Best Cordless Job Site Table Saw

When it comes to choosing the right table saw, professionals know that not all tools are created equal. With so many options on the market, it’s essential to understand how different models stack up in real-world scenarios. In this comprehensive Head-2-Head comparison, we put six of the top cordless table saws to the test, evaluating their performance on precision, power, ease of use, and safety. Whether you’re a seasoned contractor or a woodworking enthusiast, this guide will help you make an informed decision and find the saw that best meets your needs in the workshop. Let’s dive in and see which saw comes out on top!

Cordless Table Saw | Selection Criteria

We chose to test six saws in the 8-¼” range focusing on the mobile Pro contractor. In the end, we allowed Metabo HPT to send us their 10- inch and Festool to send their 168 mm [6.6”] saw because they did not have an 8-¼” saw.

Table Saw Specifications

Bosch

• Model: GTS18V-08
• Bare Tool Price: $399.00
• Blade Size: 8-¼
• Voltage: 18V
• Max RPM Speed: 5,500 RPMs
• Rip Capacity Left: 12”
• Rip Capacity Right: 25”
• Weight: 44 lbs
• Max Cut Height 90°: 2-½”
• Max Cut Height 45°: 1-¾”

DEWALT

• Model: DCS7485B
• Bare Tool Price: $449.00
• Blade Size: 8-¼
• Voltage: 60V
• Max RPM Speed: 5,800 RPMs
• Rip Capacity Left: 12”
• Rip Capacity Right: 24”
• Weight: 52.69 lbs
• Max Cut Height 90°: 2-½”
• Max Cut Height 45°: 1-¾”

Festool

• Model: CSC CYC 50 EB
• Bare Tool Price: $1,499.00
• Blade Size: 168 mm, 6.6”
• Voltage: (2) 18V
• Max RPM Speed: 6,800 RPMs
• Rip Capacity Left: 0”
• Rip Capacity Right: 11-¼”
• Weight: 33.08 lbs
• Max Cut Height 90°: 1-⅞”
• Max Cut Height 45°: 1-11/32”

FLEX

• Model: FX7211
• Bare Tool Price: $449.00
• Blade Size: 8-¼
• Voltage: 24V
• Max RPM Speed: 6,000 RPMs
• Rip Capacity Left:12”
• Rip Capacity Right: 25”
• Weight: 50.73 lbs
• Max Cut Height 90°: 2-⅝”
• Max Cut Height 45°: 1-⅞”

Metabo HPT

• Model: C3610DRJ
• Bare Tool Price: $599.00
• Blade Size: 10
• Voltage: 36V
• Max RPM Speed: 5,000 RPMs
• Rip Capacity Left: 22”
• Rip Capacity Right: 35”
• Weight: 67.3 lbs
• Max Cut Height 90°: 3-⅛”
• Max Cut Height 45°: 2-¼”

Milwaukee

• Model: 2736-20
• Bare Tool Price: $449.00
• Blade Size: 8-¼
• Voltage: 18V
• Max RPM Speed: 5800RPMs
• Rip Capacity Left: 12”
• Rip Capacity Right: 24-½”
• Weight: 41.6 lbs
• Max Cut Height 90°: 2-½”
• Max Cut Height 45°: 1-¾”

Cordless Table Saw | Evaluation Format

Our team has put significant time and effort into our Head-to-Head evaluation to provide you with the most comprehensive information available. For this evaluation, we divided the analysis into several categories:

1. Precision & Accuracy
2. Performance
3. Price
4. Features, Usability & Ergonomics
5. Saw Stand Evaluation
6. We also chose the best value saw and also discuss decibels.

How Most Table Saws Are Used In Job Sites

When these saws arrive on-site, they are quickly unboxed, assembled, and put to immediate use. Users expect them to be mostly accurate. So we looked at the saws out of the box and then corrected any accuracy deficiencies prior to our power testing.

Best Cordless Table Saw | What and How We Measured

To assess the manufactured accuracy of the eight saws, TBB evaluated six key areas:

1. Table Flatness,
2. Accuracy of 45° Stop,
3. Accuracy of 90° Stop,
4. Blade Parallel to Miter Slot,
5. Fence Parallel to Miter Slot,
6. Saw Blade Runout

Best Cordless Table Saw | Accuracy Testing Procedures

Table Flatness

We assessed the flatness of the table by placing the edge of a precision-ground flat bar across it and using feeler gauges to measure any gaps. Measurements were taken in four directions:

1. Front-to-rear at the arbor
2. Left-to-right at the arbor
3. Upper left-to-lower right table corners
4. Upper right-to-lower left table corners

This comprehensive data collection allowed us to create a ranked set of results by assigning a 1-2-3 rating to the relative values of the measurements. We then ranked the saws for overall table flatness as manufactured. For context, a typical sheet of copy paper is approximately 0.004 inches thick.  Our measurements ranged from 0.004 to 0.026 inches.

The saws individual flatness scores across the 4 measurements are added to a summarized score.  The saws are then ranked based on that score.

The Bosch ranked the highest in table flatness with a maximum measured deflection was .011″.  The Flex was a close second followed by a three way tie for third with the DEWALT, Metabo HPT and Milwaukee.  Surprisingly, Festool had the most deflection in its table with this measurement method.  The Festool has a unique feature where the left side of the table can glide front and back to act as pseudo cross-cut sled. There is a small variable in the height between the sliding and the stationary sections of the table.

Accuracy of 45° Stop

To measure the accuracy of the factory-set 45-degree stop, We used a Beall digital inclinometer, which has an accuracy of 0.1 degrees. The process began by placing the Beall gauge on the table and calibrating it to zero relative to the table surface. After calibration, we attached the gauge to the blade and adjusted the blade incline until it hit the factory-set 45-degree stop. The measurement was recorded, and the test was repeated to ensure repeatability, with results consistently within 0.1 degrees of each other.

For contractors using their job site saws for high-quality built-ins or precise finished cuts, saw accuracy is crucial. The out-of-the-box accuracy from the manufacturer directly impacts the quality of the cuts and the safety of the operator. We compared the relative accuracy of the saws immediately after assembly to determine their “as-built” precision. The results showed how each saw stacked up in terms of manufactured tolerances and overall accuracy.

Accuracy of Vertical 90° Stop

We measured the accuracy of the factory-set 90-degree stop using the same digital inclinometer. After calibrating the gauge to the saw’s table, we moved the blade to approximately 70 degrees off vertical and then adjusted it to the factory-set 90-degree vertical stop. The measurement was recorded and repeated, with consistent results within 0.1 degrees of the previous tests. All of the saws were perfect at 90 degrees.

Blade Parallel to Miter Slot

To measure the blade’s alignment with the miter slot, we used an iGauging 35-125-4 digital dial indicator, accurate to 0.0005 inches. A new Diablo blade was installed in each saw, and the blade height was set to 2-inches.

We marked a single tooth as the reference point, positioned that tooth at the rear of the saw, and the dial indicator was set to zero against the marked tooth. The blade was then rotated to the front of the saw, and the same tooth was measured again.
A negative reading indicated the blade and miter slot were closer together at the front, while a positive reading indicated they were farther apart.

By analyzing the data from these tests, We were able to rank the saws based on their as-built accuracy and alignment.
Note – we placed a Diablo 8-1/4″ blade on the Metabo HPT for testing, but were not able to use a Diablo blade on the Festool, we used compatible tooth count Festool OEM blades.

Saw Fence Parallel to Miter Slot

The accuracy and safety of a saw depend on the blade being parallel to the rip fence. Having already tested the parallelism between the blade and the miter slot, the next step is to check if the miter slot is parallel to the rip fence. This ensures a parallel relationship between the blade and the rip fence.

We used the iGauging 35-125-4 digital dial indicator to measure the accuracy of the factory-set fence relative to the table’s miter slot. We started by locking the fence in position approximately 1 inch away from the blade on the side opposite the miter slot. The throw of the dial indicator was adjusted to take readings in the middle of the indicator’s range of movement, ensuring consistency and accuracy in the measurements.

We calibrated the iGauging dial indicator to zero at the operator’s end of the rip fence. Then, we positioned the dial indicator at the rear of the saw, placed it on the rip fence, and took the reading. If the fence and the miter slot were closer together at the rear of the saw, the dial indicator showed a positive reading. Conversely, if they were farther apart, the dial indicator displayed a negative reading. A positive reading indicated that the materials being cut might be pinched, increasing the likelihood of kickback.

Saw Fence Parallel to Miter Slot | After Adjustment

It is important to note that all saws were adjusted after the accuracy evaluation and before the performance testing. With the exception of blade run-out, other adjustments can be made to fine-tune the saws. We were able to adjust the saws to the following:

Being able to reliably and repeatedly adjust the fence is an important feature of any table saw.

Blade Run-out

Blade run-out describes how much the edge of a saw blade wobbles while mounted on the motor shaft. Measuring run-out with a saw blade assumes the blade is nearly perfect in flatness. To ensure accurate measurements, TBB used a Freud calibration plate, which is ground to a flatness tolerance of ±0.0005 inches.

We used the Freud calibration plate on each test saw to measure run-out. After removing the new Diablo blade and installing the calibration plate, we raised the trunnion to its maximum vertical adjustment. A black mark on the calibration plate provided a consistent starting position for the run-out test, using the iGauging dial indicator.

We carefully rotated the calibration plate by its outer rim to avoid side-to-side force that could skew the results. We recorded the maximum reading on the dial indicator and validated it by repeating the test, ensuring consistent readings. Notably, the maximum readings occurred at different points along the plate’s rotation across the eight saws, reinforcing our confidence in the plate’s flatness.

Precision Summary – Winner FLEX

Based on the data from the 7 individual tests, we compiled a summary ranking to determine the overall winner for as-built accuracy. Here are the results: FLEX was consistently accurate and precise in 6 out of 7 categories. Milwaukee was a close second followed by DEWALT.

Best Cordless Job Site Table Saw | Performance Testing

For this segment of the testing, we used two different materials (3/4″ CDX Plywood, and 2x KD lumber while measuring the saw blade RPM drop. We assessed the saws performance based on their blade speed under load and speed of cut.

Blade Speed (RPM under load vs no load)

The first performance measurement we looked at was blade speed while cutting all the test materials. This test provides a relative comparison of blade speed reduction under different loading conditions, giving us an idea of the motor/gearbox combination strength for each saw. We recorded the “no-load” speed to capture the relative drop in RPM during cutting. We used our measured no-load speeds instead of the manufacturers’ published values.

To measure blade speed, we used a digital laser, non-contact tachometer. Reflective tape was adhered to each saw blade just behind the carbide tooth, positioned above the wood cutting surface, allowing us to capture blade speed during the cuts.

A power feeder ensured consistent feed rates through each saw. We used a Diablo 8-¼” 24-tooth Framing blade in all the saws, including the Metabo HPT [10-inch saw] and for the Festool saw we used a 42 tooth finish [168 mm] Wood Universal Blade.

Performance Summary – Winner DEWALT

To determine our power winner we measured the percentage of RPM drop of the saw under a slow-feed cut and a fast-feed cut. By averaging the RPM drop across these two scenarios we determined our power ranking.

DEWALT had the most available power and showed the least RPM drop under load with just a 14% drop in RPM. By comparison the next closest was FLEX with a 19% drop and Milwaukee with 24%. The Festool was unable to complete either cut without overloading.

Manual Hand Feed Comparison

To validate our power feeder rig, we conducted a cutting speed test without it. One operator handled the test, feeding the material as quickly as possible while monitoring the saw’s motor and adjusting the feed rate accordingly. The operator adapted the speed for each cut, either speeding up or slowing down as needed. We made several cuts and recorded the fastest time achieved.

The hand feed result and the subsequent ranking matched the result seen in the power feed test.  The gap between the FLEX and Milwaukee was closer in the 2nd and 3rd place race.  The Festool was still unable to complete the test without overloading.

Best Cordless Table Saw | Price Comparison – Bosch

We ranked the table saws using their bare tool pricing. The Bosch was the least expensive at $399.00, with DEWALT, FLEX and Milwaukee tied at $499.00. Metabo HPT was $599.00 and the Festool was $1,499.00.

