I was about to ash why as I saw the date 21 Dec and then noticed it was 2016. Your absolutely right an updated vid would be great and/or one on the smaller under 6" saws like the MW M12CCS440
Cuts per watt hour? Damn, you really got into this. Thank you for taking the time to figure out exactly how each tool operates from every perspective. Bravo!
Ive waited 30 years for these battery tools to come into carpentry although I've worked with corded tools all my working life. It's nice to see things moving on for the best making the job site safer and easier for the carpenter. Love this channel keep up the good work guys.
You guys do one hell of a great job making your reviews as fair and accurate as possible. It beats the snot out of shill "reviews" that pollute YT and elsewhere.
Reminds me of the old days when Consumer Reports was worth reading just to understand how the product was being tested...and how those tests did or didn't reflect your use of a product...
your tool reviews are by far the best. I am a carpenter from all the way down in adelaide australia and i have recently been upgrading all of my tools and have now moved to being fully cordless. I am not loyal to a specific brand, i just want what is best suited to me and the work i do. Your reviews have been so incredibly helpful and honestly they have saved me a lot of time and money as we all know how annoying it is to just go a buy something without looking into it to then find it has a fatal flaw that you notice every single time you use it. thank you and keep up the great work
I’ve had the Dewalt Flexvolt pretty much since they first came out and I love it. I have 4 each of the 6ah and 9ah batteries and never have any down time waiting for batteries, exelaint runtime, power and performance, blows the competition out of the water in my opinion, and the new updated model has the rafter hook Andes even more powerful (Just got one recently and I like it even better than the old one and that’s saying a lot). My boss has a Milwaukee and he likes mine better even when he uses his 12ah batteries for it. And the Forman on our crew had a Rigid and sold it and got a Flexvolt after using mine. I personally prefer that it has its own batteries, having the amount of power that it does is awesome and a smaller battery would drain very quickly. I’d be very interested to see an updated version of this video and am conga Dewalt would take it
Great in depth review. My 2 cents: I am a framing contractor, with thousands of dollars invested in both the Milwaukee Fuel and DeWalt Flexvolt tool lines. I run my jobs almost exclusively on cordless tools and use these tools all day long. My trailer has a big battery recharge station with 5 and 9 Amphour Milwaukee and DeWalt 2/6 and 3/9 amphour Flexvolt batteries recharging on multiport chargers all day long. In my opinion DeWalt has unquestionably assumed the top spot in contractor grade high output tools with the introduction and diversification of the Flexvolt line of tools. With four Milwaukee Fuel saws, and 3 Dewalt Flexvolt saws on my shelf, I reach for the blade right Flexvolt saw almost exclusively, even though I dislike the blade right configuration. The reason is that when speed counts, torque is better than endurance. The Milwaukee Fuels get about as much work done, but they bog down way easier and take more time. Ripping 2x lumber, cutting rafters, headers, gang ripping plywood, month-old blades, with perhaps a carbide tooth missing, on the dewalt 60V saws still cut with good speed and decent quality because the DeWalt 60V brushless motor has enough torque to power through the cuts. With a month old blade, with resin buildup on the teeth, the 18 Volt Milwaukee Fuels cut much slower, and bog down on compound miters (rafters) and often fail. I have more $ invested in Milwaukee Fuel, but without a steady, expensive stream of new blades, the 18 Volt motors feel weak and take too long to make cuts and fail too often. In all honesty I can't stand working with Milwaukee Fuel saws unless the blades are less than 2 weeks old, they just cut too slow. So in my experience, running these saws into the ground (burned out 2 Fuel saws over the last year) month after month every day, cutting rafters, tails, headers, sheeting roofs, gang ripping plywood etc. the DeWalt Flexvolt wins hands down in the field. When the new blade left DeWalt 60V Max in-line saws come out in October, I will buy three ASAP, and I expect that my Milwaukee Fuel saws will largely cease to be used by my crew and be viewed as a second tier tool.
James Weaver , im framer too , is good your review for me because im not sure , if milwaukee or dewalt, i need one , the mayorit people reviews is diy , not profesional construction worker,
I run both the 20v and 60v dewalt on my job sites. I have the 20 and my partner recently upgraded to the 60v. Both are great saws but the 60 is a clear upgrade, even with both running identical batteries. The 20 runs great but bogs down on rips cuts a bit. The 60v feels like a corded tool power wise, it's very impressive. The large batteries change the balance compared to a corded tool and does tire the wrist a bit when power using on a framing site. The trade off for being cordless is more than worth it and we rarely run corded tools now. We run almost exclusively dewalt tools these days since the 20v/60v line is so impressive across the board. We currently have multiple drill/driver sets (20v), 20v and 60v skill saws, and grinders. The 60v is a clear winner for both, but the 20v is still a great tool. We have the 60v job site table saw, which is good but I wish it had the capability to be corded the same as the 60v mitre saw. Battery life is an issue for the table saw but it still has treated us well. The other 60v tool we have is the leaf blower, it came with a 9 amp hour battery which was nice. Next cordless tools on my list are the framing nailer (currently use a paslode gas cartridge/battery combo when I go airless), and the 12" double compound mitre saw which looks amazing but is pricey.
Interesting. However, most of us probably become 'slaves' to whatever brand we already own in order to simplify the requirement for battery chargers and interchangeable battery packs. It would be nice though if there was a universal standard on the battery side so that customers could select the brand of tools that fitted their particular requirements best. I don't see that coming any day soon though, or at all in fact.
Jon the problem is batteries and tools electronics work toghether the manufacturer doesn't want people using other brands batteries, so they use proprietary "language" in their tool/battery interface
That's actually not a terrible idea...and possible. It was done for phone chargers a couple of years back in the EU and it really made thinks easier. The best thing about that is: You would probably get companies really quickly just offering battery/charger systems, companies focusing on nothing else. That way, you can get really amazing things.
The only way I see a universal battery working is if there was a subscription, that you subscribed to. Say, you needed X number of batteries and you paid accordingly to the number of batteries that you needed to use. Go one step further with a modified one key system allowing you to monitor the performance of any given battery. If that batteries performance dipped below a certain level they would ask you to swap it out.
Wow! It looks like you guys spent a huge amount of time putting this head to head together. It is greatly appreciated! It is people like you that are pushing the industry into making better tools. It is a great time to be in the trades. I am an electrician but I use my circular saw quite often. Going to read the article now. Thanks again!
Great write up on all of these saws. Back when I had only the Bosch Brute Tough hammer drill I was looking to buy a cordless circular saw. I was looking toward Milwaukee but I already had 2 Bosch batteries with the drill. I ended up sticking with Bosch based on your 18v saw comparison video. I won't be cutting much heavy stuff like LVL, plywood and 2x matl are right up my alley so I was blown away when I saw that you guys found the Bosch beat even the Fuel on runtime! Their next brushless circular saw ought to be a beast, they just need to get things moving faster over there at Bosch. They take their time with things but when they finally release the next models they seem to nail it. Thanks for the great videos!
I have several Porter Cable 20 volt lithium power tools. I am really satisfied with them. My only complaint is with the circular saw by PC with the standard battery. It works great for minor cutting. When making cuts in 2x6 boards, you get maybe 6-8 cuts max and those are tough cuts. Mechanically, the red blade depth handle when tightened in the max depth position rest below the base of the saw. I used this saw during a water line break over my cedar sauna and had to cut wet cedar ceiling planks. It worked great even after getting wet. Very light and it made enough cuts to allow access to the problem. Good reviews of all the saws.
Solid review, I like your logic. I bought a. Skil 77 mag and burnt it up in 3 months, very sad. My local HD let me return it in for a trade in the 7 1:4” milwaukee 9.0 Kit. I have ran this saw into the pits of hell and it never stops- my bosch table saw wouldn’t bevel cut a 6x6- ok let’s torture the 9.0! I love makita corded, but for the brutish jobs I get, it’s ALWAYS MILWAUKEE... thanks Robbie!
If you want a good value at Home Depot the milwaukee 7-1/4 has a 9.0 starter kit it's 250$ for a 9.0 battery and charger and the 7-1/4 saw. Great deal. I picked one up and it's an awesome saw.
I cannot fathom how much effort and time you and your guys have put in to make this video possible with intelligent analysis after the process by yourself. Much appreciated for going through this process for tool users worldwide. TH-cam is a great platform. Watching from the UK. Thank you sir!
Hey Concord Carpenter, Just wanted to throw in my $.02 regarding batteries/voltages. Dewalt is pushing the envelope in the field when it comes to this. Higher voltages provide the same power with more efficiency. In moving toward more powerful and efficient motors, they are laying some serious groundwork. The FlexVolt battery is comprised of three 20v circuits that can be run in parallel (to power all of your 20vMax tools with power and longevity, or any of your 18v tools with the battery adapter!) or in series as 60vMax. To say Dewalt is changing batteries on people again is misleading, their brand new batteries are backwards compatible with almost every tool they have made in the last decade as well as being leading edge when it comes to power and efficiency. Judging by your numbers, Dewalt's forthcoming 9.0Ah battery will easily outpace the Milwaukee. Regardless, Dewalt is laying the groundwork for amazing things while still supporting 99% of its cordless tools that are in use. They learned from their mistakes and abandoning support for still-working tools is a big no-no. I have 18v and got the 60vMax 7.25" saw knowing I can use the battery with any of my tools as well as any 20vMax tools I care to buy, or I can wait for the new 60v versions of them. Cheers, lifelong tool user
jcraig8 thanks, thats good to know! I thought that they were “jumping ship” again on the older tools. I wondered how they could stay in business doing that.
yeah but, they kinda mislead you with the whole "flex" volt, doesn't really flex thru their line of power tools. Dewalt is bad about misleading customers and appropriating off brand tools and labeling them as theirs, i quit buying deWalt long time because of the Flex volt scam.
I have the Makita 6 1/2" Brushless circular saw and I am constantly impressed with how smooth and how powerful it is. I know there are other saws available, I just haven't used them. Also, while I'm invested with Makita for my cordless tools, I am excited to see the other brands innovate because I know it will translate it better tools from Makita at some point down the road.
