Craftsman Mini Circular Saw

I have been looking for a small trim saw and came across the Sears mini saw. My main use was to trim away siding to install new trim around our new windows. My main complaint as with others is the trigger assy is hard to use especially with small hands. And to plunge you have to release the safety lever so you are using both hands. I just ended up taping the lever back so I could use both hands on the saw itself as it has one heck of a kick back when plunging the blade and it hits something solid. Another draw back is the cord stiff as a board, and you can only get two different types of blades for it. The set screw for the guide is not very good also and when you tighten it the threads want to strip. They have the screw going in at an angle which does not let the set screw set firm on the guide. All in all I think it needs a few changes but for the price it is a very powerful saw for its size. I suggest if you buy one play with it before trying to do precise work with it. Oh one more draw back is I could only find blades at Sears to fit it. So if you dull a blade you won't find it at your local hardware store.

We bought one to try out (we often buy tools in batches of 12-15). We were disapointed not only with the switch - but the sheap vinyl power cord becomes worthlessly stiff in even mildly cold weather