'Might Be My New Favorite Tool': The New Harbor Freight Circular Saw Buyers Are Loving

If you check out some of the must-buy power tools for first-time homeowners, the circular saw is second only to a drill driver. These versatile devices can also be found in the tool kits of many job-site contractors and carpenters. They are great for cutting lumber and sheet material like plywood and OSB (Oriented Strand Board). The only drawback with them is that they can be a bit cumbersome, especially when space is limited or you need to work above head height. The Hercules 20V Cordless 4½-Inch Compact Circular Saw from Harbor Freight is designed to solve these problems, though, and one delighted buyer said it "might be my new favorite tool." Let's take a closer look.

Harbor Freight's Hercules brand is aimed at professionals, offering sturdy construction and improved durability, backed by a five-year warranty. At $99 without a battery, the price tag reflects this, but that's still considerably less expensive than equivalents from competitors like DeWalt. A maximum depth of cut of 1-11/16ths-inch means it's capable of cutting standard 2-inch by 4-inch board (which is actually 1½ inches thick), and according to Harbor Freight, it will cut up to 250 feet of ½-inch OSB on a single charge. Highlights of an impressive specification include beveling to 45 degrees, an electric brake that stops the blade when you release the trigger, a weight of just 5.6 pounds, and a convenient hanging hook.

The Hercules compact circular saw is relatively new, so customer feedback is limited. Nevertheless, it gets a 4.9-star rating. Buyers' comments focus on the quality, weight, and ease of use. One said that for many, this would be "the only thing you need." The reasons you would buy a compact circular saw like this were summed up by two who said, "perfect for quick cuts, overhead work, and tight spaces," and "I like it for when you don't want to drag the big circular saw out."

However, that last comment hints at the drawbacks of compact circular saws. They are great for small jobs, but they do have limited capacity and aren't really designed for framing, roofing, and other heavy-duty tasks. In an ideal situation, they would be bought in addition to a full-size model, not instead of. If you're only buying one saw, you might be better off looking at the Hercules 7¼-inch circular saw that users are calling the best Harbor Freight has to offer.

That said, big circular saws can be a bit intimidating for novices. If you're concerned about how to safely use a circular saw around the house, the Hercules 20V Cordless 4½-Inch Compact Circular Saw is worth considering. It is light, easy to maneuver, and, as we've seen, perfectly capable of tackling the materials most often used for DIYs.