Also the Makita 6 1/2 has an attachment the allows it to work with their track saw rails, turning it into a cordless track saw. I don't know if it's available in the states or not. It's not officially available in Canada but there are a couple of companies that import it from Europe.
The accessory is the Makita 196953-0 Guide Rail Adapter. bcfasteners.com/shop/makita-196953-0-guide-rail-adapter/ is the Canadian site I found it on and www.amazon.com/Makita-196953-0-Guide-Rail-Adapter/dp/B01GCGUTFG is where I found it online for the states. Though looking at it closer again, it is on the Makita's US website. So if you live in the states you should be able to order it through your local Makita dealer.
The new flexvolt tools are incredible! They definitely have more power than 18v tools , I recently ripped a green oak 5x5 post 3m long in half with 2 passes , Fully charged battery and still had 1 bar left for ripping 8 sheets of ply in half , now with the 9ah /3ah battery's this thing is unstoppable!
I really enjoyed this video! I guess it really doesn't matter which one is best. People are going to go with what feels good to them. I have never seen a video that goes so far into the features. Thanks for that. I think I'm going with the dewalt only because I don't have a whole line of other battery packs from their previous line.
A Concord Carpenter / ToolBoxBuzz I'm trying to decide between the Ridgid 7.25 and Milwaukee 7.25 brushless saws. I have both platforms. Does the Ridgid have better sightlines for both sides of the blade and is the Milwaukee that much better power wise to warrant spending 100 more dollars?
I am currently in the market for a cordless saw and cordless jigsaw but have always been a Hilti fan when it comes to drills and impact drivers. I also own a cordless DeWalt planer and multi tool in 18v (UK) due to the fact that Hilti come nowhere in this test I am left with probably going down the DeWalt flexvolt route as I am also considering the flexvolt mitre saw. I understand Milwaukee came out top in the review but you don't see a lot of carpenters/ Joiners on that platform in the UK, mainly the M&E guys. Thanks for the review guys its opened my eyes to possibly purchasing the wrong saw because of brand loyalty
they’ll say that it’s due to their “premium” customer service… well, duh, if I charge 5 times the cost of the tool, you bet it’s going to be super easy for me to give you premium customer service for just a few years, and after that CHARGE you for repairs
seems like you never heard about Mafell, they make Festool look cheap hahah. But if you're a carpenter and you use it everyday, these tools are the real deal, can't go back for sure
I saw the Milwaukee on clearance for 125, so I picked it up. This thing is a beast. What I like about it is that reviews tend to be on the positive side with negatives being on the low side. I still prefer the blade on the left, but I also feel that the pros of this saw are strong enough to outweigh that. It came to a point where left and right no longer bothered me. There are different uses that come in play where a right might come in handy. I personally love using this when I am in workshop mode. There’s just something about its performance that makes it one of the best in class and gives the user that certain confidence that this beast will keep ripping until it’s done.
i have the makita lxt tools and they are the best ive ever used, and i came from the milwaukee fuel they were pretty good but my buddy had the makita on the job site, and my batteries were always dead before his and we were doing the same amount of work
I have the makita brushless saw and it's awesome 👏 . If I didn't invest so much into makita I would consider Milwaukee. 9ah that's huge!!! Come on makita time to compete
Dave Ishywood I have the makita corded circular saw. It's so smooth and just glides through the wood. Never been a fan of cordless saws, but they have come such a long ways. I can definitely see the appeal now.
I've used the Milwaukee, amazing. my only thing to add about the Dewalt is though you can't use the 20v batteries from other Dewalt tools, you don't need to change chargers I believe and you can use your 60v batteries to run your 20v tools. So the tool can only use the 60v battery but the batteries can use the 20v chargers and the 20v tools can use the 60v battery.
I purchased the first generation of Milwaukee lion tools almost 12 yrs ago. Im a serious DIY'r that also had a small GC business for 8 of the 12 yrs. The Lion batterys are very weak now but, the still work. The tools...still going strong. I know there are more efficient tools out today but, replacement batteries are too cheap to replace them. The Milwaukee radio is the bomb(wish it could charge the batts..) Love my red tools.
Excellent video keep it up guys. I have both the dewalt and the milwaukee, the dewalt is so much more powerfull that I prefer it over the Milwaukee especially for heavy framing work.
really enjoyed the depth and consideration you put into the testing. being a professional I used many and agree with the findings. recently due to age I replacing my platform for Hitachi that last 14 years. only thing I don't agree was sight alignment for bevel. the painted Ridgid in time won't last on job site. remember that some manufacture (early days) used adhesive stickers. lol thanks guys appreciate you
Excellent review all great saws. If you are invested in a certain battery platform nobrainer stay with that saw if you are starting out go with the Milwaukee or DeWalt but you wont go wrong with any of these saws .If you are on a tight budget like me go with Ryobi or Porter Cable.
Milwaukee's platform, I would say, is better. Makita seems to have more cases of multiple versions of the same type of tool, where Milwaukee has a larger variety of unique tools...but it could have just been my observation and not fact.
I have the Milwaukee Fuel 7 1/4". It cam with saw 9.0 amp hour battery and charger for $249. You add another battery and you are stull under the others. My opinion the Milwaukee cant be beat.
I took advantage of that deal as well. For 249.00, you are actually purchasing the Battery & charger and getting the saw for free. - Still a fantastic deal. - Love mine.
They still have that promo! I just bought mine today. They also have it for their Sawzall but I just can't justify buying that since it's a bit much for a DIY guy that would hardly ever need it for anything.
All your shows are extremely informative, they’ve helped in choosing the platform. I’m a DIYer. Can’t wait to see the pandemic over to see you guys again.
goldenguns4u is that with the new 60v battery? saw a cutting test with the dewalt vs the Milwaukee and the dewalt clearly had more cutting power. wondering how much of a difference that makes when you're out on the job.
I use a Milwaukee 6 1/4 for all of my work now , nice and light and on average I use a battery and a half per day . It has plenty of power for all of my cutting and any time I need to get through something tough ...just slow it down . It's one of my best tools and I'm not surprised it won best over all as it's very good and I work my tools fairly hard
Actually, DeWalt is the only company that gives a hoot about battery compatibility. Not only can you still get 18v NiCads, but you can get an adapter to use the 20v batteries on 18v tools. I'm mighty impressed with DeWalt's approach. (Not impressed with their approach on 12v tools though, or more accurately, their almost complete absence from the segment.)
agreed its the reason I am replacing all my Dewalt cordless with Milwaukee as my old dewalts die. They really pissed me off when they got rid of the 18v and went with 20v (which is the same battery, you just have to replace your tools). All my contractor friends are doing the same as well, Dewalt really pissed off a lot of contractors. Not smart!
I have the twin battery Makita hypoid saw and love it. It does require you to have 4 batteries at least, but considering I have multiple Makita 18v tools that all use them, that's a non issue for me. Coworker has the DeWalt 7 1/4 saw pictured here, but when it comes to raw power, the Makita wins hands down. No problems ripping lvls down to studs with mine.
I own and love this Milwaukee 6 1/2 saw. All my other Milwaukee gear is crap, gen3 fuel stuff. Combi, impact and fuel jigsaw have major trigger issues, don't work half the time. My Hilti drills have surpassed my Milwaukee ones. This Milwaukee fuel saw though is one of the best tools I've used in 40 years. The first one I received was faulty....not a good start, but the replacement one is incredible!! Light fast and cuts all day effortlessly. The motor sounds like a kids toy but the saw cuts any timber I point it at with ease. I have an 8 1/2" magnesium Makita corded saw for major cutting but wanted something smaller and lighter. This tool is simply incredible!!!! If all Milwaukee gear was this good they would wipe all other brands away. Sadly, in my personal experience their drills and impacts are very unreliable. I would love a review of the latest Hilti 22 volt circular. The 36volt is too old and brushed!
When I saw the Milwaukee 7 1/4 with the 9.0 amp hour battery and charger for $245, I didn't even think twice about buying it. I had to walk out with a box that day, that trip to Home Depot. It works as well as my 7 1/2 right hand mag skilsaw sidewinder. And it cuts so clean I cut an 80 inch 1/16 inch thick piece of scrap off a hardwood door I was trimming down. It was one eight inch minus the saw blade width for the full 80 inches. If I ever need to cut 1/16 inch stock I know how to do it. There was no waver in the blade or the saw like Dewalt tends to do. My Milwaukee works great. Due to the voltage, the Dewalt can probably cut the toughest stuff the best with no bogging. The higher the voltage, the better a motor runs, period. That's why they have 24, 48, 60, and 70 volt batteries for heavy duty cordless tools. Voltage wins in a motor. Milwaukee will eventually have a high voltage saw to compete for pure raw power. They will have to. But in the meantime Milwaukee has long battery life and great power. The unknown here is what happens as batteries age and only have half the life. The Dewalt batteries may become intolerable due to short battery life while the Milwaukee will still have a decent, usable life. Those big batteries are not cheap! There may be some flaws that show up in the flex volt system that will be learned the hard way in this first evolution of tools.
Amazing review! And I am surprised by the results - sort of. The Milwaukee Fuel is a great saw. I have one, and when I first got it, I was truely surprised by how good it is. However, I expected the Dewalt to win simply because it is a newer offering, and certainly they would have benchmarked the Fuel to be sure they beat it in every category by a reasonable margin. The fact that the Dewalt was not the clear winner is what surprised me. It does show just how good Milwaukee did with the Fuel.
I've personally used the makita, dewalt and own the milwaukee. What he didn't mention was torque and power. The milwaukee with a 12.0 amp and 9.0 amp battery will over power both of these saw by a LONG shot. I ripped 4" off a 3.5" psl recwntly. It powered through just as good if not better then any cordless saw I've used. I've also cut through as many sheets as possible on a lift of 3/4 plywood without any stopping or binding. The dewalt could never come close to that. Makita as well. No other cordless saw that I've used can power through anything like the milwaukee. It's truly surprising
You must have been using the Dewalt 20v. I've used them all and nothing comes close to the Dewalt 60v for sheer power. Match the 60v with the 9amp battery and there is your winner.