Ergonomics & Features

When evaluating cordless jobsite table saws, ergonomics play a crucial role in ensuring tools are both efficient and safe to use. Ergonomics focuses on designing tools that enhance productivity while reducing discomfort, fatigue, and the risk of injury.
Features such as well-placed handles, riving knives, safety switches, and non-slip coatings contribute to the overall ergonomic performance of a saw.

Evaluation Factors

In our ergonomic evaluation of cordless table saws, we considered the following factors and rated them on a scale of 1 to 6 (1 being best):

Weight

Below is a summary based on the provided weights for the different brands. These figures show the relative heaviness of each model with its battery, with Metabo HPT being the heaviest at 62.4 lbs, and Bosch being the lightest at 45.7 lbs.

Power Switch

Ease of use and safety are major considerations for our team, especially with the large, easy-to-actuate power switches.
Bosch and FLEX had the best switch, both are pulled into the on position, or shut off with the users knee. The team found them to be simple and intuitive.

The Festool has a two-step process to turn the saw on, requiring activating a master power switch, followed by the power on switch. The saw cannot be stopped easily with a knee.

The DEWALT has a red paddle, however, when held at its highest point and released, the paddle can accidentally shut off the saw due to the closing momentum. This occurs occasionally.

On Board Storage

The Festool was superior with its Systainer based accessory storage. The Milwaukee came in second with excellent accessory storage secured with a permanent mounted, spring-loaded securing nut. All the other saws had removable wing-nuts that can be easily lost.

Fence

The Flex fence is a rack and pinion style similar to DEWALT and Milwaukee. The only real difference is that the FLEX fence has a rechargeable, 12 LED light strip built into the fence. This light is activated by a rocker switch on the rear side of the fence. The DEWALT and Milwaukee fence are super smooth to operate, and capable of precise 1/64” adjustments.

The Bosch saw also has a rack-and-pinion system, but we experienced jerky micro adjustments. Additionally, the fence lock is on the left side of the knob, which can be awkward, especially for DEWALT and Milwaukee users.
Festool has a lever-lock fence that indexes and slides in a dado. We found that it was not as smooth as other saws and took effort to dial in. The fence requires unlocking with a knob, sliding out, reversing, and sliding in for narrow rips. The fence can be removed and stored in a Systainer.

Metabo HPT has a pull-to-lock mechanism, which is opposite of Bosch, DEWALT, and Milwaukee saw. The team found it choppy when trying to dial in 1/64”. The fence features a twist knob to lock on or remove, requiring users to push tabs to engage which is less intuitive than other models. The fence also rotates for extended support or narrow rips, requiring a sub-fence assembly that stores on the side of the saw.
Raising Blade

The Festool blade can be adjusted to a precise height using an electronic control linked to a 1/64-inch digital display. In comparison, raising the blade on the Flex saw is quick, requiring just 9¾ hand rotations.

Hand Rotation Results are as follows:

• FLEX: 9-¾ rotations
• Bosch: 13-¾ rotations
• DEWALT: 35-¾ rotations
• Metabo HPT: 29-¾ rotations.
• Milwaukee: 15 rotations.

Ripping Width

Most of the 8-¼” saws had similar ripping widths.
The Metabo HPT is a 10-inch saw and as a result has the largest ripping capacity at 35-¼” to the right and 22-⅜” to the left.

Bevel Adjustments

The Festool had the widest bevel range from -10 to 47 degrees.

Riving Knife Adjustments

The riving knives were either removable or non removable. The Milwaukee riving knife was the easiest to adjust or remove. It requires a uses a easy to actuate, pull lever to release the riving knife.

The FLEX uses a flip down lever to release the riving knife. The user needs to tilt the riving knife out and down to seat it, which is not intuitive. Overall we liked the feature, once you get the hang of it.

The DEWALT has an easy to turn knob to loosen and a simple depress on the knob removes the riving knife. The Bosch has a lever that turns to adjust, locks in at multiple positions, but is non-removable. The Festool requires too many steps to access, but super easy to remove once accessible. Locks in at one height and is removable.

The Metabo HPT has a nicely machined aluminum cam lever, but was stiff to actuate. It has three height positions and is non-removable.

Guard

We evaluated the saw blade guards and found that the Metabo HPT was super easy to install. The Bosch was clunky and awkward to attach. The DEWALT features a 1-⅝” OD (1-⅜” ID) dust shroud on the blade guard. Milwaukee was similar to DeWalt but without a dust shroud. The Festool required many steps but was super easy.

Battery Gauge

The FLEX has the brightest battery LED gauge, with 4 LEDS. This feature can be activated with the saw in the off position. Bosch has a bright green, 3-LED light above the power switch but does not activate unless the saw is powered on. Festool has two battery symbols on the top left corner of the LCD screen, which can be hard to see in daylight. The rest of the saws require pushing the battery indicator, all facing in the user’s direction.

Best Cordless Table Saw | Feature Winner – FLEX

FLEX’s cordless table saw has set a new standard in its category, emerging as the feature winner with an impressive performance. Scoring a low 31 points across 14 categories, FLEX excelled by taking top honors in six distinct areas, outshining many competitors.

While Milwaukee scored 37 points and Bosch came in with 44 points, FLEX’s unique features make it a strong contender. The saw is equipped with a folding side extension table, which enhances stability and support for larger workpieces—an invaluable asset for both professional woodworkers and DIY enthusiasts.

Additionally, the FLEX table saw includes innovative rechargeable LED lights integrated into the rip fence, providing excellent visibility for precise cuts. This thoughtful design element not only improves visibility and enhances safety by illuminating the work area.

Best Tablesaw Stand -Winner Milwaukee

Our crew found that saws with scissor stands were the fastest and easiest to set up. Brands like DEWALT, Bosch, Milwaukee, and Flex all offer models with scissor stands. Bosch, Flex, and Milwaukee have latches that lock the saw to the stand, making them highly mobile; you can easily pick up and relocate the saw since they lock together.

Photo: Bosch Saw

In contrast, the DEWALT stand does not have a locking mechanism, which often results in the saw sliding off when users try to move it. The Milwaukee stand features an adjustable foot for leveling, while the Bosch stand has rear legs that extend further than the others, providing added stability but also creating a potential trip hazard.

The Festool setup includes the MFT table and dolly, which takes up more space than the scissor stands. Although the Festool saw sits in grooves marked on the tabletop to assist with placement, it does not lock in place, making it awkward to move once set up. This system is more suited for rolling from the truck to the job site and can stack with other Systainers to save space inside a vehicle.

The Metabo HTP stand is excellent but requires bolting to the saw, creating a semi-permanent pairing. It features sturdy folding tubular legs, an adjustable leg, and roller wheels. While the crew appreciated this setup, they found it too large to be considered a truly mobile table saw, as it’s not easy to lift into a vehicle.

Decibels

All of the saws were quite loud, with decibel levels ranging from 104 to 106 dB. We concluded that a difference of just 2 dB was not sufficient to effectively differentiate or score the saws.

Best Portable Job Site Table Saw – Winner FLEX

Choosing the best portable job site table saw was a challenge, as our testing focused on the everyday mobile contractor.
FLEX, being new to the market, had ample time to perfect their saw. With a total score of 8 points, the FLEX portable jobsite table saw ranks first overall in our assessment, showcasing its balance of accuracy, usability, and value. While it may not lead in every individual category, its combination of strengths makes it an excellent choice for contractors seeking a dependable and cost-effective tool, particularly for those prioritizing performance without a high price tag.

The Milwaukee portable job site table saw ranks second overall with a score of 10 points. Its strong performance in accuracy, power, and ergonomics makes it an appealing option for contractors who value precision and reliability. The stability provided by its stand further enhances its appeal, ensuring safe operation in various job site conditions. In summary, the Milwaukee table saw represents a solid investment for professionals looking for a high-performing, durable tool that delivers consistent results. While it comes at a slightly higher price, its overall value in terms of performance and usability makes it worthwhile for serious contractors.

The DEWALT portable jobsite table saw ranked third overall with a score of 14 points. Its strengths in power and competitive pricing make it a reliable choice for contractors seeking a powerful saw. Although it may not excel in every category, it provides a well-rounded performance that meets many professionals’ needs. In summary, the DEWALT table saw offers a good balance of power, accuracy, and affordability, making it an attractive option for contractors who prioritize performance and value. Its reputation for reliability further enhances its appeal, ensuring it remains a popular choice in the job site tool market.

The new Festool table saw did not quite fit our testing criteria and, due to its high price, is likely to attract a specific user base. While it is expensive, it offers several key advantages: designed for precise cuts, it is ideal for job sites or workshops with limited space and seamlessly integrates with other Festool products, enhancing workflow for brand users.  We feel that the Festool is best suited for professional woodworkers, carpenters, finish carpenters, and those who value precision and portability.

Best Value Winner – FLEX

“Best value” is a crucial category in tool comparisons as it balances decision-making by considering both performance and budget, leading to practical choices that provide long-term savings and higher overall satisfaction by ensuring durability and reliability.

Best Cordless Table Saw | Final Thoughts

These tests and evaluations are demanding, time-consuming, and limited in scope since we are not a professional testing company and have restricted time for evaluations. We are unable to conduct long-term testing to assess durability, nor can we test every possible application for which you might use these saws. Nevertheless, we believe that all the table saws in this Head-to-Head are quality tools, and our testing highlights the pros and cons of each model.

Ultimately, everyone must choose a tool based on their specific needs, uses, and budget. With all the data provided above, we are confident that you can make a more informed decision when purchasing your next portable jobsite table saw.

Best Cordless Tables Saw Comparison Video

Best Cordless Table Saw | 2024 Head-To-Head is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Festool Enters the World of Outdoor Adventures

Weather your enthusiast or are looking too treat yourself, or you know one,  Festool has you covered with their outdoor themed Festool Systainer. This new Systainer package features two insulated stainless steel Festool branded mugs and a camouflage-style Festool hat.  It is also compatible with Festool’s well-known Systainer system, which offers effective ways to move, arrange, and store tools, parts, and accessories for the workshop and job site.

The Outdoor Systainer Includes:

• [2] Two Festool insulated stainless steel mugs
• [1] Festool  camo-style hat.
• [1] outdoor themed SYS 3 M112 Systainer.

Availability

This special Systainer is available for shipping beginning November 14, 2023. According to Senior Product Marketing Manager at Festool Rick Bush,

Our limited edition Outdoor Systainer is a new item for consumers who are ready to roam the outdoors and explore personal passions.

Festool Outdoor Systainer Specifications

• Hard Style Case
• Weight: 3Lbs
• Model Number 577712
• Depth: 16″
• Height: 12″
• Compatible with all Festool Systainers

Where to Buy The Festool Outdoor Systainer

For almost a century now, Festool has been creating power tool solutions that are sturdy, well-engineered, and inventive.  This special edition Systainer is lightweight and portable and slick looking.

For a limited time you can purchase this Outdoor Systainer (577712) for $99.00.

Festool Outdoor Systainer is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Festool CT 25 Mobile Dust Extractor Review

Festool CT 25 Mobile Dust Extractor

4.5/5

Manufacturer: Festool
Model number: CT 25
Price: 485.00
Power source: 110 volt | 350-1200 watt

The CleanTec vacuums share many similar features of a dust extractor, but also function as larger particle vacuum. Think of it as 2 vacs in 1, as opposed to being strictly a fine dust extractor.

As a remodeling contractor when I think of a job site vacuuming, my mind goes to one of my three vacuum options, in my arsenal:

1. Dust Extractor – used to connect to a tool and collect dust at right at the source.
2. HEPA Vacuum – Used to clean a home or area after we’ve made repairs, clean carpets, and finished flooring. It’s our best vacuum and not used on demo debris.
3. Wet/Dry Shop Vac – used for heavy debris, messy demo, wet vacuuming, and general vacuuming.

The CT 15 and CT 25 vacuums fill in the first to categories above, except heavy demo debris. The CT15 and CT25 numbers refer to the capacity of the vacuum cannister, both vacs can operate wet or dry, and operate and function the same. We tested the CleanTec CT 25 Mobile Dust Extractor with a 6.6-gallon capacity.

