Milwaukee V28 circular saw performance

[Ign]

My V28 (0730-20) wood cutting circular saw just seems generally weak. I almost always pull out a corded saw for any project 'cause it just doesn't seem to cut anything easily and bogs too soon. It's seen very little use as I hardly ever build anything from wood.

Problem is I've not used any other cordless circular, so I don't know how it compares. Maybe I'm just expecting too much?

I'd like to send it in to have it looked at but I don't have anything concrete to say except it seems weak. It does work, and there has never been any magic smoke.

I've used 5 different batteries from 3 different chargers which all perform fine in other tools, so I don't believe it's the power source.

Anyone else use this saw and either like or hate its performance?

 

[hammlm]

I have an old, fairly lame 19.2V Craftsman. It was my dads, and I just couldn't throw it away. I remember it always being a POS and frustrating me everytime Dad would pull it out to make a quick cut or whatever. I've had it now about 5 years.

About two years ago, I noticed that the blade was not straight to the base plate(i would usually try to use some sort of guide when cutting thin plywood). I decided to take the whole thing apart, clean it well (something Dad would never do), and put it back together. When I first put it back together it was worse, but then I spent some time getting the blade aligned with the foot/shoe, and getting it tightened down.

You probably already keep your tools in good working order, and well tuned, but even so, take a look-see and check if your sole plate is aligned parallel to your blade. It made this old POS craftsman something I reach for often now for quick cuts in light material. Recently I used it on one 19.2 battery charge to rip a few sheets of FRP down (probably 40+ feet of cut)

 

[moronmountain]

My V28 (0730-20) wood cutting circular saw just seems generally weak. I almost always pull out a corded saw for any project 'cause it just doesn't seem to cut anything easily and bogs too soon. It's seen very little use as I hardly ever build anything from wood.

Problem is I've not used any other cordless circular, so I don't know how it compares. Maybe I'm just expecting too much?

I'd like to send it in to have it looked at but I don't have anything concrete to say except it seems weak. It does work, and there has never been any magic smoke.

I've used 5 different batteries from 3 different chargers which all perform fine in other tools, so I don't believe it's the power source.

Anyone else use this saw and either like or hate its performance?

I only have a Dewalt 18v, but it is pretty weak as well. It's only good for a few short cuts. I have 6 batteries and 2 chargers, and even then it's hard to do any real work with one IMO.

 

[MrMark]

I have a V18, so it is probably comparable, although yours should be stronger. It is not weak by any stretch of the imagination. It cuts through 2X material well and is excellent for trim work, which is what I use it for with a fine tooth blade. Your batteries are probably bad.

 

[ecidious]

I've used my M18 circular saw a lot. Make sure your blade is aligned properly as stated above, and that it is a good quality, sharp, thin kerf blade and you should have no problems cutting any piece of wood the blade can handle size wise. I've ripped 2X material without a problem, just with a diablo blade and not pushing the blade too fast. Sure a table saw or worm drive would cut it faster, but if I'm only making a handful of cuts the cordless saw gets the job.

 

[RKA]

Ditto on a good sharp blade! I use a Makita, but it works fine for quick cuts in 2x material. It's worth the $20 to try a diablo blade. You might just find you have a new tool on your hands.

 

[bobcatdan]

I don't have the saw, but for the guys saying the m18 are really strong. You are kinda comparing apples to oragnes. The v28 system is older and the new m18 tools sport higher perfomce numbers. I own several v28 tools including the sawall and for what it is worth to your question, it is everbit as strong as my 11.5 amp metabo sawall. I also own the v28 impact and drill and my 18 volt SO impact and drill will smoke the milwaukee, but the sawalls are comparable. Just my two cents.

 

[ecidious]

I don't have the saw, but for the guys saying the m18 are really strong. You are kinda comparing apples to oragnes. The v28 system is older and the new m18 tools sport higher perfomce numbers. I own several v28 tools including the sawall and for what it is worth to your question, it is everbit as strong as my 11.5 amp metabo sawall. I also own the v28 impact and drill and my 18 volt SO impact and drill will smoke the milwaukee, but the sawalls are comparable. Just my two cents.

I'm going on memory here, but when I purchased the M18 tools years ago I was under the impression that the two lines were roughly equivalent in overall real world power but the older v28 tools were larger/heavier yet offered better battery life.

 

[bobcatdan]

I don't know what the batery life is like on a m18, the v28 last for ever when the batteries where new. I based my opion on the m18 impacts are rated over 100 lbs higer then the v28 and I also think the drill is higher torque rating. How the saws compare, I don't really know.

 

[Ign]

I've used my M18 circular saw a lot. Make sure your blade is aligned properly as stated above, and that it is a good quality, sharp, thin kerf blade and you should have no problems cutting any piece of wood the blade can handle size wise. I've ripped 2X material without a problem, just with a diablo blade and not pushing the blade too fast. Sure a table saw or worm drive would cut it faster, but if I'm only making a handful of cuts the cordless saw gets the job.

Thanks for the all the replies. I re-visited this tonight and I do think the problem is the blade. I was trying to cut some OSB and the saw tries it's damnedest, but I don't think the blade is up to snuff. Of course major clue was when I started smelling the wood burning.

So, does anyone have reco's for a 6 1/2" blade to be used in a cordless saw? Most of what I do is rough cutting/just getting things down to length for demo or wood stove. Still, I guess a finer tooth blade should require less hp as the load per tooth is less?

 

[Greatbear]

If you are smelling wood burning, your blade is either dull, warped, gummed, or a combination of these. I recommend the Freud Diablo blades, I have them on my cordless 18V DeWalt and one corded sidewinder DeWalt. Lenox and DeWalt blades are also good performers for me. For the general rough cutting you do, a 24 tooth blade is fine, if you use a blade with more teeth there is generally more drag caused by more teeth in contact with the wood as well as the smaller gutters between the teeth bogging down with chips. These "framing" blades usually do pretty good at cutting sheet goods and even some finer work depending on the wood, as long as they are fresh and sharp.

Double check the vent slots on your saw, make sure there's no sawdust packed into the motor housing, and inspect the brushes as well. Seeing that the saw has enough oomph to burn the wood, I doubt that is the main cause of your problems.

 

[coldfusion21]

Make sure the blades on right. The burning wood and poor performance remind me of that one time...

Just throwing it out there, not saying you wouldn't have already checked that.

 

[fury9]

my makita ***** *** too. It's good for cutting drywall or SLOWLY cutting maybe 6 2x4s

 

[MrMark]

For that saw, the Milwaukee blade is the best. It is thin Kerf.