I recently purchased a house, and not being a person who has the money to hire someone else to do it for me, I've become my own handyman. Not to mention I was interested in building stuff for my house and garage, as well.
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br /I've never owned a circular saw before. I had never even used one. I went into this completely new to it. I did extensive research prior to purchasing.
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br /My research quickly narrowed it down to three saws - the Bosch CS20, the Milwaukee 6394-21, and Porter-Cable 325MAG. From everything I've read, these are all excellent choices and each have their benefits. The Porter-Cable had the quik-blade change system (no tools required) and adjustable dust port. The Milwaukee had the Quik-lok cord and tilt-lok handle. The Bosch has the quick-disconnect cord and rafter hook (so you can hang your saw from a rafter or something while working). To me, the best way to decide from here was to go to a store and handle all the saws.
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br /After handling the saws, I found that I liked the Bosch best overall and here's why: it wasn't too heavy and felt well balanced. The depth and angle adjustments were EXTREMELY easy to use. I could change them with one hand. On the Porter-Cable, I had to sit it down or support it against my body to change them. Not very ergonomic if you ask me. And finally, the Milwaukee wouldn't even adjust; the handle was so tight, neither me or my friend could loosen it. I also felt that the Bosch had the best line of sight out of all of them. Also, there were detents on the angle adjustment AND the Bosch goes to 56 degrees. And finally, the features - I've read that the tilt-lok on the Milwaukee isn't that great. A friend of mine that owns this model agreed; he set it once and rarely messes with it. The Porter-Cable's features weren't all that important to me. The tool-less blade change would be great but didn't make up for the angle and depth adjustment controls. With the Bosch, the rafter-hook wasn't that big of a deal to me but the quick disconnect was. If I accidentally cut through my cord on the Bosch, all I have to do is go to Wal-Mart and pick up another extension cord and I'm back in business. The Milwaukee has a detachable cord but it's only sold by them meaning you'd still have to order it from them and probably pay an arm and a leg.
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br /So I settled upon the Bosch and ordered it when I got back my tax return. I haven't used it very much yet but so far, it has been an excellent saw. It's without mention that it goes through 2x4s like a hot knife through butter. But I was also impressed with the way it handled 2x6s. The line of sight was also excellent. The saw is easy to handle and doesn't sound to be all that loud. The blade guard is smooth and easy to operate by hand. The trigger also has a nice tactile feedback. The saw as a whole is very easy to control.
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br /To me, this saw is a 5-star in every way. I wish it had a quick blade change feature like the Porter-Cable but it's a minor complaint. Also, the saw, in my opinion, looks as good as it works.
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br /I've always been drawn to Bosch products and this reminds me why - this saw is high quality for the price, looks good and works great. Everything I love about Bosch. And it's made in the good old U.S.A. Can't beat that.
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br /To me, this is the best saw in this price range. Before anyone buys it, though, I recommend you go to your local home improvement store and handle the various circular saws and see which works best for you.

this saw is without a doubt one of the best on the market. i work on a framing crew and use this saw everyday. the bosch cs20 has lasted a full year now without any problems. we have tried other ones and they just can't beat the bosch. with the 56 degree bevel it makes cutting rafters a breeze. and the rafter hook really comes in handle. the power of this saw is incredible.
br /to answer some of the other reviewers complaints...
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br /with the speed square hitting the motor housing of the saw. try flipping it over. i thought the same thing, that i wouldn't be able to use the speed square. but alas. just turn it the other way and it works fine.
br /and now to the direct connect. anyone who complains about this feature obviousely does NOT use a saw that often. this is the greatest feature to ever be placed on a saw. you no longer have to tie the ends of your cords together. and with that means no more cord snags from getting caught on things. with the cord now gone, putting the tools away goes much faster. roll the extension cord up and your all done. no 5 foot cord to have to wrap around the saw.
br /as for the bag that the saw comes in. i believe this also to be a better feature b/c those plastic cases that normally come with tools seem to crack and break somehow, some way. this bag is lasting the test of time so far.
br /also, to those who are wondering about a rip fence for this saw. amazon.com carries it. just look up Bosch model# WD7RIP
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br /i don't think i'll be buying any other brands for a circular saw anytime soon. as long as the bosch cs20 is on the market, this is my saw. A+ to Bosch for thinking up this great tool

I have used many sidewinder style circular saws over the years, and of them all, this one is the best...
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br /This is a very well balanced saw, and has a very comfortable grip.
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br /It's power is easily as rated, if not better, which is an excewption to the rule as most circular saws seem to be a low less powerful than the manufacturer claims.
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br /Bosch's innovative Direct Connect feature is so smart, it's one of those things that makes you ask "Why didn't someone think of this before?"
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br /I was a little hesitant about the composite foot plate at first, but having broken a mag plate on a saw dropped from only a hight of about 5 feet, I know that while they are more rigid, the additional resistance to breaking that the composite brings is a worthwhile trade-off.
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br /One reviewer said he would have preferred a hard case over the soft case, but in my experience most hard cases are not worth the extra size. I myself tend to buy soft cases for tools that came in ahard case, as they take up less space and are just easier to deal with.
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br /I also found the built-on hanger hook to be especially handy, alowing me to hang the saw from a 2x.
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br /Only flaw I can find is the lack of a built-in holder for the included blade wrench, which would be a very smart addition for a future revision of the product.