CT 25 Mobile Dust Extractor Specifications

• 6.6-gallon capacity
• Power Consumption: 350-1200 watt
• Max volume flow: 130ft 3/min (3,700 l/min)
• Container/Filter bag capacity: 6.6 Gallons (25 L)/ 5.94 Gallons (22.5 L)
• Power Cord length: 16.404 ft (5 m)
• Dimensions (L x W x H): 18-1/2″ x 12-19/32″ x 20″ (470 x 320 x 508 mm
• Max. vacuum 96” static water lift [24 000 Pa]
• Container/filter bag capacity 6.6 Gallons (25 l)/5.94 Gallons (22.5 l)

First Impressions | CT 25 Mobile Dust Extractor

I was impressed with the CT 25 Mobile Dust Extractors compact size, and low weight. It has a nice fit and finish with a sturdy looking chassis, rear steel axle and swivel wheel connection.

One thing missing from the vacuum that many Festool users will notice is the lack of a brake.  This omission was intentional as the CT 15 an CT 25 dust extractors were designed to be used as a general-purpose vacuum and need to move freely without an accidental brake activation.

Another thing missing and new to the CT 25 Mobile Dust Extractor an intuitive touch control panel in place of rotary knobs. There are five levels controlling suction power. The vacuums main filter is on the external side of the vacuum and slides out like a drawer.

The top portion of the vacuum is a compartment that houses the crevice and upholstery adapters and has room for the power cord for storage. Additionally, the vacuum hose port connects inside this compartment and routes out towards the front portion of the vacuum, instead of the typical front port connection. This new location eliminates the chance of the hose disconnecting when pulling the vacuum behind you.  There is an attached elastic strap that is used to strap the coiled up vacuum hose to the canister top.

Using the CT 25 Mobile Dust Extractor

Besides the super easy, and intuitive power switch and suction power control first thing that struck me was how easily the CT 25 vacuum followed behind me. The wheels track and turn smoothly.

 The intuitive touch control panel allowed for a quick and easy power on and suction adjustment, even with gloves on. The vacuum has a memory that returns to its last power setting when turned off and on.

The vacuum suction hose is 123-feet long and has a 1-1/4” opening more suitable for connecting to a tool for dust extraction. It has an antistatic function to prevent static from developing during work.

We opted to pair our CT 25 vacuum with the Festool Tradesman / Installer Cleaning Set RS-HW D 36-Plus accessory. This accessory gets us into an extension tube and floor nozzle, which se need for floor cleaning.

The iconic green colored suction hose has a larger opening that connects to the floor sweep wand with a bayonet fitting.

I really liked the hose to vac connection. As I mentioned earlier the vacuum hose port connects inside the top compartment and routes out towards the front portion of the vacuum, eliminating the chance of the hose disconnecting when pulling the vacuum behind you.

Speaking of pulling the vac hose, I found that the wheels track nicely and easily followed me as I vacuumed.

In addition to the 5-speed suction control on the vacuum the hose has a rotating bypass valve on the hose nozzle. This allows you to adjust suction without having to go back to the tool. For example, transitioning from carpet to hardwood flooring.

The suction on the CT25 is excellent and picked up most items on the floor. Items that it did not suck up are common among many vacuums; heavier particles such as nuts, nails, and screws.

The CT 25 vacuum filter is easily replaced or swapped for a wet filter. We wrote on the outside of the filters “DRY” and “WET” so as not to mistake them during use. Festool should consider labeling or color coding the wet filter. I like blue… for wet! The bag replacement is intuitive and easy with built in tabs to support the vac bag.

We noted that the CT 25 vacuum was compatible with all our older Festool accessories, hoses, and wands.

We also noted that when vacuuming I tended to grasp the vacuum wand in different locations causing some mixed results. If I choked up too far, my hand would accidently push open the bypass nozzle. If I grab the wand too far back, near the hose to wand connection, I create a hinge causing the hose to disconnect. This action happened a few times and was frustrating.

Room For Improvement

There are two items I’d like to see Festool improve on. The first would be to improve the attached elastic strap that is used to secure the coiled up vacuum hose to the canister top. I found this strap difficult to hook on, sometimes slipping out of my grasp and snapping my hand or fingers.  I think a large pull tab for the user to grasp and pull the cord would eliminate this issue.

The second improvement would be on the hose to the wand connection, especially for the the Tradesman / Installer Cleaning Set accessory wand and green hose. This connection disconnected on me far too often and easily. I could see this as a major pain point for users, necessitating taping the connection. I suppose training myself to not grab the hose at that location is one solution, as would be a more secure, locking connection designed by Festool.

How Much Does the CT 25 Cost?

The Festool CT 25 Mobile Dust Extractor costs [pre-order] $485.00 online at ACME tools and includes:

• Antistatic Suction Hose – Diameter 27/32 x 3.5 m RAS-CT
• SELFCLEAN filter bag SC-FIS-CT 25
• Crevice Nozzle, D36
• Upholstery Brush

Festool is offering a nice warranty on this vacuum with 3 years on service and repairs, and 10 years for spare parts. Warranties like this is something that I’ve always appreciated from Festool.

The Tradesman / Installer Cleaning Set RS-HW D 36-Plus accessory costs an additional $245.00 at ACME and includes:

• Curved hand tube D 36 HR-K AS
• Floor nozzle D 36 BD 300
• Extension pipes D 36 VR-K AS
• Crevice nozzle D 36 FD-300
• Suction brush D 36 SP
• Smooth suction hose D 36 x 3.5 m antistatic
• Systainer SYS3 M 437

https://www.acmetools.com/festool-rs-hw-d-36-plus-cleaning-set-for-tradesmen-577258/400772000367.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjw6KunBhDxARIsAKFUGs85xx85SBMvRLp-gRhAAd6bf0cB1UY2BjsgOpWcWgXLEmSHlru29_caAnRCEALw_wcB

Final Thoughts

The Festool CT 25 Mobile Dust Extractor is ideal for cleaning where there are large volumes of dust and dirt at construction sites, workshops, and offices. It is extracts dust, dirt and water and has a large debris canister capacity. It is robustly designed, and intended to run all day, if needed.

In addition to contractors needing to clean their jobsites, I can see restoration service pros and professional cleaners using this vacuum.

People often complain that Festool products are too pricy. As professional contractors who use tools to make our living, we need to be focusing on tool purchases as an investment. If you amortize the cost of the CT 25 vacuum, and even the accessory kit, and assume that it will last one year past its 3-year warranty – your cost of ownership is just $16 per month. If you take care of this vacuum, I’m sure you’ll get more than 4 years out of it. Some of my dust extractors are 8 years old and still going strong.

Festool Mobile Dust Extractor is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Festool Wireless Bluetooth Earbud Hearing Protection, NRR 25 dBs (Model GHS 25)

Festool GHS 25

5/5

Manufacturer: Festool
Model number: GHS 25
Power source: Wireless

Features and Specifications | Festool Wireless Earbuds

Features:

• Active Noise Cancelling w/ noise isolating microphone
• OSHA compliant
• Conversation mode
• Touch-based controls

Specifications:

• Noise Rating (dB’s): 25 (NRR) / 32 (SNR)
• Connection Type: Bluetooth 5.2
• Element Rating: IP67 (water/dust)
• Battery: 13 hrs (earbuds) / 25 hrs (case)
• Charge Cable: Universal Type-C USB

Design & Comfort

Comfortable Fit

The Festool wireless earbuds (model GHS 25) fit great.  We wore them for multiple days in the shop on the job site for hours at a time and never found them uncomfortable. Unlike other earbuds we’ve used, the molded housing is slightly narrower that the radius if the foam or silicone tips. This means that the plastic isn’t digging into your inner ear over time, keeping them snug yet comfy during prolonged use. This was especially true when wearing them with other safety headgear like safety glasses, welding helmet or grinding shield.

The GHS 25’s also come with a variety of foam tips to adjust to ear canal size for any user. Festool also includes a set of silicone tips. The tips also fit over a threaded stainless-steel stud which seemed like a high-quality design. It made it easy to find the right size and material for the user and job at hand. Re[lacement and/or additional tips can be purchased from the Festool website.

Touch Controls

We also loved the touch based (vs button) design of the controls. It can get uncomfortable pressing the earbuds into your ear when trying to press the button. A light touch is all that is required to work the integrated controls for the GHS 25. We had zero issues operating the controls and even used them with gloves on a time or two.

Hard Case

The most frustrating part of case rechargeable earbuds is often how they fit into the case to recharge. A poor fit results in bas connections with the spring-loaded charging points. The Festool GHS 25 were exceptional in this regard. The magnetic connection uses an extremely strong magnet to align and secure the earbuds in the case. It was seriously impressive and appreciated. In fact, we could almost drop the earbuds into the molded channel, and they would secure themselves. They also easily fit even with the largest foam and silicone tips on which is another problem we’ve had with other NRR-rated earbuds.

Overall Performance

Sound Quality & Noise Protection

The sound quality of the Festool GHS 25’s is great. We listened to music often while running tools and could with zero complaints. It’s hard to quantify the NRR effectiveness. But after running planers, jointers, grinders, nail guns, miter saws and more for mutiple hours, our hearing was ringing-free and felt great.

Conversation Mode

The GHS 25 earbuds also have a conversation mode which uses the microphone to suppress background noise and allow you to hear a person talking. We were surprised at how well this feature worked. We were able to have a normal conversation easily even with an angle grinder running in the background!

Active Noise Cancelling

We loved the Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) feature as well. There were a handful of times when the ANC feature briefly struggled when we turned our head and because both earbuds weren’t equally picking up background noise. But it was very brief, maybe 2-3 seconds each time, and automatically kicked back on when we repositioned. This is on par with any other earbuds we’ve used though.

Final Thoughts | Festool Wireless Earbuds

The Festool GHS 25 earbuds are a great addition for any professional or handyman. They offer excellent hearing protection with very effective active noise cancelling. They were extremely comfortable through prolonged use. And we loved the easy and secure connection to the hard case. At $180 they are on the higher end for hearing protection, but we wouldn’t hesitate to make the purchase based on overall performance and comfort!

Festool Wireless Earbuds Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Best Cordless Impact Driver

There’s no doubt that Impact Drivers have completely changed the construction industry and drastically improved both productivity and quality. Impact drivers allow users to install screws, structural fasteners and small bolts more efficiently than a drill. Impact drivers drastically reduce broken fasteners, stripped screw heads and costly delays. An impact driver relies on a hammer and anvil mechanism to deploy rotational force when fastener resistance is encountered.   

In our Best Cordless Impact Driver Head-To-Head test, we’ve selected 19 full-size impact drivers from a wide range of manufacturers. We invited all of the major manufacturers to participate, with some brands sending multiple impact drivers.

 

Features Qualitative Scoring Results
MFG	Score	Rank
Bosch	1	1
Makita 18v	2	2
Makita 40v	2	2
Skil	2	2
Festool	3	5
FLEX	3	5
Kobalt	3	5
Metabo HPT 18DC	3	5
Metabo HPT 18DBD	3	5
Metabo HPT 36v	3	5
Milwaukee	3	5
Ridgid	3	5
Ryobi	3	5
DEWALT	4	14
Hilti	4	14
Metabo 18 LT	4	14
Metabo 18LTX	4	14
FEIN	5	18
Hart	5	18

Best Size and Weight | Winner DEWALT

Size matters to users, in this case, they want a smaller, compact impact driver that still has the power for the applications they need to deploy it in. Compact also means that the tool can be used in more situations, think of tight spot applications like sistering floor joists with a 5 or 6-inch fastener,  in between joist bays. We felt the two most important factors for an impact driver were the weight and head length.  Having a lightweight tool when working overhead, coupled with a compact size that can fit into small openings is a huge win.

To determine a final ranking for size and weight, each driver was weighed without the battery and the head length, from bit holder/collet to back was measured.  Each of these values were ranked separately and then combined into a single factor to determine the winner.   The DEWALT was the most compact impact driver of the bunch. It measures 3.9″ and weighs 2.1 lbs and is 1/2″ smaller than the 2nd place Metabo HPT 18DC  which measures 4.51 inches and measures 2.0 lbs.  Third place was the Makita 18V measures 4.53  inches and weighs 1.9 lbs.

An interesting fact is that all of the tools weigh from 1.9 lbs. to 3.3 lbs.

