Top Cordless 1″ SDS Plus Rotary Hammer | Head-To-Head

In our head-to-head comparison, we focused on 1″ SDS-Plus rotary hammers with drop motors, catering to the largest group of SDS-Plus users. These drills are widely utilized by mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and building trades for tasks such as installing 3″ drop anchors, wedge anchors, screw anchors and chipping concrete.

Why Drop Motors?

The 1-inch SDS-Plus drop motor hammers are among the most popular drills on the market due to their compact size and versatility. They offer versatility and efficiency for various applications, making them a preferred choice for many users across different industries. Despite the rise in popularity of drop motor designs, some users still prefer the traditional D-handle style for specific applications such working in concrete forms or for ceiling and floor work.

SDS stands for Slotted Drive System or Slotted Drive Shaft, it was invented by Bosch in 1975. SDS and SDS-Plus are interchangeable, SDS-Plus is a newer standard featuring 4 splines for a more secure chuck fitment.

Our Objective

For us at Tool Box Buzz, our goal is to empower you to make informed decisions when selecting the best SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer Drill.

By providing comprehensive reviews and insights into the performance, features, and usability of each rotary hammer, we hope to assist you in finding the perfect tool for your projects. Whether you prioritize compactness, power, versatility, or ergonomics, we’re here to help you make the right choice.

Cordless SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer Lineup

Eleven manufacturers have submitted 15 contenders for the 1-inch SDS-Plus category, all designed for use on their 18-volt to 60-volt cordless platforms. Not every manufacturer labels their SDS-Plus drills as precisely 1 inch, so the range of testing spans from ⅞ inch to 1-⅛ inch.

BOSCH 18v Bulldog

Model – GBH18v-24C
Voltage – 18v
Size – 1”
RPMs – 980
BPMs – 0-4,350
Blow Energy [Ft-Lbs] – 1.80
Weight – 8.7 Lbs
Price – $270.00

DEWALT XR

Model – DCH273
Voltage – 20V
Size – 1”
RPMs – 1,100
BPMs – 0-4,600
Blow Energy [Ft-Lbs] – 1.55
Weight – 7.1 Lbs
Price – $329.00

DEWALT Flexvolt

Model – DCH416
Voltage – 60V
Size – 1-¼”
RPMs – 540
BPMs – 0-4,200
Blow Energy [Ft-Lbs] – 4.5
Weight – 12.25 Lbs
Price – $499.00

FLEX

Model – FX15511A-Z
Voltage – 24V
Size – 1”
RPMs – 980
BPMs – 0-4,350
Blow Energy [Ft-Lbs] – 1.9
Weight – 9.45 Lbs
Price – $299.00

HILTI Nuron

Model – TE 6-22 DRS
Voltage – 22V
Size – 1”
RPMs – 1050
BPMs – 0-5100
Blow Energy [Ft-Lbs] – 1.9
Weight – 8.1 Lbs
Price – $434.00

KOBALT

Model – KRH 124B-03
Voltage – 24V
Size – ⅞”
RPMs – 1,400
BPMs – 0-4,500
Weight – 6.15 Lbs
Price – $99.00

MAKITA 18v LXT

Model – XRH01Z

Voltage – 18VSize – 1”
RPMs – 950
BPMs – 0-4,700
Blow Energy [Ft-Lbs] – 1.7
Weight – 7.55 Lbs
Price – $379.00

MAKITA 36v LXT

Model – XRH05Z
Voltage – 36V (18v X 2)
Size – 1”
RPMs – 1,250
BPMs – 0-5,000
Blow Energy [Ft-Lbs] – 2.2
Weight – 10.3 Lbs
Price – $519.00

MAKITA 40v XGT

Model – GRH01Z
Voltage – 40V
Size – 1-1/8”
RPMs – 980
BPMs – 0-5000
Blow Energy [Ft-Lbs] – 2.8
Weight – 9.44 Lbs
Price – $589.00

Metabo

Model – KH18LTXBL28Q

Voltage – 18v
Size – 1-⅛”
RPMs – 1,000
BPMs – 0-4,470
Blow Energy [Ft-Lbs] – 3.0
Weight – 9.8 Lbs
Price – $361

METABO HPT 18v

Model – DH1826DALQ4
Voltage – 18V
Size – 1”
RPMs – 1,050
BPMs – 0-3,950
Blow Energy [Ft-Lbs] – 1.9
Weight – 8.05 Lbs
Price – $209.00

METABO HPT 36v

Model – DH3628DAQ4
Voltage – 36V
Size – 1-⅛”
RPMs – 950
BPMs – 0-4,300
Blow Energy [Ft-Lbs] – 2.3
Weight – 9.4 Lbs
Price – $279.00

MILWAUKEE M18 FUEL

Model – 2912-20
Voltage – 18V
Size – 1”
RPMs – 1,330
BPMs – 0-4,800
Blow Energy [Ft-Lbs] – 2.0
Weight – 9.25 Lbs
Price – $349.00

RIDGID

Model – R86712B
Voltage – 18V
Size – 1”
RPMs – 1,400
BPMs – 0-5,000
Blow Energy [Ft-Lbs] – 1.5
Weight – 8.05 Lbs
Price – $269.00

RYOBI

Model – P223
Voltage – 18V
Size – 1”
RPMs – 1,380
BPMs – 0-5,000
Blow Energy [Ft-Lbs] – 1.5
Weight – 7.45 Lbs
Price – $189.00

Head-To-Head Testing Criteria

Our team meticulously evaluated these cordless SDS-Plus rotary hammers, across five categories and ranked them.

1. Performance Test – Speed at drilling various size holes in concrete.
2. Efficiency Test – Run-time test of recommended battery normalized for Watt-Hour capacity.
3. Size and Weight – Size matters and weight can get cumbersome. We measured the dimensions and weight of each concrete drill as tested with batteries. [not factored in overall ranking]
4. On-Board Dust Collection – we tested and ranked features.
5. User Experience- Combination of features, ergonomics and subjective user evaluations.
   Additionally we included price, and best value charts for your consideration.

Silica Dust

The Tool Box Buzz Team recognizes the significant dangers that exposure to silica dust can pose to workers. While we always strive to use any and all personal protective equipment, there are times when we may omit certain PPE during testing. We want to remind anyone that uses concrete cutting and drilling tools to use proper protective equipment to prevent silica dust exposure.