This is my second circular saw in 3 months. I originally bought a Craftsman 14 amp and was dissatisfied with the claimed amount of power. I had a medium sized fence project which called for about 300' of pressure treated wood that required a 3/4"x3/4" rabbet cut lenthwise on 2"x4"x8'. While cutting, the Craftsman constantly bogged down. This produced some jagged cuts with an edge guide when it happened. I thought it was the generic blade that it came with so I went out and bought a Makita M force blade for it. It did better, but still bogged down so much that a kickback wasn't even in order. So it was returned and I went after the Bosch CS20. I took it home and paired it up with the Makita blade and it cut the remainder of the 200 feet of PT stuff like butter. Not a single bog to cause a crooked cut while using an edge guide. The wet treated stuff ejected out like shavings instead of splintering like the Craftsman did. The blade speed and power had quite a bit to do with that. I love the direct connect feature that Bosch has on some of their tools. The positive detent stops for depth are an excellent feature also. I have one gripe about this saw though and its the composite base. While it does work well for dry wood, there is a noticable amount of drag on pressure treated stuff ( other saws that I've used that have a standard aluminum or stamped steel base plates are noticably more drag resistant on wet lumber).
br /This saw does lack an edge guide though and that was no surprise because Bosch makes most items an accessory when other manufacturers include them as standard equip. But I'll let you guys in on a secret. The Porter Cable edge guide fits (can't remeber which model, but it's about 5/8" wide at the slot) and then find a 10-32 threaded bolt with a knob on top and use the tension springs that come with PC quide kit. If you want to get the guide really close to the blade, then shave off the little button on the top of the guide. You'll know what I'm talking about when you see the it. Oh and use a washer where the tension spring comes in contact with the composite base to keep the spring from tearing up the threads. It came out to less than 10 bucks. :)

I have been a carpenter for about ten years now and recently my favorite saw (DeWalt heavy duty) died. On our job site we have used every type of DeWalt, Mikita, and Milwaulki saw over the years. None of them lasted as long as my Dewalt heavy duty so when I went after a new saw that's what I was going for. Becuase of the 56% bevel I changed my mind and bought the Bosch. It has been the best decision I've made in a long time. This is a great saw. None of our guys are using any of the other saws. They keep trying to take mine when I'm not looking. This saw feels as good on long rips of 2x as it does on cross cuts. The blower system is one of the best features on a saw I have ever seen. No more sawdust covering your line on important cuts. I am buying two more so my crew will give me back mine.

Following the recomendations of various reviews I purchased this saw to replace a 23 year old Milwaukee that fell 30 feet off a roof bending the plate badly. In six months of owning it both the angle and depth knobs have broken off, the plate flexes badly when used for a depth cut, and today for no apparant reason the guard handle broke off,just sheared right off the guard rendering the saw useless. I own a number of other Bosch tools and can't say enough good about them. For all the obvious excellent engineering the saw has it's not a professionals tool. I fixed the bent plate and put the old Milwaukee back in service.

I am a professional carpenter. I have had my Makita saw for 24 years and wanted a change, The Bosch CS20 looked like it had some pretty good features and the balance was not bad. After 3 months the composite foot plate has warped making for gouged cuts. I cannot cut a true 45deg bevel with it because of this flaw. The detents are not adjustable. My 45deg locks in at 43.5 deg. This is ubsat in my line of work. Bosch is going to send me another foot plate and bevel indicator but its the same material as the one I have. Bosch NEEDS to produce a replacement aluminum plate like all other quality saws have. They have missed the boat big time in this area. Based on this I would not recommend this saw for the serious tradesman.

I shopped around before I replaced my old Makita, and I narrowed it down between a Milwaukee and this Bosch. The Bosch won out because of it's easy to use positive stops for both blade height and bevel. The "direct connect" can be a tad inconvenient if you only have one extension, but if you should accidently cut the power cord you'll be relieved at the ease of replacing it.
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br /Another reviewer stated the he couldn't use the saw with his Speed Square because the motor housing bumped into the square's lip.I came across this too, but simply raised the blade a notch and that solved the problem. Would have liked a hard case like the comparably priced Milwaukee (the Bosch comes with a bag) and an onboard wrench storage would have been a nice touch as well.