MFG	Length (in)	Weight (lb)	Rank
DEWALT	3.94	2.10	1
Metabo HPT DC	4.51	2.00	2
Makita 18v	4.53	1.90	3
Milwaukee	4.48	2.20	4
Makita 40v	4.77	2.20	5
Metabo 18V LTX	5.10	2.10	6
Ridgid	5.02	2.20	7
Festool	5.17	2.12	8
Metabo HPT 36v	4.52	2.50	8
Hilti	5.44	2.20	10
Skil	4.92	2.47	10
FLEX	4.68	2.70	12
Kobalt	5.27	2.40	12
FEIN	6.00	2.20	14
Metabo HPT DBD	5.04	2.90	15
Hart	5.82	2.50	16
Ryobi	5.60	2.55	16
Metabo 18 LT	5.64	2.60	18
Bosch	5.82	2.60	19

Best Cordless Impact Price  | Winner Skil

Price is undoubtedly an important consideration when buying tools, especially for those of you who are just starting out in the trades. We can certainly agree on that and also agree that the majority of contractors have strong brand loyalty and would rather continue with their current battery platform than venture out and create a new line of cordless power tools.

We did not include the price in our scoring criteria but included bare tool pricing for you to use as needed.

The best-priced impact driver was the  Skil coming in at $69.99 bare tool. The second lowest price was the Hart at $77.85 and the third was the Bosch at $99.00. The team all agrees that the Skil and Hart impact drivers fall into the DIY category for users.

There are several pro-grade impact drivers in this test, I’ll use the Festool as an example. In their research and testing Festool found that the most frequent failure point on impact drivers was the anvil mechanism, so they adjusted the shape and material hardness of their anvil to increase the lifespan of the tool. They also decreased the internal strike speed (BPM) so it was less likely to break.

Festool also incorporated a longer trigger which allows for finer control of the variable speed trigger making it easier to manually control slow speed on hardware attachment. The moral of the story here is that pro-grade tools are designed to last longer, for us PROs a tool is an investment that is needed for our livelihood – invest wisely!

Best Cordless Impact Driver Head-To-Head | 2023 is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Updated Festool Track Saw TS 55 FEQ And Tracks | What’s NEW?

Festool TS 55 FEQ Tracksaw

5/5

Manufacturer: Festool
Model number: TS 55 FEQ
Price: 699.00
Power source: Corded
Weight: 9.91 lbs

New Festool 1.8 mm Track Saw Blades

The new Festool TS 55 FEQ Tracksaw blades measure 1.8 mm, and the older track saws use 2.2 mm and sometimes 2.4mm.

There are 6 New Festool Track Saw Blades

1. Finish – 42 tooth finish cut blade $84.00
2. Panther Blade 12- tooth ripping blade $49.00
3. Universal Blade 28-tooth crosscut, and rip cut blade $63.00
4. Laminate [red colored] 52-tooth laminate blade $95.00
5. Aluminum [blue colored] 52-tooth non-ferrous and some plastics [Lexan] blade $95.00
6. Fiber Cement 42-tooth [poly crystalline diamond toot] for Hardie board and fiber cement. $145.00

Faster | Longer Lasting | Less Dust

So, what’s the big deal with this saw upgrade then? Well for one thing the 1.8mm thinner kerf design has alternating top bevel teeth that remove less wood waste which equates to a 50% faster cut and 25% less sawdust created.

According to Festool they’ve done a ton of cut tests, in Germany, and have found that these new blades will last 40% longer than the old track saw 2.2mm blades.

Festool TS 55 FEQ Tracksaw | Cost

The Festool TS 55 FEQ Tracksaw will sell for $599

Using the Festool TS 55 FEQ Tracksaw

We performed a bunch of test cuts in the shop before taking this saw into the field and using it on projects.

When beveling at 22.5-degrees and 45-degrees we did not see any blade deflection in the cuts. The alternating top bevel teeth produced nice, smooth cut. Our analysis was that the saw feels like it cuts faster and is smoother. The cuts were accurate and smooth.

Are The New Festool Blades Interchangeable?

The answer to whether the blades are interchangeable is yes and no. You cannot use the NEW blades on the older track saws. You can use the OLD blades on the new saw, but you cannot change the riving knife.

Changing the riving knife is an in-depth, complicated process and is often done wrong by end-users, resulting in a Festool service call. Trust me, it’s not worth the potential downtime on the tool.

New Festool 55” and 75” Track and Angle Unit 577040

There are five things you need to know about the new tracks.

Track Cutouts

The tracks have slot cutouts and come with green adhesive tabs. These tabs are designed for one-time use and are excellent for sticking the tracks onto a door or wall without the need for clamps

Middle Track Cutout

The middle cutout on the track was designed to slide over and fit onto a Sustainer handle for storage or transport.

Countersink Holes

In the absence of the green adhesive tabs or if you want a more secure mount there are now countersink holes for securing the track to surfaces.

New Track Connectors

The new track connectors have been completely re-designed with expansive joints. The joint connectors are labeled [#1 and #2] and they go into the bottom of the saw rail. The connectors align the rails perfectly and the #2 connector is the stiffener. A 3mm hex key is one of the 2-sided Allen key that is provided with the new guide rail set FS/2 set 577137] this 3mm key is now used to tighten the connectors. The old design used slotted screws; this new design eliminates that pain point.

Track Deflector

The track deflector was re-designed and now spans the entire width and covers the track. The older design used to catch the cord; this new design eliminates that pain point.

New Track Angle Unit Model 577040

The angle unit replaces the old protractor-style unit. This new unit attaches and sits perfectly at 90-degrees. The angle unit has degrees as a measurement and the angle unit extension 577041 uses Metric.

The angle unit has two built-in “Dogs” that attach to the unit for holding the track securely, 90-degrees against a bullnose or rounded edge.

There is a slot under the angle unit that still allows the use of track clamps.

Using the Track Angle Unit

We found the new angle unit super easy to use and mostly used it for getting a quick 90-degree cut on a door or board – the unit eliminates having to take and mark two measurements, now you just need one!

Festool TS 55 FEQ Video Review

Festool TS 55 FEQ Tracksaw Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Festool Cordless Angle Grinder AGC 18-115

Cordless Angle Grinder AGC 18-125 5.2 EBI

4.5/5

Manufacturer: Festool
Model number: 576823
Price: $625
Power source: 18 V battery
Weight: 5.95 lbs (with battery)

Features and Specifications

First impressions

The Festool AGC 18-115 is the smoothest grinder I have used. It has a soft start that almost eliminates the sudden jerking that happens when you turn on other grinders. Festool also decoupled the motor from the housing making this tool vibrate much less than any other grinder I have used. The battery and power switch are oriented on a parallel axis to the grinding or cutting wheel. This does have the advantage of putting the switch right under your thumb during cutting tasks.

For someone who does mostly residential remodeling I’ve been dealing with a lot of structural steel lately. This has given me some quality time with the Festool AGC 18-115. I’ve had to cut notches in ½” plate steel, trim down ½”, ⅝’ and ¾” anchor bolts, cut ¼” steel plate, cut #4 and #5 rebar, and bevel the ends of ½” threaded rod.

Grinders tend to bounce a bit during use. Especially during grinding tasks. I found that this tendency was drastically reduced with the AGC 18-115 due to the tight manufacturing tolerances, design, and decoupling of the motor and gearbox from the housing of the tool.

A grinder is usually a no-nonsense, on/off kind of tool. It either does the job or it doesn’t. But this is far and away the most refined and feature-rich grinder I have used. The AGC 18-115 produces minimal vibration, is easy to handle, and has a tool-less guard adjustment and tool-less wheel fixing nut.

It is also variable speed which opens up a lot of versatility for grinding materials like aluminum, stainless steel, and even doing some polishing with the appropriate attachments.

In Use

The power is on par with other cordless grinders I’ve used. On a recent job we were replacing or repairing a bunch of footings and piers under an existing home. We found that a few of the footings were actually OK and reusable. But this left some old rebar sticking out of the footings. I was going to leave it (a little more reinforcement can’t hurt) but one bent bar was too close to the form work and would be in danger of rusting out and cracking or spalling the concrete over time. So I had to cut it after the form work was already in place. I have to tell you cutting #4 bar down inside a 14” by 14” by three and a half foot deep box is not my idea of a good time. But the AGC-18 made quick work of it and did so without kicking back or vibrating my hand off my forearm. It was very comfortable to use even in this uncomfortable situation.

Later on this same job, I had to modify a shower drain to add weep channels. These channels allow water to drain out of the shower pan. Some drain bodies aren’t set up with this and the easiest way to fix it is to grind a channel in the threads of the brass. I dialed down the speed, put in a fresh disc and was able to perform this delicate task with ease and plenty of control.

Systematic Systainer Approach

Like the vast majority of Festool’s offerings the AGC 18-115 Cordless Angle Grinder comes in a Systainer. With an insert that holds the tool, two batteries, a charger, and a few accessories. The Systainer system has additional organizers, totes, and customizable inserts. In addition, they stack and interlock quickly and easily with each other and on top of Festool’s dust extractors. Plus the Systainer 3 system has wall-mounted rack systems available that can be used in the workshop or for vehicle storage. The Systainer system has been around for a long time in Europe and while the cases may not be as robust as some systems they last a long time when treated with care and take up significantly less space than many of their competitors.

The not so great.

The grip is pretty thick.

This is normal for most grinders. But a lot of companies are making an effort to slim down the body of the tool to make the grip more comfortable and ergonomic. While the grip does step down when past the actual motor it would be nice if it was stepped down to an even smaller diameter as a slimmer, easier to hold tool would be nice.

Lack of dust extraction options

One of my main uses for an angle grinder is coping trim or making end grain scribes using coarse grit sanding discs. The low vibration and smooth operation make the AGC 18-115 a great tool for this but, like any angle grinder, it throws around a lot of fine dust. A dust extraction shroud would be fantastic for this task and in keeping with Festool’s commitment to excellent dust extraction.
Price, like all things Festool, is at or near the top of the price spectrum. But if you’re looking at Festool you probably already know this and are OK with paying the premium for a high-end power tool.

Festool Cordless Angle Grinder AGC 18-115 | Final Thoughts

This is a high quality, super smooth grinder with some really nice features. Aside from the thick grip, it is a very ergonomically friendly tool. If it suits your needs and you can justify the price you won’t be disappointed.

Festool Cordless Angle Grinder AGC 18-115 Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Cordless Oscillating Multi-tool – Comparison Testing 2021

The ToolBoxBuzz Crew recently looked at twelve major brands of multi-tools and carefully planned a range of uniquely crafted tests (with some sweet custom jigs) to determine which one was the “Best Cordless Oscillating Multi-tool.”

An oscillating multi-tool is a saw, scraper, sander, and grinder. The tool, as the name suggests, is an all-in-one and versatile tool. A variety of blades/attachments can be used to provide job site solutions to a wide range of cutting and sanding challenges. If this was impressive enough, the consumables are designed to handle a diverse set of materials to include: mild steel, aluminum, carpet, hard tile, soft tile, laminates, hardwood, softwood, and various plastics. So true to form, the Tool Box Buzz team of experts got together to execute some Pro-centric Head-2-Head Testing – And provide the data you’ve come to expect (and crave) from our Head-2-Head tests!

Oscillating Multi-tool History

You may notice that many tradespeople refer to an oscillating multi-tool as a “Fein” tool whether it’s made by Fein or not. There’s good reason for this! Fein invented the tool and for many years they were the only company making OMTs. The origin for this tool is a plaster cast saw that Fein produced in 1967. It was designed to cut hard plaster without cutting a patient’s skin. In 1985 Fein then worked with the automotive industry to adapt this technology to make a tool for cutting silicone to remove panes of window glass from cars. In 1986 the OMT techology was adapted to create the “Fein Grinder” which we now recognize as a delta pad sander. The Fein grinder was the basis for the Fein Multimaster which is the tool that started it all! Once Fein’s patent expire in 2009 the floodgates opened. Oscillating multi-tools went from a niche pro tool only available through direct purchase through Fein, to a mass market tool available in every lumber yard and home improvement center seemingly in a matter of months.

Cordless Oscillating Multi-tool Evaluation Format

For this Best Cordless Oscillating Multi-tool evaluation, our team evaluated a total of 8 essential categories as detailed below. Each of the categories was ranked individually and ultimately used to declare the “Overall Best Cordless Multi-Tool” based on the combined test results.