Performance Evaluation | Drilling Test

This test evaluated the speed in which the tools could drill 3-inch deep holes into concrete with 4 different bit sizes. The drilling substrate used was 3,500 psi concrete blocks, 12” x 24” x 4.5″ deep. These concrete blocks had cured for 6-months.

Performance Test Procedure

Drill Sizes Evaluated: ¼”, ⅜”, ½”, and 1″ SDS-Plus rotary drill bits.

1. Five holes drilled to a depth of 3” using a depth rod and blue tape for accuracy.
2. Each hole was timed, and an average recorded.
3. All drills equipped with new Milwaukee SDS-Plus rotary drill bits.
4. Operators instructed to maintain consistent pressure and let the drill do the work.
5. Dust extractors were not utilized.
6. Technique emphasized to ensure fair comparison.

Performance Test Winner – Milwaukee

Milwaukee dominated three out of the four speed tests, earning an impressive overall score of 5. DEWALT’S 60V FlexVolt secured second place with an overall score of 15, excelling particularly with the 1-inch bit test. Hilti and Ridgid claimed third place with an overall score of 18. Metabo followed with a score of 21. The Metabo was not a remarkable tool, but was a consistent “power-house performer.”

Individual Test Results | Top 3

¼” Rotary Bit Results

• Milwaukee: 4.19 seconds
• DEWALT 60V: 4.63 seconds
• Hilti: 5.49 seconds

⅜” Rotary Bit Results

• Milwaukee: 4.93 seconds
• Ridgid: 5.24 seconds
• DEWALT 20: 5.88 seconds

½” Rotary Bit Results

• Milwaukee: 4.36 seconds
• Ridgid: 5.43 seconds
• Hilti: 5.57 seconds

1” Rotary Bit Results

• DEWALT 60V: 14.52 seconds
• Milwaukee: 21.63 seconds
• Metabo: 24.04 seconds

Note on DEWALT FlexVolt 60V Rotary Hammer

The DEWALT Flexvolt was an extremely powerful and heavy tool allowing it to shine in the 1-inch drill bit test and subsequent chipping evaluation.

Efficiency Evaluation | Normalized Run-time

Although run-time becomes less critical with sufficient battery capacity, we acknowledge it’s importance in specific scenarios such as with commercial users, installing numerous drop anchors in a day. With so many tools, battery voltages and sizes, we normalized run-time and investigated the efficiency of the tools energy available. Obviously some battery packs contain much more potential energy so it’s important to try and compare them based on the “size of the fuel tank”.

Efficiency Testing Procedure

1. Vacuums removed for this test.
2. All tools equipped with fresh batteries.
3. 1/2″ Milwaukee drill bits drilled to 3″ depth.
4. Operators instructed to maintain consistent pressure and let the drill do the work.
5. The total number of drilled holes were counted and scored.

Holes Drilled Per Watt-Hour – Winner Makita 18V

The Makita 18V drill claimed the top spot, surprising us all with it’s performance. This drill managed to complete 66.5 holes with a single 4 Ah battery with a 0.92 holes drilled per watt-hour.

Interestingly, the Makita 36-volt model, despite having twice the available watt-hours, only completed 82 holes, representing just a 23% increase in hole count which equated to only drilling 0.57 holes per watt-hour. This unique comparison between the two Makita drills highlights a design prioritization of efficiency vs power.

The Metabo 18 volt came in second place with 0.85 holes per watt-hour. Third place went to the DEWALT 20 volt with 0.82 holes per watt-hour.

Size and Weight – Not Used In Final Rankings

In the realm of SDS-Plus rotary hammers, size matters to some users. We measured the dimensions and weight of each drill, as tested (with Batteries / handle), and ranked them accordingly.

We felt the two most important factors for these drills were the weight and head length. Having a lightweight tool coupled with a compact size can be an important factor for some users. While we didn’t include this ranking in the final scoring we did account for the size and weight in our user experience rankings below. It’s interesting to see that most of the smaller / lighter tools didn’t perform as well as the heavier tools in the speed testing. Likely this is due to the size of the gear boxes, motors and housings.

In this category, the Kobalt drill boasted the shortest and lightest stature among all drills tested, clinching the top spot. Following closely in second place was the DEWALT 20V, which also showcased a compact form factor and lightweight design. The Ryobi drill secured third place in this ranking.

On-Board Dust Extractor Evaluation

On-board dust extractors are designed to be used as a system. Eight of these tools were sent with compatible on-board dust extractors to evaluate.

Dust Extractor Procedure

We tested the on-board dust extractors, ranking eight criteria:

1. Capacity – We drilled ½” x 3” holes until we saw dust “ant-hills” form around the hole. At that point we consider the capacity of the dust extractor full.
2. Visual inspection of capacity.
3. Filter cleaning – Self cleaning or manual function
4. Filter replacement – ease of removal.
5. Depth of hole with attachment.
6. Depth guide – ease of adjustment.
7. Replaceable head.
8. Weight.

On-Board Dust Extractor – Winner Hilti

The Hilti came in first place in the on-board dust extractor category. It was feature rich with its replaceable head, depth guide, and filter cleaning options. Despite clinching the top position, the team collectively noted that the dust canister could be improved by being translucent for better visibility, and the filter could be easier to detach from the canister.

In terms of “capacity” performance, the Hilti canister maintained dust extraction efficiency for 14 holes. Milwaukee drilled 10.5 holes, and Makita 40V managed 15 holes.  Surprisingly, the Metabo HPT drilled 21.5 holes, and the DEWALT 20V drilled 22 holes, but didn’t excel  in other feature comparisons.

User Experience – [Tie] Winner Hilti and Makita 40V

User experience (UX) encompasses the overall satisfaction and ease of use that a tool provides to its users. In this category, our team of Pro users provided subjective rankings for the user experience while handling these rotary hammers. This ranking was based on various factors experienced, including grip, balance, vibration, line of sight, ease of use, fatigue factor, and overall comfort.

The team identified four drills as top performers during testing. The Hilti and Makita were tied for first place, closely followed by a tie between the DEWALT 20V and Milwaukee 18V. All four of these tools exhibited commendable performance in our testing and were noted for their user experience.