I bought this saw a couple of months ago. Overall I'm really happy with the decision. It's relatively light and well balanced. The sight line is truly the best that I've came across. Angle and depth adjustments could not be any better. I've had no problems at all. The only gripe is that I wish Bosch would include a case instead of the bag for storage. The bag just doesn't protect the saw that well, and there's no pocket for the wrench.
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br /Update: The direct connect cord system is really a pain in the rear. Its not easy to get a cord plugged in. I've bent the prongs several times. I think the prong will break before the year is over. My suggestion is to get a the model with the included cord and leave it plugged in to the saw permanently.

This saw is light weight,smooth,easy to use;depth and bevel are very easy to change and the saw has good power. Love the saw hook to hang it. I love the direct connect feature...Also, I have a rip guide for a dewalt which works perfect once you run a 1/4-20 tap through the guide lock screw hole. Now I can use the same rip guide for both saws.But...this saw doesn't have an electric brake;also,the nonmetal saw table has some give in it,which to me, I would prefer a rigid magnesium saw table instead.This saw has performed great for every task I've put it to.

I read all the reviews then finally picked this one over the PCMag saw because if was $40 less.
br /I loved using the saw at first. It has a great line of sight and is quiet and runs smooth. having an extra long cord is a awesome feature, but it did add $20 to the cost.
br /but now after 6 months the base plate is warped making it a pain when cutting expensive oak plywood. It rocks from the back left to the front right over 1/8".
br /I put an email in to Bosch about a replacement plate but I am scared it will be the same thing and fail again after another 6 months.
br /Should have spent a little more and got the PC.

I like most bosch tools that i've owned and used, but this unit needs some serious rethinking from the bosch brains. Way to much fragile plastic for a tool that is inevitably going to take some serious abuse. The table also flexes and moves way to much for consistant, acurate cutting due to the plastic scrap. Bosch needs some good old mag on this pup or some seriously fortified plastic resin. A little redesign and this would probably be a great saw, but till that happens it is a hunk of junk. Wake up u bosch nerds and tune this puppy up.

Without question, the best saw available. I have experience with Skil, Milwaukee, Porter-Cable and Dewalt. All are solid products but none can match the Bosch. The sight line to the blade is incredible. Depth and bevel adjustments are large and obvious. Ripping sheet goods is great with no plug to catch your material 5 feet into the cut. My co-worker uses the Dewalt and he is ready to trade it in.

First off I make my living as a carpenter and have to say that I have used just about every saw out there right now. This saw is awesome!!. The direct connect system is fantasic. The rafter hook is great aswell, especially because I don't have to bend over and put it down and then pick it back up again after every cut. I just hook it on the saw horse. It is the smoothest circ-saw I have ever used. Plenty of power and light weight too. I only gave it 4 stars, because although the positive detents in the depth adjustment are great, the lever to tighten down the plate isn't in synced with the detents, if the saw aligns with the detets, the lever can't travel far enough around to lock tightly. Kind of confuseing I know, but it is a little anoying, I might be able to adjust it a little to fix it I just havn't had the time. Overall I am very happy with my new CS20.

I Purchased this saw as a replacement to my 8-year old milwaukee which I loved but finally wore out. I liked the idea of the direct connect cord and the composite plate seemed sturdy. After a few uses the blade guard started sticking open (not good). Bosch apparently had a recall on some older models for the same reason but mine wasn't involved in the recall. After going past customer service to the complaint department Bosch is taking the saw back to look at it and I'll be without it for a while. This saw has never been dropped, is very clean and has very little use on it. I have never had a circular saw blade guard stick before. I think this is a huge liability for Bosch. Except for the blade guard issue the saw seems fine (I haven't dropped it yet so I can't speak about the others who have). The composite plate is a little flexy for me but it seems to cut straight and true. We'll see how the repair goes, So far I'm not very happy.

The Bosch CS20 is the best circular saw I've ever used. It has power to cut through the toughest jobs. The direct connect cord is best explained by - "why didn't someone think of this before?" The hook hangs the saw perfectly on rafters, joists, and saw horses. This saw is light and tough. This saw is sturdy and extemely well made. The final selling point is that it bevels to 56 degrees. This saw is the whole package.

Went to Home Depot to buy a circular saw to replace my ancient skil which finally died. I had my heart set on the Porter-Cable 324MAG (I'm left handed). But Home Depot only had the Porter-Cable 423MAG (liked by right handed folks). So I picke dup the Bosch as a second choice. It did not have the quick blade change mcahnism of the Porter-Cable so I need to worry about "where's the wrench" when I need to change blades. But I don't change blades often. Unlike some circular saws I doesn't have a place on the saw itself to store the wrench -- at least that I could find. The Bosch also does not have the dust collection port for a vacuum hose, if you want to saw in your workshop and protect your lungs a little better (and prevent dust from coating every item in your garage).pBut the Bosch does have a nice hook for hanging on joist. A nice feature when I'm building a deck -- about one every ten years. It also has a nice feel when adjusting the angles of cut and depth of cut. The baseplate was a gamble. It looks inferior to the solid one on the Porter-Cable but now I'm convinced it's just as solid and will take drops better.pOne feature that Bosch apparently likes is that there's no power cord -- you supply your own. A useful featrue if you have the problem of damaging the cords- which are hard to replace.pAfter building a cedar yard fence with this saw I'm very pleased. I really don't think it was a "second choice."brNow if somebody would only start manufacturing a worm-drive with the blade on the right -- again, as a left handed person, I wan the blade on the right.