Wow wow and one more wow. This is one of the most in depth videos + website article's I have ever come across and with great logic used throughout. The effort taken in this with your guys on the ground, your explanation walk through, as well as all the article write-up and videos editing is phenomenal. I have subscribed to the channel, bookmarked your site and also turned off my ad-blocker and will be clicking on the ad's on your site to support Thank you for all the effort you have gone through and continue to go through your work is great! From London, UK happy new year!
Interesting how Dewalt and Ridgid came in 1st and 2nd in cuts per amp hour. Also, no one talked about cost. I get the feeling one of these may have been the lowest purchase price. Not to mention Ridgid offers a Lifetime (25yr.) warranty on tool and battery. None of the others offer that.
Raul Perez did you read the articlE? There’s always more information there. The cost of the tool, or in this case the combination of components, is a clear objective. But value is not the cheapest tool, but the tool that delivers exceptional performance for its price. This head to head is a Frankenstein combination of components; tool, high-capacity battery, and charger. So we’re seeing higher price tags than the off the shelf kits you’re used to seeing in the stores. The graph in article is broken into two sections, one for the 6-1/2″ saws and one for the full size 7-1/4″ saws. We’ve listed the pricing based on the price of the tool, a charger (in some cases they are dual chargers), and two high capacity battery packs. Because one of the tools uses two packs in order to operate, we felt it was best to level the entire field by using two packs as the basis for cost and how much work can be accomplished with two packs. Value Winner (Trim) - Bosch The Bosch CCS180 with exceptional ergonomics, a decent runtime, and a reasonable price for all separately purchased components make this our value winner for the trim category. During our last circular saw head to head this tool with a 4.0Ah battery was named best in class for endurance. So although this is an older model, it still displays good performance and is well priced. You can expect to pay around $347 for the tool, 6.0Ah battery, and a loose charger. Value Winner (Framing) - DEWALT This category is typically dominated by Ridgid due to the aggressive pricing and quality performance. They certainly came close this time but the real winner here is the new DEWALT FlexVolt priced just below $400! This is the only saw that we tested that came in a true kit with the saw, charger, and two batteries. But with the disruption of the FlexVolt line, DEWALT’s new system is a big ask for current 20V users. Although the FlexVolt batteries are backwards compatible, DEWALT is still upsetting the apple cart by introducing a new line of tools no longer useful to the users invested in the DEWALT 20V line. With all that said, DEWALT needs to entice users over to bridge the new battery platform. Either way the DEWALT offers a very powerful tool, currently sporting a 60V, 2.0Ah battery, with plenty of room to run at a great price!
@@ConcordCarpenter No I didn't read the article. I'm on TH-cam looking for videos that help people make decisions spending their money on tools with factor that most people care about. I appreciate this video for those reasons, however, I think that your ultimate break down could be displayed at the end of the video where performance of your various tests, cost and warranty are noted. Thanks for clearing some of my concerns regarding the video's information up.
That 25yr warranty is a limited warranty that covers manufacturers defects ONLY. It doesn’t cover wear & tear or damage. And it’s worthless if you never registered the tool.
@@thomasarias5732 I got new brushes for an 8 year old Rigid driver under this warranty. I have also had a brand new Porter Cable router that I maybe used 45 minutes over the course of a year and it quit working. Took it to my local Dewalt/ Porter Cable authorized dealer for repair. It was exactly 14 months old and the one year factory warranty was expired. I suppose we get gems and duds with whatever brand. Everything has pros and cons.
Use the DEWALT 60 volt 7.25” and it’s a beast. Corded saw gone! And I get to use the Flexvolt as a high capacity 20 volt in my high draw tools like site blower and recip saw. An amazing system.
Wow did not know freaky made that tool back in 2016 unreal I just got one and it’s the first time I have seen it 4 years after you put it out for everyone to see thx again guys
Tremendous review, incredibly in depth and detailed. I love my 6 1/2" brushless Makita saw. It's truly a pleasure to use. Thanks for taking the time to do all the work involved in making this review happen. Thanks so much. Helps inform potential buyers. Wishing you and the crew a Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season!
I think u had 1 of the best videos about the break down of tools I have Milwaukie 18v and the 1 thing I love is like you said all battery's work together so u keep going
seems a bit redundant, the cordless saw you get is the same brand as the batteries you carry. Everyone always starts out with a drill/driver kit before buying other tools, so whatever one you started with is the one you're stuck with.
KewlCrayon A lot of people purchase starter tools, lower quality more budget items. Others have several different brand tools but I'm not sure which platform to build battles so I guess it all depends
Ehh I got a little bit of everything. Dewalt drill and driver, Milwaukee drill and driver, Makita drill and driver, Bosch drill, Hitachi drill, circular saw, jig saw, recip saw. I like to try a little bit of everything, but you can have all different stuff, for 18v I love Hitachi, for 12v love my Milwaukees
I'm actually starting my till portfolio over. I'm looking at drill/driver/saw... Loved Makita years ago. Looking heavily at/well probably get Ridgid or Milwaukee. Current need is simple projects. Will be building personal home in 2 years if everything pans out. Even if I have to wait 5 years... I want what I buy today to be going strong to finish home
Yeah I've got a mix, dewalt/ makita/ryobi... really whatever is the best value at the time. Maybe one day I'll settle on one and sell my collection, but I don't mind having multiple chargers and batteries.
I tend to agree with purchasing for the battery type you already own. Then when one item in your set is pure junk you would never buy a replacement for it. Instead you will go to upgrade and find saws near same size you want/had and find one reasonable price until....you find it comes with no battery or charger which makes it a hammer. But to find a saw to replace the kit junk you find one saw to replace your $100.00 saw is closing in on $400 to get batteries and all.
Great video. Thank you. I think I'm going with the Milwaukee 6 1/2 but the Makita is still on my mind. I'm going to get a big combo kit. Saw, drill/driver , sawzall and comes with a 4 1/2 " grinder. All brushless. The Makita is $500 and the other is $700. Big jump in price but I can't stop looking at the Milwaukee. If you have any thoughts I welcome them. Thanks again
Hey guys like your videos. I know I am late to the comments on this one but I have something people might want to consider. I am a commercial contractor and have about ten guys working for me. I typically supply them with tools. I have noticed they usually pick Makita to use. I have always used Dewalt. After the years have gone by I have decided to supply them with only Dewalt as the Makita batteries have gone bad so many times. The Makita batteries also become loose and have a bad connection. After I switched them to Dewalt I have never had an issue. Just my experience. Thanks for the reviews
my friend bought a combo of milwaukee few month ago, his hammer drill is broken , circular saw is fking heavy and the protection system( the shell covering the saw) is completely trash ( always stuck) when cut the timber.
Strange, I switched to Milwaukee from Makita power tools and the build quality and performance is night and day for what I do. I find the Milwaukee 18v fuel hammer drill and impact driver are unreal.
I am a Milwaukee M18 Fuel fan! I love the power of the every M18 Fuel tool, but the 2731-20 7-!/4" framing saw is a MONSTER! The 9 AH Red battery lasts and lasts. The coolest thing is that tools from this line often appear in the clearance end cap at Home Depot for ALOT less money than full. Just last month I picked up a combo kit with the 2731-20, a fast charger and a 9.0 battery for $187.00! I just could not pass it up as full price is over $350 and combo at $250.00. The best time to shop for ANY cordless tool is of course Christmas. This is when good priced combos pop up and as they are not normal merch, they will often appear a couple of moths later on clearance. (at HD anyhow) I have had Makita and Dewalts and Rigid, but for my dough Milwaukee Fuel is the way to go. Fantastic backwards compatibility on all Milwaukee battery fits too!
Andrew D like they said the top 3 are basically interchangeable. The Makita is the most powerful saw in the test tho and for framing you want power especially in cordless tools.
I wanted to point out that one of the major factors and what makes these type of videos good or bad is how they’re presented of course the content is everything but if they’re presented for early it’s just hard to watch - having said that I think this guy believe your name is Rob does a great job come across like a guy from the construction world not like an actor . That’s no easy task to spit out that much information in that short of time and I think you do it well . So good job there’s some real good information there , some good content and a great job on the presentation - all around enjoyable to watch with useful and relevant information - well done .
Don Weber thanks! I’m a GC and remodelling contractor with a finish carpentry focus. Been doing this for 26-28 years, lost count. I appreciate the feedback - I really enjoy doing these reviews
Camrin Massey What a goofy test, who would have thought a giant expensive battery is going to offer the most run time. In other news Milwaukee also won the most red colored saw test as well, truly putting it in a class all its own.
Infandous Ktenology, i have the saw and battery kit and with the rapid charger the 9.0 battery charges in 45 minutes, the charger charges 5.0 batteries in under 20 minutes
Actually the Makita has more cuts on the runtime test did you look closely at the graphs? Read the article? Or.... do just prefer to make fun of 140 man-hours of "free labor" to provide some insight into the tools you use?
Cody Muckerheide that doesn't sound remotely possible. does it charge 3ah batteries in 10 minutes? Are they smoking when they're done and do you hold them with oven mitts?
Brandon Hall not at all, idk what they incorporated into the charging technology, the company i work for buys exclusively milwaukee for our cordless tools, so i bought my own 7 1/4 saw and was the first with the 9.0 battery in the company, being the only one with a rapid charger we would always use mine, wed put a battery on the charger, walk away for at most 20 min and when we came back the batterys would be charged from 0, except the 9.0 of course
I'm in love with the makita rear handle dual battery saw. Two 6.0 ah batteries and it lasts all day on my sites, easily. The milwaukee 7 1/4" with a 12 ah makes it all day pretty easily too.