Rotational Force | Bind Test – Not Ranked

When a drill binds, it has the potential to violently spin the tool around potentially injuring the user.
To assess the performance in binding situations, we conducted a subjective test by drilling a 1-inch diameter, 8-inch, deep hole in concrete and side load force.

3 Types of Safety Shut-Offs in Rotary Hammers

1. Accelerometer – An electronic component integrated into the tool that detects sudden rotation and initiates an automatic shutdown.
2. Mechanical – Utilizes a straightforward mechanical clutch mechanism whereby the tool continues to run, but the bit stops spinning when the clutch is engaged.
3. Electronic Overload – An electronic overload function is activated either before the mechanical clutch or during specific binding scenarios. This electronic overload serves to safeguard the electronics, motor, and battery, while also acting as a safety feature in certain situations.

Rotational Force Findings

During our testing, all of these tools effectively shut off when the tool was bound up and the user had a firm grip on both the tool and the auxiliary handle.

Standout tools featured all three safety mechanisms, predominantly found in higher-end models such as those from Bosch, Hilti, Makita (40-volt) and Milwaukee. These tools successfully incorporated all three mechanisms that we were able to activate during field testing.

Chipping Test – Winner DEWALT 60V

Our chipping testing methodology was primarily subjective in nature. We employed our drill testing blocks to conduct the chipping tests.

TBB Crew users utilized the rotary hammers to break up the test blocks, after which they provided feedback via a form detailing their chipping experience.

The consensus from our testing suggests that there’s a “secret sauce” combination of impact energy and beats per minute (BPM) that yields optimal chipping power. This mix of factors seems to be instrumental in achieving productive chipping results.

The DEWALT 60V was the largest and heaviest tool in the group and with 4.5 FT-LBS of energy, it’s no surprise that it excelled at chipping, taking first place

The DEWALT Flexvolt was a “jack hammer disguised as a drill  ~ TBB Crew Wes Bartosik

The Makita 40V came in second. It has tons of power and minimal vibrations felt, due to its well throughout decoupling. The Milwaukee 18V came in third place. It delivers an incredible amount of energy on impact and was very controllable while cutting scribe lines.

SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer | Price – Not Included In Final Scoring

Most manufacturers offer these rotary hammers in kit form, bundling the tool with a battery optimized for performance while maintaining a manageable weight. Achieving the best user experience hinges on finding the right balance between weight, balance, and power to accomplish tasks efficiently.

For your reference, we have listed bare tool pricing below, although this wasn’t factored into our final scoring. As an illustration of the cost range, the Kobalt is available as a bare tool for $99.00, while the Makita 40-volt model is priced at $589.00. Please refer to the attached chart for further details.

Best Cordless 1-Inch SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer – Winner Milwaukee 18V

While impact energy undoubtedly influences a tool’s performance, it’s crucial to recognize that it’s not the sole determinant of effectiveness. Other factors, such as RPM and BPM, also play significant roles in achieving the desired outcome for the user. Harmonizing impact energy, RPM, and BPM is essential to optimize the tool’s overall efficiency and effectiveness.

Decisions should be based on considerations related to ergonomics, safety, and mechanical performance. Balancing these aspects ensures that the tool not only performs well but also prioritizes the safety and user experience of the user.

It’s noteworthy that when ranking our categories, we assigned double weight to performance scores, considering it the most valuable category.

Milwaukee claimed the top spot in performance, secured second place in dust extraction, and ranked third in both user experience (UX) and chipping. Its overall performance stood out as the clear winner.

Second Place honors go to the Makita 40V.  This Makita excelled in UX, chipping and dust extraction. The Makita 40V was a favorite among the crew, tying with Hilti for the top spot in UX.

Hilti rounded out the podium in 3rd place.  The Hili was also heavily sought after by the crew and ranking first in the UX category, boasting the best dust extraction, and coming in eighth in performance testing and fourth in chipping.

Tied for fourth place was Metabo and DEWALT 60V. Metabo stood out with it’s second place in efficiency and scored well in both user experience and chipping. The DEWALT 60V was impressive in the chipping tests and performance.

Best Value 1″  SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer – Winner Ridgid

This category winner often strikes a chord with users as it showcases an SDS-Plus drill that performs admirably while being more budget-friendly. In many respects, it’s a category of significant importance, sometimes overshadowing the top-ranked contender, crowned king of our 1″ SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer Head-to-Head Test.

The Ridgid 18V, priced at $269 as a bare tool, claimed victory in this category. Despite landing in seventh place overall, it delivered commendable performance, securing a solid fifth place rank in our performance testing. We often refer to Ridgid as the “hidden gem” of the tool industry.

Best 1″ SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer | Closing Comments

1″ SDS-Plus rotary hammers are essential tools for contractors seeking efficient, versatile, and reliable solutions for drilling and hammering tasks in concrete and masonry materials.

We often receive inquiries about our final rankings and understand that there are numerous ways to compare tools.

Our primary goal during testing is to attain repeatable and consistent results. We make sure to share all the data from our tests so that users can re-rank the tools according to their preferences. If there’s a specific aspect you don’t find relevant, feel free to remove it from the matrix above and re-evaluate the rankings accordingly.

We hope you find this Head-To-Head comparison useful when considering the purchase of a 1″ cordless SDS-Plus rotary hammer. Please take a moment to explore our other Head-to-Head tests at ToolBoxBuzz.com.

Thanks, “the TBBCrew.”

Best 1-inch SDS-PLUS Rotary Hammer Video Review

Best Cordless 1 Inch SDS Plus Rotary Hammer – 2024 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

WP DataTables

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

WP DataTables

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

Metabo Cordless LED Site Lights

Three new Metabo cordless LED site lights recently hit the market. We took these new lights to our job sites to see how they worked.

LED lights like these are becoming more and more popular and are now the only work lights I use. LED lights offer many benefits, including longer lifespan, quality light, bright light, operates cooler than incandescent and halogen lights, and use less electricity.

Safety is certainly an important thing for me on a job site, and one way to protect my crew and subs is to ensure the job site is well-lit with LED site lighting from string lights to more focused work lights.  From the working perspective, poor lighting on a job site can lead to mistakes, poor quality, and accidents.

