Circular saw tool review: DeWalt Wormdrive DWS535

I love doing a new circular saw review, and putting a tool through its paces. Here’s what I learned.

I want everything from my circular saw: a main frame rough-carpentry tool that can handle get-it-done-yesterday muscle-up production cutting and one that’s dialed in enough to deliver smooth clean cuts in trim work. DeWalt’s DWS535 delivers on all counts with big-dog umph and thought-through design features.

Here are the details of this circular saw review:

Power. The DWS535 has it in gobs. Among other things, I plowed through stacks of framing building a deck with Chris Lambton on HGTV’s ‘Going Yard.’ Movin’ on.

Rough & Tough. The magnesium shoe is top drawer. At about 3/16-inch thick, if you can bend or damage this bad boy, congratulations: you’re officially brutal on tools. The over-mold rubber grip on the handle is great for days when sweat is pouring from every pore. The trigger is easy to reach and pull. Add a magnesium housing and DeWalt trims this tough-guy down to a sub 14-pound fighting weight. Light and tough. Nasty.

Smart Too. As much as I love power in a circ saw, if there aren’t smart design features that reflect what I need in a saw, it’s a boat anchor and as such, I will toss it. One key feature I look for in a circular saw review is the line of sight past the housing to the blade—and the space between the blade and the shoe. If this is under-thought the saw is difficult to use. DeWalt thought this through. Awesome view to the cut line. Add to that, the arbor lock for blade change is rockin’; makes blade change easier.

Little Big Things. I love the little things that make me love a tool (and conversely, hate the little things that make me hate a tool). The DWS535 has a long and uber tough cord. Like it.

And the bevel adjustment (the tool to rolls over to 53 degrees for you rafter cutters) has a tiny hook on it to help pull out the diamond knock-out from your blades.

The gist? For this circular saw review: It’s not perfect, but it’s there and it helps this light, tough, saw earn a spot on our sites.