100%. I also have the Milwaukee gen 2, and my Flexvolt runs circles around it. I actually despise my Milwaukee because it’s so bad in comparison to the Flex.
though putting a 9 ah battery on an impact driver though it works is a little heavy . backwards compatible awesome .60 volt battery on the 20v chop saw goes all day
Great video! Recently went from Ridgid X4 to Milwaukee Fuel tools, and have been a little conflicted with the change. Initially, the M18 fuel tools displayed considerably more power until they were put under heavy loads, at which point they “detune” themselves to preserve the tool and extend battery life. On one hand this is good, on the other, time is money and the under-performing tools are costing me both. You may say that I need a larger tool commensurate to the task, but I would counter that, having reached the half-century mark, with joints that have spent over 30 years in construction, tool weight is a premium. Milwaukee are definitely better crafted, but I feel are coming up short in the “getter done” category where a tool that goes all out, yet has a shorter life-expectancy is a better value.
To me you got to look at the big picture, and the only one that actually matches and might be more powerful then corded is Dewalt, the others don't and you won't be able to with 18 or 36 volt tools, Dewalt to me is game changing in the power tool department and they have a 7 year patent on it's flexvolt design so either other tool companies pay to use that technology or just wait for the patent you ru out or use a different battery platform
Big Daddy I'm not sure I agree completely. The 60v is nice, but it does come with a sacrifice. Dewalt and Milwaukee have similar number of cells in a pack. So one uses the potential power quicker at a higher voltage. One chooses longer run time at a lower voltage. For 95% of applications a user doesn't really need 60volts (54).
Actually if you look at the cuts per watt hour chart they showed the Dewalt uses its battery energy slower than the Milwaukee. Just because the battery pack is a higher voltage doesn't mean the tool automatically draws more power. The higher voltage of the Dewalt system means that it can be more efficient as the current draw is lower and therefore heat loss in the motor winding and the control MOSFETs is lower.
Great in depth bake off! I don’t know how anyone can give this review a thumbs down. The only way is if they’re a shill for a particular company or so invested in a particular company that they’re in denial, e.g. Rigid, Hilti, Metabo, etc...
I'm glad you did the head to head, run what you brung test (w the exception of adding batts so the results made sense). I couldn't care less about brand loyalty, except for battery compatibility. If I have ten fresh, 5ah yellow batts, well, the yellow tool is gonna get the harder look. That said, for me its more a line-up issue. I am looking at the best value for 4 main tools. If the line-up does the job at a good price, then I run that color on the job. I'm certainly not running yellow drill/driver, blue saw and red recip. Crazy!
Yeah I hear that, with 9 Orange batteries Ridgid always gets the biggest look for me and as long as the Ridgid tool I need will do the job then that's what I am gonna buy since I have so much money invested in Ridgid batteries
Chevy513 same. It’s frustrating because the ridgid battery powered sawzall is junk. I like their other tools but the reviews are terrible for the recip saw, so I will just go without as long as possible.
I think you shortchanged the Makita by giving the other saws two batteries just because the Makita REQUIRES two batteries. All else being equal, any vendors 36V 4Ah battery has the same energy capacity as two Makita 18V 4Ah ones. The two batts on a Makita saw are equivalent to a single 36V battery on the other saws, without the expense and aggravation of needing a whole new battery/charger ecosystem. When using the Makita saw you shouldn't think of it having two batteries... instead think of it as a single 36V battery and compare that way with other saws. Makita knocked it out of the park by combining the power of 36V with the economics of its HUGE 18V cordless line. If you are a pro I guess it doesn't really matter if you need different batteries and chargers depending on the tool you want to use, but for everyone else being able to use your existing battery ecosystem is a game changer. In case it isn't obvious, I do indeed own the Makita, and I love it.
Most of those saws come with two packs in the kit, if the saw requires two packs to operate and they don’t give you 4 so you can continue working while the others charge it indeed is a serious shortcoming of the tool when compared to the others.
1slkss for most people they don’t just own one cordless tool and highly unlikely you would only have the framing saw as your only cordless tool. Long way of saying most people would have more than 2 batteries
Martin Green well said. Bought the 36v rear handled circ saw. And it’s absolutely crushed my friends still using the corded skilsaw. Also I’m not leaving the platform. So if need be I can swap batteries from other makita tools I own
I always liked Milwaukee but had problems with there batteries...they work fine for awhile but they often fail...Milwaukee at one time honored this buy replacing them via a recall etc. but I heard now they wont now and there customer support is non existing (personal experience), its my understanding that they now out source there battery construction , that is not the same company may not make their batteries all the time and (for me) they seem pron to fail after awhile and will not support there customers. "That's all I got to say about that" Forest Gump
When I bought this saw as a bare tool the blade it came with was missing teeth. I called customer service and they sent me a new one. I'd say that's good customer service imo.
Robert it is good to have people like you who do the homework for us. After reviewing the way you examine these tools, it is easy for me to to go online compare the price and get the tools. Thanks for such analysis which are helpful.
Own Ridgid 6 1/2” brushed and 7 1/4” brushless. 6 1/2” is only suitable as a doorstop (blade removed of course). What a POS! 7 1/4” Meh .. It’s ok. Still struggles.
I've been happy with my Dewalt 20V 7-1/4" circular saw's performance. Coming from an old 18V XRP 6-1/2" Dewalt circular saw the power difference and battery life difference isn't even in the same ballpark. I'm sure that Flexvolt version is good, but for the ridiculous price its not worth it. I have the Flexvolt 16" chainsaw and the runtime on a battery isn't great, about 15 minutes. I have the 7-1/4" Dewalt 20V miter saw as well and it does great on battery life and performance. I did a living room, dining room, and kitchen flooring project on 1 5ah battery. Pretty good run time I think considering all the cuts it was making.
My makita trim saw came with a little guide that quick and easy screws down into place. works great to rip in a pinch. do other saws come with this feature? that little piece of hooked metal has saved me so much hassle. not only good for ripping stripes, but handy as hell for sheathing if removing just a few inches from a sheet. with a 5 or 6 amp fatty 18v battery pack i’ve also ripped full lengths of 2x no problem.
I would love to see an updated version of this video!
Amen. I want a update head to head on these saws, hammer drills and impacts. I beg that they will
Yes I would like to see a version with ryobi too!!!!
I was about to ash why as I saw the date 21 Dec and then noticed it was 2016.
Your absolutely right an updated vid would be great and/or one on the smaller under 6" saws like the MW M12CCS440
Especially since Makita did end up going brushless
🙋🏽♂️
Cuts per watt hour? Damn, you really got into this. Thank you for taking the time to figure out exactly how each tool operates from every perspective. Bravo!
Ive waited 30 years for these battery tools to come into carpentry although I've worked with corded tools all my working life. It's nice to see things moving on for the best making the job site safer and easier for the carpenter. Love this channel keep up the good work guys.
I’ve said it before but this dude might b one of best reviewers on TH-cam. 100% straight to the point and doesn’t waste time on tangents
thanks
You guys do one hell of a great job making your reviews as fair and accurate as possible.
It beats the snot out of shill "reviews" that pollute YT and elsewhere.
PinkOld Thank you brother, please subscribe and help spread the word
Reminds me of the old days when Consumer Reports was worth reading just to understand how the product was being tested...and how those tests did or didn't reflect your use of a product...
your tool reviews are by far the best. I am a carpenter from all the way down in adelaide australia and i have recently been upgrading all of my tools and have now moved to being fully cordless. I am not loyal to a specific brand, i just want what is best suited to me and the work i do. Your reviews have been so incredibly helpful and honestly they have saved me a lot of time and money as we all know how annoying it is to just go a buy something without looking into it to then find it has a fatal flaw that you notice every single time you use it.
thank you and keep up the great work
So helpful, love to see a 2020 version of this again.
I don't understand how anyone could give this review a thumbs down. Well done, guys!!
I’ve had the Dewalt Flexvolt pretty much since they first came out and I love it. I have 4 each of the 6ah and 9ah batteries and never have any down time waiting for batteries, exelaint runtime, power and performance, blows the competition out of the water in my opinion, and the new updated model has the rafter hook Andes even more powerful (Just got one recently and I like it even better than the old one and that’s saying a lot). My boss has a Milwaukee and he likes mine better even when he uses his 12ah batteries for it. And the Forman on our crew had a Rigid and sold it and got a Flexvolt after using mine. I personally prefer that it has its own batteries, having the amount of power that it does is awesome and a smaller battery would drain very quickly. I’d be very interested to see an updated version of this video and am conga Dewalt would take it
Great in depth review. My 2 cents: I am a framing contractor, with thousands of dollars invested in both the Milwaukee Fuel and DeWalt Flexvolt tool lines. I run my jobs almost exclusively on cordless tools and use these tools all day long. My trailer has a big battery recharge station with 5 and 9 Amphour Milwaukee and DeWalt 2/6 and 3/9 amphour Flexvolt batteries recharging on multiport chargers all day long. In my opinion DeWalt has unquestionably assumed the top spot in contractor grade high output tools with the introduction and diversification of the Flexvolt line of tools. With four Milwaukee Fuel saws, and 3 Dewalt Flexvolt saws on my shelf, I reach for the blade right Flexvolt saw almost exclusively, even though I dislike the blade right configuration. The reason is that when speed counts, torque is better than endurance. The Milwaukee Fuels get about as much work done, but they bog down way easier and take more time. Ripping 2x lumber, cutting rafters, headers, gang ripping plywood, month-old blades, with perhaps a carbide tooth missing, on the dewalt 60V saws still cut with good speed and decent quality because the DeWalt 60V brushless motor has enough torque to power through the cuts. With a month old blade, with resin buildup on the teeth, the 18 Volt Milwaukee Fuels cut much slower, and bog down on compound miters (rafters) and often fail. I have more $ invested in Milwaukee Fuel, but without a steady, expensive stream of new blades, the 18 Volt motors feel weak and take too long to make cuts and fail too often. In all honesty I can't stand working with Milwaukee Fuel saws unless the blades are less than 2 weeks old, they just cut too slow. So in my experience, running these saws into the ground (burned out 2 Fuel saws over the last year) month after month every day, cutting rafters, tails, headers, sheeting roofs, gang ripping plywood etc. the DeWalt Flexvolt wins hands down in the field. When the new blade left DeWalt 60V Max in-line saws come out in October, I will buy three ASAP, and I expect that my Milwaukee Fuel saws will largely cease to be used by my crew and be viewed as a second tier tool.
