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Cordless circular saws make it to the big-time
By Steve Maxwell
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Times change, and when it comes to power tools, times also get better. Cordless circular saws are a case in point. Today, the best models can replace corded saws in a surprising number of do-it-yourself applications. Some can even be your one-and-only saw. Manufacturers now claim that the largest cordless models provide 80% of the output of corded saws. And that’s enough to handle the full range of 2x cutting operations without excuses. You can even frame a whole house with one. The question isn’t if cordless saws are up to the job of cutting serious lumber, but whether or not cordless makes sense given your style of work. If cord-free cutting and freedom from being closely tethered to a power source is worth a higher price tag (plus the occasional and not-so-insignificant expense of replacing batteries), then a cordless saw is something to consider. And besides, they’re pretty cool.
Voltage is the first thing to look at because it’s roughly synonymous with power when you’re talking cordless tools. An 18 volt machine is the minimum you’ll need to work without a corded saw in reserve. Lower voltage cordless models are fine, as supplemental tools, but most do-it-yourself users demand greater output than these can provide. In timed trials I’ve run, 24 volt saws can rip the length of a ten-foot construction-grade 2x8 in about 35 seconds. A 14.4 volt saw typically takes 80 seconds to accomplish the same thing. The 18 volt machines I’ve looked at come in at just under a minute.
One reason early cordless saws couldn’t handle all cutting tasks was the small-diameter blades they spun -- some as tiny as 4 3/8-inch across. But as the power available from battery packs increased, the option of larger blades became an option for tool designers. That’s why you’ll now find 6 1/2-inch blades on 18 volt cordless saws, and even 7 1/4-inch blades on the largest, 24-volt machines. This is the standard blade size for corded saws, and it’s significant that some cordless models have risen to this level. Blades like these allow the full range of cutting options through standard 1 1/2-inch thick construction lumber, even when cutting with the blade angled over for bevel cuts.
To maximize cutting power, cordless saws are also designed to use thin-kerf blades with low-friction coatings. They work just as well as full-width blades while devouring less than half the wood.
When it comes to assessing any cordless tool, there’s something other than voltage you need to consider. It’s called the “amp-hour” rating of the batteries, and it measures the total amount of energy stored in a battery pack. To understand the difference between voltage and amp-hours, stop and imagine a pump-up weed sprayer. Voltage relates to the amount of pressure in the tank. More pumping, more pressure, more powerful spray. Amp-hours, on the other hand are to batteries what tank size is to weed sprayers. The larger the tank (or amp-hour rating), the longer between refills (or recharges). For some reason, few manufacturers advertise amp-hour ratings on their batteries, though you should ask about them. Considering the size of a cordless tool's energy tank is especially important when assessing a power-hungry category like circular saws. The largest cordless tool batteries currently top out at 3.0 amp-hours.
Cordless saw choice is much more varied than it was when the tool category first emerged in the 1990s. If you’re planning to do renovations and new construction with a cordless model, then look at models with 18 volt electrics or higher, plus a spare battery. Just be warned. Once you’ve enjoyed the convenience of cord-free operation, it’s awfully hard to go back!
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Cordless circular saws make it to the big-time
By Steve Maxwell
|
|
|
Times change, and when it comes to power tools, times also get better. Cordless circular saws are a case in point. Today, the best models can replace corded saws in a surprising number of do-it-yourself applications. Some can even be your one-and-only saw. Manufacturers now claim that the largest cordless models provide 80% of the output of corded saws. And that’s enough to handle the full range of 2x cutting operations without excuses. You can even frame a whole house with one. The question isn’t if cordless saws are up to the job of cutting serious lumber, but whether or not cordless makes sense given your style of work. If cord-free cutting and freedom from being closely tethered to a power source is worth a higher price tag (plus the occasional and not-so-insignificant expense of replacing batteries), then a cordless saw is something to consider. And besides, they’re pretty cool.
Voltage is the first thing to look at because it’s roughly synonymous with power when you’re talking cordless tools. An 18 volt machine is the minimum you’ll need to work without a corded saw in reserve. Lower voltage cordless models are fine, as supplemental tools, but most do-it-yourself users demand greater output than these can provide. In timed trials I’ve run, 24 volt saws can rip the length of a ten-foot construction-grade 2x8 in about 35 seconds. A 14.4 volt saw typically takes 80 seconds to accomplish the same thing. The 18 volt machines I’ve looked at come in at just under a minute.
One reason early cordless saws couldn’t handle all cutting tasks was the small-diameter blades they spun -- some as tiny as 4 3/8-inch across. But as the power available from battery packs increased, the option of larger blades became an option for tool designers. That’s why you’ll now find 6 1/2-inch blades on 18 volt cordless saws, and even 7 1/4-inch blades on the largest, 24-volt machines. This is the standard blade size for corded saws, and it’s significant that some cordless models have risen to this level. Blades like these allow the full range of cutting options through standard 1 1/2-inch thick construction lumber, even when cutting with the blade angled over for bevel cuts.
To maximize cutting power, cordless saws are also designed to use thin-kerf blades with low-friction coatings. They work just as well as full-width blades while devouring less than half the wood.
When it comes to assessing any cordless tool, there’s something other than voltage you need to consider. It’s called the “amp-hour” rating of the batteries, and it measures the total amount of energy stored in a battery pack. To understand the difference between voltage and amp-hours, stop and imagine a pump-up weed sprayer. Voltage relates to the amount of pressure in the tank. More pumping, more pressure, more powerful spray. Amp-hours, on the other hand are to batteries what tank size is to weed sprayers. The larger the tank (or amp-hour rating), the longer between refills (or recharges). For some reason, few manufacturers advertise amp-hour ratings on their batteries, though you should ask about them. Considering the size of a cordless tool's energy tank is especially important when assessing a power-hungry category like circular saws. The largest cordless tool batteries currently top out at 3.0 amp-hours.
Cordless saw choice is much more varied than it was when the tool category first emerged in the 1990s. If you’re planning to do renovations and new construction with a cordless model, then look at models with 18 volt electrics or higher, plus a spare battery. Just be warned. Once you’ve enjoyed the convenience of cord-free operation, it’s awfully hard to go back! |
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