This is my 4th circular saw. I have a Skilsaw 77 worm drive, 2 Makitas, 1 blade on the right and one cordless blade on the left now this one.
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br /One of the features I was most interested in was a solid base when locked. When I'm cutting sheet goods down to size I want the base to be stable. When I apply preasure to the saw I don't want the base to flex or distort while I'm trying to maintain a straight cut edge. Just a little bit of flex would reduce this to rough work only.
br /This Porter cable was the only one to do it outside a Festool (which is about $400). All of the other saws bases flexed while I put some downward pressure on them and rocked them a bit. Although the Bosch was pretty solid it blade is one the right.
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br /The other feature I wanted was the blade on the left. I'm right handed and love the blade on the left. I like to be able to see the blade and in some instances I like to walk along with the saw and again, the blade on the left allows me to do that comfortably.
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br /This Porter cable easily ride along a fence and is powerful and stable. The blade that comes with it is working pretty darn well, negligible tearout on plywood has been my experience.
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br /The other thing I loved especially after some time using this is the fact that the saw is relatively light in hand and it's well balanced.
br /I like the worm drive Skil but it gets heavy using it all day. Just a few pounds even 1 or 2 really seem to make a difference.
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br /Another thing which is small but welcome is that Porter Cable cast the distance from the edges of the base to the blade right on the base. Seems that's a measurement I don't retain between weeks of use. I got out my ruler to take down the measurement and behold, there it was already marked for me. 1 1/2" on the left and 5" on the right.
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br /This has been a very enjoyable saw to use. My most enjoyed actually.

Many negative reviews for Porter Cable MAG series saws here and elsewhere note the poor action of the blade guard. The entire line of MAG saws were recalled by Porter Cable in November 2005 to rectify this issue. I'd bear this in mind when comparing the "star" ratings of the MAG series with competing brands.
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br /Personally, it came down to this model and the highly rated Milwaukee 639x series with the very nice tilt-lok handle feature. After reading all the reviews I could find, I took the time to physically handle and inspect all my candidates. There was no question this model was the most comfortable in my hand. If any of the MAG series are even close to the top of your list, I highly recommend checking them out in person; it's a highly subjective experience and your results will certainly vary but it tipped the balance for me. I have no doubt I made the right decision for my use.

This saw was an impulse purchase based on frustration with an old right hand blade Skil saw that could not cut 3/8 paneling without twisting and binding and did not cut cleanly in 2" dimensional lumber.
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br /While its billed as a framer's saw, it handles panels easily, from Chipboard to MDF, and the dust collection port works pretty well. The best news for me was that it seems to fit my hand, and being right handed, the blade was were I could see it as I walked down a long rip even in low light.
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br /The integral blade changing feature is nice if you lose wrenches for tools as I do, but was not a decision point. The solid feel and strong bevel adjust makes this saw easy for me to drive straight and true.

I borrowed a friend's Porter Cable 743k saw - the previous model of this saw - and was immediately smitten. The 423 is the current version, so I ordered one from Amazon without hesitation.
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br /Any improvements from the 743 to the 423 were more than offset by a tremendous increase in noise. Running my "loaner" 743 side-by-side with the 423 showed the new 423 to be at least 25% louder. It had a spine-tingling whine that drove me nuts.
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br /A fluke? Maybe. So I bought another 423 locally; it had the identical whine. I returned both, and found a seller that still had a 743. Same price, much less dB, and I'm a happy camper.
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br /If you're looking for a quiet saw, keep looking. If you're already going deaf, I had no complaints with the PC 423.
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I'm left-handed and had been using a cheap Skil saw for about 5 years with the blade on the right side of the saw. You might think this would be a good thing for a lefty because the cut line is more visible. I disagree! The blade was a little too close to my hand for my own comfort. Plus, you can tell the saw was designed for a right-handed person because of the way it "feels" in your hand. Any lefty knows what I'm talking about. A "blade-right" saw in your left hand can feel unbalanced, which presents a dangerous situation.
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br /Enter the Porter Cable "blade-left" saw. Finally, a circular saw built for leftys like me!! The saw feels incredibly well-balanced and comfortable in my left hand. I can see the cut line just fine without leaning over the saw. Plus, it's lightweight and has plenty of power (more than a DIY-'er like me could ever want or need).
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br /My first saw (the Skil) was about $40. I bought the Porter Cable for about $130 at Sears. Money well spent! I highly recommend this saw for left-handed people. Milwaukee also now has a "blade-left" saw, but I haven't tried it.

This saw is not an appropriate replacement for the model 743K, in fact its not even in the same league. After just 2 days on the job the keyless blade change broke rendering this saw useless, and the dust nozzle is too small .... all it does is stay hopelessly clogged. It works fine if all you do is cut perfectly dry lumber, but what contractor is able to do that on a daily basis? The rip guide attachment in only good to around 8 inches where as the model 743K has a 12 plus inch rip capacity with the exact same rip guide. Take a professionals advice and buy a 743K if you can still find one. Porter Cable really goofed on this one!!!

