Customer Reviews

Milwaukee 6390-21 7-1/4-Inch 15-Amp Tilt-Lok Circular Saw

5 star:		(83)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I saw that no one had a comment on this saw and wanted to give a testament on this one. I bought this saw to replace several others that were all tired and were for many reasons short on performance Skil, PC, Dewalt, B&D, Makita All 7.25 inch and would fail in less than a year of use and repair would be a Should I/Shouldn't I because of cost reasons on Parts/Labor/Time. I picked this model for a particularly hard project on a remote island and one of the toughest sources of power, a small generator/@3000W to remove a roof, build an addition and remodel a complete Camp/Cabin and Outbuildings. Strength and adjustment are a pleasure with quick release and tightening. Remember to use a little silicone. Especially enjoyed the accurate bevel adjustments and beyond 45 degrees on dormers. This saw laughed at cutting microlam's and plunging into scaffolding grade 2x10's on exposed intricate ridge/tail rafter cuts. None of my other saws would do this. The long cord is nice to lower the saw from the roof peak or eaves with no concerns, even though no one else does this, right. The adjusting handle was nice, but I settled for only two settings depending on work material location above/below. The blade guard was especially strong and was able to be set down with confidence/safety. But overall this is one of the toughest & accurate circular saws I have owned to date. Just so you know that I have received no benefits from Milwaukee,the two things that could be improved on are small, but would perfect the package, First throw away the blade that comes with the saw, they must not want anyone to buy them. And secondly make a case that takes one hand to lock and is completely water tight. A 1/8 inch thin strip of neoprene/sanaprene is the fix on handle side. I want to be able to keep my sandwich fresh.........On it's birthday I may give it a new set of brushes $6.83 and use a nickel to remove and replace them

I have to stick my nose in here because something happened that never happened before. I am not using a skill 77 any more, or even the Porter Cable 743. In fact I switched from a left bladed worm to a right blader just to get the toughness and power that this Milwaukee saw has. The first guy to review this saw (conceptbydesign) hit the nail on the head when he said this saw was tough. There are many well-designed features on this saw but the best thing is the power and toughness.

Another great feature is the fact that if you set this saw to a shallow cutting depth, the handle stays where it belongs or where you want it to be - down near the work -- instead of getting way up in the air where it's hard to control. Also, the blade guard handle is back off the shoe where it's easy and safe to grab. Setting a bevel on this saw is a dream. The markings are clear and the lock comes easy to the hand. On some saws the shoe is thin and "bendy" or too narrow. This one is almost perfect.

Now a circular saw is probably the second most personal tool a carpenter will own right after a hammer. I wouldn't be surprised if every saw here on Amazon got five stars, because everyone likes something a little different with their saws. You have to decide which features are right for you. There are almost more opinions about which saw is better than there are saws. That's why I used a 77 for 30 years without changing. But the first time I pulled the trigger on this saw it was clear that the sheer power was going to make for accurate cuts and pleasant work. This is also one of the lightest saws there is - at least amongst the beefy framing saws. It was time for a change. No saw is perfect - here are the gigs: This saw is a bit noisy. It has a good blade guard but it still would be nice to have a blade brake. Maybe someday Milwaukee will read this and make one that has a left blade. That would make my day.

After owning a cheap craftsman circular saw for 15 years, it was time to upgrade. I actually tested out about 15 saws and settled on the Milwaukee 6390 for the following reasons:

1. Power - This thing will cut through it all and it helps with accuracy of the cut. It also just sounds great when you fire this thing up. 2. Weight - Light and easy to handle. 3. Adjustments - Easy, quick and accurate. No effort or tools required except for blade change, and even that is easy and quick. 4. Base - Large, sturdy and the cut line is quite visible. 5. Trigger - Responsive and crisp. On some saws it takes quite a bit of effort to keep power to the trigger

The downsides: The case is a giant and takes up way too much space. The blade that comes with the saw is cheesy.

The bottom line: Circular saws will last a long time, so spend the bucks on a good one, like the Milwaukee. You will be glad you did. If you buy this saw, you will find excuses to use it often.