I picked this saw up as my second choice. I wanted the Blade Left Tilt Lock Milwaukee as a first choice, but the retailer had this saw marked down to $99 and was out of the Milwaukee. Summary, I sacrificed the Blade Left feature for the savings.
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br /Pros: Powerful, Smooth, Easy to set up for accuracy and the direct connect feature.
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br /Cons: Blade Right (this would not be a con for a lefty), did not come with a hard shell case.
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br /I read the complaints about what happens when you drop this saw and all I can say is take better care of your tools and you won't have that problem. A Warranty is not designed to allow you to be reckless. I don't drop my guns and I don't drop my power tools. I work at a steady and patient pace so accidents like that don't happen. Oh yeah, clean your shop or work area as you go so you run less of a risk of incident.
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br /All that being said, I recommend this saw to anyone who is going to use it every day.

Purchased saw 4 months ago, depth gage...broken, angle gage...broken, 1 year refund...useless because some pencil pushing consultant at bosch said the saw was misused. The bill to fix the $100 saw is $80. I have a porter cable circular saw that is over 20 years old and has taken twice the beating the bosch will ever see yet nothing is broke on it. The bosch took a 1 foot fall off the underside of a sawhorse and the fall broke the angle gage. The depth gage adjuster broke during regular use. I do not "misuse" my tools but I do use them!

i've used this bosch CS20 quite a few times since i bought it, on jobe and arround home for remodle.
br /the only thing i could hope for is for this saw to also be battery powered as well (if that were at all possible)my overall openion is this is a great tool with plenty of power.

I gave this saw a pretty good look see ar Home Depot, and just could not convince myself that it is anything but junk. It has a plastic or synthetic composite table, and similar adjusting levers. They don't look like they will hold up very well, and there is what seems to me to be a pretty honest corroborating review here on Amazon. I am surprised that this saw received an editor's pick at Fine Home Building. I just hope that Skill doesn't degrade the fine Bosch jigsaw the way they have this product. I would not buy this saw.

Bosch 1590EVSK 6.4 Amp Top Handle JigsawBosch CS20 15-Amp 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw with Direct Connect

Never really got to use the saw because of the safety recall and the possibility of an "amputation" if I chose to ignore the recall. While this was a minor problem the problem with the plastic base plate would have been a lifetime pain! The base plate lacks dimensional stability in that it will not accept the rip fence insertion without a significant use of force and again more force or a rubber mallet is called for if you need to move it to your desired rip dimension. Additionally the set screw for the rip fence comes with a spring that is to long thus requiring more force during all my aborted attempts to screw it into the base plate! I further found it physically impossible to screw the set screw into the base plate without the spring in place! I own a lot of Bosch tools and have never experienced these kinds of problems with Bosch or any other brand. I returned the saw to the vendor I purchased it from citing poor tool quality as the reason.

I am an amateur, so you understand that I am not speaking from a pro's perspective. My old entry level BD saw finally bit the dust and I got this saw as a gift. It seems well made, sturdy, and easy to use. It is a little heavier than my old saw but that is probably because it uses stronger parts. My old saw had a plastic case and a stamped metal footplate.
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br / My biggest complaint is the direct connect cord. Rather than have a permanently connected cord like most corded power tools, you need to supply your own cord. So, now I have to go buy another cord or use the one that I was using for other tools. I used my extension cord that I keep on a reel. I always used to keep the female end of the extension cord next to the hub of the reel. That way I plug in the cord and unreel just enough cord to take to the worksite. Well, no more with the Bosch tool. The female end of my extension cord plugs into the back of the tool. So, I have to keep a "tail" at the hub of the extension cord reel. Now, when I go to reel up the cord at the end of the workday, I have that tail flopping around and making it extremely difficult to reel up the cord. I suppose this is a minor complaint in the overall scheme of things - but it sure is annoying. Bosch asks the question have you ever had trouble replacing your saw's cord after you accidentally cut it off? Well, I have never cut my saw's cord off so this feature is a dubious advantage for me.
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br / One more small complaint: The footplate hits the raised side of my speed square when I am making a cut. I suspect this is the fault of the speed square and I will solve this problem quickly by filing the edge of the speed square just a little.