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5 Best Trim Saws of 2024 – A Complete Review & Buyer’s Guide

If you like to play around with wood, be it cabinetry, paneling or molding, then you must know that the tools make the man.  There are countless woodworking tools out there, enough to make an experienced woodworker sound like a novice. Trim saws are just part of the larger tapestry. They mainly help in trim work, and they feature a smaller blade usually less than 6 inches. They are used for finessing and precise cutting, achieving accuracy levels that circular saws cannot.

The five best trim saws in the market is not necessarily a list made of refined and fancy saws. Rather it is made of saws that facilitate progress and success with intuitive features. That is a hard-earned nugget of wisdom that took me 14 years to learn.

I have always been spellbound by woodworking since my younger days. I watched talented men turn bare wood into items of cleverness and beauty. Today, it is the interaction with shavings and sawdust that brings home the bacon. Over the years I have learned valuable lessons when it comes to saws.

My trim saws always performed well until I switched from one project to another. Getting consistent accuracy with my saws was a problem. Either there would be too much tearing out in one piece or the blades would falter in the face of hardwood.

The idea of having different trim saws for various projects was appalling. I knew I had to find the right saw that I could rely on for all my go projects.  I needed high-quality cuts with the hustle and the trials and errors.

Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

What to look for in the Best Trim Saw

A few more buys down the line; I found that cost isn’t in any way related to quality when it comes to trim saws. The best trim saws are literally blended into the woodwork. You need a buying formula if precision, consistency, and durability matter a great deal to you like all woodworkers.

The more teeth, the better

The accuracy of your work is as good as the number of teeth on your trim saw. More teeth mean a sharper and steady focus cutting action.  A trim saw with fewer teeth removes a large amount of material, frustrating your design objectives.

To be on the better side of things, you might want to consider a trim saw with crosscut blades. Time and again these have proved to deliver smoother cuts in my projects. Rip blades are the exact opposite, precisely what experts would warn you to steer clear from. They chuck out a lot of materials, cutting with the grain instead of across it.

Smaller gullets are a ticket to accuracy and finesse

The gullet is the term that refers to the space between the teeth on the blade.  Large spaces between the teeth result in bigger chips of materials cut. Because a trim saw’s primary purpose is to achieve accurate cuts where the circular saw cant, it would be unwise to get a trim saw with larger gullets.

The one dilemma that you will have to contend with is the fact that smaller gullets generally mean a lower speed rate. Now, most models out there don’t have the right RPM for their blade type. A purposeful speed and sizing are what you need.

Alternate top bevel is the right tooth configuration

The performance of your trim saw also depends on the shape of the blade. There are many teeth styles, configured for crosscutting and ripping and designed for hard and soft materials.  The best tooth type for trim saws is Alternate Top Bevel (ATB) that is styled for crosscutting.

With the ATB tooth configuration, the blade teeth are alternating between right and left-hand bevel. This arrangement facilitates a smoother cut. The left and right alternation results in minimal ripping and removal of material.

A Low hook tooth angle is preferable

You don’t want an aggressive fast cut with trim saws. Precision demands a low hook angle that slows the feed rate. In this case, you will go with blades that have a negative angle; the teeth face backward, in the opposite the direction of the blade rotation.

Teeth quality also matters

Durability matters a great deal. It is reliability, and in the case of trim saws carbide brazed teeth on a steel blade plate is what you should be looking for. The cutting tips determine how well the blade will serve you. In a highly durable trim blade, the teeth have undergone a tri-metal brazing process – no matter how tough the material you are cutting through these teeth doesn’t falter. They have high flexibility and impact resistance.

Sidewinder is better than worm drive designs

A sidewinder trim saw has its blade sitting right beside the motor. On the other hand, worm drive trim saws have the motor that placed squarely in front of or behind the blade. Sidewinder models are ideal for accuracy.

5 Best Trim Saws

1. Makita 5005BA 5-1/2-Inch Circular Saw with Electric Brake

Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The Makita brand has over the years built some credibility to its line of saws. The 5005 BA 5-1/2 inch saw features an electric brake for emergency stops.   That can come in handy when you start to lose accuracy. You will also have a shaft lock for a more comfortable and quicker blade change.

With a lot of saws, I noticed that heating was always a precursor to excess removal and tear out. This Makita trim saw model solves the problem with double insulations. The lock-off button will also prevent the saw from making unintentional cuts. It is a safety feature.

The saw is powered by an 8.0 am motor.  The cutting speed is 8000 RPM. I found this to be just enough to handle sturdy wood frames but can be too rough on soft boards. Other features include the fact that the Makita 5005BA 5-1/2-Inch is lightweight. You will get to work for longer without feeling the strain on your hand.