After years of peering over the saw guide and getting pelted directly in my safety glasses with sawdust, I decided to try this saw. Seeing the cut line is worth the money spent...period. The thing to keep in mind is that if you hold this saw with your right hand, the stable material (being held by your left hand)is going to be on your left. This means that this saw will be weighted over the waste piece (right). Not ideal for perfect cuts. Saw was a big power improvement over my 5 year old Skill saw.

If you use any battery powered saws, they ALL have the blade on left. I really like being able to see the line with these saws, and not bending over the saw for difficult cuts (as you do with a blade-on-right electric circular saw). So I thought I'd try a blade-on-left. I've used quite a few saws over the years, and I really like the solid feel but very light weight of this saw. Haven't cut much but a few sheets of plywood (long rips) and some 2x4 crosscuts, but I REALLY like being able to see the line on those long plywood cuts.
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br /Not sure about the safety issue that one reader raised. I don't see the problem, but would appreciate it if someone could explain why a left-blade saw is unsafe for a right handed person. Actually, I almost cut my thumb off about 20 years ago on a long 2x4 rip cut. The blade bound up in the cut and "walked out" of the cut backwards and ran over my thumb (the one holding the 2x4). I think the blade-on-left saw would have made the situation better because I wouldn't have had such an awkward material holding position.

When my old Black and Decker burned out, I had two requirements for a new circular saw: 1) It had to be light. I have some disability in my right forearm, and am unable to hold things (like a magazine) at a 90 degree angle for very long. I needed my circular saw to be light enough that when ripping plywood or other flat stock, that the saw needed to be comfortable and lightweight. This saw is both. and 2) I needed to have the blade on the left side. For years I've had a hard time cutting a straight line while bending over the saw. Being right handed, I wanted a blade that I could see as it cut to make for better cuts, especially when ripping long stock. This saw works great on both accounts and is powerful and easy to use on top of that. Highly recommended saw.

Bought the 423 remanufactured from a factory store in Portland, OR in 2003; have had no issues with it since. Have used it to build stairs, fences, decks, and a couple of roofs. While it doesn't see constant daily use, I do use it almost all the time and have never had a problem with it.

i have always wanted to have two circular saws at the ready, one with blade right and the other with blade left. in tight areas where you cannot see over the blade guard this is a must! i am very happy with these porter cable saws. i recommend these as an essential to every job site.

Should have thrown in a guide, my Milwaukee came with one. I have a Milwaukee tilt lock blade right saw and I like this PC better. It feels a bit lighter and more balanced. Milwaukee cases seems to be a bit roomier making putting the tool away a bit less of a chore, but the PC is just as good a saw. I didn't know Milwaukee made a blade left when I bought my Milwaukee blade right. The PC was less expensive and the PC blade left is more readily available (the only one I know of routinely found on store shelves). Use safety glasses especially with a blade left as the wood debris on the blade left seems to find eyes better than blade right models. Would definitely buy again.

I've never gone for the marketing hype of why I should spend xtra $$, I'm an occassional household user, why should I spend a lot... but I'm starting to be convinced why...
br /I've used my old Right-hand Craftsman 2HP for 25 years for occassional household projects. It's worked fine, but never really great. You see, I'm, a lefty. You can't steady an opposite-handed saw very well, especially making short cuts on the edges of studs. They usually turn out a tad bit wavy, since the majority of the saw is hanging out in the atmosphere - you can't put that weight on the piece that's going bye-bye.
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br /So I finally stripped the gears on the old Sears and time to get an new one (so told the wife....) Decided this was a good time to try a lefty.
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br /Boy, not only is it steady, but it cuts studs like butter. I never knew how good it could be. I must cut studs in half the time. Maybe it was the blade? The saw speed? The gear assembly starting to wobble a bit? Kind of like getting a new car - you don't realize what a difference it makes.
br /P-C was having a $20 rebate until 7/31, so I picked it up in July, total cost, with shipping is about $112 from somewhere else.
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br /I don't expect to abuse it or use it like a contractor, so I figure this one is a keeper, probably for the rest of my cheapskate days.
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br /I have to check out the blade manufacturer - the blade has been a beaut on 1" and 2" stock. This weekend, plywood (different blade) roof sheathing to finish the treehouse... Sadly, I have to put the toy away and go on vacation....
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br /p.s., never tell your spouse how much the tool costs, at least not all the cost all at once ;)
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I've owned my own a residential construction business for over 20 years. As you can imagine, I've seen and used my fair share of circular saws. Porter Cables previous circular saws (743 and 347) were among the best I had ever used. So I was very happy to buy a few of the newer MAG saws when they came out.
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br /And they performed wonderfully... for a while. All three of them have broken where the table meets the depth adjustment guide. Yes, they were dropped. From 3'. It should go without saying a commercial duty tool should NOT break so easily.
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br /The repair guy at the local tool store that caters to contractors said he has seen 100's of these with the same problem. So, I am back to shopping for the older ones on eBay.
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I don't understand how it can be this way, but...I just can't get the saw to follow a straight line. I've used lots of circular saws without this problem. A friend in the trades tried it (to show me it DID cut straight, it wasn't the saw, and make fun of me) but had the same problem. It pulls to the left!