We specifically looked at three Metabo LED Site Lights:

1. BSA 18 LED 10,000 Cordless Site Light [AC/DC feature]
2. BSA 18 LED 4000 Cordless Site Light
3. BSA 12-18 LED 2000 Cordless Site Light [runs on 12-volt and 18-volt batteries]

Lumens and AC/DC Feature

All three lights emit different lumen but have similar features, except for the LED 10,000 site Light. This light offers an AC/DC option, and the BSA 2000 light can operate on 12-volt or 18-volt batteries.

• LED 2000 Lumen – 2,000 lumens
• LED 4000 Lumen – 4,000 lumens
• LED 10,000 Lumen – 10,000 lumens

The LED 2000 Site Light also uses COB-LEDs and provides true color lighting – ideal for electricians working with colored wires. COB-LEDs stands for chip-on-board LEDs, and they are the latest and most advanced LEDs on the market today. They are brighter, consume less power, and output a higher quality beam of light compared to older LEDs.

Site Light Size

The BSA 12-18 LED 2000 Cordless Site Light head is super compact and the smallest light of the three site lights.  This light is ideal compact for tight spaces and electricians.

The BSA 18 LED 4000 Cordless Site Light is also compact but larger than its little brother.

The Metabo BSA 18 LED 10000 Cordless Site Light is the largest of the three site lights and looks more like a panel light with a tilting base leg. It has a large-surface LED and provides bright and even light output. It has AC/DC functionality, allowing you to plug in when power is available or stay with the cordless operation.

Dimmable Power Switch

All 3 lights have a central power button, with an outer rotating dimmer function, and a 5 LED battery gauge is next to the power button. The LED lights will flash briefly when it reaches a low battery.

The Metabo site Lights are all IP54 rated for high impact resistance, are protected against sparks, dust, and water. We saw the drop protection in action while using the LED 2000 Site Light on one of our projects, it fell twice from 10 feet with no major damage. The fall did dislodge one of the base leg magnets.

USB Ports

Both the 4,000 and 10,000  Site Lights have a USB port for charging and operating USB devices (max. charging current 1 A)

Mounting and Positioning

All three lights have swivel positioning stands, with a 5/8″ thread for tripod mounting. The swivel stand base has integrated holes for mounting on a wall or ceiling screw.

The 2000 site light has a base that allows the light bezel to swivel 360 degrees, the 4000 site light head can be swiveled horizontally by 270. Both lights have hanging features on the lamp base and housing opening and the base has Integrated magnets for attachment to metal surfaces.

The LED 2000 and 4000 Site Lights both have magnets on their stands, and we found the magnets worked ok but need to be stronger. This was why we dropped the LED 2000 twice. It was mounted to an HVAC duct and was lightly bumped, detaching it. The swivel bases on these two lights can also be used to hook onto some surfaces.

Robust Construction

The build quality of these lights is impressive. From the adjustable swivel base with detents to the rubber dust and water boots, the rubberized stands, the LED 10,000 power plug, and the solid body and battery cover and rubber seal construction – I was impressed.

Mediocre Runtime

The LED 2000 Site Light will operate with both 12-volt and 18-volt slide on battery packs.

And run at max. brightness setting for 5 hours with an 18 V battery pack.  Battery run time with a 4 Ah 12-volt battery at max. brightness setting will give you 2.8 hours.

The LED 4000 Site will operate at max. brightness setting for instance 5.8 hours with an 18 V/10 Ah battery pack

The LED 10000 Site Light will operate for 2.5 hours with a 10 Ah [18v] battery pack

CAS Brand Battery

These lights operate on the CSA brand battery. CAS stands for Cordless Alliance System partnership, nine manufacturers of similar company size and with a clear focus on power tools have gone to the system, allowing 100% compatible batteries to be interchanged with other CAS manufacturers’ tools.

It’s the closest thing we have to a universal battery platform. Some of the brands you may recognize are Metabo, Mafell, Lamello

Room For Improvement

We’d like to see the magnets on the 2000 and 4000 lights as well as runtime on all three lights improved to reach a full day of work on Max. setting.

Conclusion

The Metabo site lights o   We like these lights enough that they will find a permanent home with our crew. Recommended!

Metabo Cordless LED Site Lights Video Review

Metabo Cordless LED Site Lights is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Best 18V-24V Cordless Reciprocating Saw Head-To-Head |2022

Over 70 years ago (1951 to be exact) Milwaukee Tools introduced the first reciprocating saw called the SAWZALL. Since then technology has advanced dramatically. Currently, there is a plethora of full-size cordless reciprocating saws that are being used on millions of job sites every day!

Demolition contractors, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, mechanical contractors (both residential and commercial), and even firefighters are among the users. We can’t think of another power instrument that touches so many diverse trades than the reciprocating saw.

Cordless Reciprocating Saw Line Up

Fifteen manufacturers sent us their best cordless reciprocating saw on their 18v-24v platforms. We received the following 17 reciprocating saws for this Head-To-Head.

Craftsman Reciprocating Saw

• Model: CMCS351B
• Voltage: 20V
• Stroke-Per-Minute: 3200 SPM
• Stroke Length: 1-1/8″
• Weight: 6.92 LBS
• Price: $99.00

DEWALT Reciprocating Saw

• Model: DCS386B
• Voltage: 20V
• Stroke-Per-Minute: 3000 SPM
• Stroke Length: 1-1/8″
• Weight: 7.7 LBS
• Price: $169.00

FLEX Reciprocating Saw

• Model: FX2271-Z
• Voltage: 24V
• Stroke-Per-Minute: 3000
• Stroke Length: 1-1/4″
• Weight: 10.67 LBS
• Price: $199.00

Hart Reciprocating Saw

• Model: HPRS25
• Voltage: 20V
• Stroke-Per-Minute: 3200 SPM
• Stroke Length: 1-1/4″
• Weight: 5.0 LBS
• Price: $115.00

Hilti Reciprocating Saw

• Model: SR 6-22 #2240583
• Voltage: 22V
• Stroke-Per-Minute: 2600 SPM
• Stroke Length: 1-1/4″
• Weight: 6.8 LBS
• Price: $299.00

