Bosch PKS 66 AF Circular Saw with Guide Rail

The Bosch PKS 66 AF is a hand-held circular saw focused on one thing: precise, straight cuts in wood. With a 1,600-watt motor and a maximum cutting depth of 66 millimetres at 90 degrees, this is no lightweight machine. Its no-load speed of 5,000 min−1 translates into enough pace for planks, skirting boards and beams. But it is a corded model – you are tied to a mains socket. That is a deliberate choice: no battery means no weight saving and no limited runtime. The saw weighs 5.4 kilograms, which keeps it stable during cutting but makes it less suited to overhead work without support.

The included guide rail is the key accessory. It lets you maintain a straight line over longer distances – without needing to buy an extra tool. The groove in the base plate fits the rail profile. In practice: align it once, then the saw slides tightly along the rail.

You set the cutting depth via a quick-release lever. No tools needed – you loosen the lever, set the depth and click it back into place. The range runs from 0 to 66 millimetres at 90 degrees. For bevel cuts up to 45 degrees, the maximum depth is 48 millimetres. That is enough for most woodworking: a 40-millimetre-thick door can be cut through in one pass. For thicker beams – think 70 millimetres – you need to cut from both sides or use another machine.

The bevel angle is also set with the quick-release lever. The base plate rotates smoothly and clamps firmly. A scale on the housing shows the angle. No digital readout – you read it from a mechanical scale. Precise enough for carpentry, less suited to work requiring tenth-of-a-degree accuracy.

Under the hood

• Motor power – 1,600 W nominal input power. Enough to pull through hardwood without the speed dropping off.
• Blade – 190 mm diameter, 30 mm bore. The included Speedline Wood blade is designed for speed in softwood and sheet materials.
• Speed – 5,000 min−1 no-load. No variable speed – one fixed setting. For wood, that is sufficient.
• Noise level – 92 dB. Not a quiet machine. Hearing protection is not optional.
• Weight – 5.4 kg. Heavy enough to dampen vibration, but noticeable when working overhead.

The blade guard is aluminium – unusual in this class. Most circular saws in this segment use plastic. Aluminium is stiffer and feels more solid, but the weight contributes to the 5.4 kilograms. The base plate measures 160 by 327 millimetres and is flat enough for stable contact with the workpiece. The soft grip on the handle dampens vibration – not completely, but noticeably. The safety switch has a two-sided start lock: you must press the button on both sides before the saw starts. That prevents accidental start-up, for example if the cable snags on something.

The spindle lock is integrated into the housing. One press of the button locks the shaft, then you can change the blade using the included hex key. No extra tools needed – the key clips into a holder on the cable. Changing the blade takes a minute, two at most.

This is a saw for straight cuts. The CutControl – a mark on the base plate – helps with freehand cutting, but the real precision comes from the guide rail. Without the rail, it is a matter of a steady hand and a straight line. The CleanSystem Box catches some of the sawdust – not all, but enough to keep the workspace usable. Dust extraction works via a connection on the box; a vacuum cleaner is not included, but the connection is standard.

What jobs is this thing suitable for? Cutting skirting boards and planks to size – yes. Trimming doors – yes, with the guide rail. Fitting kitchen worktops – yes, provided you set the depth and bevel correctly. Beams for a roof extension – yes, up to 66 millimetres thick. What it cannot do: plunge cuts (no plunge-cut function), bevel cuts deeper than 48 millimetres, or materials other than wood. This is a wood saw – metal or plastic are not this blade's domain.

The included Speedline Wood blade is a carbide-tipped blade with 24 teeth. It cuts quickly but leaves a relatively rough finish – for finer work, you can fit a blade with more teeth. The parallel guide helps with cuts parallel to an edge, but the maximum width is limited by the guide's length. For wider boards, the guide rail is the better choice.

One point to note: the saw has no variable speed. 5,000 min−1 is fixed. For most types of wood that is fine, but with very hard wood or when cutting thin sheets, the blade can overheat. Let the saw do the work – too much forward pressure causes speed loss and a rougher cut. The motor draws more current, but the speed stays reasonably constant thanks to the fixed power.

The package contains the circular saw, a guide rail (type 2 609 255 732), a CleanSystem box (2 609 255 731), the Speedline Wood blade (2 608 640 800) and a parallel guide (2 608 005 018). No extra blades, no vacuum adapter – just what you need to get started. The blade is fitted, the rail is separate. First use: align the rail, set the cutting depth, plug it in.