Stanley FatMax FME301 circular saw
Image published by Stanley FatMax.
Circular saws

Stanley FatMax FME301

6.5/10Cheap, but silent about its noise

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$131.43

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Price retrieved automatically from Amazon every day. It may have changed since.

66 mm at 90°, 1,650 W, a magnesium base and a modest price. Stanley publishes neither noise nor vibration, and its stated depth at 45° is impossible: the score covers only 70 percent of the scale.

What its figures are worth

  • Cutting depth at 90° 30 %66 mm · 5/10
  • Price per mm of cut 25 %2 USD per mm · 8/10
  • Sound power LwAnot published by the maker
  • Weight 15 %4.3 kg · 8/10
  • Cutting depth at 45°not published by the maker

Scale applied at 70%: criteria with no published figure drop out and the remaining weights are renormalised. Weighting: Cutting depth at 90° 30 %, Price per mm of cut 25 %, Sound power LwA 20 %, Weight 15 %, Cutting depth at 45° 10 %.

Choose it if

  • Occasional use at a modest price.
  • A magnesium base, stiffer than pressed steel.

Skip it if

  • Noise and vibration: not published.
  • Depth at 45°: the published figure is inconsistent.

Check the price on Amazon

Cutting with the Stanley FatMax FME301
Cutting with the Stanley FatMax FME301.

Published specifications

Retrieved from stanleyoutillage.fr. Quoted from the page: « Page FR : "Avec un moteur de 1650 W et une vitesse de rotation de 5500 trs/min ... La lame de 190 mm avec un alésage de 16 mm permet une profondeur de coupe de 66 mm à 90° et de 55 mm à 45°" ; "Poids du Produit Assemblé 4.3-kg". Page CEE : "Bevel Capacity [deg] 0-45 / Blade Bore [mm] 16 / Blade Diameter [mm] 190 / Max. Cutting / Sawing Depth [mm] 66 / Power Input [W] 1650 / Product Weight [Kg] 4.3" ; "VACUUM CLEANER CONNECTION: For efficient dust extraction". »
SpecificationStated value
Cutting depth at 90°66 mm
Cutting depth at 45°not published on the page we consulted
Blade diameter190 mm
Input power1,650 W
No-load speed5,500 tr/min
Sound power LwAnot published on the page we consulted
Vibrationnot published on the page we consulted
Weight4.3 kg
Guide rail compatiblenot published on the page we consulted
Extraction portyes

Before the first cut

  • Kickback is the main risk. It happens when the blade pinches in the kerf. Support the work on both sides so the kerf cannot close, keep the riving knife fitted, and never stand in line with the blade.
  • The lower guard must spring back on its own. Never wedge it open.
  • Unplug before changing the blade or adjusting the depth.
  • Hearing and eye protection. Every saw here that publishes its noise exceeds 95 dB(A) of sound power, and the kerf throws dust back at the user.
  • A mask for MDF and sheet material, whose fine dust irritates, and extraction connected where possible.

What the maker shows

Frequently asked questions

Where does this machine's score come from?

It is calculated, not awarded. Five measurable criteria are weighted, and each value is mapped onto a scale relative to the other machines in the comparison. For this machine, 70% of the scale could be applied: criteria the maker does not publish drop out rather than being replaced by an estimate.

What cutting depth do I need for framing?

A common rafter or joist is 63 mm thick: every saw in this comparison cuts it at 90° in one pass. For bevel cuts in 45 mm timber, check depth at 45°: it runs from 42 to 50 mm in this panel. For beams, you need a larger saw or two passes.

Do I need a guide rail?

For dead straight cuts in OSB or plywood sheets, a rail changes everything: the cut follows a straight edge rather than your hand. Several saws here accept one; each page says whether the maker states it.