• Accuracy– The accuracy of the multi-tools was compared including the ability to follow a line and cut splice joints in trim.
• Performance [Power / Speed Test]-We looked at cutting speed through metal and wood as an indicator of saw motor performance.
• Features– An overall comparison of features and specifications.
• Ergonomics– Ergonomics are really important to users and an important category to consider when purchasing any power tool. In addition to traditional ergonomics, we also included functionality in this category.
• Vibration – We analyzed the vibrations of the tools during our speed testing.
• Noise – We used a decibel meter used to measure the tool under no load, and identical cutting load conditions.
• Price– Price is always an important factor in determining which saw is best for a user. We’ve included the current pricing found online for each of the saws “as-tested,” at the time of publication.
• Best Value – Often times this category winner tends to resonate with most folks as it tends to perform well in the tests but feels good on the wallet.

Cordless Oscillating Multi-tool Specifications

Here is the list of specifications for all the Oscillating Multi-tools the Tool Box Buzz Pro team tested in this Head-2-Head:

BOSCH GOP18V-28N

• 18 volt –  4 Ah battery
• 8,000- 20,000 OPM
• 2.55 lbs bare tool  and 3.9 with 4.0 ah batt
• Variable Speed
• Oscillation angle 2.8°
• Starlock and Starlock Plus blades
• BOSCH GOP18V-28N

DEWALT DCS355B

• 20V – 4.0 Ah battery
• 0 – 20,000 OPM
• 2.35 bare tool, and  3.75 lbs with 4.0 ah battery
• 3-speed variable speed / VS Trigger
• Oscillation angle 1.6°
• Open back blade
• DEWALT DCS355B

FEIN AMM 700 Max

• 18 V – 3.0 Ah battery
• 10,000-19,500 OPM
• 2.5 lbs bare tool and 3.5 with 3.o Ah battery
• Variable speed
• Oscillation angle 2 X 2,0°
• Starlock Plus and Starlock Max blade
• FEIN AMM 700 Max

FEIN AMM 500 Plus

• 18 V – 3.0 Ah battery
• 11,000-18,500 OPM
• 2.9 lbs bare tool and 4.35 lbs with 3.0 ah battery
• Variable speed
• Oscillation angle 2 X 1,7°
• Starlock Plus blades
• FEIN AMM 500 Plus

FESTOOL OSC 18 E Vecturo

• 18 V – 4.0 Ah battery
• 10,000 to 19,500 OPM
• 2.9 lbs to 4.35 lbs with 4 Ah battery
• Variable speed /Auto setting
• Oscillation angle 4.0°
• Starlock Max blade
• FESTOOL OSC 18 E Vecturo

FLEX FX4111-1A

• 24V – 5.0 Ah battery
• 10,000 – 20,000 OPM
• 2.85 lbs bare tool and 5.5 lbs with 5 ah battery
• 5-speed variable speed
• Oscillation angle 4.0°
• Starlock blade
• FLEX FX4111-1A

MAKITA XMT04

• 18 V – 5 Ah battery
• 6,000-20,000 OPM
• 3.1 lbs bare tool and 4.45 lbs with 5.0 ah battery
• Variable speed / soft start
• Oscillation angle 3.6°
• Starlock blade
• MAKITA XMT04

METABO 613088850

• 18V – 4.0 Ah battery
• 8,000-20,000 OPM
• .295 lbs. bare tool and 4.2 lbs with a 4.0 ah battery
• Variable speed
• Oscillation angle 1.6°
• Starlock Plus blades
• METABO 613088850

METABO HPT  CV18DBLQ5

• 18 V – 4.0 Ah Multi-Volt battery
• 15,000-20,000 OPM
• 3.05 lbs. bare tool and 5.25 lbs. with 4.0 Ah battery
• Variable speed
• Oscillation angle 3.2°
• Starlock and open back blade type
• METABO HPT  CV18DBLQ5

MILWAUKEE M18 FUEL 2836-20

• 18 V – 5.0 Ah battery
• 11,000-18,000 OPM
• 2.6 lbs. bare tool and 3.35 lbs  with 5.0 Ah battery
• Variable speed
• 4.2°
• Starlock and open back blade type
• MILWAUKEE M18 FUEL 2836-20

RIDGID R86240B

• 18V – 4.0 Ah battery
• 10,000 – 20,000 OPM
• 2.05 lbs. bare tool and 3.65 lbs. with 4.0 ah battery
• Variable speed
• Oscillation angle 3.6°
• Starlock and open back blade type
• RIDGID R86240B

RYOBI PBLMT50B

• 18 V- 4.0 Ah battery
• 10,000 – 20,000 OPM
• Variable Speed
• 2.0 lbs bare tool and 3.65 lbs with 4 Ah battery
• Oscillation angle 3.0°
• Starlock and open back blade type
• RYOBI PBLMT50B
  

Imperial Multi-tool Blades

All of the multi-tools tested were outfitted with task-specific, brand new, Imperial multi-tool blades. This ensured that the focus was on the tools and not the blades. Using standardized blades throughout the test also helped maintain consistency since it removed an outside testing variable. Imperial blades are a crew favorite and have been a go-to blade for years on our construction sites. Imperial was also able to supply blades that fit all of the blade clamp/mount types as well as the material-specific blades we required for our testing.

Imperial Blades Used:

• Bi-metal Wood with Nails
• Hardwood
• Carbide

The Imperial blade interfaces included Starlock, OIS, and “Open-back” compatible blade mounts. This range of mounting interfaces was critical to ensuring a universal match with all the Multi-tools tested. Of note, some of the Multi-tools tested are compatible with multiple blade mounting interfaces giving them increased blade selection options.

Cordless Oscillating Multi-tool Accuracy

Oscillating multi-tools are extremely adaptable. Everything from rough frame to metal cutting, sanding, and trim carpentry can be accomplished using an oscillating multi-tool. There are times in carpentry where accurate multi-tool cuts matter. Our Pro crew also frequently uses oscillating multi-tools when completing exterior trim repairs. These trim cuts can be the difference between a clean splice joint or a jagged, ugly joint.

For our accuracy test, we asked one experienced user to use every multi-tool to freehand cut cedar bevel siding (sometimes called clapboards) in place and to cut a 1×6 pine corner board in place using a jig and then assess and rank the tools based on their performance. We purposefully had a single operator execute this to better control the test standardization. Our assumption was that multiple users might have slightly different techniques, and therefore results, as compared to a single Pro operator.

Range of test criteria:

• Accuracy: Ease of controlling the tool and how clean a cut did the OMT produce.
• Vibration: A subjective assessment of how much the tool vibrated during use and if the vibration negatively impacted the accuracy and cleanliness of the cut.
• Ergonomics: Related to control/accuracy, an assessment of how comfortable the tool was to hold and use while performing these tasks. A good grip can make or break a tool, while a poorly placed knob or lever or a slippery hard to hold tool can negatively impact control and accuracy.
• Power: A tool with adequate or better power allows greater control by minimizing the amount of pressure the user has to use to complete the cut. “Let the tool do the work” is much easier when the tool has good power!

Best Cordless Oscillating Multi-tool Accuracy Winner – Fein 700, Fein 500, Festool

There was a three-way tie for the winner of the multi-tools accuracy-test between the Fein 700, Fein 500, and Festool Vecturo, with almost identical results during accuracy testing as a result of the very similar overall designs and performance.

The Flex, Makita, and Milwaukee came in a three-way tie for second. But all due to slightly different standout design reasons. The Flex has a good grip, with rubber pads on each side of the head. This provides excellent overall control. The grip design complements solid power and when paired with its vibration-damping decoupled design, provided great overall accuracy.

The Makita has a generous amount of rubber over-mold and very effective decoupling to provide excellent grip and control, and therefore excellent cuts. While the Milwaukee has decoupling and a decent grip the power of this tool made it cut through the corner board like a hot knife through butter. And in this case, a fast cut also made for a cleaner, more accurate cut.

The Metabo HPT was a surprise stand-out in this category. While it doesn’t have a decoupling design feature (which all 6 tools above have), its oscillation action was very smooth and the tool was easy to control. This led to solid overall accuracy and provided a surprisingly smooth cut.

Performance Testing (Power/Speed)  (Wood/Metal) – Winner Milwaukee

An obvious question when comparing the performance of different multi-tools is “which saw cuts the fastest?”  This test also equates to power and power equates to cutting thicker, and or, harder-to-cut materials.

Recognizing that using a multi-tool requires the operator to make dozens, if not hundreds, of minuscule adjustments during each cut we decided to try to eliminate the human variable. To test the power, we built a jig to hold the saws and complete two tests:

• Test 1: pull the saws into 3/4″ plywood using a weighted pulley system.
• Test 2: cut five 16-penny framing nails using a weighted pulley system.

In the TBB jig, we supported the plywood on a frame, that in turn was held to the workbench by clamps. The tools were leveled and strapped to the test fixture.

We used this jig to remove as much human variation as possible to allow for the fairest test possible. We used a rope and pulley system to transfer a 5.5 lb weight into a constant 5.5 lb horizontal force for each and every cut.  All saws had variable speed motors and the highest oscillating speed was selected for the tests.

Weighted Pulley System

The pulling force was provided by a weighted pulley system which pulled the multi-tools through the material with consistent force. This approach has 2 main benefits:

1. First, it allows a constant force to be applied to each multitool in the same way that an operator tries to apply a constant force while cutting.
2. Secondly, by allowing for natural resistance (as opposed to forcing a constant cutting speed via mechanical motors) it allows the saw to cut at its natural maximum speed based on the maximum oscillations per minute and the power of the motor. This also underscores the importance of using the same blade types on all of the saws.

The sled fixture held the multi-tools securely and level while the aluminum tracks kept the saw moving in a consistent and parallel fashion. The saws were in contact with the sled and the sled in contact with the workpiece. During the course of testing, the fixture performed with no issues. An automatic timer with contact switches was used to start and stop the timer for each test.  Removing the human error element of a handheld stopwatch.

All the tools selected for this test were members of the 18V-24V high-performance line supplied by each manufacturer. Batteries supplied ranging from 3 to 5 amp-hour capacity.  In the previous head-to-head test, we’ve normalized the field by considering the size of the batteries (Amp Hour) and Voltage of the platform to calculate the Watt-Hour of each tool tested.  This is particularly critical when performing endurance or run-time tests where you are testing the amount of work a tool can perform on a single battery charge.  In this test, we are testing for speed and power, not work capacity.  Thus the Watt Hour considerations you may have seen from us in the past are not used here.

Performance Testing (Power/Speed) in Wood – Winner Milwaukee

One of the most common, if not THE most common materials on a construction site is plywood. So for our Power/Speed test, we used our Multi-tool jig to test each tool’s cutting speed through 3/4″ plywood.  Three runs were performed for each tool and their times were averaged.

Milwaukee came in first place with an average of just 4.18 seconds per cut. Milwaukee claims to have the fastest cutting saw and from what we saw in testing, their tool delivers on that promise.

The second and third-place finishers were Ryobi with a  6.11 average cut time and DEWALT with a 7.45 cut time.  Both these tools cut through the material exceptionally well. The rest of the rankings can be found in the following chart.

Wood Cutting – Use testing sled rig to cut 3/4 plywood under steady load

Winner of Metal Cutting – Milwaukee

To test the tools against metal, a series of five 16-penny nails were arranged in a series in a straight line.  The nails were located close together to minimize the slamming of the tool into the material and damage blade teeth.  The timer was started just before the first nail was contacted and immediately after the fifth nail was cut.

It’s always nice to see consistency across performance tests and the top three tools managed to do just that.  The fastest cutting tool was again the Milwaukee at 17.06 seconds, followed by the Ryobi at 26.61 seconds and the DEWALT in third at 28.68 seconds.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the bunch was the Ryobi, dethroning all but one tool in the performance rankings.  As the lowest cost option of the group, the Ryobi boasts some serious cutting prowess.

Metal Cutting – Use testing sled rig to cut 5 nails/screws in sequence under steady load

Best Cordless Oscillating Multi-tool Features – Winner  FLEX

It’s never easy to compare tool features from different brands, but the devil is in the details, thus a feature comparison is necessary.

