Bosch Circular Saw PKS 55 (1200 W, Saw Blade, Parallel Guide, in Carton Packaging)

I recently picked up the Bosch PKS 55 for a series of home renovation tasks, including cutting through thick kitchen worktops and resizing internal doors. After a few weeks of heavy use, it has proven to be a reliable workhorse for any serious DIYer. Key Performance Details: Cutting Power: The 1200 W motor is the standout feature here. It tackles hardwoods and thick MDF without "bogging down" or smelling like the motor is straining. Accuracy: The included parallel guide is actually sturdy (unlike many flimsy ones included with budget saws). It stays locked in place, allowing for straight, repeatable rips. Ergonomics: Despite the power, the saw feels balanced. The handles are positioned in a way that gives you a high degree of control over the line of cut, and the "CutControl" feature helps significantly with following a pencil line accurately. Dust Management: When connected to a vacuum, the dust extraction is highly efficient, keeping the workspace much cleaner than expected for a circular saw. Pros: Clean, burr-free cuts right out of the box with the included blade. Adjusting the depth and bevel angle is quick and requires no extra tools. Robust build quality—it feels like it can handle being moved around a busy workshop. Cons: Packaging: This version comes in a standard carton box rather than a plastic hard case (L-BOXX). If you plan on transporting it frequently, you might want to invest in a separate bag. The Verdict: If you are moving up from a budget or cordless saw and need something that won't stall on tougher materials, the PKS 55 is a fantastic investment. It strikes the perfect balance between professional-grade power and DIY-friendly usability. Highly recommended for anyone looking to step up their woodworking game.

After finding out my cheap old saw was battered beyond comprehension this Bosch was a breath of fresh air. The first cut was so clean and required so little force it was a major change. The cut line was perfect and it's been used massively since and still producing perfectly clean cuts in kitchen worktops, 50mm square timbers etc. The cutting guides work really well making it easy to follow a pencil line or, better still, clamping a guide makes a perfectly straight cut every time. Easy to use, light and nowehere near as noisy as the old saw.

This is good and pretty decent value for money when on sale. It'll cut a piece of wood, but short of one specific kind of rip cut you may as well throw the little guide in the bin. I'm not sure if this one works with tracks, but there are grooves in the bottom plate that imply that. It takes a little time to get used to, and is rather heavy, but I've used it in rougher cuts for quick furniture that only need a little clean up.

I bought this to cut up an old shed. Whilst it is a fantastic machine and did the job without any problems, it left me terrified of using machines like this again. Please note I am a female who is not inexperienced in doing DIY. The machine itself devoured our old shed, the problem I found was it was quite aggressive even though it has a “soft start”. I just found it slightly difficult to use, probably too strong in power for me personally. I would add that I had panels lying on the ground which were slightly propped up to allow the rotating blade clearance. This was not the most comfortable way to use it. I can imagine if you had a workbench it would be much better. Saying that, it did comfortably allow me to chop up my shed and shred my nerves at the same time. Fantastic piece of kit if you are brave enough to use this ladies. Guys wouldn't have any problem. Ive just got wrists the diameter of a piece of Blackpool rock. Great deal price too!

Perfect

Was very pleased, first time of using a skill saw.

Love it. Fantastic product. Definitely for bigger jobs. Just be careful you order correct size blades when ordering spares. Dust collector I got separately (original) does not have large capacity, therefore you will still have dust to clear after use, if using indoors.

To be honest I am struggling to find any real negatives with this saw. OK so perhaps it doesn't have a rigid case but I suppose it fits on my shelf in the garage a lot easier without one. There isn't a tool supplied to catch the dust, however I use a small cotton bag 12cm x 20cm with a drawstring and just tie it around the ejector tube and it works a treat you can pick these up most places for about £2 or less and it's a piece of cake to empty. Just make sure you get yourself a good set of ear protection as it is very loud when cutting (as are all saws) and of course eye protection. I spent a lot of time reading through various reviews on a lot of saws before deciding to purchase this one and I am so happy I went with this saw now. 4 STARS only though as a rigid box would have been a nice touch for the price I paid.