James Weaver , im framer too , is good your review for me because im not sure , if milwaukee or dewalt, i need one , the mayorit people reviews is diy , not profesional construction worker,
reviews like these are very important to small shops like mine, nothing worse than buying expensive tools that don't perform. Thanks :)
Thank you for educating me and my family on the best brands of saw. Please keep the carpenter community updated for future use. God Bless.
You guys do the best videos. Very informative for the working class man.
The neighbors must love you guys...
Dahut Some do I usually give them the extra tools
Bet none are third shifters.
Lmao
I work in framing and i use a dewalt 60v all day just 2 batteries 👍
I run both the 20v and 60v dewalt on my job sites. I have the 20 and my partner recently upgraded to the 60v.
Both are great saws but the 60 is a clear upgrade, even with both running identical batteries. The 20 runs great but bogs down on rips cuts a bit. The 60v feels like a corded tool power wise, it's very impressive. The large batteries change the balance compared to a corded tool and does tire the wrist a bit when power using on a framing site. The trade off for being cordless is more than worth it and we rarely run corded tools now.
We run almost exclusively dewalt tools these days since the 20v/60v line is so impressive across the board. We currently have multiple drill/driver sets (20v), 20v and 60v skill saws, and grinders. The 60v is a clear winner for both, but the 20v is still a great tool. We have the 60v job site table saw, which is good but I wish it had the capability to be corded the same as the 60v mitre saw. Battery life is an issue for the table saw but it still has treated us well. The other 60v tool we have is the leaf blower, it came with a 9 amp hour battery which was nice.
Next cordless tools on my list are the framing nailer (currently use a paslode gas cartridge/battery combo when I go airless), and the 12" double compound mitre saw which looks amazing but is pricey.
Wow what a review!!!! Thank you so much, truly appreciated! I've owned the Milwaukee for ~9 months now. Great saw
Thanks T!
As a Milwaukee fanboy I absolutely love Makita circular saws, like they said it’s really smooth, the bevel is very well made in easy to use
Interesting. However, most of us probably become 'slaves' to whatever brand we already own in order to simplify the requirement for battery chargers and interchangeable battery packs. It would be nice though if there was a universal standard on the battery side so that customers could select the brand of tools that fitted their particular requirements best. I don't see that coming any day soon though, or at all in fact.
We can always dream right lol!
Universalize the connector and leave battery cost, quality, and performance up to the end brand to make their battery a better buy
Jon the problem is batteries and tools electronics work toghether the manufacturer doesn't want people using other brands batteries, so they use proprietary "language" in their tool/battery interface
That's actually not a terrible idea...and possible. It was done for phone chargers a couple of years back in the EU and it really made thinks easier. The best thing about that is: You would probably get companies really quickly just offering battery/charger systems, companies focusing on nothing else. That way, you can get really amazing things.
The only way I see a universal battery working is if there was a subscription, that you subscribed to. Say, you needed X number of batteries and you paid accordingly to the number of batteries that you needed to use. Go one step further with a modified one key system allowing you to monitor the performance of any given battery. If that batteries performance dipped below a certain level they would ask you to swap it out.
Wow! It looks like you guys spent a huge amount of time putting this head to head together. It is greatly appreciated! It is people like you that are pushing the industry into making better tools. It is a great time to be in the trades. I am an electrician but I use my circular saw quite often. Going to read the article now. Thanks again!
Mike - thanks for commenting! Please give us a thumbs up if you like it!
great video!!!...i just got the m18 fuel 7 1/4 for free for buying the 9.0 battery kit...guess i made a good choice
Jody Reed what that run if can ask
Harleydude ditto
I got 4 of them ...depends on what u get free....275 to 500 bux
Great write up on all of these saws. Back when I had only the Bosch Brute Tough hammer drill I was looking to buy a cordless circular saw. I was looking toward Milwaukee but I already had 2 Bosch batteries with the drill. I ended up sticking with Bosch based on your 18v saw comparison video. I won't be cutting much heavy stuff like LVL, plywood and 2x matl are right up my alley so I was blown away when I saw that you guys found the Bosch beat even the Fuel on runtime! Their next brushless circular saw ought to be a beast, they just need to get things moving faster over there at Bosch. They take their time with things but when they finally release the next models they seem to nail it. Thanks for the great videos!
I bit the bullet and bought the Festool Track saw and LOVE it!
I have several Porter Cable 20 volt lithium power tools. I am really satisfied with them. My only complaint is with the circular saw by PC with the standard battery. It works great for minor cutting. When making cuts in 2x6 boards, you get maybe 6-8 cuts max and those are tough cuts. Mechanically, the red blade depth handle when tightened in the max depth position rest below the base of the saw. I used this saw during a water line break over my cedar sauna and had to cut wet cedar ceiling planks. It worked great even after getting wet. Very light and it made enough cuts to allow access to the problem. Good reviews of all the saws.
This man know how to explain things. Trust me.
Solid review, I like your logic. I bought a. Skil 77 mag and burnt it up in 3 months, very sad. My local HD let me return it in for a trade in the 7 1:4” milwaukee 9.0 Kit. I have ran this saw into the pits of hell and it never stops- my bosch table saw wouldn’t bevel cut a 6x6- ok let’s torture the 9.0! I love makita corded, but for the brutish jobs I get, it’s ALWAYS MILWAUKEE... thanks Robbie!
If you want a good value at Home Depot the milwaukee 7-1/4 has a 9.0 starter kit it's 250$ for a 9.0 battery and charger and the 7-1/4 saw. Great deal. I picked one up and it's an awesome saw.
Taelan Baylor they still have the deal the keep it going for the circ saw and the sawzall both with the 9.0 battery's.
bosch
I cannot fathom how much effort and time you and your guys have put in to make this video possible with intelligent analysis after the process by yourself.
Much appreciated for going through this process for tool users worldwide. TH-cam is a great platform.
Watching from the UK. Thank you sir!
Hey Concord Carpenter,
Just wanted to throw in my $.02 regarding batteries/voltages. Dewalt is pushing the envelope in the field when it comes to this. Higher voltages provide the same power with more efficiency. In moving toward more powerful and efficient motors, they are laying some serious groundwork. The FlexVolt battery is comprised of three 20v circuits that can be run in parallel (to power all of your 20vMax tools with power and longevity, or any of your 18v tools with the battery adapter!) or in series as 60vMax. To say Dewalt is changing batteries on people again is misleading, their brand new batteries are backwards compatible with almost every tool they have made in the last decade as well as being leading edge when it comes to power and efficiency. Judging by your numbers, Dewalt's forthcoming 9.0Ah battery will easily outpace the Milwaukee. Regardless, Dewalt is laying the groundwork for amazing things while still supporting 99% of its cordless tools that are in use. They learned from their mistakes and abandoning support for still-working tools is a big no-no. I have 18v and got the 60vMax 7.25" saw knowing I can use the battery with any of my tools as well as any 20vMax tools I care to buy, or I can wait for the new 60v versions of them.
Cheers,
lifelong tool user
jcraig8 thanks, thats good to know! I thought that they were “jumping ship” again on the older tools. I wondered how they could stay in business doing that.
Can the 20v run the flex volt tools?
@@whitechris720 No.
yeah but, they kinda mislead you with the whole "flex" volt, doesn't really flex thru their line of power tools. Dewalt is bad about misleading customers and appropriating off brand tools and labeling them as theirs, i quit buying deWalt long time because of the Flex volt scam.
I have the Makita 6 1/2" Brushless circular saw and I am constantly impressed with how smooth and how powerful it is. I know there are other saws available, I just haven't used them. Also, while I'm invested with Makita for my cordless tools, I am excited to see the other brands innovate because I know it will translate it better tools from Makita at some point down the road.
Also the Makita 6 1/2 has an attachment the allows it to work with their track saw rails, turning it into a cordless track saw. I don't know if it's available in the states or not. It's not officially available in Canada but there are a couple of companies that import it from Europe.
SteveVD do you have a link or can guide me to that info?
Saw that - amazing accessory
The accessory is the Makita 196953-0 Guide Rail Adapter. bcfasteners.com/shop/makita-196953-0-guide-rail-adapter/ is the Canadian site I found it on and www.amazon.com/Makita-196953-0-Guide-Rail-Adapter/dp/B01GCGUTFG is where I found it online for the states. Though looking at it closer again, it is on the Makita's US website. So if you live in the states you should be able to order it through your local Makita dealer.
Great video! Personally I like the M18 fuel and the Dewalt flexvolt!
The new flexvolt tools are incredible! They definitely have more power than 18v tools , I recently ripped a green oak 5x5 post 3m long in half with 2 passes , Fully charged battery and still had 1 bar left for ripping 8 sheets of ply in half , now with the 9ah /3ah battery's this thing is unstoppable!
I really enjoyed this video! I guess it really doesn't matter which one is best. People are going to go with what feels good to them. I have never seen a video that goes so far into the features.
Thanks for that. I think I'm going with the dewalt only because I don't have a whole line of other battery packs from their previous line.
Thanks Thomas
A Concord Carpenter / ToolBoxBuzz
I'm trying to decide between the Ridgid 7.25 and Milwaukee 7.25 brushless saws. I have both platforms. Does the Ridgid have better sightlines for both sides of the blade and is the Milwaukee that much better power wise to warrant spending 100 more dollars?
BG Greg the M18 saw will last longer and give you more cut power.
I am currently in the market for a cordless saw and cordless jigsaw but have always been a Hilti fan when it comes to drills and impact drivers.
I also own a cordless DeWalt planer and multi tool in 18v (UK) due to the fact that Hilti come nowhere in this test I am left with probably going down the DeWalt flexvolt route as I am also considering the flexvolt mitre saw. I understand Milwaukee came out top in the review but you don't see a lot of carpenters/ Joiners on that platform in the UK, mainly the M&E guys.
