. I would have preferred inches instead but most of the time I don't rely on the depth gauge, I put the saw on boards I'm cutting and adjust the depth to the actual thickness. In some cases though, like if you want to cut off some plywood subfloor or sheathing you're going to have to use another method to set the depth of cut to avoid cutting into the framing underneath. Worm drive saws twist a little when you pull the trigger because of the amount of torque and the alignment of the motor. Bosch claims the CSW41 twists less but it still twists a little counterclockwise when I was cutting with one hand. After that initial kick the saw holds steady and makes it easy to cut straight lines. There's one feature I really liked that makes it easier to get straight cuts is that there are guide marks (0, 45) on the shoe right in front of the saw blade. These are in addition to the ones in the front of the shoe that all saws have. With two points it's much easier to follow a line. I've never noticed this on any other saw before but I think it makes a lot of sense. One disappointment was reading in the manual that this saw isn't recommended for cutting masonry or metal. I thought all worm drive saws were good for making the occasional cut in concrete or steel. Not this one according to the manual but when I contacted Bosch support they said it can be done but not recommended. If you are cutting framing and plywood all day and prefer the worm drive saw format but are looking for something lighter I think you'll be very happy with this saw and it appears to be built to last. It's still heavier than a sidewinder but you get the benefits of a worm drive saw with higher RPMs and a lower weight. If this is your first worm drive saw, some things to know. After the first 10 hours of breaking in the saw the oil in the gearbox needs to be changed and requires checking regularly and changing if it becomes dirty or thick (like engine oil) . Bosch has their WD7LUB Worm Drive Lubricant but the Skil 80111 Worm Drive Saw Oil is also recommended and easier to find at Home Depot stores. The base is narrower than a sidewinder but still very stable because of the low center of gravity and weight. It has a diamond shaped arbor so you need to remove the diamond knock out on saw blades which means you can't swap blades back and forth between this and a sidewinder. If you're looking for a rip fence the CSW41 will work with the Bosch WD7RIP. Bottom line this is a very good, well made saw that won't tire you out as much as other worm drive saws.

I do a lot of fine woodworking. Generally circular saws don't have much place in fine woodworking - especially large, heavy worm drive saws. However nothing beats one of these for breaking down sheet goods to manageable sizes. I can stack plywood two 3/4" sheets deep and make a full 8' rip without so much as a whimper from this saw. Plus the weight is a benefit here. It cuts down on vibration and makes it really easy to track a straight edge. This saw in particular is something special: Pros - The sole is actually flat! This is been a major point of contention among worm drive saws in the 70+ years they have been around. I expected some work removing the sole and flattening it on a granite reference surface, but I didn't need to. The adjustments are wonderful and accurate. Very easy to read, everything locks and unlocks smoothly and everything moves as it should. This is something I am not accustomed to on a circular saw of any type. Both the bevel angle and max cut depth adjusters can be fined tuned which is often necessary with wear and tear. I was really glad to see this Power. If you are looking at worm drive saws, you already realize they are very powerful. However this not only powerful, but smooth. There is the tell tale torque twist when you first squeeze that trigger, but after that is very smooth. The included blade is actually nice! I am accustomed to not even installing the blade that comes with saws. Generally they are very low quality. This one is nice. I still purchase additional blades because I need a higher tooth count for my intended use, however for general construction in dry, nail free wood this blade is all you need. The ergonomics are great CONS Can't really think of any. As a lefty, this saw is a little awkward until you get used to it, but that is the nature of any worm drive. It is on the heavy side for a circular saw, but very light for a worm drive saw. Also be aware this saw requires maintenance. Especially oil and oil changes. If you want this saw to last, the oil should be changed after the first 10 hours of use, or within the first 3 months. As all of the gearing wears in some metal is shed and it's important to get it all out. Also if you ever overheat the saw, (common when cutting a lot of thick wet wood) change the oil. This saw has it all. Truly a 5 star performer. As many seasoned pro's may point out, this saw is made by the parent company of the originator of the worm drive saw - dubbed "the saw that built america". It shares many of the same features and the legendary power and reliability everyone needs.

Very happy with the purchase of this Bosch saw, replacing an older Craftsman model. The Bosch saw has lots of power, which makes it easy to keep it on a line.

The new Bosch worm drive saw is lighter than my old model and has some cool new features. I'm very happy with it so far!