I have had the pleasure of owning a Milwaukee 7 1/4 circular saw for
13 years. I have taken it in for service every other year whether its
needed it or not (cleaning, lube etc.). Its never failed me, it had
to have the shoe/base plate replaced 2 times (after falling of roofs),
cut the cord twice etc. And its not been used every day,
occaisonally, but now I am a full-time sub doing interior trim. I
needed to make a few cuts with a circular saw, but did not have mine
with me. I borrowed the newer Old Mil. from a framer, made the rough
cuts for blocks that I needed, then put in a 40 tooth finish blade to
cut some stair skirt boards. I guess that I am feeling like I'm
cheating on my old girl, because I really like this new saw. A couple
more amps, alot of balance with that speed-lock handle-they took a
classic and made it better, just like a Cadillac. I'm going to have
to work this into my tool budget, and just keep the old girl at home.
You will pay more for the Milwaukee up front; I bought my first saw 13
years ago for approx. $120.00 ;...You do the math, you owe it to
yourself to give it a shot.

I have used this saw for over a year on everything from a large home addition to furniture building, and it's never missed a beat! The saw has the power to tackle even the hardest hardwood with ease, yet is precise enough to cut the tiniest fraction of an inch from a piece of soft end stock. This unit really stands out with its' fit and finish, from its bomb-proof red outer shell to its precision machined aluminum sole plate. The rubberized hand grips,Tilt-Lok feature, and surprisingly light weight allow for hours of use with maximum comfort. For those looking for the ultimate in power and precision coupled with tremendous durability and longevity - this is your saw!

I've been a carpenter subcontractor for 33 years and I've been through my share of saws. Never was very impressed with Milwaukee's style of saw until another sub contractor showed up on the job with this new model. I'd read about it at Amazon but never really tried it out until now. All I can say is sweet! It's about time someone has made a powerful, durable, well balanced saw at a great price. My Dewalts on now on the shelf along with the extra switches I had to buy to keep them going. Take it from a guy who has one of these in his hand for 40 hours a week, this is a super saw.

This is a little bit more than I expected. I had read previous reviews before making the purchase. One held that the case was too large. I appreciate the case size as I'll be able to put plenty of accessories in it. One also mentioned that it was a bit noisy. I find the noise level to be less than the average blender. One also seemed to denegrate the "tilt-lock" handle feature. This is the real neat part of the design, along with the comfort forward handle. The sole plate is top-notch and the power is all there for most any application. I used to work for a manufactured housing company on a road crew and all our hand power tools were Milwaukee. We put them through the grinder in all kinds of weather. I hope this one holds up as well. From looking at all the features and construction I expect it will.

I've had this saw about a month now and I am very impressed. This is one powerful, tough, saw. As a remodeling contractor I am very hard on tools and this saw can take the abuse. I have owned several other circular saws and this is easily my favorite. I also have the Porter Cable blade on left which I have used the last 3 years. I like the Porter Cable and I love the visibility of the blade on left, but it always feels out of balance in my hand since I am right-handed, and when setting up cuts you often find that the majority of the saw's shoe and weight is being supported by the off cut side, because the blade on left is meant for left handers.

The Milwaukee 6390 has solved this problem. It is extremely well balanced and the design of the blade opening in the shoe allows for excellent visibility of the cut line from above the saw. As a right hander you do not need to lean over the saw to see your cut line. Some guys are in such a habit of doing just that, and it is a hard habit to break. I have pointed out to them how you can easily see the cut line from above and they always comment on how great that is.

The bevel adjustment handle is large and sturdy and easy to adjust. Bevel cuts on this saw are the best I have ever experienced. It will cut bevels up to 51 degrees or so like butter. No bogging or binding whatsoever.

Two minor complaints that Milwaukee should address is that the shoe has a little bump on the edge at each corner, so that if you are using a straight edge like a speed square as a cutting guide, those little bumps will cause you to not get a perfectly square cut. To solve this I just filed them off. The other thing is that I did not like the thin kerf blade that came with the saw. I put on a heavy duty carbide framing blade and the saw cuts much smoother, and quieter. I get perfectly square cuts now, and this thing will go through a stud so smoothly it feels like 1 X .

