Choosing an 18v Cordless Circular Saw

There is a wide selection of 18V cordless circular saws available to the homeowner - surely one of these small circular saws will make a good fit in your own tool set.

Cordless circular saws are generally smaller than their corded counterparts, and don't have the power that a corded circular saw has, but nevertheless can make a great addition to the homeowners tool set. Bear in mind that these circular saws are not intended for large remodel jobs, but for cutting a few 2X4's or some plywood they do a very good job. A professional house framer could never get through the day with one - while the cutting power may be there (at least with a sharp blade) a circular saw requires a lot of power to operate and batteries will need recharging frequently.

One of the first things to consider is will it match up with your other tools? If you already own a cordless drill set or other cordless tools, a cordless circular saw using the same battery and charger is probably the preferred choice. If the circular saw will be the first of several cordless tools what others will be purchased that will use the same battery?

Price is obviously a concern (isn't it always?), but don't fall into the trap of buying the cheapest circular saw to be found. To buy a lower quality of tool for occasional use is one thing; to buy a cheap piece of junk that is not worth even the what was paid is quite another. Choose a price/quality range that matches the intended use; a cordless circular saw used a few times a year to cut off a 2X4 needn't carry the price tag of one used weekly.

I own two 18V cordless circular saws (both purchased as part of a cordless drill kit used in my profession as an electrician) and find them to be a very useful tool around the house. I still have my older corded circular saw, but more and more use the cordless saw to cut a few pieces of lumber or a piece of plywood or paneling. They are more convenient as well as lighter and easier to use than the much heavier corded saw - they just won't do a great deal of cutting before the battery is dead. In that regard, consider buying the more expensive but longer lasting lithium ion battery technology - the batteries not only last much longer between charges but also have a longer lifespan. Particularly if one or two batteries are servicing several tools the lithium battery is the way to go.

A note of caution: the links presented here are both "tool only" and "kits". "Tool only" means that there is no battery or charger while "kit" generally includes at least one battery with a charger. Make sure you know and understand what you are buying!

It is also advisable to try and purchase two or more batteries with any cordless tool. While this may not be a problem if you already own other cordless tools using the same battery, there is little more irritating than to interrupt a job in progress while the sole battery charges for an hour. If two batteries are owned one can be always charging while the other is in use. When on the job I maintain 5 batteries to service 3 tools; one in each tool, one charged and one charging.

Ryobi and Makita both make good quality power tools intended for the homeowner doing their own home improvement jobs.

Ryobi ONE+

The Ryobi ONE+ cordless circular saw is a good choice for the homeowner performing small occasional jobs. It uses lithium ion batteries, of which two different sizes are available. The tool listed here is a "tool only" - batteries and a charger must be purchased separately.

This saw uses a 5 ½" blade, one of the smaller blades on any of the saws. Do not expect to cut 2X material at a 45º angle with it, but at only 6# it will make an excellent trim saw for plywood or paneling. With a blade turning at 4200 RPM it will cut reasonably quickly and easily through plywood or a few 2X4's without trouble.

Makita 5020DWD

This cordless circular saw from Makita is a little larger, using a 6½" blade that will cut a 2X4 on a 45º angle; there is seldom a need for any more depth of cut. It is also a little heavier, at 7½#. Although this offering from Makita uses the older Ni-Cad or Ni-Mh batteries, Makita claims it will cut fifty eight 2X10's on a single charge, which is quite good.

It comes with one battery, a charger and a case. With these items included it is considerably cheaper that the Ryobi saw, while giving up the extra working time of the lithium battery.

The most popular choices here are Dewalt and Milwaukee. Both brands are commonly used by professionals and are valued for their higher level of quality. Both generally carry a little higher price tag, but owners that frequently use the tools find that in the long run they are actually more economical.

Dewalt 18V cordless circular saws

Dewalt makes fine tools in general, but made a mistake when they first came out with a 5 3/8" circular saw. It is underpowered and too small for any serious work beyond cutting paneling (I own one and speak from experience). The replacement 6½" saw, is back to typical Dewalt quality, however, and I can recommend it as I also own one of these circular saws.

The Dewalt saw shown at the right uses NiCad batteries and will cut 2X material at 45º. Running at 3700 RPM it cuts quickly and cleanly; it is an excellent choice for most homeowners that perform more frequent home repair or improvement tasks. This is a complete tool kit with the improved XRP battery, charger, blade, case and rip fence. At about double the price of the above Makita kit it is well worth it for the more active homeowner.

Also available from Dewalt is a 6¾" 18V cordless circular saw that is specially designed to not only cut wood but metal objects as well. This saw will easily cut through a 2" pipe in one pass and will save a lot of work with a hacksaw if you commonly cut metal. Please note that the saw pictured is the saw only; there is no battery, charger or titanium blade included with the saw. For the homeowner that already has Dewalt cordless tools, this can be an excellent purchase.

One of the advantages of Dewalt cordless tools is the wide array of tools that use the same battery and charger; even such things as rotary laser levels using their battery are available.

Milwaukee 18V cordless circular saws

Milwaukee is also known for making high quality power tools and their cordless saw is no exception. Pictured to the right is a 6½" circular saw that, while fairly expensive, includes not one but two lithium batteries, charger, blade and bag. It is truly an awesome cutting tool that will keep any homeowner happy for many years. Unusual in cordless tools, Milwaukee includes a 5 year battery warranty with this tool; a valuable feature as batteries are a major part of the cost of cordless tools. Magnesium and aluminum parts help contribute to a low 8.5# weight, making the saw very easy to use in demanding tasks.

Also pictured is Milwaukee's entry to the metal cutting world of circular saws. This is also a complete kit, with two lithium batteries (although it will also accept the older Ni-Cad 18V batteries), blade, charger, safety glasses and bag. An amazing tool that would make a great purchase for anyone that cuts angle iron, pipe, uni-strut or other metal products.