Kobalt Reciprocating Saw

• Model: KXRS 124B-03
• Voltage: 24V
• Stroke-Per-Minute: 3100 SPM
• Stroke Length: 1-1/4″
• Weight: 6.4 LBS
• Price: $149.00

Kobalt Reciprocating Saw

• Model: KRS 224B-03
• Voltage: 24V
• Stroke-Per-Minute: 3100 SPM
• Stroke Length: 1-1/4″
• Weight: 6.0 LBS
• Price: $129.00

Makita Reciprocating Saw

• Model: XRJ05Z
• Voltage: 18V
• Stroke-Per-Minute: 3000 SPM
• Stroke Length: 1-1/4″
• Weight: 8.2 LBS
• Price: $179.00

Metabo Reciprocating Saw

• Model: 602267850
• Voltage: 18V
• Stroke-Per-Minute: 2700 SPM
• Stroke Length: 1-1/4″
• Weight: 5.5 LBS
• Price: $179.00

Metabo HPT  Reciprocating Saw

• Model: CR18DBL
• Voltage: 18V
• Stroke-Per-Minute: 3000 SPM
• Stroke Length: 1-1/4″
• Weight: 6.0 LBS
• Price: $139.00

Milwaukee  Sawzall Reciprocating Saw

• Model: 2822-20
• Voltage: 18V
• Stroke-Per-Minute: 3000 SPM
• Stroke Length: 1-1/4″
• Weight: 6.8 LBS
• Price: $259.00

Milwaukee Sawzall Reciprocating Saw

• Model: 2722-20
• Voltage: 18V
• Stroke-Per-Minute: 3000 SPM
• Stroke Length: 1-1/4″
• Weight: 8.8 LBS
• Price: $249.00

Porter-Cable Reciprocating Saw

• Model: PCC670B
• Voltage: 20V
• Stroke-Per-Minute: 3000 SPM
• Stroke Length: 1″
• Weight: 4.35 Lbs
• Price: $62.00

RIDGID Reciprocating Saw

• Model: R8647B
• Voltage: 18V
• Stroke-Per-Minute: 3200 SPM
• Stroke Length: 1-1/4″
• Weight: 7.2 LBS
• Price: $189.00

Ryobi Reciprocating Saw

• Model: PBLRS01B
• Voltage: 18V
• Stroke-Per-Minute: 3200 SPM
• Stroke Length: 1-1/4″
• Weight: 6.7 LBS
• Price: $149.00

Skil Reciprocating Saw

• Model: RS582902
• Voltage: 20V
• Stroke-Per-Minute: 3000 SPM
• Stroke Length: 1″
• Weight: 4.63 LBS
• Price: $89.99

WORX Reciprocating Saw

• Model: WX516L
• Voltage: 20V
• Stroke-Per-Minute: 3000 SPM
• Stroke Length: 1-3/16″
• Weight: 5.52 LBS
• Price: $109.00

Note: Bosch was asked to participate in this Reciprocating Saw Head-to-Head, however, they declined.

Head-to-Head Testing Format

For our Best Cordless Reciprocating Saw Head-to-Head, our team looked at a total of 9 criteria, which are listed below. Each criterion was ranked independently, and the “Overall Best Cordless Reciprocating Saw” was determined using a combination of the test results.

We wanted to develop various speed tests related to several significant trades for this Cordless Reciprocating Saw Head-to-Head. We created tests that appeal to the following users and added to the standard testing criteria we always add in our Head-To-Head tests.

1. General Contractor / Demolition [timed cut test]
2. Plumbing / Heating Contractors [timed cut test]
3. Electricians [timed cut test]
4. Features
5. Ergonomics
6. Size
7. Noise
8. Price
9. Best Value
   

Testing Blade Information

All reciprocating saws were fitted with task-specific, brand-new Milwaukee Nitrus Carbide blades before testing, which shifted the focus away from the blades and more toward the saws.

• Timed Test 1:   Gas Pipe for plumbers.
• Timed Test 2:  Unistrut for electricians.
• Timed Test 3:  Nail Embedded Wood for Carpenters and Remodelers.

NITRUS CARBIDE teeth on these reciprocating saw blades allow you to cut longer, and faster. Compared to standard carbide tooth blades, Milwaukee claims that the NITRUS CARBIDE technology outlasts existing carbide-toothed reciprocating saw blades by 3-times. Milwaukee uses 25% more Carbide per tooth on their NITRUS CARBIDE blades.

Battery Pack Guidelines

For this Head to Head, we requested manufacturers send us two of their batteries in the 4.0Ah to 6.0Ah range. This was to even out the playing field as some of these companies have very large batteries for these saws.

Testing Format Information

For the Nail Embedded and Uni-strut testing, we suspended a 10-pound weight from an anchor strap on the forward grip of each reciprocating saw to ensure that each saw received the same cutting pressure.

The cut began with both hands on the saw, the front hand was released to let the 10-pound weight draw the blade through the cut. Also, some of these saws include a variable speed option. We performed the tests using the highest factory-applied speed setting.

Jig Information

Tool Box Buzz has spent countless hours designing, building, and tweaking our test jig which allows us to remove human error in some of our testing.

To ensure a repeatable even cut, the jig is composed of 4 extruded aluminum towers that act as vertical rails for a mounting platform that holds and constrains the saw.  At the heart of the jig is a 3D-printed fractal vise that can move around irregular surfaces of the saw to provide even horizontal clamping force.  Additional straps are used to hold the saws in place.

All of the saws were fitted with new Milwaukee 6-inch TORCH blades. ( 7 TPI with Nitrus Carbide Teeth) – 48-00-5261

A timing system is used on the jig that takes advantage of two carefully positioned micro-switches that control the start and stop time of the cut.  Our process was to raise the saws above the material with an attached rope, start the saws at their highest setting and use a Velcro strap to keep the saw trigger in the “full-on” position.  The saw is carefully lowered into the cut and the micro-switch timing starts as the cut sequence is initiated.  At this time the weight of the saw and the weight of the mounting platform ~20lbs was the cutting force exerted into the cut.

