The original SKIL Model 77 Worm Drive came out in 1937 and many improvements have been made since then, now including the use of a lighter weight magnesium case on the latest SKIL Mag 77 SHD77M. With years of experience, the engineers at SKIL have almost perfected the Worm Drive Circular Saw! The current model, while not new, still sets the standard for many when they think of a worm drive circular saw.
The original SKIL Model 77 Worm Drive came out in 1937 and many improvements have been made since then, now including the use of a lighter weight magnesium case on the latest SKIL Mag 77 SHD77M. With years of experience, the engineers at SKIL have almost perfected the Worm Drive Circular Saw! The current model, while not new, still sets the standard for many when they think of a worm drive circular saw.
Just to pay homage to what we're dealing with here, it's only fitting that we introduce the history of the SKIL 77 Skilsaw. The company that originally designed and built the first electric hand saw was the Michel Electric Handsaw Company, founded in 1924. In 1926, the company changed its name to Skilsaw Inc. and a few years later, in 1928, their big breakthrough was the Skilsaw Model E circular saw. This saw had a die-cast aluminum motor housing and was produced until 1939. Based on the Model E, a new and improved worm gear saw was designed and produced in 1937. This new saw was called the Skilsaw Model 77. The Skilsaw Model 77 has been improved and updated over the past 70+ years, but the truth is that it still retains its original design. Since Skilsaw was the first to bring these types of cutters to the market, almost everyone mistakenly refers to all other brands of circular saws as "Skilsaw" too! After 7 years on the market, it is certain that many homes are built thanks to carpenters relying on their "Skilsaw".
build quality
The motor and gearbox of the SKIL Mag 77 SHD77M are made of magnesium. The idea is to make the saw more durable, but it's a full two pounds lighter than the regular model, the SHD77. The saw's base plate or base is made of thick, aerospace-grade high-quality aluminum. Very little plastic is used on this saw, the only major component being the handle made of red ABS. The handle is comfortable to use and has a good grip. The trigger is a heavy duty 20A rated switching type. Just pull the trigger and go, this saw has no safety catches or extra buttons to press!
One of the things we really like is the folding hook mounted on the back of the saw, which allows the saw to hang from a piece of 2x material when not in use. No more worrying about trying to balance the saw when you're done cutting and placing your next workpiece. hang it up. The patented anti-snag lower blade guard helps reduce snags on narrow cuts, and the blade guard automatically retracts when cutting at 45-degree angles so the saw doesn't jam. This saw has a powerful 15 amp full ball bearing motor. The worm gears are precision machined and run in a continuous oil bath, keeping them both lubricated and cooled. To prevent oil leakage, an oil pressure release bellows is used inside. There is also an easy-to-read oil level indicator on the saw. Both the miter and depth rods are easy to set, and there are easy-to-read indicators on each rod to show where you are. The entire saw is very heavy duty and has a purpose built feel.
For those unfamiliar with the design, a worm drive saw works with a motor mounted parallel to the blade. A shaft extends from the motor, which goes into the gearbox. Inside this housing is a worm gear and pinion that transmits power to the blade. The purpose of this is to transfer more torque to the blade, which means more cutting force. Another advantage of this setup is that much of the direct stress of the cutting material is removed from the motor, greatly extending the life of the motor. On the downside, worm drive saws are considerably heavier than "rattlesnake" type saws.
While we haven't built a house with the SKIL Mag 77 SHD77M saw, we can attest to its raw power and ability to cut through wood cleanly. We have cut PT and regular wood as well as plywood. All cuts were done with a breeze and the saw never even showed a sign of slowing down. This is a machine that eats wood! One thing some people have to get used to with this saw is that the view of the blade is on the opposite side of the rattlesnake (which many people are more used to). In the end I have to say that if I had to spend a lot of time on a circular saw I wish it was a worm drive saw as it never tires or slows down and I feel like I have a better understanding of my blades The position being cut. (I'm sure it will be me slowing down at first until I get used to the extra weight!)
in conclusion
We have to say our hats off to the saw that has basically built America over the past seven years. The fact that the SKIL Mag 77 SHD77M is directly based on the first worm gear drive saw is a nod to the original design. Although some competitors make their own varieties of worm drive circular saws, it's hard to be sure this is still the original Skilsaw. For our performance rating, we gave it a 9/10 because while it's statistically the reigning champ in terms of overall popularity, we wanted it to come in a good hard case so we could Store it away while you use it. As for our value rating, we're giving it a 10/10 because of its price; you'll be hard-pressed to find a better saw with the same features (and history for that matter).