Worm Drive Vs. Sidewinder Circular Saws. Advantages, Differences, And More
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Any woodworker knows how important a circular saw is in a workshop, but not everyone can discern the difference between sidewinder and worm drive circular saws. And while some say its just a regional preference, the reality is these tools carry different capacities.
In this worm drive vs. sidewinder comparison, well explore their main uses to see which circular saw is right for you.
A Quick History Of Worm Drive And Sidewinder Circular Saws
Back in 1924, a tool company called Skilsaw popularized the usage of worm drive saws. These circular power saws have gained massive attention on the West Coast and Midwest, acquiring the famous moniker of The Saw That Built America.
Our team scanned the market to find the Model 77, the modern version of the worm drive see. Given that its design extends the users reach, its no wonder that this circular saw is still sought after by professional carpenters and DIYers.
Workshop owners on the East Coast prefer sidewinder saws. Arthur N. Emmons, a 1928 inventor of sidewinder models, introduced worm drive saws to the public.
These tools are so widespread that you will first think of them when you hear the term circular saw. In todays market, its technically called a direct drive saw rather than a sidewinder.
Its name comes from its right-angled blade position.
Overview Of Features
How Do Sidewinder Saws And Worm Drive Work?
If you ask our experts, these circular saws operate differently because of motor position and gear components.
Sidewinder saws carry spur gear options, which means that the blade spins fast on the scale of 6000 RPMs. And because of the blade-right and motor orientation, these direct drive saws have a lighter weight that offers more control for users.
Contrastingly, a worm drive circular saw is equipped with a gear of the same name (also referred to as the spiral gear). It allows the power transfer from the units blade to the two gears as they meet at a 90-degree angle.
Thanks to this worm gear, your worm drive saw can produce more torque than a sidewinder circular saw. It is also heavier due to its larger gear teeth and greater load-carrying capability.
Comparing The Features Of Sidewinder And Worm Drive Circular Saws
Placement Of Motor
It is easy to see the main difference between these tools when you compare them side-by-side.
In a worm drive saw, youll see the motor located in the saws rear or behind the blade. The motor can be seen on the right side of the sidewinder.
It will be difficult for users to see the cut line due to the location of the sidewinders motor. The unit’s blade will be placed at a safe distance from your hands.
Waste Side
The waste side is the side that you don’t want to use when cutting materials. Some may think its not a part of the consideration, but this is where your sidewinders motor will be resting while doing cross cuts.
Sidewinders are not recommended for use in this type of chainsaw cutting technique. It will block your line of sight due to its design. Meanwhile, you wouldnt encounter this issue for worm drive saws.
Drive Blade
Originally, worm drives are categorized as blade-left saws and sidewinders as blade-right. However, as our tool experts scanned the market, we discovered that sidewinder and worm drive saws are now sold in both blade orientations.
So if youre a right-handed user, we recommend buying a saw with a drive blade on the left side. This will give you better visibility of the cut lines as well as extra length. For left-handed people, blade-right saws are the better options.
Handle
The handle of worm drive saws extends towards the user making them more capable of cutting longer distances. The sidewinder is the easier to hold because it is closer to the blade.
Its compact, lighter design allows it to fit into tight spaces and is suitable for less experienced users.
Power
As previously mentioned, worm drive includes higher load capacity and massive gear teeth. So despite having the same function, its not an overstatement to say that worm drive is more powerful.
This doesn’t mean that sidewinders are incapable of performing the tasks required on the jobsite.
Teeth
Your saw’s teeth size also indicates how strong it is at cutting tough materials. That’s what the worm drive does. Sidewinders, on the other hand, have smaller teeth that are better suited for cutting soft materials.
Speed/RPM
The overall weight of your tool indirectly affects its speed. Because of this, its not surprising that the much lighter sidewinder can operate up to 6000 RPM while worm drive models only run around 4250 RPM .
It is important to remember that this can lead to lower torque.
Drive Torque
At first glance, any professional user can tell that worm drives offer higher torque because of their heavier weight, higher carrying capacity, and bigger gear teeth. This saw is more durable to perform difficult tasks and make plunge cuts.
But, lighter weight does not always translate into less torque. If you shop for newly launched cordless sidewinders, their drive torque is comparable to other alternatives.
Weight And Control
A sidewinder is lighter than a traditional worm drive, as we have already explained. Due to this, this tool is more maneuverable for cutting intricate and complex cuts. A smaller saw also has the advantage of being able to cut through sheet goods and frames without difficulty.
On the other hand, the heavier saw will come handier if you need to do longer cuts or downward crosscuts.
Maintenance
You may need to oil the worm drive saw depending on which model you bought. Although, there are units with closed systems that wouldnt require such a process.
Meanwhile, sidewinders wouldnt need this service as theyre also closed systems.
Pros And Cons Of Each Saw
Worm Drive
A worm drive tool is a powerful and productive choice if you require a saw to cut and frame thick plywood sheets. It is also designed to ensure that you don’t get obscured material and avoid making mistakes.
Its main disadvantages are its heavier weight. You may not need to use this power for all tasks. If you have mobility-related tasks, then you might be able to do without it. It is also more expensive than other options.
Sidewinder
In contrast, sidewinders are preferred by many because of their compact and lighter size. This makes it easier to use and more user-friendly. Additionally, its also sold at a lower price.
This saw has a very small power output. If youre planning to do some heavy-duty cutting that takes hours to complete, we dont recommend using this option.
Which Circular Saw Should You Choose?
When deciding between the two options, we urge you to consider the kind of task youll be using these tools with. A lighter unit, such as a sidewinder or sidewinder, is better suited for jobs that require overhead work. Its also a wise choice for simple woodworking.
However, professional trades require a heavier wormdrive option. This will be useful for framing tasks as well.
Conclusion
After this brief sidewinder vs. worm drive comparison, we hope you can now distinguish how different these tools are. After all, the only way to improve your craft is to be well-versed in how to use these machines properly.
Our woodworkers recommend that you explore other projects in which you can use these tools if you want to improve your DIY skills.
