5 Tools You Didn't Know Were Cordless (Ep 1)

Cordless power tool batteries have made huge improvements in recent years. The increases in power and battery life have made it possible to cut cords on tools that were never previously viable. This is the first post in a series that will go through some of the awesome tools that I thought I would never see without a cord.

Table Saws

These have been out for a little while now, but it's still surprising that you can get a table saw that is not only easily portable, but runs on a battery! DEWALT offers an 8-1/4" saw in their FLEXVOLT lineup with the DCS7485. Available as a kit with the 60V 2Ah (6Ah at 20v) Battery and Charger, or as a bare tool if you already have a collection of batteries, onboard accessory storage and the lack of a cord makes this saw a completely portable package.

MILWAUKEE has the 2736 in their M18 FUEL line available with or without the Battery and Charger. This saw shows similar specs to DEWALT's competing saw offering 24-1/2" of rip capacity, a 8-1/4" blade, and can be bundled with a 12 Ah battery. Milwaukee claims the same power as a 15 Amp corded saw and a bettery life capable of ripping 600 linear feet of lumber. Just like the DEWALT, it comes with a rack and pinion adjustable fence, as well as onboard storage for the included guard and riving knife.

To up the ante, Metabo HPT has released a 10" table saw in their MULTIVOLT lineup which also has the ability to be corded with the use of their MULTIVOLT AC/DC Adapter. The C3610DRJQ4 boasts a much larger 35" rip capacity with its telescoping extension table. I hope to see this saw become more widely available soon.

Miter Saws

Miter saws have become more and more popular and to meet demand, there are numerous options available. DEWALT, MILWAUKEE, RYOBI, MAKITA, and RIDGID all offer cordless 7-1/4" miter saws that are light and easy to carry for small precise miter cuts. You can even get larger double bevel sliding miter saws with 10" blades.

The shocker I found is that DEWALT offers two cordless 12" miter saws! To step up the power even more, these saw use DUAL FLEXVOLT batteries and can run on wall power with the optional Corded Power Supply Adapter. The powerhouse DHS790AT2 FLEXVOLT 12 in Double Bevel Compound Sliding Miter Saw has all the same specs as DEWALT's corded top of the line saw without the drawback of being tethered to a wall.

Track Saw

Some people will argue that a good track saw can be even better that a table saw when it comes to breaking down sheet materials. And since track saws are inherently more portable than table saws, it would make sense that with the right accessories and techniques, you could replace a table saw for jobs that require portability.

Now, that portability gets even better with the cordless track saws from DEWALT, MAKITA, and FESTOOL. These saws can potentially replace both a table saw and a circular saw in a mobile tool setup. The FESTOOL and MAKITA saws each use dual 18v batteries while DEWALT runs a single 60v FLEXVOLT battery. I can't wait to get my hands on these!

Metal Cutting Circular Saw

Only in the last couple years did I discover that circular saws capable of cutting metal exist; and no, I'm not talking about the little chop saws that use abrasive wheels and throw flaming glitter everywhere. I mean saws that actually have teeth; Carbide tipped teeth that cut like butter and leave an edge that looks polished. When I saw this thing for the first time, I had to know more.

Then, I found they make a cordless model! Not only do DEWALT, MILWAUKEE, and MAKITA all have cordless metal cutting circular saws, but they each have more than one model. These saws are not only for light metal work, but are actually capable of cutting through heavy profile steel shapes as well as plate steel. This will be a handy addition to any fabricator's or maker's tool kit.

BONUS: Diablo recently released their STEEL DEMON blade series. These new blades are specially designed to cut ferrous metals while running at the higher RPMs of woodworking saws. These blades are available from 6-1/2" up through 14" diameters. *Be sure the blade you choose is rated for the stated RPMs of your saw.

Shop Vaccuums

Small vacuums are becoming common for light cleanups and for portable dust extraction with cordless power tools. Almost every major tool brand makes a small cordless vacuum or dust extractor in at least one model; everything from small hand helds to large capacity wet-dry vacs. DEWALT makes a versatile model that adds a cord to a 20v MAX portable vacuum to allow indefinite runtime whenever power is available.

MILWAUKEE's specialty is their cordless backpack vacuum. This wearable vacuum claims 2X the suction power of conventional jobsite vacuum and uses a 6 ft flexible hose along with an extension wand and assorted tools.

MAKITA offers a backpack model as well as a should bag style. Take your pick when it comes to cordless cleanup.

Does anyone else see flashes of GHOSTBUSTERS when looking at a backpack vac?