Cordless circular saws

[scooby]

What is the battery life and cutting capabilities like on cordless circular saws?
Just curious really. I'd really like to get one, but I begrudgingly have to admit I don't think it'd be practical for the work I do. Whilst 90% of my circular saw work is for ply and trimming doors in height which I'm sure the cordless would handle ok. But the times when doing a roof, ripping & cross cutting abrasive x2 timber where I doubt a battery saw would last 5 minutes

I'd still appreciate any opinions on battery circulars though, as I'm a big fan of cordless tools. I just can't get my head around how cordless tools that are put under a large of load (circulars, planers, jigsaws, angle grinders, etc) can work efficiency and have a decent battery life :?

 

[PowerTool]

I have a cheap 18V trimsaw - very handy for cutting sheets to fit in the car,but battery life is poor.Don't know how much better the more expensive ones are.

Andrew

 

[jasonB]

Most cordless saws don't have the depth of cut for 47mm carcasing timber and would bog down on wet tanalised timber.

I have a B&D 14V one that I run off my 12V Dewalt batteries as the B&D one soon died. I use it all the time on ply,MDF, MFC, Worktops etc. I can cut 4-5 8ft lengths ogf 18mm MDF defore the 12V battery is flat.

The main advantage is that I can use it one handed which is handy if trimming something vertical.

Jason

 

[Barry Burgess]

I have the 18volt DW - very useful when cutting sheets - can be handled one handed. I have not timed how long it lasts but it is totally dependent on the depth of cut and type of board. I have a number of batteries so I just change them . Same applies to the 18V DW jigsaw.
Barry

 

[philpolish]

Screwfix do this Dewalt DC759SA 18V Twin Pack for £199 inclusive of vat i think you cant go wrong with this deal i will be getting one shortly as i wanted a saw and also need to upgrade my 9.6 makita.
Regards Phil.

 

[Der_Goalie]

I'd look toward 2 main points, firstly what type of batteries the saw uses - preferably Lithium ion or NiCd - avoid NiMH like the plague.
Secondly look for a saw with a thin blade - it reduces the drag and prolongs the battery life between charges. Most professional machines will have a thin blade fitted but it;s worth checking.