Despite its minor flaws the Milwaukee is still deserving of 5 stars especially when you start comparing other saws. The Porter Cable is a close second in my book, but the combination of balance, power, control, and adjustments of the Milwaukee make it my top choice. Highly recommend.

I just started using this saw (I purchased the lefthand 6391) to complement my lefthand Skil 5510 5-1/2" Circular Saw. My old (20 years) 7-1/4" Skil saw was overdue for replacement. Even though I use my 5-1/2 for most of my cutting, I need a 7-1/4 now and then for heavier work like cutting 4x stock. Here are my impressions of the Milwaukee 6391.

Good -
1-Surprising light weight for a 7-1/4. The magnesium\aluminum\plastic housing makes this unit the lightest 7.25s I have handled. And I checked all the major brands at home depot, hefting each in turn.

2- First class construction. Every component of this machine is precision. The aircraft aluminum shoe is a marvel to behold. Much better then the stamped steel some others use. The depth of cut release mechanism is the best I have seen. Big grabbable handle that smoothly releases the shoe. Ditto on the bevel release, both easy on the fingers and they lock down with confidence. I really like the grab handle at the front of the saw. Its grippy-rubber covered and fits the hand perfectly. The magnesium housing around the top of the blade looks cool and give this saw an impressive look. The adjustable handle is a clear break-through in saw design. Its a brilliant innovation and I'm surprised no other manufacturer thought of this before. It lets you set the angle your hand engages the tool with. So whether you are working material below your knees or even overhead, you have eight settings to chose from. I'm still experimenting with the settings, but with this saw, you have a choice. I really like the rubberized handle too. No more slipping out of a sweaty palm.

3- Power. I'm working with salvaged fir timbers this month, all 4x and this old wood is hard and tough. The 6391 just powers through without slowing at all! Even the full 4"x12" beams are no match for the powerful motor on the machine. I have to flip the timbers to cut all the way through them and the resulting cuts are square and smooth, and I'm doing these free hand, without a 90 degree helper-square. The blade that came with the saw is good, a 16 point carbide tipped one. When it starts to dull I'll switch over to a Freud TK203 7-1/4" 24-Tooth Thin Kerf.

4- Case. The saw comes with a LARGE red carry case. It will hold extra extension cords and other pliable items if desired.

Negative - Very little here.
1- The depth of cut guage is set on the inside of the saw housing and its hard to see. The marking are in 1/4" increments, which is how much blade you want pertruding from below the work surface but the numbers are not easy to read. The Ryobi 7.25 had a very good depth guage setup, the best of all the ones I looked at at HD.

2- No blade brake. Some of the high end saws have this feature, I'm not sure why Milwaukee left this out. Maybe to save on weight. It would be a "nice to have."

2a- An update on the blade brake feature. The "right hand" model, the 6394, has the blade brake. I found this out from the Milwaukee web site. No plans to offer this feature in the "lefty" model though (I wrote them). You do lose a 1/4 horse of power on the 6394; maybe thats the trade off. I'd rather have the power to be honest.

This is a great circular saw. If you use one of these tools on a regular basis, or if you are just a now-and-then user but like to have the best tools, get this one. You'll be writing you own review here just out of your enthusiasm for what a great job Milwaukee has done on a classic design.

This is the lightest 3.25 HP saw on the market. The only 15 Amp saw out there lighter is the Porter Cable 2.0 HP saw and it is only lighter by 1/10th of a pound. The Milwaukee 6390 is a definite winner in both categories. The closest thing DeWalt has is a 2.88 HP saw that is heavier by a few ounces. These yellow painted Black & Decker tools try to give you the weight of the saw with the cord cut off and without the blade on the saw. Don't be fooled by this. Milwaukee has hit a home run with the Tilt-Lok and is honest about their ratings. The bevel adjustment lever has never gotten in my way yet (as mentioned by another reviewer), the tilt-lok mechanism is a cinch to adjust (you just have to be smarter than the saw), and Milwaukee backs up their tools with the best warranty I've seen in the power tool industry. Great job!