The Makita saw comes with a socket wrench, rip fence and combination blade. Its weight is less than 6.8 pounds. It also features a dust collection bag for capturing all that emanates from the process.  The included lever enables for retraction of the blade guard when making plunge cuts. Otherwise, the blade stabilizers allow stable blade rotation and accurate cuts.

2. SKIL 5280-01 15-Amp 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw

Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

With the Skil 5280-01 saw you get a carbide tipped Steel blade with 18 teeth. This saw has a left side blade just as in the Makita 5005BA 5-1/2-Inch Circular Saw for greater visibility when cutting.  The feature will help you cut with increased precision.

The build is compact with a ball bearing construction for stabilization when working. Its motor is high torque using 15 amps for enhanced cutting power. The depth of cutting with the Skil 5280-01 saw is 1-3/4 inches at 90 degrees, and at 45 degrees the depth is 1-5/16 inches.

This trim saw is also lightweight, weighing mere 8.7-pounds, which is slightly lighter than the Makita 5-1/2 inch saw. Buyers also get a 2-year warranty. I used it to cut 4×8 sheet goods and some heavy 7/8 inch flooring. Despite its lightweight nature, it compromises nothing on performance.

I am right handed, and so I found the left side blade to be highly convenient. More than that, you can adjust the depth of cut from the back. The adjustment knob is conveniently located for ease of use.

3. Porter-Cable PCE381K 5.5 Amp 4-1/2-Inch Trim Saw

Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The Porter-Cable PCE381K 4-1/2-inch is a compact trim saw running on a 4.5 amp motor. Its speed is 4,500 RPM, the most ideal for trim saws.  This speed can handle plywood without over tearing but is also sufficient to handle hardwood and 2 by 4s.

This saw is a worm gear drive with 100 % ball bearings. At 90 degrees its cutting depth is 1-5/16 inch and at 45 degrees it is 1-1/16 inch.  For durability and strength, the saw uses a 20 tooth blade that is carbide brazed.

PC 314 was one of my earliest trim saws. I found it useful for my woodworking adventures as well as for general home improvement and repair projects. It weighs 7 pounds, which is slightly more than the SKIL HD5510 6.5 Amp 5-1/2-Inch saw and the Makita 5005BA 5-1/2-Inch Circular Saw. That can be a bummer if you are looking for super light saws.

Porter Cable is a reputable manufacturer of power tools, so I went on this knowing I wouldn’t be disappointed. The PCE381K 4-1/2 inch saw comes with a one-year limited warranty. It is a compact unit with comparatively easier maneuverability.

4. Rockwell RK3441K 4-1/2 inch Compact Saw

Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This is another versatile and compact trim saw with an ergonomic design for comfortable working.  The ergonomic design helps with your grip for accurate cuts. On top of that, you will have a lock-off switch to prevent accidental powering. A metal inner liner and an outer guard help to maintain its durability through the toughest of jobs.

A covetable feature, one you will not find in the Porter-Cable 314, SKIL HD5510 or the Makita 5005BA trim saws is the laser guide system that helps with precise cutting. You will be able to cut places and angles not possible with other trim saws. You can manage bevel cuts with a depth of 1 ⅛ inch.

The Rockwell RK3441K comes with a level indicator that will enable you to adjust the depth of cut as per your needs.   The saw weighs a mere 5 pounds, and its speed is 3500 RMP. As per the buying guide, this low RPM is ideal for smoother finishes.

It has a depth indicator level that allows you to change the depth of the blade easily. And speaking of the blade, this model is sold as a bare tool, but you can also opt to get the kit, which includes diamond grit saw blade.

5. Genesis GCS545C Small Handheld Saw

Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The Genesis trim saw runs on a 5.8 amp motor. Its triple gear reduction enhances torque while reducing the risk of damage to the gears.  The saw is lightweight at 6 pounds and features an ergonomic grip. You can work with it using one hand and use the other to steady the wood.

Genesis GCS545C trim saw has a speed of 3500 RPM, and its cutting depth at 90 degrees is 1-11/16 inch.  The depth of cut and angles are adjustable too. Using the rip guide that comes with the saw you will be able to make long accurate cuts. The saw uses a carbide brazed blade, but you might want to upgrade that when working with hardwood or metal.

The Best Trim Saw

For woodworking projects, I choose the Rockwell RK3441K every day. Its features are superior, including a laser guiding system for accurate small cuts and a depth level indicator that will streamline your work. Its other desirable features include a balanced speed of 3500 RPM and a lock off system for safety.

Last Updated on August 7, 2020 by Tom Bradly