cordless circular saw for framing?

[J Paulsson]

I am looking to retool my cordless capabilities. I bought the milwaukee V28 back in 2006 and the cordless circ saw was phenomenal at first, great for small to moderate cutting, rip sheeting all day on two batteries even gang ripping 15/32 sheets two and three deep when needed. But the batteries got weak after two to three years and the sawzall became worthless, so now I am back in the market for a new cordless set. The thing is that I became convinced of the value of the cordless circular saw on frames, I estimated that my V28 saw, in its prime, made me at least $5 per day on time saved just due to the mobility and generally good cutting ability. So are any of you using cordless circ saws for framing, if so which ones are performing well? Can you get 100+ 2x4 cross cuts on a single battery? I have been researching this for several weeks and am having a hard time getting good information. I'm looking at DeWalt 20v max, Milwaukee 18 volt and M28 (a bit skeptical here due to battery problems with my earlier set), Makita 18v lithium, Metabo 18 volt with the soon to be available 4.0 amp hour batteries, and the Bosch litheon 18v. The problem I have with the higher voltage stuff like DeWalt and Bosch 36v is that they did not sell well so I think the companies are not really supporting them well, and you don't know if you are buying a battery that was manufactured three years ago and the tool sat on the shelf 3 years. DeWalt 20v max is new and getting good reviews online so far so I am leaning in this direction, and I believe DeWalt is testing a 4.0 ah battery as well. Anyhow any feedback/help much appreciated.

[FesFool]

What you said about the high voltage Dewalt cordless shipping from the dealer with three year old batteries happened to me. My solution was to take the new / old batteries to a Dewalt service center -have them tested and replace the bad ones and mark the rest for possible warranty claims. Two years later, they have more than paid for themselves in time saved and are still going strong.
Good luck,
Dan

[GregBradley]

I bought into the Bosch 36v Li series because it was a good way to get serious power where power cords weren't available or less safe - like boat docks.

I have the 36v circ saw but have not used it yet. It is a beast compared to the Makita LXT. It was a near give-away at a Bosch event and I though I might need it someday.

I have used the 36v Hammer Drill and larger 36v Rotary Hammer very hard and am very impressed with both. I've sent people out with the Rotary Hammer where they have needed to take 5 spare bits with them for the days work. The life out the fat batteries is impressive but they are huge.

The don't sell well in the US and they aren't for day to day use but I don't think you have to worry about Bosch killing the whole series. Look at Euro and UK tool sites and you will be amazed at the Bosch 36v tools - Chainsaws, even lawnmowers.

[dgrotenhuis]

Why don't you just buy new batteries for your current saw? You said it worked great with fresh ones. I'm still using Dewalt 18 volt stuff and just keep 6 batteries in the rotation, replacing 2 per year. Also, sharp blades are a must.

[J Paulsson]

Why don't you just buy new batteries for your current saw? You said it worked great with fresh ones. I'm still using Dewalt 18 volt stuff and just keep 6 batteries in the rotation, replacing 2 per year. Also, sharp blades are a must.

Actually my V28 saw was dropped by a partner 18 ft. onto a slab 5 years ago and limped along ever since. Since that time the V28 sawzall in the kit became so weak that it can barely cut a 2x4. And two out of three batteries are unusable now (one failed after 3 years). So I basically want a new kit-- sawzall, and circ saw for sure, but probably a drill/driver as well. So do I get Milwaukee M28 when the V28 batteries proved to not have good longevity? IIRC Milwaukee is today managed out of Hong Kong by the Austrian entrepreneur Horst Pudwill, and manufactured almost entirely in China, the plastic looks a little cheap and I have my doubts about the entire brand. So M28 seems dubious to me, and nowadays all the competition and r&d is in the 12 to 18 volt range. Look at DeWalt- the 36 volt stuff was great in theory, I had a friend who bought the combo kit and loved it, but the batteries get very mixed reviews and you don't see them hardly anywhere in stores except online distributors. So despite my preference for higher voltage, I am just leaning towards jumping on the 18 volt bandwagon since that seems to be where all the r&d and corporate support is... Metabo and soon DeWalt will soon have 4.0 ah in 18 volt, several 18 volt lines are going brushless. So I am just thinking that maybe the way to go is to, as you say, keep a sharp blade handy, and go with an 18 volt saw for mobile cutting and keep the worm drive saw at the dedicated cut station. Cord entanglement just drives me nuts and there are too many instances where I just want to grab a saw for one or two cuts before moving somewhere else.

