This saw is a real joy to use in all aspects. The power is unmatched in the field,it's light weight allows for easy operation and handling.The flexibility of the qucik-loc handle system is very nice-even though you will probably settle on your favorite position it's nice to know you can change it,EXAMPLE:When cutting down on a vertical changing to a flatter wormdrive position aids in cutting leverage.This saw looks,feels and operates Milwaukee tough AND is comfortable to use.The only minor complaint is the cutting\rip fence.First you have to pay extra money for it, and this fence does not cut ultra close rips the way i would like-quauter inch is as little as this fence wants to cut-#1 it does not slide onto saw far enough in to allow a 1\8 in. shave #2 when the fence is in all the way it hits the blade guard#3when cutting thin,say 1\4 material the fence sits lower than the base plate allowing the material to slide between the two.WORK ON THIS MILWAUKEE, IT'S AN EASY FIX-BUILD A BETTER FENCE MADE FOR THIS SAW.brOVERALL:brTOP RATE POWERpXLNT BALANCE-ERGONOMICS-FIT AND FINISHpTHE BRAKE AND QUICK-LOC CORD IS VERY NICE TO HAVEpSMOOTH CUTTING WITH GREAT CONTROLpCUTTING VISABILITY IS VERY GOODpTHE FENCE SHORTCOMING IS FAIRLY MINOR BUT COULD BE IMPROVED UPONpCONCLUSION: BUY THIS SAW,IT'S NOT THE CHEAPEST BUT IT MAY BE THE BEST IN IT'S CLASS-I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A BETTER FENCE THAT MAY EVEN BE INCLUDED WITH THE SAW SINCE THIS IS NOT A [inexpensive] UNIT.BE A LITTLE GENEROUS MILWAUKEE AND THE CUSTOMER WILL RETURN THIS GENEROSITY WITH MARKET SHARE.

Overall I am very happy with this saw. I bought it to replace a $50 Skil that I purchased years ago. The Skil still worked fairly well and survived some good abuse, but wasn't a real powerhouse. I've used this Milwaukee several times already and here is what I've noticed:
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br /Pros:
br /+ Nice power
br /+ Very nice and easy adjustments for depth and bevel: This uses levers vs. a butterfly nut on my old Skil.
br /+ Tilt lock is a nice feature. Though many people who have this saw never use it, I have actually used it a couple of times: different adjustments when cutting lumber vs. when trimming doors.
br /+ Guide visibility is excellent.
br /+ Base is about 1/8" thick solid aluminum, nice and flat, and solid feeling.
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br /Cons:
br /- The base is flat all around. My old skill, for example, had a lip on the back and front side. If you're stuck using a somewhat flat, and inadequately clamped guide (like a straight thin piece of plywood that you trust), that may slightly lift in the middle, you run the risk of the base plate riding under your guide. As a result, at some point I may modify the base by screwing on an additional 1/8" lip on the inside top.
br /- Case: Very minor complaint: it would be nice if it included some blade storage. I have some extra blades, including a cheap plywood blade and an expensive finishing blade. I would love to be able to store them in the case with the saw. EDIT in 8/2007: The case does in fact come with blade storage in the main compartment.
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br /Overall, I have no regrets and recommend this saw. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 in part because of the base plate, but also because I can't recommend it above all other circular saws. Both the Journal of Light Construction and Fine Homebuilding had circular saw reviews. This particular saw, a specific Bosch, and a specific Porter Cable, were in the top three for both reviews. Though in the top three of both, This Milwaukee made it into the top 2 favorites/recommended in one article but not the other. Before purchasing this saw, I would recommend finding and reading those articles to decide which of the three would better meet your needs or preferences.

As a home improvement and hobby sort of wood worker looking for top value in essential tools, I did my homework very carefully before choosing this one. pGreat machine, very comfortable to use with the light weight and smooth power, ergonomically very adjustable, with a brake that stops it cold when you are done (an essential safety feature for someone who nearly sawed his fingers off in his impetuous youth). Great reputation of the company for dependability and quality, so I expect it to last to be handed down to my son or daughter.