Gas Pipe Speed Test | Winner – FLEX

This gas pipe test is designed for plumbing and heating contractors.  Using 1-1/2″ cylindrical black steel schedule 40 gas pipe. We utilized the new Milwaukee Torch blades suitable for the thick metal in each saw and timed three cuts using our testing rig. We used Rockwell Jawhorses to hold the pipe at the desired height while we cut.

The winner of the gas pipe test was the FLEX 2271-Z with an impressive average time of 4.71 seconds. Second place was the Kobalt KRS-224B with a time of 5.15 seconds and third was the Milwaukee One Key 2822-20 with 5.63 seconds. The slowest saw that actually finished the test was the WORX coming in at 16.42 seconds.

This test, combined with the weight of the testing jig proved to be a challenge for some of the saws and a borderline torture test. The strong cutting force really gave the more robust saws their moment to shine.

Hart, Kobalt KXRS, Metabo HPT, Porter Cable, Ryobi, and Skil could not complete the test and received a DNF [Did Not Finish]. The Metabo HPT and Kobalt saws were overloaded and went into thermal overload, a feature designed to protect the motor, automatically shutting the saw down. The Porter-Cable and Skill saw motors were also overloaded, but do not have thermal overload protection, so the testing team stopped the test.

Unistrut Speed Test | Winner – FLEX

For electricians and mechanical contractors, Uni-strut is a standardized formed structural system used for light structural support, frequently for supporting wiring, piping, or mechanical components.  In each saw, we utilized new Milwaukee TORCH, (6″ 7 TPI w/ Nitrus Carbide Teeth) – 48-00-5261, blades and recorded the average time for three cuts. We used a 10lb weight on an anchor strap and let the weight do the cutting.

The winner of this test was the FLEX 2271-Z with a speed of 3.67 seconds. Kobalt KRS in a close second with 4.23 seconds and third place went to the Makita 18v at 4.48 seconds.

Every saw was able to complete this test. The slowest saw of the group was the Ridgid R8647B coming in at a whopping 23.42 seconds.

Nail Embedded Wood Speed Test | Winner – Makita 18V

For our nail-embedded wood test, we took three 2×10 joists, fastened them together, and added five (5) 3-1/2″ nails into each 2×10 for a total of fifteen (15) nails. We used a 10 lb weight fixed to an anchor strap at the front of each saw and then plowed through three nail-embedded 2x10s with each cut.

This simulates heavy-duty demolition cutting for carpenters, remodelers, and general contractors. In each saw, we utilized a new Milwaukee WRECKER (9″ 6 TPI with Nitrus Carbide Teeth) –  48-00-5272, blade suited for nail-embedded wood, and timed three cuts.

The winner of this test was the Makita XRJ05Z with an impressive speed of 28.69 seconds. The team commented on how easy the Makita is to install the blade and the surprising cutting speed.

Two-hundredths of a second [.02] slower was the FLEX at 28.71. Finishing up in third place was the Milwaukee Super Sawzall 2722-20 with an average speed of 29.62.

Porter Cable had the longest cut time at 129.51 seconds. Skil was the only saw that did not finish a cut in the test [DNF], stopping a few seconds in.

Features | Winner – Milwaukee 2722-20 One-Key

Comparing tool features from different brands is challenging, but  “the devil is in the details.” We feel that a feature assessment is necessary and the entire team discussed these features and scored them.  Each feature was worth 1 point. The total number of points available was 7.

1. Rafter hook
2. Orbital action
3. Blade release lever
4. LED Light
5. Shoe plate
6. Variable speed
7. Standout Features

The winner of the feature section is the Milwaukee One Key 2822-20. This saw had a total of 7 points, with a perfect score. This saw was well-balanced, and has a super comfortable grip and over molding, a solid rafter hook, and a smooth spring lever for blade changing.  The crew noted that the back-light for electronic controls needs to be brighter or a different contrast for working in sunlight operations.

There was a two-way tie for second place, the Milwaukee Super Sawzall, and the Ridgid with 5 points each.

The only saw that did not have any of these features was the Porter Cable, which resulted in a 0 score.

Rafter Hook

Almost all of the saws with rafter hooks were metal hooks and a swivel mount. The Hilti was the only exception with a narrower, ABS plastic style hook.

Variable Speed

All the reciprocating tested had variable triggers, but only five allow for an upper RPM limit setting. Of those five, the Milwaukee Super Sawzall has a variable analog speed dial. The Milwaukee One-Key reciprocating allows three preset settings on the tool and additional customization RPM controlling and settings through the One-Key AP. 

Stand-Out Features

Standout features are ones that other saws do not have and should be thought about when making a purchase.

Milwaukee ONE-KEY

The Milwaukee 2722-20 is the first reciprocating saw in its field to wirelessly link to a smartphone and track, manage, and customize a tool’s usage and location. With Unlimited Tool Customization, you can connect to the device and access preset setups for particular materials and fasteners, or you can fully customize the output speed and power for the current application. The custom profile is then saved to the tool’s memory after the desired output performance has been attained, making the connection to the smartphone unnecessary. Up to 4 unique profiles can be conveniently accessed from the tool’s memory with the touch of a button. Additionally, your personalized profiles are kept in the cloud and accessible at any time.

Using tools across your network of jobs and users is completely visible with integrated tool tracking, which ONE-KEY offers. The app will track all ONE-KEY compatible devices within a 100-foot radius of your phone.

All devices are traceable regardless of whether the battery is charged or on the tool because the capability is built into the instrument rather than the battery.

The program will automatically keep track of the last time a tool was in its vicinity, making it easier to find missing tools and improving crew responsibility. If you’re having problems finding a misplaced tool, ask anyone with the ONE-KEY app for assistance in broadening your search.

Additionally, the One-Key also has fixed orbital action. This means you can not turn it on or off. Unlike the Super Sawzall, which has a selectable orbit, the One-Key detects the best orbital action for cutting material.

HILTI On!Track

The HILTI 22V Nuron tools generate data which is then stored on the Nuron batteries and sent securely to the cloud during every charge without any operator interaction. NURON batteries have an internal memory card that can simultaneously store information from up to 12 tools.

When the batteries are plugged into the charger, the data is automatically uploaded to the cloud via cellular networks without any setup required. This allows users to make data-driven decisions based on site-specific tool usage patterns. Using Hilt’s ON! Track software on app and web customers can track this information by user or job site or leave it at a tool level, whichever they prefer.

