Using the big Makita is awkward because you can't see the wood as you are cutting if you are right handed like I am, here's a picture of one. The men just said with the Makita it was easier to carry the saw to the wood than to carry the wood to the saw. I bought the big Makita on a lark when I saw it in 1977 and my men never used my two trailered DeWalt Radial Arm saws again, so I sold them for $500 each. I didnt order the anniversary model specifically, at the time I thought I was just getting the standard old grey model so I was a little m surprised when I opened the box. I own two sidewinders with the blade on the wrong side, a little 5" Makita masonry saw for cutting stucco, and I'm on my second 16" Makita for cutting beams. Back in 06 Skilsaw made a 30year (1976-2006) special Anniversary model for Whitecap construction, same black and red color scheme as the one pictured above. Here is the history of the saw, including the history of those sidewinders. Now the oil reservoir is leaking badly and the repair shops can't get seals for it anymore so it sits in the garage. Tip the saw on its side and pour out the oil into a container for recycling. To change the oil, first free-run the saw for about three minutes to warm the oil and then remove the spindle lock/oil-filler plug with a 12-in. My oldest Skil 77 wormdrive has had its brushes replaced several times, but finally after 16 years, I had the armature turned (15). Skilsaw, maker of the Skilsaw 77 and Mag 77, says you should change the oil every year. If the brushes become uneven during this process, they start sparking. Over the years I brought my 77 to jobs but my men didn't like it because it was heavier, they relegated it to a carborumdum blade to cut masonry and it got filled with masonry dust, I still prefer it because the added weight allows the saw to push through lumber with less effort, you let the weight of the saw do the work if you are use to it, but they are a bear to use anywhere other than when you can cut at a down angle. Brush wear is a progressive process, but if you suck some more abrasive debris through the saw, ( like masonary dust etc.) it may happen faster. Over the last half century I've bought something like 100 Skil 77s, the last one I bought was the new 15 amp Bosch which I do like better, Bosch bought Skil and it is their top of the line saw.
![old skilsaw model 77 old skilsaw model 77](https://s3.amazonaws.com/vs-lumberjocks.com/mtah5pu.jpg)
During the post-war era, the company expanded and began producing bench top tools and tools for a do-it-yourself audience.
![old skilsaw model 77 old skilsaw model 77](http://mobileimages.lowes.com/productimages/309536a2-01c0-4670-88b6-e1ae652e2eb1/02698355.jpg)
OLD SKILSAW MODEL 77 PORTABLE
It’s 30+ years old and still runs like new. In 1937, its successor, the SKILSAW Model 77 became the benchmark of portable saws, along with the SKILSAW Model 87 circular saws and continues to be used on jobsites across the United States. I still have my original 77 bought in 1964 when I first went into business, prior to that I used my employers' 77s since union rules were that a carpenter supplied his own hand tools, but the contractor supplied all power tools. Rated 5 out of 5 by Jeremy from Skilsaw wormdrive for the win For a while Iv had a second hand skilsaw 77 50th anniversary edition gold.