Customer Reviews

Big Foot SBFX BF 15 Amp 10-1/4-Inch Wormdrive Circular Saw

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This 10" saw conversion beats the major manufacturers' saws hands down. It's based on the Skil77, easily the most popular power saw ever made and used by ALL carpenters and other tradesmen. The beauty of the saw is that it has worm-drive gearing, providing more than ample power to cut through all 4x material. The Makita, Milwaukee and Skil versions all have helical gears (I believe), which are nowhere as tough as worm-drive gears, thus more susceptible to binding and gear failure. A great feature is that it comes with a carbide-tipped blade, again unlike the other saws. Another feature (common to worm-drive saws) is the blade is on the left of the saw (unlike thew others), making it easier for the majority of us who are right-handed to follow that line we marked. The Bigfoot has a better ergonomic feel, again because it is based on the Skil77. The only drawback I've discovered has to do with the finish on the casting of the saw guard. It has a rough finish and very sharp edges, sharp enough that you'll have to be careful not to slice yourself. I would have gladly paid a few dollars more to have a higher quality finish on the castings. I would knock it down to four stars (or lower) for that if not for the possibility that someone would think the other saws might be better (they aren't). Besides, the only people buying this saw will be professionals and they won't be reading this anyway! (My opinions are based on 24 years of experience as a framer, carpenter and contractor) Oh, you also get a t-shirt.

I purchased this saw to cut heavy timbers for a timber frame project.It is a powerful saw with a great cutting capacity, but it needs some design changes.
-The base shoe is very narrow, making it difficult to get a square cut close to the end of a beam.
-The bottom of the shoe was not machined smooth or flat, again making it difficult to square with the blade.
-When making a full depth cut, the lower blade guard will not open as you cut, you must flip it up with your finger on the lever.

That said, I still think it is a useful saw. I'm also going to be using it to cut I-joists and 6x6 deck posts.

This is a great tool for standard 2x4 framing. perfect for cutting 2 plates at once and for cutting all 4x headers. This saw has become a must have for me. I have the 16" makita saw for larger beams and a few 7 1/4" worm drives for everyday use but the big foot light enough to use like a skill saw and has earned its keep.

We are using this saw with a Freud, 40 tooth Diablo 10 1/4" blade to cut our timber frame house. We are cutting about 3 3/4" deep in all of the big timbers with a smooth as glass finish.

A Great saw...I love this saw!
I purchased this one to square out large Wood Table Slabs, and it does the job well. Tons of power, cuts through thick Table Slabs without bogging down, clean and straight.
I must admit, I have never tried to cut anything small with this saw, and it would probably be somewhat awkward to do so.
The large cast foot keeps it very stable, it feels very solid during the cut....If you are looking for a saw of this size, this is a good choice, at a good price.

i like to get tools through amazon.com. i know i will have fast service and i am confident that i will not be cheated by some online retailer who i have never heard of. i already knew this was a good tool, as i was purchasing a replacement. i just wanted a good price and a reliable source. amazon.com provides this.

There are plenty of reviews about this saw that tell the basics so I won't re-hash them. I've used this saw for over 6 years and mainly want to point out how to keep it running. First, I love this saw and on the rare occasions I need to make a clean cut through 6x material I rent the Makita 16" - usually once a year or so, not enough to justify the cost or storage space required to keep something that big.

The most important thing you should do is keep a sharp blade on the saw. The motor and gearbox were only designed for a 7" blade and so using the 10" blade adds extra strain on the machine. I keep a spare blade in my toolbox since I usually figure out I need one in the middle of a cut. The other big thing is to change the gear box oil every couple hundrdr hours of use, for me this is every 3 years.

I have the same problem with the blade guard not retracting that others have talked about. If you lift the blade a fraction up this seems to go away.

If you have a job with lots of 4x cuts or exposed beam ends, like on decks, this pays for itself on the first job.

Evidently in the time since the more critical reviews of this saw were written, the manufacturer has corrected the cosmetic flaws that existed with the earlier models.
The fit and finish and resultant usability of this saw are as good as any available on the market today.

This saw is heavier than the worm drive saws you might be used to. To use it one handed you need forearms like Popeye. That having been said, it is a wonderfully powerful saw, zipping through the hardest cuts you can throw at it. Knots in old wood and hidden nails do not even slow it down. You might get smoke and sparks, but that would be the only indication. No more having to roll 4x4 or 4x6 material to complete the cuts with your 7 1/4 inch saw, or finish the cut with a hand saw either. Big Foot does them in one pass. Another thing, and probably the most important in framing is that I can build a doubled rafter and cut it at 45 degrees or a lesser angle in one pass without having to follow up with the handsaw. If you are a builder you need this saw.

I'm really happy with this saw. It performs just as I expected. I've been using the Big Foot for several years now. If you're cutting 4x stock, you shouldn't be without one of these.

i got this from amazon at first but i returned it as it did not have the more powerful saw part. got one from the company that makes the modifications for a little cheaper. great saw that does what it is intended, cutting thick material.