Any recommendations? Does anybody use these professionally? Good/bad experiences? After a little research, I think the Milwaukee 18v Fuel is top of my list but not opposed to other brands, particularly, Dewalt and/or Bosch. Any input much appreciated. Thanks!
Looking for a good cordless framing saw
- Thread starter cgrutt
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franksinatra
Well-known member
The 7 1/4 Fuel should be the best available as of now. I know Dewalt has some new stuff coming (flex volt) or something like that. It's getting to be like computers, it's already obsolete by the time you bring it home. I just switched to all the newest fuel stuff and I'm very happy and excited to try some of the new tools that have become available.
Thanks guys. I'm starting to do a lot of decks. Cutting will be mostly cross-cutting 2x 6 to 12 pressure treated lumber and 5/4 floor wood and/or composite floor boards. Currently using an electric 12" Dewalt sliding compound saw but looking for something more portable. Compound saw will still be on site and available if needed as well as a variety of corded circular saws and a portable table saw.
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theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Better have 3 or 4 spare batteries and a way to charge them !
ez-duzit
Well-known member
You want a corded builders saw.
I've got two corded Porta-cables (right hand and left hand). Looking to eliminate the cord...
Makita cordless that takes 2 18 v batteries. Xsh01x essentially a 36v. Best cordless on the market right now. Great because you can use the batteries on many other tools. Designed to give corded like performance. Cordless tools today are pretty darn good. Brushless helps them last a good bit longer and the lithium battery technology has made such big strides, and getting better all the time.
NoMoreGreen
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I'm happy with my m18 fuel 7 1\4. I have had it a short time so a limited review. I've used it to build some raised garden beds. I cut 2x4 and 2x6 and a 4x4 and didn't want for more power. More blade on the 4x4 though; had to cut it twice. I've only used it with 5.0 batteries.
I don't like having to disengage a safety with my thumb before pulling the trigger. A minor complaint.
If you have any questions feel free to I'm/pm me.
NMG
I don't like having to disengage a safety with my thumb before pulling the trigger. A minor complaint.
If you have any questions feel free to I'm/pm me.
NMG
Thanks. Yeah, my coworker's Rigid has the thumb safety as well. I didn't like that about his saw either. Didn't realize the Milwaukee had it too, bummer. Don't expect to be cutting many 4x4s with the cordless so that's not really an issue for me. Appreciate the feedback!
I agree. Very strong battery saw. Plenty of power. The only complaint I have is I wish the blade was on the left side.
Not true at all.....with the newer ones anyway.
I've used a few different ones. Milwaukee fuels are impressive.(They make a few different models I believe) Definitely try and handle them before you buy. Even though it doesn't equal the Milwaukee performance wise, I use a Ridgid mainly because I find it more ergonomically comfortable. YMMV.
NoMoreGreen
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There is a decent size hole to view where you are cutting on the milwaukee.
I forgot to mention the blade on the right thing. It didn't bother me once I found the hole.
I forgot to mention the blade on the right thing. It didn't bother me once I found the hole.
Frank Dukes
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the new dewalt 60v stuff looks pretty promising.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-F...cular-Saw-DCS575T1/207135487?keyword=DCS575T1
http://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-F...cular-Saw-DCS575T1/207135487?keyword=DCS575T1
I saw the thread title last night and then again this morning and both times the first thing that popped into my head was....military intelligence. 
Then I read what a couple guys said and thought well maybe, just maybe
And then I read the spec on that dewalt 60v unit and at 128 cuts of 2x4 went right back to my original thought. I don't know about what you guys consider framing. But if I'm cutting stud for a wall, I can do that many cuts in an hour no sweat. Sounds fine for a "home owner project" but not production type framing.
Good luck C.
Then I read what a couple guys said and thought well maybe, just maybe
And then I read the spec on that dewalt 60v unit and at 128 cuts of 2x4 went right back to my original thought. I don't know about what you guys consider framing. But if I'm cutting stud for a wall, I can do that many cuts in an hour no sweat. Sounds fine for a "home owner project" but not production type framing.
Good luck C.
manwithtools
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Wow, did you see the weight on that Dewalt 60V? 12.35 lbs vs 9 lbs for the 7 1/4 Milwaukee Fuel. I'd have to question if I wanted to mess with that much weight.
I'll say I've been impressed with the 18V Fuel 6 1/2 so far. I'd think it would be perfect for building decks. If you are set up with a charger and batteries for other like tools - drills, impact - you would never worry about running out of power. The saws last a long time on a charge.
I'm really not that concerned about how many cuts you can get out of a single charge just need to swap out battery for a fresh one, right? I also want to pick up a new impact and possibly new drill with same battery so will have a few spares to work with. I also have a Milwaukee 18v Lithium drill and Saws All but it's a couple years old and not sure if batteries are interchangeable with new tools.
bmwpowere36m3
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I have a Makita LXT 18V 6 1/2 "... great it tight corners and small work. However the 3.0aH battery doesn't really last. If is was framing, no way I'd use it.... plus my Milwaukee 7 1/4" corded is probably the same weight and cuts faster.
For trim work... the cordless is great.
For trim work... the cordless is great.
TomB19
Well-known member
The last field piece of a picture framed deck needs to be ripped from end to end. I've built a couple with PT 2x6 decking, recently.
