The Masterforce 18V cordless band saw was something that intrigued me. It looked light and portable and it was based on a decent platform that I was familiar with, so I knew there were batteries, chargers, and other tools that could work off the same system. That alone made it expandable and attractive and, besides that, I had been looking forward to trying out a cordless version of this type of tool for quite a while now. Not many DIY-types will have much use for a cordless band saw, but if you are an electrician or a plumber, it will almost undoubtedly be one of the greatest power tools in your bag. I happen to work for a local electrical company and so the ideas that were running through my head while pondering the use of this type of tool in my daily job, were beginning to overwhelm me. This was going to be a review I could really dive into.
Metabo Corporation is a company we're at least familiar with, though we haven't done too much hands-on with their tools to-date (something we hope to remedy soon). The German company has been around for decades and specializes in pro-grade electric and cordless power tools and abrasives for the industrial, construction and welding industries. This week, Metabo introduced the 18V STA 18 LTX Cordless Jig Saw which is part of the company's PowerMaster Series of 18V lithium-ion cordless power tools. Metabo is focusing on power and run-time, stating that the new saw can cut more than 98 feet of chipboard with a single battery pack charge. The tool seems ideal for all the expected roles of a jig saw, like HVAC duct cutting, cabinet making and fitting, and just about any plywood application you can think of.
There's nothing like a project to introduce you to new and interesting power tool blades. This time we were readying our new video set and needed to cut three 4 x 8 sheets of Melamine into about 32 pieces per sheet. That's a lot of cuts, and we weren't about to use a standard multi-purpose blade to do it as it would create rough, explosive edges along each side of the Melamine. To give us a fighting chance at cutting this material once and not having to sand every single edge, we picked up the CMT ITK Plus Finishing Blade. This is a 6-1/2" blade that is specifically made for cordless circular saws.
Jigsaws can be very inexpensive and occasional-use tools, or they can be the thing you reach for at all times to solve a whole suite of difficult cutting challenges. In our case, we find that the tool really determines which viewpoint you have. Take the new Milwaukee M12 Cordless High Performance Jig Saw (2445-21), for example. This new jigsaw was shown off to us at the 2011 Milwaukee Press Event and we really haven't stopped thinking about it. The new jigsaw is incredibly simple in design - but in a good way. It has a "Hybrid Grip" design, which Milwaukee pitches as the best combination of features from a top handle and barrel grip jig saw. And really, the handle is unique and it provides ample grip, while giving you really good balance while making cuts. The tool is also very small and handles well. It weighs just 4.1 lbs and is only 8.75" long from base to front. From our inventory of the market, this looks to be one of, if not the most, compact cordless jigsaw that targets professional users. While the Milwaukee 2645-22 M18 Jig Saw we reviewed earlier this year provides more power, this M12 model is infinitely more flexible and portable.
Portability, power, weight and depth of cut are all things to look for in a cordless circular saw and the DeWalt DCS391L1 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Circular Saw delivers on all these levels. Equipped with a thin kerf saw blade and a powerful 460 watt motor, this saw is able to power through most cuts much like a corded model. With a 6-1/2" saw blade, cutting 2x material is not a problem, even when making 45 degree bevel cuts. The new 3.0Ah Lithium-Ion battery provides over 50 percent longer run time than the other DeWalt cordless models on the market, translatesing into less downtime and more productivity.
The DeWalt DCS380L1 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Reciprocating Saw takes the best of the old 18V tool and combines it with new electronics, a more powerful motor and updated battery technology. With an industry leading 1-1/8" stroke, an adjustable depth of cut shoe and a unique four-position blade clamp, many professional contractors and tradesmen have come to depend on the tried and true DeWalt cordless reciprocating saw. This new saw builds on this reputation and adds a longer run time and a more comfortable grip thanks to the new 20V MAX battery technology.
Imagine walking into a house and doing an entire trim job, soup to nuts, without a single extension cord... Now you can, thanks to Makita's 18V 7-1/2" Compound Sliding Miter Saw (model LXSL01). Now, companies like Bosch and Ryobi have previously introduced cordless miter saws, so this isn't a first, but it is a first for Makita - and that's going to be good news for those who are already knee-deep in any of Makita's 40 existing 18V tools. Makita's new product is actually a dual slide compound miter saw that is extremely compact - weighing just 27-1/2 lbs. That's actually really lightweight and makes it super portable as miter saws go. The LXSL01 will slice through a 2x12 and also do a 2x8 at 45 degrees. It has cutting speed of 2200 RPM and uses a direct-drive gearbox, which is to say it's like taking a sidewinder cordless 18V circular saw and mounting it to an arm.
Bosch Power Tools and Accessories has earned its well-deserved reputation for providing outstanding user experiences in the grinder category. Now, with the CAG180 4 1/2-inch, 18-volt Lithium-Ion Angle Grinder, Bosch has set out to create the most powerful cordless angle grinder in its class packed with power, design and safety features. It is designed to outlast and outperform the competition. The CAG180 addresses many common user complaints with cordless grinders used for light-duty cutting and grinding applications in metal, masonry and tile materials such as lack of power, excessive weight and poor overload capacity that causes the tool to stall when the pressure is raised.
When working in some situations, large corded or 18V reciprocating saws sometimes are just too bulky to fit in tight places while a jigsaw could be underpowered. The Porter Cable PCL120CRC-2 12V Lithium Cordless Pivoting Reciprocating Saw Kit fills that gap and also proves how a reciprocating saw can be compact yet powerful all at the same time - and still pack in some cool features. Some of our favorite features include the 0-90 degree pivoting handle, adjustable clamping shoe and a ΒΌ turn quick change blade release.
We caught a sneak peek at a new Bosch Cordless 18V Band Saw in this month's Popular Mechanics magazine. It looks to be a very compact unit that sports an ergonomic grip and weighs much less (just 7.7 lbs including the 18V battery) than comparable products from Milwaukee Electric Tool (about 10.5 lbs). For overhead use - common in electrical work, this is going to be an amazingly advantageous tool. The 18V lithium-ion battery sits above the handle, rather than below it, giving it a weight-forward feel and aiding in vertically-oriented cuts. Like most 18V tools, the Bosch Cordless Band Saw has a safety switch that needs to be pressed before the trigger releases to power the saw.
Metabo Corporation, an international manufacturer of professional grade portable electric power tools and abrasives for industrial, construction and welding applications, has introduced a new cordless circular saw with a high efficiency motor. The KSA18 LTX cordless circular saw is ideal for projects that require fast straight cuts with relative accuracy through heavy material like cutting paneling, ripping lumber and making cross, miter and angled bevel cuts.
See All Articles In This Section
