Easily irritated engineer of odd things
Joined:
Jul 2008
Posts:
30250
EE: 100% (5)
MN, USA
Posted: 7/25/2025 11:31:51 PM EDT
Right now I'm using an M18 (non fuel, so it has a fire starting motor  ) left side blade. It works fine, but no dust port so it makes a nasty mess. This is only for cutting plywood, only in the shop, so corded is fine as I'm not big on another battery type.Dust collection with my shop vac is my biggest priority, but I don't want to drop a ton of cash on it, or I'll just Dremel out a port and 3d print an adapter. Maybe I should do that anyway? |
Strong men create good times. Good times breed weak men. Weak men create hard times. (You are here) Hard times breed strong men.
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Honestly, the best way to mitigate dust for health purposes is to wear a respirator. If I were looking to get a saw specifically just for breaking down sheet goods, I'd look into a track saw. Milwaukee makes one but its expensive. Alternatively, build some good infeed/outfeed support and just use a tablesaw. |
Never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end—which you can never afford to lose—with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be. - Adm James Stockdale
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I'm balls deep in the Makita LXT system but even so, truth be told, a circular saw with dust collection isn't going to be a hugely effective. I have the 36V "worm drive" style say and the 36V track saw, both have dust ports. They help reduce the mess but by no means get all of the dust. I'd say between 50%-75%, the track saw with the blade fully in the material, being more effective. If you're breaking down a lot of plywood, just pony up and get the track saw OP. 
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