[Loren97]

I have issues with my Milwaulkee V18 stuff, so I can appreciate your concern with them. I talked with a tool rep and he said that the red-lithium platform is really solid so I might try it again. I'm not sure if they have that in 28 volt though.

[JAlvis]

I don't have much experience with cordless circular saws.....but if I were looking I would consider Mafell and Hilti.

Mafell:

http://www.mafelltoolstore.com/coma.html

http://service.mafell.de/index.php?I...IdProduct=5116

Hilti:

http://www.us.hilti.com/holus/page/m...nodeId=-395091

[dgbldr]

If this is for real framing work, not just a 2x4 here or there, I wouldn't get anything less than the Hilti 36V in the link above.

It's not just about the battery voltage. It's also that you want a 7-1/4" saw. And there is a good reason for higher voltages. Aside from battery life, there's only so much current you can push around at 18V and that limits the power of the tool. Same reason you don't see too many 25hp compressors run at 110V.

[tom dickey]

J, I am in the exact same dilemma well sort of. The v28 stuff was the cats ass when it was new, but now only good for around the shop. I talked to a Millwaukee rep and bought the new Fuel drill with the red battery, came with a 3rd free. New 18volt circ saw is $120 and I am good to go. I do have a 18v drill and impact too so more batteries, and they make more tools for the 18 v line my old pc cordless jig saw was great. I have used my buddys 18v saw and with my battery it cuts like the 28 did. Mine is on the truck to me now [ I hope]. Gave up on the sawsall a wile ago just sucks the battery dead even when they were good. Just stick to my hackzall or the super sawsall.

[J Paulsson]

J, I am in the exact same dilemma well sort of. The v28 stuff was the cats ass when it was new, but now only good for around the shop. I talked to a Millwaukee rep and bought the new Fuel drill with the red battery, came with a 3rd free. New 18volt circ saw is $120 and I am good to go. I do have a 18v drill and impact too so more batteries, and they make more tools for the 18 v line my old pc cordless jig saw was great. I have used my buddys 18v saw and with my battery it cuts like the 28 did. Mine is on the truck to me now [ I hope]. Gave up on the sawsall a wile ago just sucks the battery dead even when they were good. Just stick to my hackzall or the super sawsall.

Yeah Tom the sawzall just kills the battery, my guess is that it has the highest amp demand so old batteries just don't suffice. But if the milwaukee 18v saw with XC red lithium batteries feels as strong as the old V28, then that is a strong endorsement- that's pretty much where I want to be. I have been surprised to see how well the new Dewalt 20v max stuff is doing in tests and reviews, I like metabo tools but I think their recent renovation of their 18 volt line is not quite there, the metabo saw has a real weak looking table so I suppose it will probably come down to the big red and big yellow 18 volt lines...hilti 36 volt looks great if I could bring myself to spend festool level money, but I can't do it on a blade right saw.

[tom dickey]

Yea I hear you J gotta have blade left!

[gillisonconstruction]

They say the m28 system is completely compatible with the v28 system. I also have the v28 system and need batteries. I would look at Hilti, rep comes out to your site. All tools and batteries 3 year warranty, they give 75 dollars for each old tool you trade in very nice tools and they give the 75 for your old crap even if it don't work. Give them a otry

[tom dickey]

I loved my 28v stuff, but I went over to 18 for 3 reasons, 1 I was afraid of spending $450 on new batteries and then needing new tools as they are 7+ years old and have worked hard. 2 I had a 18v drill and impact with 2 batteries allready. and for $420 I got a brushless hammer drill 3 batteries { their best red} and a circular saw. Plus the Millwaukee rep gave me some swag too.3 more tools available like jig saw.

[framer]

i have the whole 36 volt dewalt cordless set. i dont even keep a corded saw or sawzall in my van.
i'm pretty much setup for mostly cordless tools. the convenience cannot be beat.

and the dewalt 36 volt circular saw uses a 7 1/4" blade, and can cut pretty damn good for being cordless. i frame whole houses and apartment buildings being mostly cordless....between the 36 volt dewalt and the paslode nailers.
only thing corded we sometimes use is a table saw and miter saw for repetitive cuts.

you pretty much have to buy the 36 volt online. hard to find in stores. for best prices, use ebay.
dewaltgroup.jpg