Im a very particular, full time framing and trim carpenter. I have used and abused all the major brand name circular saws and this is hands down the best of the best. I demand a heavy duty, durable but comfortable to operate saw, with the safety of an electric brake. This saw has it all. It is lightweight and easy to operate with as much power or more than the other brands. The electric brake stops the blade dead instantly, quicker than other saws Ive used. I am one of those guys who is not particular on what brand of tool I buy and use as long as it is quality and comfortable for me to use. Price is no problem. This saw is worth every penny, even if your not a milwakee fan ,who in my opinion and experience makes some of the best and most durable tools you can buy. The only negative I would mention is that I think the rip fence should come with the saw.

I AM A CONTRACTOR FOR 30 YRS AND HAVE OWNED PORTER CABLE,MAKITA ,SKILL AND DEWALT AND WITHOUT A DOUBT THIS MILWAKEE KICKS ALL THIER BUTTS. THE POWER IS VERY STRONG,CAN'T STOP IT UNLESS YOU ARE USING A VERY DULL BLADE.IT HAS PERFECT BALANCE AND BEING ABLE TO ADJUST THE ANGLE OF THE HANDLE ALLOWS YOU TO USE THE SAW IN DIFFICULT POSITIONS ,THOUGH YOU WILL FIND A MOST COMFORTABLE. THE MOST IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENT WITH THIS MODEL IS THE BRAKE SYSTEM,IT STOPS THE SAW ALMOST INSTANTLY AND ANYONE WHO HAS SPENT ENOUGH TIME USING A CICULAR SAW KNOWS HOW DANGEROUS A STILL MOVING BLADE CAN BE. IT MAY NOT SEEM THAT IT'S WORTH THE EXTRA MONEY BUT IT REALLY IS. ALSO ANYONE THAT COMPLAINS ABOUT THE SIZE OF ITS CASE HAS A FEW SCREWS LOOSE, YOU CAN PUT A 25 FT. EXTENTION CORD INSIDE AND IT HAS A PLACE FOR YOUR STRAIGHT CUT GUIDE (EXTRA). THIS SAW MAY SEEM A LITTLE EXPENSIVE BUT IT'S WORTH DOUBLE THE PRICE.LIKE I SAID THE BEST SAW OUT THERE BAR NONE!

I purchased this saw based upon a recommendation for a similar saw rated highly in Consumer Reports. I should note that I did not purchase this from Amazon.com as I found one slightly less expensive at another site (shop around). Overall, the saw is fantastic with plenty of power and a great line of sight from virtually every cutting angle. This is an important attribute as it allows the user to see exactly where the teeth are cutting. The electric brake is marvelous- like a cell phone- once you have it you can't live with out it.
br /I am a weekend project person and the saw suits me fine although I'm sure you can find less expensive saws but if you want value and a five year warranty, purchase this saw. My only gripe is that when the saw arrived the "Made in" label was covered with white label tape. When peeled back it revealed that the saw was made in Mexico! Does this country make anything anymore?!!! What are they trying to hide?!! I guess it's the future- Globalization run amok. It should be noted that Milwaukee Electric Tool in not an American company, in fact, it is owned by Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. (TTI) a Hong Kong, China based company. I suppose it is only a matter of time before these saws are manufactured in China since the Chinese in some cases make even less than the lowest paid Mexican. The bottom line is purchase this saw now before the poor quality begins. Most of all write your Congressman and Senator to press for fair global trade.
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Hi,
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br /I've owned this tool for about 3 months now. I'm brand new to woodworking and home improvement however recently I used it twice: first I helped a friend build some shelves for his shed, and then I cut risers for some outdoor steps.
br /
br /In my opinion, the saw performed flawlessly. The electric brake is a very nice feature. The saw feels well-balanced and I was able to see the line while cutting.
br /
br /I would recommend purchasing this saw along with the Milwaukee 49-22-4146 Rip Fence Kit.
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br /You may also want to purchase a second fine-tooth blade.
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br /Good luck!
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I got the saw as a gift. Have been using it for the pass month. The saw is easy to handle. I really like that the key for changing the blade is stored on the saw. Home projects require changing the blade often for different tipes of work. Also, the height and angle adjustment are easy to use and worked well. There are only 2 thinks I would have liked. One would have been to have a guide bar included in the package. The other is to the ability to put a dust bag on the saw. That is not a big deal because my old saw had a dust bag and halve the time it did get in the way.