Thanks for the review guys its opened my eyes to possibly purchasing the wrong saw because of brand loyalty
HILTI = waaayyyyy overpriced just like Festool. Good tools but ridiculously OVERPRICED
they’ll say that it’s due to their “premium” customer service… well, duh, if I charge 5 times the cost of the tool, you bet it’s going to be super easy for me to give you premium customer service for just a few years, and after that CHARGE you for repairs
seems like you never heard about Mafell, they make Festool look cheap hahah. But if you're a carpenter and you use it everyday, these tools are the real deal, can't go back for sure
yep sure would
@boogiedahomey yup. I own Hilti drills, they aren't even that much more expensive than Milwaukee which is what I used before. They are made better
Milwaukee is used a lot on commercial sites I'm on. Theres still hilti but a lot of guys are swapping over with the milwaukee batteries being so good.
I saw the Milwaukee on clearance for 125, so I picked it up. This thing is a beast. What I like about it is that reviews tend to be on the positive side with negatives being on the low side. I still prefer the blade on the left, but I also feel that the pros of this saw are strong enough to outweigh that. It came to a point where left and right no longer bothered me. There are different uses that come in play where a right might come in handy. I personally love using this when I am in workshop mode. There’s just something about its performance that makes it one of the best in class and gives the user that certain confidence that this beast will keep ripping until it’s done.
i have the makita lxt tools and they are the best ive ever used, and i came from the milwaukee fuel they were pretty good but my buddy had the makita on the job site, and my batteries were always dead before his and we were doing the same amount of work
Luis Carmona
Just use a bigger ah battery like the 6.0
I’ve got makita myself and the guys I work with have Milwaukee. They usually prefer using my tools and regularly tell me the wish they got makita.
the Milwaukee Fuel 6 1/2" is always my go to. Love that saw! I run it with the new 8 amp and man what a beast!
Benjamin Romshak man you should try the 12ah battery, it makes a huge difference.
I have the makita brushless saw and it's awesome 👏 . If I didn't invest so much into makita I would consider Milwaukee. 9ah that's huge!!! Come on makita time to compete
Dave Ishywood I have the makita corded circular saw. It's so smooth and just glides through the wood. Never been a fan of cordless saws, but they have come such a long ways. I can definitely see the appeal now.
Actually the Makita using 2, 5ah batteries is technically 10ah, right?
@@achrisofalltrades5620 no, because the Makita is 36v. 2x18v 5.0AH batteries in series would be 36v @ 5.0AH, not 10AH.
@@C71-m1l Right, I get it now. Thanks man
You can use makita 36V double battery tools. Less charging time. Milwaukee 9Ah is 95min - 180min charging time. It is not relevant.
I've used the Milwaukee all day cutting 2x4 and 3/4 plywood for form work,and I can tell they lasted beyond my expectations
Wow! This is one of the best videos I've seen. Good job.
Once again the most thorough and comprehensive comparison.
the blade that comes with the millwaukee is amazing
I've used the Milwaukee, amazing. my only thing to add about the Dewalt is though you can't use the 20v batteries from other Dewalt tools, you don't need to change chargers I believe and you can use your 60v batteries to run your 20v tools. So the tool can only use the 60v battery but the batteries can use the 20v chargers and the 20v tools can use the 60v battery.
I was at Home Depot yesterday and they are selling the Milwaukee 7 1/4 fuel saw with a 9.0 battery and rapid charger for $250.
That's important info. Thanks.
Holy Crap! Up here in Canadia, $250 only gets you the 9.0 battery!
God bless America!
the Canadian price point is due to the exchange rate.. we pay more on all tools
Vincent Sauvé yes bummer for those guys
Nutz4Gunz45 I paid 369 in Australia for the bare unit. Was a while ago though.
I purchased the first generation of Milwaukee lion tools almost 12 yrs ago. Im a serious DIY'r that also had a small GC business for 8 of the 12 yrs. The Lion batterys are very weak now but, the still work. The tools...still going strong. I know there are more efficient tools out today but, replacement batteries are too cheap to replace them. The Milwaukee radio is the bomb(wish it could charge the batts..) Love my red tools.
Excellent video keep it up guys. I have both the dewalt and the milwaukee, the dewalt is so much more powerfull that I prefer it over the Milwaukee especially for heavy framing work.
really enjoyed the depth and consideration you put into the testing. being a professional I used many and agree with the findings. recently due to age I replacing my platform for Hitachi that last 14 years. only thing I don't agree was sight alignment for bevel. the painted Ridgid in time won't last on job site. remember that some manufacture (early days) used adhesive stickers. lol thanks guys appreciate you
Excellent review all great saws. If you are invested in a certain battery platform nobrainer stay with that saw if you are starting out go with the Milwaukee or DeWalt but you wont go wrong with any of these saws .If you are on a tight budget like me go with Ryobi or Porter Cable.
Dead-on brother!
Charlie Thompson I'd say go with Makita, they have the largest platform by a large margin and high quality tools.
Milwaukee's platform, I would say, is better. Makita seems to have more cases of multiple versions of the same type of tool, where Milwaukee has a larger variety of unique tools...but it could have just been my observation and not fact.
Makita definitely has the larger platform, they even have a damn coffee maker.
i know - thats funny
This is the best review I’ve ever seen. Pure solid info by this cool guy
Shaun Fatemian thanks
I have the Milwaukee Fuel 7 1/4". It cam with saw 9.0 amp hour battery and charger for $249. You add another battery and you are stull under the others. My opinion the Milwaukee cant be beat.
I took advantage of that deal as well. For 249.00, you are actually purchasing the Battery & charger and getting the saw for free. - Still a fantastic deal. - Love mine.
I bought the tool only saw about 6 months ago for $200, doohh...I think ill buy this deal just to get the 9.0
Dan
but don't forget guys... U only get, what u played for !!!
They still have that promo! I just bought mine today. They also have it for their Sawzall but I just can't justify buying that since it's a bit much for a DIY guy that would hardly ever need it for anything.
Your only argument is that the Milwaukee is cheaper. That has nothing to do with the quality of the saw.
All your shows are extremely informative, they’ve helped in choosing the platform. I’m a DIYer. Can’t wait to see the pandemic over to see you guys again.
it's cool to see the Milwaukee 7 1/4 win it really is a great saw
Mark Kilroy I have the flex volt and love it. it's got lots of power and is nice for taking up on the roof regardless of not having a rafter hook
goldenguns4u is that with the new 60v battery? saw a cutting test with the dewalt vs the Milwaukee and the dewalt clearly had more cutting power. wondering how much of a difference that makes when you're out on the job.
jamesnm21 this H2H test was done just before Flexvolt cane out
Talk about spoiler
Kyle Gritzner what do you mean?
I use a Milwaukee 6 1/4 for all of my work now , nice and light and on average I use a battery and a half per day . It has plenty of power for all of my cutting and any time I need to get through something tough ...just slow it down . It's one of my best tools and I'm not surprised it won best over all as it's very good and I work my tools fairly hard
I love my Milwaukee Fuel, can't stand the fact that DeWalt changes batteries every other year
Actually, DeWalt is the only company that gives a hoot about battery compatibility. Not only can you still get 18v NiCads, but you can get an adapter to use the 20v batteries on 18v tools. I'm mighty impressed with DeWalt's approach. (Not impressed with their approach on 12v tools though, or more accurately, their almost complete absence from the segment.)
agreed its the reason I am replacing all my Dewalt cordless with Milwaukee as my old dewalts die. They really pissed me off when they got rid of the 18v and went with 20v (which is the same battery, you just have to replace your tools). All my contractor friends are doing the same as well, Dewalt really pissed off a lot of contractors. Not smart!
tim johnson you can still buy the old 18v batteries, or an adapter to use the newer 20v...no need to throw anything away
makita didpiss me off when they drop their 18v nimh tool, at least dewalt as an adapter
I have the twin battery Makita hypoid saw and love it. It does require you to have 4 batteries at least, but considering I have multiple Makita 18v tools that all use them, that's a non issue for me. Coworker has the DeWalt 7 1/4 saw pictured here, but when it comes to raw power, the Makita wins hands down. No problems ripping lvls down to studs with mine.
Wow great review really appreciated feels good today to be a Milwaukee guy.
I own and love this Milwaukee 6 1/2 saw. All my other Milwaukee gear is crap, gen3 fuel stuff. Combi, impact and fuel jigsaw have major trigger issues, don't work half the time. My Hilti drills have surpassed my Milwaukee ones. This Milwaukee fuel saw though is one of the best tools I've used in 40 years. The first one I received was faulty....not a good start, but the replacement one is incredible!! Light fast and cuts all day effortlessly. The motor sounds like a kids toy but the saw cuts any timber I point it at with ease. I have an 8 1/2" magnesium Makita corded saw for major cutting but wanted something smaller and lighter. This tool is simply incredible!!!! If all Milwaukee gear was this good they would wipe all other brands away. Sadly, in my personal experience their drills and impacts are very unreliable. I would love a review of the latest Hilti 22 volt circular. The 36volt is too old and brushed!
When I saw the Milwaukee 7 1/4 with the 9.0 amp hour battery and charger for $245, I didn't even think twice about buying it. I had to walk out with a box that day, that trip to Home Depot. It works as well as my 7 1/2 right hand mag skilsaw sidewinder. And it cuts so clean I cut an 80 inch 1/16 inch thick piece of scrap off a hardwood door I was trimming down. It was one eight inch minus the saw blade width for the full 80 inches. If I ever need to cut 1/16 inch stock I know how to do it. There was no waver in the blade or the saw like Dewalt tends to do. My Milwaukee works great. Due to the voltage, the Dewalt can probably cut the toughest stuff the best with no bogging. The higher the voltage, the better a motor runs, period. That's why they have 24, 48, 60, and 70 volt batteries for heavy duty cordless tools. Voltage wins in a motor. Milwaukee will eventually have a high voltage saw to compete for pure raw power. They will have to. But in the meantime Milwaukee has long battery life and great power. The unknown here is what happens as batteries age and only have half the life. The Dewalt batteries may become intolerable due to short battery life while the Milwaukee will still have a decent, usable life. Those big batteries are not cheap! There may be some flaws that show up in the flex volt system that will be learned the hard way in this first evolution of tools.