The entire team used all of the tools in a variety of cutting configurations and tests to rate four separate features on these saws on a scale of one to five. [With 1 being the best]

Features that we looked at:

1. Blade Change
2. LED Light
3. Decoupling
4. Variable Speed

The number one slot for features went to the newcomer, the FLEX Multi-tool with 8-points. FLEX had the best wraparound LED light coverage, excellent vibration decoupling and scored second in blade change and third in its variable speed adjustment.

A close second place went to Milwaukee with 9-points. The Milwaukee has low cutting vibration, excellent LED, and variable speed with auto-setting. Third place was a three-way tie [10-points] with both FEIN tools and the Festool Multi-tool. These tools were extremely smooth cutting [low-vibe] and, along with the Bosch, sported the best style blade clamps and blade changing system.

Stand Out Features

There were a few stand-out features that affect performance and safety. While not all of the multi-tools had stand-out features, we broke down a few that matter.

Blade Change

All of the multi-tools can use the base Starlock and several can also use the open back blades. 

Slide & Click Lock – Bosch, Festool, and Fein

These multi-tools require the user to simply push the blade into the tools blade accessory holder. It’s fast, easy and the team feels it is far superior to the other methods.

One thing we noted during testing was that the Festool power switch is easily actuated to the on position when changing the blade. The user needs to be careful when reaching for the blade change lever, so the thumb can easily hit the power switch.

Lever-Based Lock – DEWALT

The team rated the DEWALT’s blade clamp mechanism as having the second-best blade change system. This system is effective, but the spring tension on the clamp can be difficult for some users to actuate. Overall, the team felt that the DEWALT clamp was not a bad design.

Note – DEWALT offers an accessory washer, lock washer, and Allen bolt to mount Starlok blades or accessories to the tool. We did not test this feature as we did not see the value in speed over the spring blade clamp system.

The FLEX multi-tool has a similar Starlock mechanism to the Fein and Festool but the locking mechanism requires the user to use the locking lever. This lever spring is very aggressive when returned to lock position and likely to bruise the user’s knuckles.

Lever Lock & Locking Clamp – Ridgid and Ryobi.

This locking clamp is permanently attached and will not fall out of the tool.

When you’re in a tight spot to rotate the blade to get at a particular angle with the multi-tool, ideally you’d be able to rotate the blade without having to manipulate the locking clamp. This may be an intentional design decision but one that the team feels is a pain point in the field. Having more throws on the locking clamp could resolve this issue.

Pin & Lever System – Metabo, Metabo HPT, Milwaukee, and Makita

The Metabo multi-tool design is set up that the pin can fall out during storage, even with the lever closed, requiring you to keep a blade in the tool in order to lock the on in place. One nice feature is that you can adjust the blade without removing the pin – something that the team feels is important in the field.

The Metabo HPT has a 3-step blade change process. It has a lever, pin, and a locking twist collar. It is not easy to use and the team felt it was the worst blade clamp set up.

LED Light

The best light was on the FLEX due to its ability to completely illuminate the blade at 90-degrees, Milwaukee was a close second with its super bright 3-LED array, which also provides some peripheral side lighting.

The Bosch, Metabo HPT, and Ridgid multi-tool lights do not stay on after the power switch is turned off. The Feins and Festool do not have LED lights, something that seems so simple to add.

Decoupling

Fein, Festool, FLEX, Makita, and Milwaukee have decoupling setups on the working end of the tool.

Variable Speed Control

Metabo HPT and Milwaukee have Auto settings on the variable-speed dials that allow you to set the upper limit of motor speed but start your cut at a lower RPM until your into the cut. The team favored the auto setting in the field as it allows you to slowly start your cut and power up once your kerf is established.

The DEWALT is the only multi-tool that offers a variable-speed trigger to allow you to vary the speed of the saw according to how hard you pull the trigger or where the speed adjustment 3-step mechanical, the setting is set.

The FLEX was unique with its 5-step digital, push-button, variable speed setting. It’s super easy to use and does not lend itself to accidental changing of setting.

Ergonomics is the science of designing and producing tools that improve a worker’s efficiency while reducing discomfort, fatigue, and risk of injury.

Ergonomics Winner – Fein 700

Our pro team members evaluated each tool under a simulated/real-world test setup. Materials cut included drywall, clapboard, plywood, pine trim, baseboard freehand, and a “splice” jig. We also used the tools to free-hand cut 16D common nails and drywall screws.

In laymen’s terms, ergonomics is the interface between the user and the tool. How’s it feel when using it? For this ergonomic section, we considered the following factors, rating them 1 thru 5. [1 being best]

Ergonomics Factors

• Grip
• Vibration
• Balance

Regardless of how fast a multi-tool cuts, the less vibration it produces, the better. Some multi-tools employ some sort of decoupling system to reduce vibration. The FEIN 700 multi-tool scored tops in balance and came in at 2-points for vibration and balance. Second place was a tie between the FEIN 500 and the Festool – both scoring 2nd place in all three categories. Third place went to Milwaukee and was noted well balanced.

Noise – Winner FEIN 500

OSHA allows 8 hours of exposure for up to 90 dB, for exposures 95dB and greater, the exposure limits drop dramatically. So clearly these saws all need hearing protection.

We used a fixed Decibel Meter to measure these multi-tools in the following workshops tests and ranked them on that average score:

1. No-load
2. Metal cutting
3. Woodcutting

The quietest saw was the FEIN 500 averaging at 106.5 decibels followed by the Metabo at 106.7 decibels and the FLEX at 106.8.

Price

Below we’ve included the current pricing (at the time of publication). Pricing is based on the bare tools where available. We chose the bare tool because a multi-tool is typically a secondary tool to one’s tool arsenal and one typically purchased to compliment an already established battery platform.

The only tool that is NOT available as a bare tool is the FLEX multi-tool. The most affordable tool is the Ryobi but the real surprise is how many of the “higher-end” tools are in the $150 range.

The best-priced cordless multi-tool was the Ryobi at $ 99  Second place was the Metabo HPT at $109 followed by Makita at $119. The highest-priced saw in this testing was the Festool which sells as a bare tool for $375.

Best Cordless Multi-tool Winner –Milwaukee

The competition for the best cordless multi-tool went to Milwaukee M18 FUEL multi-tool, with 19-points. Milwaukee crushed its competitors in the controlled wood and metal testing rig. It scored well in the accuracy and features sections coming in second place in both and taking third place in ergonomics.

Second place went to the FLEX multi-tool, with 24-points, which surprised the team. The FLEX is a feature-rich tool and came in first in that section. Scoring second in accuracy and third in the decibel testing, the FLEX solidly secured its position as the second-best tool in the testing. It was also the fourth-fastest cutting tool in metal.

Third place went to the Festool with 26-points. The Festool came in first for accuracy, second in ergonomics, and third in features rankings. Festool has the best blade clamp of the top three contenders and is a top-tier, easy-to-use, and intuitive saw.

Best Value  Cordless Oscillating Multi-tool– Winner Flex

As a new brand, the Flex was an unknown to the team and it surprised and impressed everyone.  The Flex is the only tool in the field however that is only sold as a kit.  While this can be frustrating to those looking for a bare tool, as a new tool brand most people looking to buy into the platform will likely require batteries and chargers.  The kit with battery and charger retails at $199.  The battery and charger if purchased individually would cost $160 alone, pricing the bare tool in the $40 -$50 range.  Couple that with a lifetime warranty, and you have an outstanding value for new users.

Conclusion

This is the MOST COMPREHENSIVE data on the market. Our ALL-Pro contractor team dedicated a significant amount of time and effort to our Best Cordless Multi-tool Head-to-Head comparison in order to provide you with the most thorough data possible.

Because we’re not a professional testing company and have limited time to assess the tools, these tests and evaluations are tough, time-consuming, and ultimately limited in scope. We can’t undertake long-term testing to determine longevity, and we can’t possibly test every application that one of these saws could be used for.

We get a lot of questions regarding how we come up with the final rankings. As previously noted, comparing tools can be done in a variety of ways. The good news is that we’ve made ALL of our test data publicly available, and you can rate the tools any way you wish. Don’t care about an item we ranked? No problem. Simply take that out of the matrix and re-rank them. When evaluating cordless multi-tools, we hope you’ll find this Head-to-Head comparison beneficial.

If you have a moment, please check out our other Head-to-Head Tests.

Best Cordless Multitool Comparison Testing

Best Cordless Oscillating Multi-tool Head-to-Head is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Festool 575994 Planex LHS 2 225 EQI-PLUS

Festool has redesigned their Planex drywall sander.  The improved features include random orbit sanding for that perfect finish, LED ring for spot on illumination, adjustable suction power at the head to reduce user fatigue and maximum all day use with the ergonomic T – Handle.  Festool listened to the users on this redesigned Planex EQI – PLUS and it was a complete dream to operate.

First Impression:

The first thing that I think of with Festool is dust extraction, and what is a more perfect tool to perfect than a drywall sander?  Sanding drywall is by far one of the dustiest stages in construction.  Being a remodeling contractor and mostly working in finished spaces, this new redesigned planex was already checking off all the boxes for me.

New tools are always welcomed, but this Planex has completely won me over. We start off in a Systainer SYS3 XXL to store the entire system plus room for accessories. I truly love kits and grab and go all in one Systainer.  The Planex easily clips together and then just hook on a sanding paper disk. Then connect it to your CT36 dust extraction with auto clean and prepare for smooth walls without the mess.

Festool Planex Includes:

• Model  Planex LHS 2 225 EQI-PLUS
• Item number 575994
• SC – LHS 2 225 hose clip
• Hook -and- Loop[ fastener
• Granat P180 pack of five
• Sanding pad dia 220mm inc. interface pad
• Systainer SYS3 XXL 337

Planex LHS 2 225 Specifications:

• Abrasive diameter = 8 7/8”
• Sanding stroke = 3/16” 
• Length = 47 1/4” – 65”
• Weight = 10.36 LB
• Dust extraction connection diameter = 1 1/16”/ 1 7/16” (27mm/36mm)

Festool Planex Features:

• 360 degree LED light ring with light on only button
• Adjustable suction power will reduce user fatigue & the Planex holds its own weight against walls and ceilings 
• Variable working lengths, up to 2 extensions can be added
• The ergonomic T- handle for greater range with shorter machine
• Stores in a Systainer SYS3 XXL & has ample room for store other accessories, sand paper and making it  the perfect  grab in go  drywall sanding kit
• Brushless EC motor providing your long lasting and maintenance free
• Eccentric sanding motion for scratch free surface quality 

Festool Planex On Site:

We had to do a repair on a smooth plastered ceiling.  I applied the first coat of joint compound on this taped repair.  The next day I set up the sander/ dust extractor and started to sand the area.  The planex is light weight and moves across the ceiling like a dream.  During this repair I swapped out sand paper from 180 up to 320 grit.  The finish was super smooth with no marks grooves or indentations.

The dust collection was spot on!  I was able to work in a finished space without running an air scrubber and setting up plastic walls to contain myself.  The LED light provides you with an 360 degrees of lighting. It worked awesome!  Not having to set up a spot light or go back with an inspection light was a big time saver.  Having the light right at the head of the sander allows you to dial in on any imperfections and sand those out.

For wall repairs and ceiling repairs I did, I adjusted the suction power on the head unit while leaving the dust extractor at max suction.  We had great results, walls and ceiling were super smooth with minimal dust on the floor to vacuum up. 

Festool accessory 205274 Planex drywall sander CT dust extractor tool holder has been useful.  We have been using the tool caddy to hold the Planex in between coats and to store different grit sand paper.  Nice little addition IMO.

Suggested Improvement

I would have like to see the XXL SYS3 Systainer lock onto the CT36 dust extractor.  Rolling into a project as one unit would be helpful.  

Festool CT36 E AC Dust Extractor:

Festool CT 36 E AC Dust Extractor Drywall Vacuum model 584014 is a specially designed dust extractor that has an integrated auto clean feature.  This feature confirms full suction and will prevent the filter from getting clogged with drywall dust.  The extractor is sold separately but it pairs very well with the Planex.  Festool CT 36 E AC Dust Extractor kit sells for $ 2,269.00 with the new Planex. The extractor by itself sells for $ 925.00.