This is the saw to buy if you are a tradesman who will be using this everyday. I am a carpenter, and I value good tools. This is a great tool. I have seen these saws abused and dropped and they stay true and cut well. Everyone likes using my saw now too, because of the electric brake. True it doesn't stop on a dime, but it stops quick enough. Spend the money and buy this saw if you plan on using it more than just around the house.

This is the first Milwaukee tool I have purchased. On a recent deck job, I had two good sized stairs to build. The Dewalt saw I have has a bent table making cutting tough. With each set of stairs having five stringers, I did not want to wrestle with it.
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br /The TiltLok handle intrigued me on the Milwaukee, so I bought it. This saw performed flawlessly. It powered through the 2x12 stringers with little effort. I also had to make a kerf cut at the top of the stringers to accomodate a joist hanger. I used the TiltLok feature and moved the handle. Brillant! The saw was in a much more ergonomic and safer position.
br /
br /The only fault -- when adjusting the saw to cut angles, I noticed a little flex in the table. Time will tell how durable the table is.
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br /The brake is well worth the xtra cost.
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br /A great saw.

This saw is typical of Milwaukee standards. Very well built, convenient features (tilt-lok, tool storage for blade changing) and plenty of power. I opted for the 6394 because I wanted the quick-cord, and electric brake. Much like circulars saws from other manufacturers, the stock blade is not that great. The only issue I had was that the dust goes out rear-right side and I'm left-handed. Overall, it is a great saw and I would recommend it to anyone and actually my father-in-law bought one also and he is left-handed as well.

What a surprise to me. I just received the saw today from an on-line retailer. The saw and the case were both made in China. I go out of my way to buy American made goods and I thought the saw was U.S. made, or at least assembled in the U.S. Unfortunately, more US jobs are being exported to China. If I had done more research, I would have discovered that Milwaukee was sold in Jan, 2005 to a Chinese based firm.

I guess I was spoiled since I had an old craftsman circular saw with electronic brake and that baby stops on a dime. This saw's blade keeps spinning for a couple of seconds after you release the trigger. It's just slightly less than a regular saw so probably not worth the extra money. The other bad thing is that the blade height adjustment on mine came so that at certain blade heights (anything greater than 1 1/4") the lever hits the plate before the screw is tightened. Now I have to fiddle with the screw so that the tightening range is just at the right spot so the lever works. I hope that fixes it.
br /
br /On the bright side, the saw is nice and light and seems pretty sturdy and also seems to have a lot of power. The blade visibility is very good.
br /
br /I appreciate the note about toolup.com. They had it cheaper with free shipping so I took advantage of Amazon's policy of getting 10% of the difference.

This is my second circular saw. I liked the excellent visibility of the blade while cutting. It was easy to make accurate straight cuts just by watching the blade. It feels solid, powerful, and the blade stops very fast when the power comes off.

Everything I expected came to fruition when I received this saw. It cuts like butter. The adjustable handle is great for old hands like mine. I have been using the same old BD commercial circular saw for the past 15 years. It gave up the ghost so I had hoped to find something that could compare with it. Having researched I bought the Milwaukee 6394-21. What a great saw. I would expect this saw to out perform my old baby.
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br /
br /Dan, the wood butcher

This is one heck of a saw. I've been through several of the cheaper saws just because I'm a homeowner and really didn't plan on using a saw as much as I do. I could have bought this saw for what I spent on the others and the quality far exceeds the other saws I've owned. This is a quality saw that is top of the line for circular saws. If you need something bigger or better than this one, you'll need to jump up to the worm gear saws that are double or triple the price. One more thing, I'll never own a saw again that doesn't have the blade brake. Use this saw and you'll understand. Get the rip fence while you're here.
br /
br /A good saw at a fair price, what more could you want?