The rip always happens at the end of the day, after tons of cross cuts, and I always worry about running out of battery but the saw has always done it. It's an amazing feeling to rip cut a wet, Home Depot, 2x6 for 12 feet with a battery that is down to two bars of power. I love this tool.
The saw is a 6.5 inch Milwaukee FUEL and the batteries are 4.0Ah. I buy 2~4 batteries per year so the batteries are 1~5 years of age, at this point (most are 4 years old because I picked up a pack of 10 in 2012).
BTW, I know some batteries have a bit more capacity than others, despite them all being 4.0Ah. They are sufficiently similar that I don't cherry pick any for specific jobs or even notice the difference generally.
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Your old 18V lithium batteries will work just fine in any Milwaukee 18V tool.
Sounds like a fuel 7" saw is in your future... I LOVE mine.
I believe the 6 1/2 in saw has the blade on the opposite side as the 7 1/4 in. True?
manwithtools
ALLIANCE MEMBER
That's correct. I'm a long time user of right hand blade saw, taking a bit to get used to left hand blade.
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Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
I have the 6.5 fuel with a 4.0 and it's not impressive at all. My old 36v dewalt 7 1/4 runs circles around it, and it's a dinosaur.
rice rocket
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TomB19
Well-known member
Something is wrong with your saw.
Does the blade have teeth? Is something wrong with the battery?
Nothing wrong with the saw, or the 10 4.0 batteries I own. I guess you've never used a 36 volt dewalt circ saw from 05. I'm willing to bet, the makita with the dual 18v batteries is going to be the best saw out there at the moment.
Thanks, that's good to hear.
tyyost
Well-known member
Last summer I did a 16' x 24' trex deck. Bought a 6.5 Fuel circular saw after having my 18v 6.5 Makita dog out doing the demo. Full disclosure I was already bought into the Milwaukee system the previous year and the makita was going on 6 years old.
I have 5 4.0 battery's running my drill and impact driver and the circular saw. The saw worked like a dog - rips, cross cuts, miters it chewed out the work. More than the benefits of no cord was that it was lightweight, fast, and cut lumber off the pile with a speed square rather than working off a bench.
I had a table saw, miter saw, and corded circular saw handy but that 6.5 fuel did everything on the job with power to spare. The only recommendation I have beyond buy what you like and only go 7.25" if you need the depth of cut for 4x4's would be to buy decent blades with the appropriate teeth style and keep fresh ones on hand. Sharp blades equals easier cuts and longer run times.
I have 5 4.0 battery's running my drill and impact driver and the circular saw. The saw worked like a dog - rips, cross cuts, miters it chewed out the work. More than the benefits of no cord was that it was lightweight, fast, and cut lumber off the pile with a speed square rather than working off a bench.
I had a table saw, miter saw, and corded circular saw handy but that 6.5 fuel did everything on the job with power to spare. The only recommendation I have beyond buy what you like and only go 7.25" if you need the depth of cut for 4x4's would be to buy decent blades with the appropriate teeth style and keep fresh ones on hand. Sharp blades equals easier cuts and longer run times.
This is exactly what I had in mind.
We use strictly Milwaukee at work. We also have this charger. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M18-Sequential-Charger-6-Pack-48-59-1806/203807106
Awesome for keeping batteries charged.
The saw I personally own is a Dewalt XRP 18V and will destroy batteries is when I rip a 2x6 rough sawn cedar.
Awesome for keeping batteries charged.
The saw I personally own is a Dewalt XRP 18V and will destroy batteries is when I rip a 2x6 rough sawn cedar.
Voi
Well-known member
The Makita X2 is 10.1 pounds with batteries. Not sure if that's in an acceptable weight range for the OP.
TomB19
Well-known member
I've never used the 36v DeWalt.
I just looked up the 36v platform and all I can see are 2.0Ah batteries. If that's the case, the 4.0Ah - 18v batteries have the same amount of power at 72Wh. I'm pretty sure that's a brushed motor so the FUEL should have the edge.
I literally can't imagine wanting either more power or run time than my 6.5 FUEL circ saw provides. If I wanted more run time, I could always load it up with a 9.0Ah battery so I could build three or four decks between charges.
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theoldwizard1
Well-known member
I have a DeWalt 18v "panel" saw. The blade (upgraded to carbide tipped) is barely big enough to cut 2by material. It will cut a surprising amount of 2x4 on one battery charge.
With brushless technology and lithium batteries a 7" to 7½" should last a long time, but I would still have 1or 2 spare batteries and a charger in the truck !
With brushless technology and lithium batteries a 7" to 7½" should last a long time, but I would still have 1or 2 spare batteries and a charger in the truck !
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Anyone know the weight difference between the 6.5" and the 7.25" ? I would also be curious about battery comsumption rate when cutting identical material.
IMHO, sharp blade = carbide tipped !
LB-1911
ALLIANCE MEMBER
lmgtfy
9 lbs.
2731-22**
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/cordless/2731-22
**M18 FUEL™ 7-1/4” Circular Saw (Bare Tool)
2731-20
7.5 lbs
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/cordless/2731-20
M18 FUEL™ 6-1/2" Circular Saw (Bare Tool)
2730-20
6.8 lbs
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/cordless/2730-20
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