Let's talk skilsaw/ portable circular saw issues

I looked at my old Black & Decker, made in the 1960's. Aluminum shoe with riveted uprights that hold the motor and blade. Medium grade saw or better. It's been a good tough saw. I noticed it has a screw with a ball end on the back of the shoe. By loosening the lock nut and turning the screw you can adjust the shoe parallel to the blade. It's a 7 1/2'' blade. I use the regular width blade, not the narrow kerf.

I made a 'square' piece of wood about 1/2'' thick and the width of the shoe to the inside of the blade [see pic in post #1], then made the length about 1/8'' longer. This is handy when you clamp down your straight edge to the marks or line you want to cut.

A sharp blade is important.