Well, the saw is very good. I used it to build a cedar fence. It is very steady and powerful. It is fun to use. Unfortunately, the price dropped a day later after I bought it; e-mailed and called Amazon. Was told they will not refund the difference because a new policy in place on Sept 1, 2008. It means to me people have to worry whether price would drop after buyingg anything from Amazon, and likely would delay buying decisions. Please e-mail or call Amazon to complain about this policy.

I just finished my first project cutting 18 staves for a drum I am makng out of Poplar. The saw cut through it like butter. The bevel angle setting was perfect and resulted in a perfect circle when assembled. The tilt-lock handle is very convenient. Seems to have plenty of power. The worst thing I can say is that compared to other saws that I have had, it seems to shoot sawdust everywhere. I also changed the blade to one with more teeth for a smoother cut, otherwise I am very pleased.

At first this saw was great, nice sight lines from both sides, but after 6 months the brake rarely works, had to send it in to be serviced.

An excelent saw. Good balance and grip for controll. Visibiity of the spinning saw blade is excellent. The price may be a very little bit of saw dust heading for the eyes but that's well worth being able to follow either side of the line without having to lean over the saw. Besides, eye protection is always a must. I'm right handed and I bought a right handed saw. Go Milwaukee! Norm

This is the very best saw on the market today. Durable, powerfull, and very well balanced with incredible line of site with outstanding bevel adjustment mechanism !

Great saw and the electric brake is a must for any commerical jobs.
br /though I wish these saws would got back to the days of 12-13 amps and lighter weights.
br /The line of sight on this saw is very good
br /again I got this for $161 at toolup .com with free shipping