Together with services like Hilti Fleet Management [paid subscription service] tool data can be used to reduce downtime and optimize tool cribs to boost customer productivity.

While this is an excellent feature, the team feels it needs to do more for the majority of Pro contractor users who are unable or unwilling to subscribe to the Hilti Fleet Management services.

DEWALT Flexvolt Advantage

DEWALT FLEXVOLT Batteries can unlock more power and better performance with Flexvolt Advantage 20v Max tools. The FLEXVOLT ADVANTAGE technology-equipped tools are aware of the battery’s connection and alter their power output accordingly. When combined with FLEXVOLT batteries, DEWALT 20V MAX* tools with FLEXVOLT ADVANTAGE technology give end users greater power.

Ergonomics | Winner – Milwaukee 2822-20  One-key

The ergonomics evaluation in this section is purely subjective and based on the opinions of the testing crew. After a full day of running performance tests, the team sat down and ranked each tool in several categories on a score of 1-10 [1 being the best]. For the ergonomics evaluation, the team evaluated the following criteria:

1. Subjective Vibration
2. Grip comfort
3. Ease of Blade Change
4. Ease of Shoe Plate Adjustment

The Milwaukee One-key reciprocating saw came in with a six score and never dropped below 2nd place in the four tested categories.  Hilti saw came in 2nd with an eight score. Third place went to the flex with double the points of the first two saws with a score of 15.

Subjective Vibration

Each evaluator ranked the tools based on perceived vibration for this category while performing each performance test. The average ranking was used for the final vibration ranking.

Vibration standouts:

The FLEX and Metabo HPT saws had minimal vibration.  The FLEX  saw includes active vibration control with FLEX’s “Shockshield Vibration Suppression.” According to FLEX, it reduces vibration by 40%.  In our testing, without knowing this information, the entire crew all commented that the FLEX was one of the saws with the least vibration.  Impressively it did this without bogging down or a reduction in power.

FLEX was “smooth as silk” to operate. ~ Rob

Grip Comfort

The crew collectively assessed how the grip surface, hand shape, and over-molding felt. Grip comfort is probably the hardest to score as a team due to the wide range of shapes and sizes of hands the team members have.

Grip Standout: DEWALT and Hilti

The team felt that the DEWALT and the Hilti saws had the most comfortable grip.

Ease of Blade Change

Every tool in this category included a tool-free blade change design. The comparison focused on the ease of changing blades. The entire team favored the external spring-loaded lever used to change the blade. The rest of the saw uses a spring-loaded twisting collet to change the blade.

Blade Change Standouts: DEWALT and Hart

Both the DEWALT and Hart saws use a spring-loaded lever to release or insert the blade. This lever was easy to operate with or without gloves.

The FLEX and Makita collets lock open and allow the blade to be inserted without twisting. The issue the team had with the collets was that many were difficult to grip, impossible to operate with gloves on, and the collet could sometimes get “buried” inside the housing of the tool, necessitating you to pull the trigger to reach the collet.

Shoe Plate Adjustment

Of the tools that had shoe plate adjustment the ones that did were controlled by either of the following:

• Lever  [A team favorite]
• Push button
• Allen key

It’s 2022, and onboard hex keys for shoe plate adjustments seem archaic but not having an adjustable shoe plate is silly. – TBB Crew Scott

FLEX has a push button on the front of the tool’s housing. During the testing, this button was recessed and got stuck inside the housing- making it impossible to adjust the shoe plate. Upon further inspection, there did not appear to be any debris build-up. The consensus was that the fit and finish of this mechanism needed to improve.

The two Kobalt Saws – have an ergonomically placed, single button, that adjusts the shoe easily. The shoe extends to the furthest point but does not come out of the tools.  The team liked that, but this button could inadvertently be hit while in operation.

The Milwaukee M18 One-Key saw has two buttons, on each side, to easily release the shoe plate completely. Dual controls need to be pressed at the same time, making a using mishap unlikely.

Size | Winner – Porter Cable

To compare the saws’ overall size (compactness), the length ranking and the weight ranking were added together. The tools were ranked from smallest to largest and least heavy to heaviest. Smaller more compact tools are easier to operate in tight spaces and weight is always a fatigue factor.

Let’s face it, a saw lighter in weight and packs a punch [power] transcends into unicorn status!  Weight is a huge consideration, after the performance, when using a reciprocating saw. The larger size saws translated into performance in our testing, we sure wish it were the opposite.

You often operate a reciprocating saw overhead, and the task can quickly cause fatigue. During the evaluation process, each reciprocating saw was weighed on our digital scale WITHOUT a battery. There are so many variations of battery packs on the market; some operators may choose a smaller battery pack for overhead tasks, and some may not.

Porter Cable took the size category measuring 15″ in length and weighing in at 4.35 lbs as a bare tool. Second place was the Skil which is 16″ in length and 4.83 lbs. Third went to Hart with 17-1/2″ and 5.00 lbs respectively.

The longest-length saw we tested was the Milwaukee One Key at 21-1/2″, placing it in last place when added with a weight of 8.80lbs. The heaviest saw was the FLEX, weighing 10.67 lbs which when added to its length of 18″, ranks it 15th out of 17 saws.

Noise Saw | Winner  – HILTI

OSHA allows 8 hours of exposure for noise levels up to 90 decibels, but the exposure limits drop rapidly at 95 decibels and higher. Hearing protection should be worn when operating a reciprocating saw because they are extremely loud.

We used a decibel meter to measure the saw’s dB level in a no-load situation at a set distance of the same height as a user’s ear spacing to test these saws consistently. The crucial point is that the saws were always compared against each other, despite decibel measurements being relative to any setting. We evaluated these saws in a no-load capacity; nevertheless, when the saws are loaded, the noise level increases and the cutting material dictates the noise level.

The saw that was the quietest was the HILTI Nuron at 87 dBs. The second quietest saw was the Metabo at 92.0 decibels. The loudest reciprocating saw we tested was the Hart at 102.8 decibels.

Best Reciprocating Saw Price | Winner – Porter Cable

Price is always a consideration when deciding which saw is best for a user. For each of the saws “as-tested,” we’ve given the current bare tool pricing discovered online at the time of writing.