Amazing review! And I am surprised by the results - sort of. The Milwaukee Fuel is a great saw. I have one, and when I first got it, I was truely surprised by how good it is. However, I expected the Dewalt to win simply because it is a newer offering, and certainly they would have benchmarked the Fuel to be sure they beat it in every category by a reasonable margin. The fact that the Dewalt was not the clear winner is what surprised me. It does show just how good Milwaukee did with the Fuel.
We were surprised too! Thanks for commenting Goose - glad your back, been awhile!!
A Concord Carpenter yes, glad to be back! Life gets busy, but wasn't going to miss this video! great job!
I'm glad you're back too! Miss those comments
If they had used 9.0 battery o the dewalt I think the dewalt may have won.
Wild Goose The only thing Milwaukee beat Dewalt was rafter hook
OFF the hook video guys , you covered everything !
I've personally used the makita, dewalt and own the milwaukee. What he didn't mention was torque and power. The milwaukee with a 12.0 amp and 9.0 amp battery will over power both of these saw by a LONG shot. I ripped 4" off a 3.5" psl recwntly. It powered through just as good if not better then any cordless saw I've used. I've also cut through as many sheets as possible on a lift of 3/4 plywood without any stopping or binding. The dewalt could never come close to that. Makita as well. No other cordless saw that I've used can power through anything like the milwaukee. It's truly surprising
kris drepko this rest was done before those batteries were available
Dude the Dewalt flexvolt is a lot more powerful than the Milwaukee it's not even debatable
You must have been using the Dewalt 20v. I've used them all and nothing comes close to the Dewalt 60v for sheer power. Match the 60v with the 9amp battery and there is your winner.
Wow wow and one more wow.
This is one of the most in depth videos + website article's I have ever come across and with great logic used throughout.
The effort taken in this with your guys on the ground, your explanation walk through, as well as all the article write-up and videos editing is phenomenal. I have subscribed to the channel, bookmarked your site and also turned off my ad-blocker and will be clicking on the ad's on your site to support
Thank you for all the effort you have gone through and continue to go through your work is great!
From London, UK happy new year!
Interesting how Dewalt and Ridgid came in 1st and 2nd in cuts per amp hour. Also, no one talked about cost. I get the feeling one of these may have been the lowest purchase price. Not to mention Ridgid offers a Lifetime (25yr.) warranty on tool and battery. None of the others offer that.
Raul Perez did you read the articlE? There’s always more information there.
The cost of the tool, or in this case the combination of components, is a clear objective. But value is not the cheapest tool, but the tool that delivers exceptional performance for its price. This head to head is a Frankenstein combination of components; tool, high-capacity battery, and charger. So we’re seeing higher price tags than the off the shelf kits you’re used to seeing in the stores.
The graph in article is broken into two sections, one for the 6-1/2″ saws and one for the full size 7-1/4″ saws. We’ve listed the pricing based on the price of the tool, a charger (in some cases they are dual chargers), and two high capacity battery packs. Because one of the tools uses two packs in order to operate, we felt it was best to level the entire field by using two packs as the basis for cost and how much work can be accomplished with two packs.
Value Winner (Trim) - Bosch
The Bosch CCS180 with exceptional ergonomics, a decent runtime, and a reasonable price for all separately purchased components make this our value winner for the trim category. During our last circular saw head to head this tool with a 4.0Ah battery was named best in class for endurance. So although this is an older model, it still displays good performance and is well priced. You can expect to pay around $347 for the tool, 6.0Ah battery, and a loose charger.
Value Winner (Framing) - DEWALT
This category is typically dominated by Ridgid due to the aggressive pricing and quality performance. They certainly came close this time but the real winner here is the new DEWALT FlexVolt priced just below $400! This is the only saw that we tested that came in a true kit with the saw, charger, and two batteries.
But with the disruption of the FlexVolt line, DEWALT’s new system is a big ask for current 20V users. Although the FlexVolt batteries are backwards compatible, DEWALT is still upsetting the apple cart by introducing a new line of tools no longer useful to the users invested in the DEWALT 20V line. With all that said, DEWALT needs to entice users over to bridge the new battery platform. Either way the DEWALT offers a very powerful tool, currently sporting a 60V, 2.0Ah battery, with plenty of room to run at a great price!
@@ConcordCarpenter No I didn't read the article. I'm on TH-cam looking for videos that help people make decisions spending their money on tools with factor that most people care about. I appreciate this video for those reasons, however, I think that your ultimate break down could be displayed at the end of the video where performance of your various tests, cost and warranty are noted. Thanks for clearing some of my concerns regarding the video's information up.
That 25yr warranty is a limited warranty that covers manufacturers defects ONLY. It doesn’t cover wear & tear or damage. And it’s worthless if you never registered the tool.
@@thomasarias5732 I got new brushes for an 8 year old Rigid driver under this warranty. I have also had a brand new Porter Cable router that I maybe used 45 minutes over the course of a year and it quit working. Took it to my local Dewalt/ Porter Cable authorized dealer for repair. It was exactly 14 months old and the one year factory warranty was expired. I suppose we get gems and duds with whatever brand. Everything has pros and cons.
Raul Perez that’s why I only own ridgid cordless. Can’t beat the warranty
Use the DEWALT 60 volt 7.25” and it’s a beast. Corded saw gone! And I get to use the Flexvolt as a high capacity 20 volt in my high draw tools like site blower and recip saw. An amazing system.
pbrin Yeah mate ,I'm glad I went with Flexvolt, it is by far the most powerful saw I've ever used .
test was awesome but if u can add in future to that test festool hkc 55 would be nice :)
yep
Wow did not know freaky made that tool back in 2016 unreal I just got one and it’s the first time I have seen it 4 years after you put it out for everyone to see thx again guys
I like the flexvolt 7 1/4 and the makita 6 1/2
Tremendous review, incredibly in depth and detailed. I love my 6 1/2" brushless Makita saw. It's truly a pleasure to use. Thanks for taking the time to do all the work involved in making this review happen. Thanks so much. Helps inform potential buyers.
Wishing you and the crew a Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season!
Merry Christmas Mike
I think u had 1 of the best videos about the break down of tools I have Milwaukie 18v and the 1 thing I love is like you said all battery's work together so u keep going
seems a bit redundant, the cordless saw you get is the same brand as the batteries you carry. Everyone always starts out with a drill/driver kit before buying other tools, so whatever one you started with is the one you're stuck with.
KewlCrayon A lot of people purchase starter tools, lower quality more budget items. Others have several different brand tools but I'm not sure which platform to build battles so I guess it all depends
Ehh I got a little bit of everything. Dewalt drill and driver, Milwaukee drill and driver, Makita drill and driver, Bosch drill, Hitachi drill, circular saw, jig saw, recip saw. I like to try a little bit of everything, but you can have all different stuff, for 18v I love Hitachi, for 12v love my Milwaukees
I'm actually starting my till portfolio over.
I'm looking at drill/driver/saw... Loved Makita years ago. Looking heavily at/well probably get Ridgid or Milwaukee.
Current need is simple projects. Will be building personal home in 2 years if everything pans out. Even if I have to wait 5 years... I want what I buy today to be going strong to finish home
Yeah I've got a mix, dewalt/ makita/ryobi... really whatever is the best value at the time. Maybe one day I'll settle on one and sell my collection, but I don't mind having multiple chargers and batteries.
I tend to agree with purchasing for the battery type you already own. Then when one item in your set is pure junk you would never buy a replacement for it. Instead you will go to upgrade and find saws near same size you want/had and find one reasonable price until....you find it comes with no battery or charger which makes it a hammer. But to find a saw to replace the kit junk you find one saw to replace your $100.00 saw is closing in on $400 to get batteries and all.
Great video. Thank you. I think I'm going with the Milwaukee 6 1/2 but the Makita is still on my mind. I'm going to get a big combo kit. Saw, drill/driver , sawzall and comes with a 4 1/2 " grinder. All brushless. The Makita is $500 and the other is $700. Big jump in price but I can't stop looking at the Milwaukee. If you have any thoughts I welcome them. Thanks again
I have all milwaukee and for good reason
Another great review as usual Rob!
Thanks!
Woow I thought you didn’t watch any other peoples channel
Hey guys like your videos. I know I am late to the comments on this one but I have something people might want to consider. I am a commercial contractor and have about ten guys working for me. I typically supply them with tools. I have noticed they usually pick Makita to use. I have always used Dewalt. After the years have gone by I have decided to supply them with only Dewalt as the Makita batteries have gone bad so many times. The Makita batteries also become loose and have a bad connection. After I switched them to Dewalt I have never had an issue. Just my experience. Thanks for the reviews
Brandon Brady Really great feedback, thank you very much for sharing
I been trying all those saws in the past so for me the real winner its Makita such a nice engineering machine
I have the Flexvolt, the ergos are great ,and best sightline and power and balance.The Makita feels to cramped .
my friend bought a combo of milwaukee few month ago, his hammer drill is broken , circular saw is fking heavy and the protection system( the shell covering the saw) is completely trash ( always stuck) when cut the timber.
Strange, I switched to Milwaukee from Makita power tools and the build quality and performance is night and day for what I do. I find the Milwaukee 18v fuel hammer drill and impact driver are unreal.
It all goes down to the actual users. Yes some blames on the tool instead of themselves.
I can tell that Rob is an OG in the construction world. I'm a big fan.
