Portable, battery-powered circular saws have almost entirely replaced the handsaw on the job site. Cordless circular saws are now commonly used in all the places corded saws have difficulty reaching, and portable circular saws are so popular that there are dozens of models on the market. Does this Spark an idea?
Power
You can compare the power of cordless saws by the voltage of their batteries. The standard is now the 18-volt. Heavy duty is 24 volts and up. Anything under 18 volts is trim weight.
Blade Size
The size of the blade affects the kind of lumber a saw can handle. A 5 1/4-inch blade is suitable for small boards and an occasional piece of 2-inch lumber. A 6 1/2-inch blade can handle regular cutting of 2-inch lumber, including pieces up to 2 by 12. The 7 1/4-inch blades can handle even more, but they only come on the biggest cordless saws with the heaviest batteries.
Battery Type
There are two types of batteries for cordless saws: NiCad and Lithium-ion. Lithium-ion batteries are better in almost every respect; they're significantly lighter and longer lasting. The only drawback of Lithium-ion batteries is that they're much more expensive.
Grade
There are many companies that manufacture portable circular saws, and quality can vary greatly. However, there are two basic grades of power tools: contractor and homeowner. Contractor grade tools are built to be used every day in all types of conditions. Homeowner grade tools are built to be used occasionally for small projects. Manufacturers usually make one or the other. Contractor grade tools usually cost around twice as much as homeowner grade.
0 comments:
Post a Comment