I bought this saw in late November for installing some laminated floors. I bought it largely based on the good customer reviews and the features of the saw. I liked the electric brake and it worked well for my project.
br /
br /The original saw blade couldn't be used to cut laminate boards, so I bought another saw blade. I had a hard time to change the blade but managed to do it. Then later when I wanted to change the blade for cutting some other things, the blade change pin got stuck. No matter how hard I try, I couldn't push it down to release the lock. I even tried to use hammers and other tools but couldn't get it unlocked.
br /
br /I have to commend the customer service of Amazon.com. I emailed them and quickly got a replacement saw. But the new saw arrived with exactly the same problem. So, I asked to return the new saw and the original saw and got the refund.
br /
br /I would have given it a 5 star if it didn't have this problem. It performed well until I needed to change the blade.
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The one star is not for the tool, it is for the seller Northern Tool, and also for Amazon. I did a great deal of research on this saw, and for the most part it was rated very highly, and I have no reason not to believe that. Milwaukee has a great reputation for there tools. I have used may in the past and they have always been first rate.
br /
br /I wanted to relay my experience with Amazon and Northern Tool to future customers so they can be better prepared for potential disappointment then I was.
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br /I placed the order through Amazon for this saw, a Bosch jigsaw, and a Bosch jigsaw blade kit on May 23 2008 (the Bosch equipment was sold by Amazon directly). This was the first time I ordered something from Amazon that they themselves did not ship, but I was confident it would not be a big deal due to my experiences dealing with Amazon. Amazon has always fulfilled my order with the correct item and delivered them before the estimated delivery date, and I have always been more than pleased dealing with them. Amazon is always the first place I go to check for stuff I want. I value the reviews and have always found Amazon's pricing unbeatable.
br /
br /I got the Bosch saw and blade kit on June 3, 2008 as promised, but the Milwaukee saw was not promised until June 16th. I was not pleased that it was going to take so much longer ordering through a third party, but it was the saw I wanted at the price I was willing to pay, so I waited. Well, June 16th came and went with no saw, so I tried contacting Amazon and was referred to contact Northern Tool as they were the actual sellers. This was also a bit disappointing. I was dealing with and paying Amazon for the saw, I would have guessed they would act as the intermediary for any inquiries. I sent Northern Tool and email asking when I could expect the saw. The following day I got an email from NT saying the saw would be backordered until late August 2008. I was irritated that it not only took three weeks to find out it was backordered, but I had to specifically ask in order to get that information. NT did not otherwise notify me of the backorder, let alone that they would miss the estimated delivery date.
br /
br /I decided to cancel the order rather than wait another two months for a saw I needed. I contacted Amazon using there customer phone service. I will say, I thought it was pretty slick that I could type in my phone number on the computer screen and click on a radio button and my phone rang almost instantly. I was connected to a CSR pretty quick. Neat stuff! However, it was less than pleasurable dealing with the CSR. First off, the person could just barely speak any English. I had to repeat myself over and over before the CSR figured out what I wanted. At that time the CSR apparently was reading a scripted reply to my question. I tried to interject once she mentioned that I needed to contact the sell (Northern Tool) directly to tell her I had not done that, but she just started shouting over me and continued to read the script. Once she was done, I then tried to explain to her that I had not contacted the seller because I order the tool from Amazon and I want to know how the billing will be cancelled. The CSR just started reading the script again. I tried to stop her, but again she shouted over me and finished reading. I then asked to speak to a supervisor. The CSR, after a bit of an argument, told me should would get the supervisor, but it would take a long time for him to come to the phone. I was placed on hold, and there I sat for over 15 minutes before I hung up in disgust.
br /I sent Amazon a short email stating what happened and asked for someone to contact me personally by phone. Within an hour I received three emails back from Amazon, they contacted Northern Tool and cancelled the order. However, no one ever contacted me personally, and though they did apologize for my trouble and cancel the order, they never apologized for how rudely I was treated by there CSR or stated they would correct the problem.
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br /I am building up my woodworking shop little by little, and in the end, I will spend a great deal of money. With this type of treatment, I don't think I will be doing any more third party purchasing through Amazon. I found the Milwaukee 6390-21, pretty much the same saw without the electric brake or replaceable cord; at Sears for $68 (Sears is discontinuing carrying the 6390-21, it was normally $149). It wasn't a hard decision to step down to the 6390 after what I went through.
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OK the fact is I havnt even used the saw yet. I own 3 other Milwaukee tools and feel they are the best. One reason I buy one tool or product over another is where the tool is made. I have bought Milwaukee and Porter Cable and have been happy with both. My problem is the saw is not made in the U.S. per the technical data page. That doesnt mean its not the best saw on the market. The feel of the tool is of high quality, I plugged it in and ran it up and tested the brake which functioned perfectly. I am pleased with the service I recieved from Amazon. The tool arrived in only a few days in perfect condition. I was however, disapointed it was not made in the U.S.This causes me to wonder about long term quality. I have a milwaukee angle grinder (made in U.S.) which has been abused for years and works flawlessly. In another buisness fabricating in metal we had a Milwaukee Magnum Hole Shooter drill (made in U.S.) which was the best power tool I ever used. My ex partner still uses it to this day. and it will still break your wrist if you dont treat it with respect.I gladly pay more for products made in the U.S., and often do not shop other brands. If Milwaukee is going to manufacture tools outside the U.S I will be more open to shopping other brands. Americans without jobs dont buy tools. I will write another review after using the saw for a while. I must admit it looks like all I expected and I'm sure its a great saw.......OK I've used the saw for a few weeks now...I'm loving it so far...feels great in the hand,good sight to blade, not too much dust in the eyes...the only complaint I can think of so far is the plastic blade guard...I find myself placing the saw down gently for fear of breaking it. Probably irrational but I think about it every time I put the saw down. Time will tell but so far I'm thrilled. M.R.OK now after a few months using the saw I still love it. The guard is not plastic but magnesium, guess I should have looked closer. I've cut all types of wood without complaint, still a great saw and I'm upping it to 5 stars. I might be building a soapstone countertop and plan on cutting with my saw. I'll edit again then. M.R. almost forgot, I burned up my angle grinder. so much for that. M.R.

Haven't had a chance to do much with the saw yet, but so far it has met my expectations. I look forward to using it more!