The price of the Hilti on that chart 9:14 😂😂😂
I am a Milwaukee M18 Fuel fan! I love the power of the every M18 Fuel tool, but the 2731-20 7-!/4" framing saw is a MONSTER! The 9 AH Red battery lasts and lasts. The coolest thing is that tools from this line often appear in the clearance end cap at Home Depot for ALOT less money than full. Just last month I picked up a combo kit with the 2731-20, a fast charger and a 9.0 battery for $187.00! I just could not pass it up as full price is over $350 and combo at $250.00. The best time to shop for ANY cordless tool is of course Christmas. This is when good priced combos pop up and as they are not normal merch, they will often appear a couple of moths later on clearance. (at HD anyhow) I have had Makita and Dewalts and Rigid, but for my dough Milwaukee Fuel is the way to go. Fantastic backwards compatibility on all Milwaukee battery fits too!
Couldn't agree more with you guys! Milwaukee is the BEST!
Andrew D like they said the top 3 are basically interchangeable. The Makita is the most powerful saw in the test tho and for framing you want power especially in cordless tools.
I wanted to point out that one of the major factors and what makes these type of videos good or bad is how they’re presented of course the content is everything but if they’re presented for early it’s just hard to watch - having said that I think this guy believe your name is Rob does a great job come across like a guy from the construction world not like an actor . That’s no easy task to spit out that much information in that short of time and I think you do it well . So good job there’s some real good information there , some good content and a great job on the presentation - all around enjoyable to watch with useful and relevant information - well done .
Don Weber thanks! I’m a GC and remodelling contractor with a finish carpentry focus. Been doing this for 26-28 years, lost count. I appreciate the feedback - I really enjoy doing these reviews
Endurance test. Of course milwauquee will with with a 9AH battery
Camrin Massey What a goofy test, who would have thought a giant expensive battery is going to offer the most run time.
In other news Milwaukee also won the most red colored saw test as well, truly putting it in a class all its own.
Infandous Ktenology, i have the saw and battery kit and with the rapid charger the 9.0 battery charges in 45 minutes, the charger charges 5.0 batteries in under 20 minutes
Actually the Makita has more cuts on the runtime test did you look closely at the graphs? Read the article? Or.... do just prefer to make fun of 140 man-hours of "free labor" to provide some insight into the tools you use?
Cody Muckerheide that doesn't sound remotely possible. does it charge 3ah batteries in 10 minutes? Are they smoking when they're done and do you hold them with oven mitts?
Brandon Hall not at all, idk what they incorporated into the charging technology, the company i work for buys exclusively milwaukee for our cordless tools, so i bought my own 7 1/4 saw and was the first with the 9.0 battery in the company, being the only one with a rapid charger we would always use mine, wed put a battery on the charger, walk away for at most 20 min and when we came back the batterys would be charged from 0, except the 9.0 of course
Thanks so much for your efforts in presenting the truth in selecting tools.
Thanks for taking your time to do this review
I'm in love with the makita rear handle dual battery saw. Two 6.0 ah batteries and it lasts all day on my sites, easily.
The milwaukee 7 1/4" with a 12 ah makes it all day pretty easily too.
Dewalt 60v is by far the best saw today
100%. I also have the Milwaukee gen 2, and my Flexvolt runs circles around it. I actually despise my Milwaukee because it’s so bad in comparison to the Flex.
True
though putting a 9 ah battery on an impact driver though it works is a little heavy . backwards compatible awesome .60 volt battery on the 20v chop saw goes all day
Great video! Recently went from Ridgid X4 to Milwaukee Fuel tools, and have been a little conflicted with the change. Initially, the M18 fuel tools displayed considerably more power until they were put under heavy loads, at which point they “detune” themselves to preserve the tool and extend battery life. On one hand this is good, on the other, time is money and the under-performing tools are costing me both.
You may say that I need a larger tool commensurate to the task, but I would counter that, having reached the half-century mark, with joints that have spent over 30 years in construction, tool weight is a premium. Milwaukee are definitely better crafted, but I feel are coming up short in the “getter done” category where a tool that goes all out, yet has a shorter life-expectancy is a better value.
Which tools are suffering that much under loads?
To me you got to look at the big picture, and the only one that actually matches and might be more powerful then corded is Dewalt, the others don't and you won't be able to with 18 or 36 volt tools, Dewalt to me is game changing in the power tool department and they have a 7 year patent on it's flexvolt design so either other tool companies pay to use that technology or just wait for the patent you ru out or use a different battery platform
Big Daddy I'm not sure I agree completely. The 60v is nice, but it does come with a sacrifice. Dewalt and Milwaukee have similar number of cells in a pack. So one uses the potential power quicker at a higher voltage. One chooses longer run time at a lower voltage. For 95% of applications a user doesn't really need 60volts (54).
Actually if you look at the cuts per watt hour chart they showed the Dewalt uses its battery energy slower than the Milwaukee. Just because the battery pack is a higher voltage doesn't mean the tool automatically draws more power. The higher voltage of the Dewalt system means that it can be more efficient as the current draw is lower and therefore heat loss in the motor winding and the control MOSFETs is lower.
Great in depth bake off! I don’t know how anyone can give this review a thumbs down. The only way is if they’re a shill for a particular company or so invested in a particular company that they’re in denial, e.g. Rigid, Hilti, Metabo, etc...
thanks for the comment, hope you subscribe - trolls and haters are real!!!
I love my Milwaukee M18 Fuel.
I'm glad you did the head to head, run what you brung test (w the exception of adding batts so the results made sense). I couldn't care less about brand loyalty, except for battery compatibility. If I have ten fresh, 5ah yellow batts, well, the yellow tool is gonna get the harder look. That said, for me its more a line-up issue. I am looking at the best value for 4 main tools. If the line-up does the job at a good price, then I run that color on the job. I'm certainly not running yellow drill/driver, blue saw and red recip. Crazy!
Yeah I hear that, with 9 Orange batteries Ridgid always gets the biggest look for me and as long as the Ridgid tool I need will do the job then that's what I am gonna buy since I have so much money invested in Ridgid batteries
Chevy513 same. It’s frustrating because the ridgid battery powered sawzall is junk. I like their other tools but the reviews are terrible for the recip saw, so I will just go without as long as possible.
i've own the x4 sawzall and it was a beast unlike the drill
I think you shortchanged the Makita by giving the other saws two batteries just because the Makita REQUIRES two batteries. All else being equal, any vendors 36V 4Ah battery has the same energy capacity as two Makita 18V 4Ah ones. The two batts on a Makita saw are equivalent to a single 36V battery on the other saws, without the expense and aggravation of needing a whole new battery/charger ecosystem. When using the Makita saw you shouldn't think of it having two batteries... instead think of it as a single 36V battery and compare that way with other saws.
Makita knocked it out of the park by combining the power of 36V with the economics of its HUGE 18V cordless line. If you are a pro I guess it doesn't really matter if you need different batteries and chargers depending on the tool you want to use, but for everyone else being able to use your existing battery ecosystem is a game changer.
In case it isn't obvious, I do indeed own the Makita, and I love it.
We certainly see your point and we're aware of it.
Most of those saws come with two packs in the kit, if the saw requires two packs to operate and they don’t give you 4 so you can continue working while the others charge it indeed is a serious shortcoming of the tool when compared to the others.
The makita with their charging system definitely beats it all Why double battery makita saw laughs at people I do have 20 batteries
1slkss for most people they don’t just own one cordless tool and highly unlikely you would only have the framing saw as your only cordless tool. Long way of saying most people would have more than 2 batteries
Martin Green well said. Bought the 36v rear handled circ saw. And it’s absolutely crushed my friends still using the corded skilsaw. Also I’m not leaving the platform. So if need be I can swap batteries from other makita tools I own
Very thorough 😊 it's so awesome that your reviews are unbiased
I always liked Milwaukee but had problems with there batteries...they work fine for awhile but they often fail...Milwaukee at one time honored this buy replacing them via a recall etc. but I heard now they wont now and there customer support is non existing (personal experience), its my understanding that they now out source there battery construction , that is not the same company may not make their batteries all the time and (for me) they seem pron to fail after awhile and will not support there customers.
"That's all I got to say about that" Forest Gump
When I bought this saw as a bare tool the blade it came with was missing teeth. I called customer service and they sent me a new one. I'd say that's good customer service imo.
David Harris
Old Milwaukee V18 batteries were garbage, but the newer M18 or M12 never had any problems with it.
Robert it is good to have people like you who do the homework for us. After reviewing the way you examine these tools, it is easy for me to to go online compare the price and get the tools. Thanks for such analysis which are helpful.
Own Ridgid 6 1/2” brushed and 7 1/4” brushless.
6 1/2” is only suitable as a doorstop (blade removed of course). What a POS!
7 1/4” Meh .. It’s ok. Still struggles.
I've been happy with my Dewalt 20V 7-1/4" circular saw's performance. Coming from an old 18V XRP 6-1/2" Dewalt circular saw the power difference and battery life difference isn't even in the same ballpark. I'm sure that Flexvolt version is good, but for the ridiculous price its not worth it. I have the Flexvolt 16" chainsaw and the runtime on a battery isn't great, about 15 minutes.
I have the 7-1/4" Dewalt 20V miter saw as well and it does great on battery life and performance. I did a living room, dining room, and kitchen flooring project on 1 5ah battery. Pretty good run time I think considering all the cuts it was making.
When it comes to circular saws dewalts are the best
@Semper fidelis Semper Paratus where are you paying 500 dollars for circular saw I got mine for 223 dollars with a fast charger and 9amp battery
Aren’t stuff supposed to be cheaper in US?? That’s aus price right there. $300 for saw and $159 for a 9ah. That’s the average for saws here in Oz
My makita trim saw came with a little guide that quick and easy screws down into place. works great to rip in a pinch. do other saws come with this feature? that little piece of hooked metal has saved me so much hassle. not only good for ripping stripes, but handy as hell for sheathing if removing just a few inches from a sheet. with a 5 or 6 amp fatty 18v battery pack i’ve also ripped full lengths of 2x no problem.
*strips
Dude i knew you were going to say the MILWAUKEE WAS THE BEST! JUST BY LOOKING AT THE COLOR OF YOUR SHIRT LMAO! JOKE!LOL OVERALL GREAT VIEWS!