This saw cuts very well and is about 2.5 lbs lighter than comparable saws (the Makita 5007 for example) but there is a trade off in the weight and the toughness of the saw. If you want, you can use the makita as a hammer and then cut lumber with it. The magnesium frame and guard of this saw lightens the saw but you can't even drop the saw or it may crack as mine did on a 3 foot drop onto a wood floor. I also had the same problem with the tool-less blade change feature as another review and $29 to replace the part is ridiculous. The blade retention bolt on other saws is a dollar and on my 20 year old PC I havn't needed a second one yet. Too many gimics and plastic on this saw to be viable saw for the construction trade. Perhaps as a high priced alternative to a Black and Decker it would fit the bill.

After researching my options, I selected this saw for several reasons. I liked the way it felt, I had used the 325 before, I have several other tools from Porter-Cable and it received top rating from Fine Homebuilding in 2004(?).
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br /After using it to cut 10 boards, the blade clamp self destructed. The saw blade that came with it has dished and hits the guard. The sight does not track with the blade.
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br /I did buy the saw locally and it is under warranty, but I am now on my third blade clamp in less than two weeks (partially because it took 1 week to receive the replacement). Traditional, bolt-style blade clamps are available [...], which I will surely be buying. I really don't know what else will go wrong once I get to use it.
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br /I bought a HD77M to replace it, no problems with that.

Probably the best circular saw I have ever purchased. Would like to have had a rip guide included but can live with out it. No other complaints.

This saw is great. Very light, tough, and easy to set and hold the blade depth and miter. It has the feel of a great tool, and I'm very satisfied with it. The quality of Porter Cable tools is variable. Some items aren't that great, and others are. This saw is a joy to use. Love the left blade for easier ripping.

no problems thus far with this great saw. i like the adjustable port for the saw dust.

I'm not sure why all right-handed saws do not have the blade on the left side. This thing is powerful and light. This is my go-to saw. I like the balance better than a worm-drive, but for monster cutting, it's good to have one of those, too. You can never have too many tools, although several saws is a luxury. I also have a trim saw for small jobs, but as a starter I would get this. It will do it all for you.

Arrived quickly packed in the manufacturer's box. All good. The saw works beautifully for rips and crosscuts. Accurate (square/flat baseplate from the outset) good power, nice weight/balance in the hand, and the directional sawdust exhaust port is a nice feature. Should have gotten one of these a long time ago!

Saw was purchased, facrtory re-furbished at an excellent price, came with a soft case, blade, and a wrench. Saw is lightweight, easy to handle, and cuts very well. Adjustments to cutting andle and depth are easy to make. Porter-Cable 423MAG 15 Amp 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw with Blade Left I am very pleased with this saw and only wish that I had been able to purchase is sooner.

received it in just three working days and the saw is great, lightweight and easy to watch the cut line.

I had the same problem as the first reviewer-the saw only works right if you're using it left-handed. I didn't have any safety issues, but the saw got stuck right after each cut-before I had moved it through the wood. When sawing right-handed, you hold the material on the left side. If you're cutting anything other than long rips, the blade guard will jump back against the wood you are holding once the sawed piece (on the right) falls off. This is what causes problems-you have to force the saw forward again to get it through.
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br /I got this saw because I thought the blade left was a good thing for a right-hander. I still think it could be, but the blade guard needs to be designed differently.
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br /I still give this saw three stars, because other than the guard issue, I liked it. Of all circular saws it felt the best in my hand and I know PC makes good tools. I'm sure the blade right model is a great saw, although I ended up going with a different saw-with a brake.

Bought this saw four months ago. After about two weeks the keyless blade change quit working. Then today was using it, left it on a saw horse, saw got bumped causing it to fall. When I picked it up the depth adjustment was broke. Disapointed that porter cable did not make the saw better. Saw has great power and is balanced well.

I've only one thing to say about the Keyless blade change. Expect to invest 29 bucks plus a rip-off postage charge for a replacement that is a copy of the one that broke.

I bought this saw online and the first time I used it, I nearly cut off my hand. The blade guard is so poorly designed that it will only free the cut material if used left-handed. That's ridiculous -- you get a left hand blade so you can view kerf better.brSecond, this "professioal" saw does not accept diamond arbor blades, has no framing hook and no after-market arbor blade flange conversion.brBottom line: Overpriced, unsafe amatuer-grade saw. I returned it and lost $30 in shipping, but value my digits and extremities more.