Ranked best-of lists for power tools, curated so you can buy in minutes
Ranked best-of lists for power tools, curated so you can buy in minutes
The blade-side question on a cordless circular saw is mostly about visibility and control, not cutting performance. A left-blade saw puts the blade on the operator’s left side when holding the saw normally. A right-blade saw puts it on the right. Both can make accurate cuts, but one layout may let you see the cut […]
A cordless jigsaw’s orbital setting controls how aggressively the blade moves forward as it cuts. With orbital action off, the blade travels mostly straight up and down. With orbital action on, the bottom of the stroke also moves forward, producing faster cuts but a rougher edge. The best setting depends on the material, blade, cut […]
A cordless circular saw can make accurate bevel cuts, but the angle scale on the saw is only a starting point. Small amounts of play in the shoe, a rounded workpiece edge, or a blade that is not square to the shoe can turn a marked 45-degree cut into a poor-fitting joint. The most reliable […]
A cordless reciprocating saw is naturally harder to control than most cordless tools. The blade moves back and forth rapidly, and that motion transfers into the housing, your hands, and the material. Vibration becomes worse when the blade is dull, the cut is unsupported, or the saw is being forced through the work. You cannot […]
Pressure-treated deck boards are not difficult to cut, but they are hard on saws. The wood is often wet, heavy, abrasive, and slightly warped. A cordless saw needs enough power to maintain blade speed through dense sections without turning a simple cut into a battery-draining struggle. The best choice depends on whether you are making […]
A cordless circular saw’s blade diameter tells you how much material it can cut. Its battery capacity helps determine how long it can keep making those cuts without overheating or stopping. Matching the two is not simply a matter of buying the biggest battery available. A compact 6-1/2-inch saw may work well with a small […]
What matters when ripping framing lumber Ripping a 2×4 or 2×6 means cutting along its length, often through knots and changing grain. That puts a steadier load on a saw than a quick crosscut. For framing work, look for a 7-1/4-inch cordless saw with a direct-drive or well-supported brushless motor, a firm base plate, a […]
For cutting pipe, a cordless reciprocating saw is usually the cheaper and more versatile choice. A compact cordless bandsaw is usually the faster, cleaner, and more controlled choice. The right tool depends less on the pipe diameter than on how many cuts you make, how accurately the ends must fit, and whether you already own […]
A reciprocating saw blade is a consumable, but choosing the wrong one can make a cordless saw feel weak, drain a battery quickly, or damage the workpiece. The battery platform matters mainly because it determines how much power and runtime the saw can deliver. The blade still controls how efficiently that power reaches the cut. […]
A cordless reciprocating saw is one of the most useful tools for metal demolition, but it is also easy to buy the wrong one. Cutting steel pipe, angle iron, threaded rod, ductwork, and vehicle components demands more than a high no-load speed. Battery capacity, blade control, shoe design, and the cost of replacement blades all […]
