Why would you have a worm drive saw?

[expat]

I have only ever seen them for sale in the U.S., and you don't see them so often any more.
What are the advantages?

 

[Astro14]

The hypoid saws are generally more durable, have more torque, afford better control (partly due to the slower spinning blade and partly due to better balance and leverage)...but they're heavier and more expensive.

They tend to be the professional's choice...that said, I've got two sidewinders...

 

[oilboy123]

Never had a worm drive, and did not know the blades spun slower....

 

[bepperb]

Way more torque. If I had to rip anything on a regular basis, that's what I would want. They are heavy, though, so I don't have one. I also have a typical sidewinder, did use a worm for a day a while back, probably a decade.

 

[stenerson]

Fine Home building did a comparison a while back between the two. They said the worm drive was more popular on West Coast.

 

[expat]

It's quite common to get a 'sidewinder saw with a 15amp motor these days. with a good blade, these have no trouble Ripping 2" stock. I guess that, plus we can now buy portable table saws, has reduced the demand for worm drives.
As I said, I only ever saw them in the states, and not so ofter these days.

 

[tom slick]

Worm drives are narrower and have more torque. It's not uncommon to see a Bigfoot 10" conversion on a worm drive for cutting multiple or thicker materials. The extra torque helps for doing demo work. Another difference is the blade in on the left side of the saw making it easier to see the line but that also puts the balance of the saw on the cut off side. you get used to it.

What I don't like about them is you get the saw lined up, pull the trigger, and the torque of the motor makes the saw twist in your hand knocking the saw alignment off your line.

 

[spackard]

I don't get much kickback with the Skil-77. I used to have more of a problem with kickback with a cheap Sears circular saw. Combine the worm drive saw with a carbide blade and I get much less noise than before, but I still wear hearing protection.