Features for the CT36 E AC Extractor Include:

• Variable speed suction
• Self cleaning, variable filter cleaning timer
• Antistatic 36mm hose
• Automatic tool triggered operation

Festool Warranty

All Festool power tools include a 3-year wear-and-tear warranty, 2-day standard repair time, and 1-month satisfaction guarantee.

Conclusion

This will probably read corny, but bear with me! I truly enjoyed using the new redesigned Planex LHS 2 225 EQI- Plus.  I feel this sander has been well thought out by Festool.  The well balanced, LED lighting and incredible dust control are just the few benefits you will be able to provide your clients with for a professional job.  

It truly is a nice kit stored in one systainer (and yes I know its an XXL systainer but it’s still nice!).  This drywall sander will crush it during the drywall stage and will absolutely crush it on the finish stage.  Remember, Festool is quality, innovation, and a complete system design.

Where To Buy

Festool Planex Drywall Sander Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Best Cordless Barrel Grip Jigsaw – Comparison Testing

As we recently pointed out, we love jigsaws for their ability to quickly and seamlessly customize shapes and sizes of lumber or trim. We recently had the chance to finish round 1 of our Best D-Handle Jigsaw Head-to-Head featuring a variety of battery-powered D-handled jigsaws.  But D-handle jigsaws are not the only type on the market and many PROs have reached out to us with questions about barrel grip jigsaws. We designed Round 2 of our Jigsaw Head-to-Head to test out these barrel-handled beauties. We used many of the same rigorous tests and tasks from round 1 while focusing on various designs, power, performance, and ergonomic features.

Best Cordless Barrel Grip Jigsaw Evaluation Format

For this Best Barrel Grip Jigsaw evaluation, several categories were developed including; Precision & Accuracy, Performance (speed/power), Features, Ergonomics, and Price.

Each of the categories was ranked individually and used to determine the Best Barrel Grip Jigsaw based on the combined results.

• Accuracy – The accuracy of the jigsaws was compared including the ability to follow a shape, blade drift, and ease of cutting along irregular paths.
• Performance [Power / Speed Test]-We looked at cutting speed as an indicator of saw motor performance.
• Features – An overall comparison of features and specifications.
• Ergonomics – Ergonomics are really important to users and an important category to consider when purchasing any power tool. In addition to traditional ergonomics, we also included functionality in this category.
• Vibration – we recorded and analyzed the vibrations of the tools during our speed testing.
• Price – Price is always an important factor in determining which saw is best for a user. We’ve included the current pricing found online for each of the saws “as-tested,” at the time of publication.
• Best Value Saw – Often times this category winner tends to resonate with most folks as it tends to perform well in the tests but feels good on the wallet

Cordless Jigsaw Specifications

DEWALT

• Model: DCS335
• Strokes Per Minute: 0-3200SPM
• Stroke Length: 1-1/8″
  
• Weight: 4.5 lbs
• Tool-Free Blade Change
• Accepts T shank blades
• Built-in dust blower
• Keyless shoe bevel with detents at 0°, 15°, 30°, and a positive stop at 45°
• Variable speed dial

Festool

• Model: PSC 420 EB Cordless Carvex
• Strokes Per Minute: 500-3,800SPM
• Stroke Length: 1″
• Weight: 5.29 lbs
• Tool-Free Blade Change
• Variable speed dial with “Auto” function

Hilti

• Model: SJT 6-A22
• Strokes Per Minute: 0-3,000SPM
• Stroke Length: 1-3/32″
• Weight: 4.8 lbs
• Tool-Free Blade Change
• Accepts T shank blades
• Built-in dust blower
• 45° bevel shoe capacity for angled cuts in both directions
• Variable Speed Dial

Makita

• Model: XVJ01Z
• Strokes Per Minute: 800-3500 SPM
• Stroke Length: 1″
• Weight: 5.5 lbs
• Tool-Free Blade Change
• Accepts T shank blades
• Built-in dust blower
• 45° bevel shoe capacity for angled cuts in both directions
• Variable Speed Dial

Milwaukee

• Model: 2737B-20
• Strokes Per Minute: 0-3,500SPM
• Stroke Length: 1″
• Weight: 4.59lbs
• Tool-Free Blade Change
• Accepts T shank blades
• Built-in dust blower
• 45° bevel shoe capacity for angled cuts in both directions
• Variable Speed Dial

Cordless Jigsaw Accuracy

For the accuracy category each of the jigsaws was ranked on accuracy in the following areas:

• Line of Sight
• Blade tracking
• Bevel accuracy when set to 45 degrees.
• Cross-cut accuracy when set to 90 degrees (how perpendicular the cut is to the surface)

The major factors that affect the accuracy of jigsaw cuts are: How well you can see the line of cut and how well the saw’s blade stays square to the workpiece (or at a fixed angle during bevel cuts). Generally, a jigsaw with less of its body overhanging the blade is easier to use, especially when you’re working in cramped quarters or trying to follow a curved line, for example cutting out a scrollwork pattern.

Diablo Jigsaw Blades

To be consistent, all the jigsaws were equipped with a new DIABLO 3-1/4″ 20-TPI scrolling blade and a DIABLO 4″ 10-TPI Fine Finish Wood blade.  Each jigsaw was tested at 90-degree, 45-degree, and also with a scrolling blade for pattern work.

Line of Sight

For the scroll cutting each saw was set to maximum speed with zero orbital action. A scrolling template was used to trace all the boards consistently, and each jigsaw was used to make numerous cuts in 3/4′” Poplar.

The DEWALT and Makita both had excellent cut line visibility, and the Makita was the best performing saw on the scroll cuts.

The Milwaukee cut line visibility was good but not great and the Hilti dust shroud got in the way of the line of sight so we removed it. We all agreed that if we owned this saw the shroud would stay off.

The Festool saw blade was difficult to see. The small-sized Diablo blade got lost  [visually] inside the V-shaped blade guard.

When cutting bevels the DEWALT saw had the best bevel sightline. Makita sightlines were slightly obscured, and Festool and Milwaukee had terrible sightlines. The Hilti sightline was good, but the LED light was blocked when set to a bevel.

Clean Cutting

Getting clean jigsaw cuts with only light splintering, tear out, and surface chipping is chiefly a matter of selecting a blade that’s designed for the job. All the saws were evaluated on how clean the saws cut.

The DEWALT, Hilti, and Makita produced the cleanest edge, cutting saws with the least tear-out. This “clean-cut result,” was also due to using the same Diablo blades along with the operator’s skill set using the tools.

The Festool and Milwaukee surprised us with rougher cuts

Blade Deflection

Every cut was measured and evaluated for blade deflection at 45-degree and 90-degree cutting. On the 90-degree cuts, Milwaukee ranked the best, followed by Makita and Festool.

On the 45-degree cuts, the Makita ranked the best, followed by the Festool, and Milwaukee. 

Blade Tracking

Tracking was evaluated by following lines to see how easy or hard it was to follow the line. The Makita, Festool, and DEWALT were the best tracking jigsaws.

It’s worth noting that when scoring the line-of-sight, points were awarded based on the operator’s ability to consistently see the blade cutting through the poplar.  Points were not awarded based on the cut-line deviation from the template cut-line. This ensured that operator error was minimized as a primary scoring factor in this evaluation area.

Best Cordless Jigsaw Accuracy Winner – MAKITA

Makita scored tops in three out of the four categories [clean cuts, tracking, and 45-degree blade deflection] and came in second 90-degree blade deflection. It scored a near-perfect score of 5-points and is truly a nice cutting, accurate jigsaw.

The Festool scored 11-points and the DEWALT tied with Milwaukee with 13-points. Hilti did not fare well in this testing coming in at 18 points

Performance Testing (Power/Speed)

An obvious question when comparing the performance of different jigsaws is “which saw cuts the fastest?”  This test also equates to power and power equates to cutting thicker, harder-to-cut materials.

Recognizing that using jigsaws requires the operator to make dozens if not, hundreds of minuscule adjustments during each cut we decided to try to eliminate the human variable. To test the power, we built a jig to hold the saws and pull the saws into 3/4″ plywood using a weighted pulley system.

In the TBB jig, we supported the 3’ pieces of plywood on a frame that in turn was held to the workbench by clamps. The frame allowed for the clearance of the maximum depth of the jigsaw blade. We also used a hold-down clamp on the far edge of the frame and secured the plywood to the frame with three screws each time we made a cut.  That replicated the way a piece of material would be secured in the field. Each saw was fitted with a DIABLO 5″ 6-TPI Fast Cutting Wood blade, designed specifically for fast, rough cutting.

We designed the height of the fixture to be such that the bottom of the sled holding the saw just touched the plywood material. We wanted no gap between the sled and the workpiece because this would introduce additional vibration and is not the manner in which one uses a jigsaw. To cut down on the friction of the larger sled base, we installed an HDPE slick strip surface onto the bottom of the sled. This meant that each run would have consistent friction between the sled and the material. Also, this closely emulated the way the tool is commonly used.

We used this jig to remove as much human variation as possible to allow for the fairest capabilities-based test possible. We used natural, constant force (via the weight) to provide a straight, equal frictionless track to allow the saws the chance to cut as fast as they could.  The saw’s motor power provided consistent strokes per minute (SPM) speed.

The pulling force was provided by a weighted pulley system which pulled the jigsaws through the material with consistent force. This approach has 2 main benefits:

1. First, it allows a constant force to be applied to each jigsaw in the same way that an operator tries to apply a constant force while cutting.
2. Secondly, by allowing for natural resistance (as opposed to forcing a constant cutting speed via mechanical motors) it allows the saw to cut at its natural maximum speed based on the maximum strokes per minute and the power of the motor. This also underscores the importance of using the same blade types on all saws as without it this test would not truly measure the natural maximum cutting speed.

The sled fixture held the saws securely and the aluminum tracks kept the saw moving in a consistent and parallel fashion. The saws were in contact with the sled and the sled in contact with the workpiece. During the course of testing, this fixture performed with no issues.

Performance Testing (Power/Speed) – Winner Milwaukee

We rank the performance testing by normalizing Watt-hours. Milwaukee came in on top followed by Hilti and Festool.  When watching this test all of the crew members commented on Milwaukee’s speed, which equates to power. 

These saws came with a different sized “energy power plant” or a combination of battery voltages and Amp-hour ratings. As you can imagine, the saw with the greatest watt-hour battery theoretically has a leg up on its competition with regard to performance.

For our cordless tool comparisons, we level the playing field by normalizing the results based on total watt-hours. In this way, the reader can see which saw has the most effective combination of battery technology, stamina, and motor power on a per-watt-hour basis.

In this H2H, the batteries were all 18v (under load), with the exception being the Hilti which operates at 22v, nominal. As you can see in the attached table, we calculated a watt-hour normalization factor based upon a 90 watt-hr. battery pack. We then multiply this factor by the cut-times to create a normalized set of performance/power results. The table shows the results of the normalized performance test rankings.

Best Cordless Jigsaw Features – Winner DEWALT

Comparing tool features from multiple brands is never easy but the devil is in the details, so a feature comparison is certainly warranted. We looked at 9 different features on these saws and rated them 1 through 5 for each saw. [1 being best]

1. Grip / Trigger
2. Soft Start
3. Variable Speed [Dial]
4. Selectable Blade Orbit
5. Blade Guide System
6. Blade Change Clamp
7. Shoe plate – Tilting
8. Dust Blower / Collection
9. LED Light

All of these jigsaws are pro saws, rich in features. The DEWALT saw scored top in four feature categories 2nd in one category and 3rd in two categories with a total score of 12-points. A real close second place went to Makita with 13-points with 1st or 2nd place scores in every category. Third place went to Milwaukee with 14-points. 

Barrel Grip

A grip is important on a jigsaw for user comfort and also because a solid grip is essential to controlling the movement of the tool during cutting. In general, over-molds are softer to the touch than hard plastic, provide a more secure grip and even dampen tool vibration slightly.

The Hilti had a superior grip with well-placed over-molding and comfortable finger placement. The team favored the smaller diameter barrel which allows a full finger grasp around the barrel.

The Makita also has a nice grip. The team was split with the trigger safety feature on the Makita that requires you to turn the power on or off via a separate button.

The crew members that had recently used Makita tools were used to it and knew that it was a consistent feature on newer tools. Other team members felt like it was an unnecessary additional step and did not like having to press a button before the tool started.

Soft / Auto Start 

The Makita jigsaw has “soft-start” motor electronics that start the motor at a slow level and stays at a low speed until the tool starts to cut material. In general, a soft start can prevent the saw from suddenly jerking if you start cutting with the blade in contact with the material. Once the saw engages material the RPMs ramp up.

The Festool and Milwaukee have an “A” symbol on the variable speed dial that also starts the saw at a lower rpm speed and speeds up when the blade engages the material being cut.

Variable Speed

All of the jigsaws have a variable-speed dial. Variable-speed dials that allow you to set the upper limit of motor speed and, hence, the number of blade strokes per minute. This makes a jigsaw a more versatile cutting machine.

The team likes the variable speed dial on the DEWALT because it allows left or right-handed users to adjust the speed while cutting. It’s should also be noted that this dial is not easily visible, and could accidentally be moved by finger placement.

The team also really likes the top-sided variable speed dial placement on the Hilti. This location allows you to see the dial and easily adjust it with your non-support hand.

The Milwaukee variable speed dial is on the lower left side of the saw and is not protected as a result, if your maneuvering the saw [i.e. coping crown molding] you might tweak it inadvertently.

The Festool and Milwaukee were the only saws with a selectable auto setting that allows the saw to start at low speed and ramp up once the tool is engaged in the material. The Makita feature is automatic and cannot be turned off.

Selectable Blade Orbit

This mechanism moves the blade forward slightly during the upstroke cut, resulting in a more aggressive cutting action than if the blade simply reciprocated up and down. The mechanism also moves the saw blade back slightly, so it clears the kerf during the return downstroke and saves wear on the teeth.

Adjusting the amount of blade orbit makes the saw cut more or less aggressively. Most saws have four-orbit settings: 0 (no orbit) or 1 for cutting metals and plastics; 1 or 2 for fine and curved cuts; and 3 (maximum orbit) for faster, rougher cuts.

All of the saws have selectable blade orbits. All of the saws with exception of the Hilti have a rotary selector lever. The Hilti has a linear selector which is out of the way and more friendly to a left-handed user. We found this selector lever stiff to operate but believe that it will loosen a bit over time,

Blade Guide System

Most of the saws use a grooved wheel blade guide system. The groove guides and keeps the blade in alignment.

The Festool has a true “blade guide” system. It has a smooth wheel and a V-shaped metal guide that contacts and stabilizes the backside of the blade and keeps it from deflecting during cutting.

All the jigsaws featured had tool-free blade change systems, which allow you to safely and easily change out blades thanks to a spring-loaded lever and clamp.

Blade Change Clamp Lever

All of the jigsaws allow tool-less blade changes, employing a lever that opens the blade clamp on the end of the saw’s plunger — the part that moves the blade up and down.

Tool-less blade clamps make changing the tang-style saw blades each model uses quick and easy. But each clamp is different and some are easier to work with than others.

They were all easy in their own way, but three saws stood out.

• The Festool’s “Fast Fix”.
• The Hilti and Makita also have a terrific mechanism with a spring-loaded lever

The spring eject can save you from burning your fingers trying to pull a hot blade out of the clamp after a prolonged cutting session.

The Hilti lever has a solid, heavy-duty feel with powerful ejection. The DEWALT blade will fall out if held with the blade down, but the blade is not “ejected” as compared to the other saws.

DEWALT rattles when you back up the blade and hit the workpiece. Most blade clamps use a twist lock so when pressure is applied to the back of the blade generally the worst thing that happens is it might jump out of the blade guide. But the blade clamp on the DEWALT releases with a linear action that is in line with the blade.

This means that when the blade is pushed backward (like when making complicated cuts and making relief cuts) it starts to release the blade clamp, and pushes on the blade clamp release lever, and makes an alarming rattling noise. I could definitely see these causing problems when aggressively moving the saw around to make a tight cut.

Tilting Shoe Plate

Adjusting the angle of a jigsaw’s shoe plate allows the saw to make bevel cuts, say for the edge of scribing baseboard. All of the saws with exception of DEWALT, require an ALLEN wrench to adjust the base, or a separately purchased accessory plate.

Of the saws requiring an Allen wrench, the Makita was the only saw with an onboard Allen wrench.  

The DEWALT bevel lever was easy to manipulate and the tilting base released, adjusted, and locked easily and quickly.

The Festool comes as a fixed base. If you want to bevel this saw you need to purchase an accessory kit. This kit has an adjustable base controlled by a knob.  Because of this, we scored the Festool a 3 [mid-range]

The Festool accessory beveling base plate that’s certainly unique. It is split and bevels in a butterfly fashion with a split down the middle. This is fine for bevel cuts in the middle of a large workpiece but can be a problem when back beveling near the edge of a workpiece as the baseplate will frequently hit the workpiece.

Dust Blower / Dust Collection

Jigsaw blowers don’t impress us much – most of these saws still require you to blow the dust away from the dust, but that doesn’t mean that all blowers are equal.

All the saws feature a dust blower that uses air channeled from the motor fan to blow dust away from just in front of the blade. The blowers overall do a “just ok” job at removing dust.

The Milwaukee has a switch allowing you to turn off the blower. The Hilti had the most powerful blower.

Built-in LED Light

All of the jigsaws have LED lighting. A built-in LED light is a particularly welcome feature on any jigsaw since the overhanging body tends to cast a shadow in the area of the blade.

The Makita allows you to turn the LED light on without activating the blade. The team felt the light could be brighter.

The best LED was the Milwaukee saw with a bright, full circle halo that surrounds the saw with no shadow line. The Festool was similar in brightness but did not throw out the same size halo. The Festool had a really large halo, not as bright and full of shadows due to its guard.  The Festool blade barrel casts a large shadow. Festool’s strobe light is synchronized with the blade to make it look as though it is not moving while cutting. While this is an interesting feature, the team did not find it to have any real-world application. The Festool light has three modes. To change modes you need to activate both power switches simultaneously for about 10 seconds. Then the machine will beep. Then you can cycle through the different modes with the left power switch. The options are strobe, on, and off.

The DEWALT and Milwaukee have bright, well-placed lights, slightly ahead of the blade. The sightlines on the DEWALT  are better due to the blade guard  be higher and out of the way,

Power Lock-On

Barrel grips by nature have lock-on switches. The DEWALT and Hilti have well-protected, mechanical slide switches which are least likely to be accidentally turned on. Despite not being ambidextrous these two saws are still pretty easy to operate with your index finger.

The Festool and Milwaukee have ambidextrous, electronic slide switches. Festool being the better of the two with an angled down throw, angled down with your thumb.

The Makita is an ambidextrous electronic two-step button switch. There is a 10-second, safety interlock and then the power switch.

The Milwaukee switch is too high on the saw and easily activated if picked up by the front of the saw. Additionally, the power switch has a “hair-trigger. ” Meaning that the switch will engage the power to the tool with only about a 1/8^th inch of the throw.

While there is a delay in the switch activation, the fact is that this tool can be inadvertently bumped or handled activating the blade and potentially injuring someone, bending a blade, or ruining their workpiece.

Milwaukee needs to look closer at this switch.

Ergonomics Winner –  Hilti and Makita

Ergonomics is the science of designing and producing tools that improve a worker’s efficiency while reducing discomfort, fatigue, and risk of injury.

In laymen’s terms, ergonomics is the interface between the user and the tool. How’s it feel when using it? For this ergonomic section, we considered the following factors, rating them 1 thru 5. [1 being best]

• Grip
• Trigger
• Ambidextrous Use
• Blade Change

Adjustments and Switches relating to right and left users. Hilti and Makita tied in ergonomics with 6-points, which was four points ahead of the Festool and 7-points ahead of the DEWALT.  Hilti had the best grip, tied on the blade change, and was the most friendly t lefties.  Makita had the best and safest trigger and tied for the best blade change.

Vibration –  Winner Festool

Regardless of how fast a jigsaw cuts, the less vibration it produces, the better. All jigsaws employ some sort of counterbalance system to reduce the up-and-down shaking created by the reciprocating plunger and blade, and some work better than others.

During the speed/power test, we wanted to collect data on the relative difference for the vibration that each saw produced. To accomplish the data collection during actual runs, we attached a fixture to hold an iPhone firmly onto the sled. This phone has a built-in set of accelerometer sensors and we installed an app that not only created an image of the vibration but provided the average and peak vibration readings for each run.

The data between the average vibration and the peak vibration were close in the rankings. This validates the results of the readings recorded for the individual saws.

Based on our testing the top three saws with the least vibration were Festool, DEWALT, and Hilti. 

One interesting thing to note is that the team felt that when using the tools the Makita cut the smoothest with the Hilti coming in closely behind it. The Festool was a smooth-cutting saw but the vibrations seemed more than we’d expect.

Dust Collection

From carpenters working in finished spaces, to shop workers who want to reduce the amount of airborne dust in their environment, knowing how well a saw will integrate with a vacuum is an important measure of performance for any user.

We did NOT test for dust collection since all of the TTB crew members agreed that they do not use dust extraction on a jigsaw.

During our discussion, we agreed that we usually use jigsaws for scribing, finishing cuts from a table or circular saw, and cutting openings. All these cuts are critical and the hose can drag the back of the saw around and mess up the cut. Plus the generally infrequent use means that the time and inconvenience isn’t worth it for the small amount of dust made.

The Hilti comes with an integrated air dust channel, the Festool has a dust chute that inserts into the base plate directly behind the blade. The Milwaukee comes with a dust port that inserts into the base plate and collects from directly behind the blade guide. The Makita has a dust port that attaches to the side with an attached screw and clip.

Price

Below we’ve included the current pricing (at the time of publication). Pricing is based on the bare tools where available. We chose the bare tool because the jigsaw is typically a secondary tool to one’s tool arsenal.

The highest price saw in this testing was the Festool Carvex which sells for $349. As indicated in the testing, in order to cut bevels, the user must purchase accessory Kit – 201186 for $250.00.

Following our decision on the top-handles jigsaw Head-to-Head, we did not include pricing in our final scoring.

Best Cordless Jigsaw Winner –Festool and Makita

The best barrel grip jigsaw score was a tie and went to the Festool and Makita with 12-points. Festool earned strong scores in Speed /  Power Normalization, Vibration, and Scroll Cutting  / Tracking. It is a highly engineered, well-made tool.

Makita had strong showings in  Ergonomics, Features, and Scroll Cutting / Tracking.While the numbers tell a story the subjective feel of a tool can also mean something. During this testing, there were two saws that the crew kept talking about as being the nicest to operate and use – Makita and Hilti in that order.  Makita being the crew favorite.

A close 2nd place went to DEWALT with 14-points. It scored tops in Features and earned high marks in Vibration and Ergonomics.

The third-best score went to Hilti and Milwaukee in fouth-place.

Best Value Barrel Grip Jigsaw – Winner DEWALT

The DEWALT jigsaw was a top performer and is offered at a great price making this saw the best value jigsaw.

Conclusion

Festool and Makita have nailed it on the jig saw design. This was the exact same outcome as our D-Handled Jig Saw Head to Head – Stan Durlacher

Our ALL Pro contractor team put some serious time and effort into our Best Barrel Grip Jigsaw Head-to-Head evaluation to bring you the most comprehensive information available.

These tests and evaluations are very difficult, take a lot of time, and ultimately limited in scope as we’re not a professional testing company and we’ve got limited time to evaluate the tools. We cannot do long-term testing that would shed light on durability and we can’t possibly test every application that you might use one of these saws for.

We get lots of comments about how we make the final rankings. As we’ve stated, there are hundreds of ways to compare tools. The good news is we’ve openly shared ALL the data from our tests, and you can rank the tools however you want. Don’t care about an item we ranked? No problem. Simply remove that from the matrix above and re-rank them. Hopefully, you’ll find this Head-To-Head useful when comparing compact cordless miter saws.

If you have a moment, please check out our other Head-to-Head Tests.

Best Barrel-Grip Jigsaw Video Review

Best Cordless Barrel Grip Jigsaw – Head-To-Head is a post from Tool Box Buzz