The price of a tool can sometimes be the deciding factor in whether or not to buy it. We can all agree that price is an essential factor to consider when purchasing tools, especially for those of you who are just getting started in the trades. We also understand that most contractors are brand loyal and will prefer to stick with their current battery platform rather than branch out and build a new line of cordless instruments.

The reciprocating saw that cost the least was the Porter Cable coming in at $62.00 bare tool. The second cheapest-priced saw was the Skil at $89.99 [this is the kit price]. Both of these saws fall into the DIY category for saws.

The most expensive saw we tested was the Hilti Nuron which came in at $299.00 bare tool.

We did not include the price in our overall score as we felt the lesser-priced DIY saws would penalize the higher-priced, better-performing Pro-rated saws. We have pricing in its own section for you to use as you need to. Most of these saws may be found at your local big box stores, and almost all of them can be found online like ACME Tools or Amazon.

Best Value Reciprocating Saw | Winner – Kobalt KRS 224B-03

This category winner often resonates with almost everyone, because shines on the tool that performs well in our tests, while not breaking the bank. The best value reciprocating saw is the Kobalt KRS 224B-03, which came fifth place overall [out of 17 tools] and is the fifth least expensive saw, priced at $129.00 [bare tool].  This saw came in 4th place in Features, top 10 in the nail-embedded cutting test, second place in gas pipe testing, and fifth in the uni-strut cut test. It’s a solid-performing, well-priced tool and one that anyone would be happy using.

Best Cordless Reciprocating Saw | Winner – FLEX

It’s evident to the team that Flex is pushing hard on the gas pedal to enter the Pro market. This imposing saw is fantastic!

The Flex reciprocating saw was a clear winner in our testing process, with 37 awe-inspiring points. Flex shined in our performance testing, coming in 1st place in the gas pipe testing, 1st in uni-strut testing, and 2nd in nail-embedded wood.

It came in third in ergonomics and fourth in features. It is a large, stunningly powerful saw with low vibration; the team feels Flex has room to improve the blade change [collet] mechanism.

Second place was the Milwaukee One-key coming in with 44-points. A stand-out winner in ergonomics, with robust features and performance that never dipped below 5 in any cutting speed tests. The Milwaukee is a feature-rich, comfortable, robust saw. If the Flex is a suped-up, hyper-fast, and smooth-riding Chevy, the M18 Sawzall is clearly a Mercedes. Its only flaw was the hard-to-see controls in direct sunlight.

Third place goes to the Metabo 602267850. The Metabo performed held its own in every category, and their smaller footprint and lower decibel ratings propelled them to score higher in the ranks. This saw could use some improvement on vibration and the team was not a fan of the battery eject button, which is not easy to manipulate.

The MOST Comprehensive Information Available

Our ALL Pro contractor team put some serious time and effort into our Best Reciprocating Saw Head-to-Head evaluations to provide you with the most comprehensive information available.

These tests and evaluations are tough, take a lot of time, but are limited in scope. We cannot do long-term ROI testing that would determine longevity. However, the team does see a few of these tools “punch above their weight,” in our testing only to smoke out or leave us with questions about their longevity down the road. Many of those tools are also not considered pro brands.

We get lots of comments about how we make the final rankings. There are dozens of ways to compare tools; we share ALL the data from our tests, so you can re-rank the tools however you want. If you don’t care about an item we ranked? No problem. Remove that from the matrix above and re-rank them.

Other Head-to-Head Testing

In case you missed it, the crew at Tool Box Buzz has published four Head-To-Heads this year. If you have a moment, please check them out here:  Head-to-Head Tests.

Best Cordless Reciprocating Saw Head-To-Head Video | 2022

Best Cordless Reciprocating Saw Head-To-Head | 2022 is a post from Tool Box Buzz

6-1/2″ Circular Saw Head to Head | 2022

Commonly referred to as a “Trim Saw” the 6-1/2″ cordless circular saw is useful for more than just cutting trim. Most 6-1/2″ saws have a blade-left design which many trim carpenters feel offers a better line of sight, ensuring accurate cutting. They’re the same tool as their 7-1/4-inch big sister, just in a smaller, more lightweight package.

The Tool Box Buzz Crew recently examined eight 6-1/2″ cordless circular saws from seven major brands and devised a series of well-planned tests (along with some sweet custom jigs) to determine which was the best cordless 6-1/2″ circular saw.

This article will provide you with a thorough overview of the performance of the industry’s top 6-1/2″ cordless circular saws! We used 6-1/2′′ blade diameters, 18V to 36V equipment, and single battery packs in our tests. We’ll recognize best-in-class winners, reveal endurance testing results, and name the crew’s coveted best overall winner!

6-1/2″ Cordless Circular Saw Testing Format 

Our crew tested a total of eight saws in seven key categories in this test. Our  6-1/2″ Cordless Circular Saw Head-2-Head format, was similar to our 7-1/4″ Circular Saw Head-2-Head. Each of the criteria was ranked separately, and the combined test results were utilized to determine the overall Best 6-1/2″ Cordless Circular Saw.

1. Accuracy / Line of Sight– The saws’ precision and line of sight were compared, as well as their ability to follow a cut line.
2. Performance [Power / Speed Test]-We looked at cutting speed through 3/4″ plywood as an indicator of saw motor performance.
3. Features– An overall comparison of features and specifications.
4. Weight – bare tool weight only
5. Noise – We measured the tool under no load and at identical cutting load conditions with a decibel meter.
6. Price– When it comes to deciding which saw is best for a user, price is always a consideration. At the time of writing, we’ve given the current retail cost for each of the saws “as-tested.” We didn’t consider pricing in our total score because we examined a variety of saw grades.
7. Best Value –This category winner often strikes a chord with most people because it not only performs well in testing but also feels good on the wallet.

Cordless 6-1/2″ Circular Saw Specifications

Here is the list of specifications for all the Cordless 6-1/2″ Circular Saws the Tool Box Buzz Pro team tested in this Head-2-Head:

Bosch – Model: CCS180B

• Volts: 18V
• Load Speed: 3,900 RPMS
• Max Cut Depth at 90°: 2″
• Max Cut Depth at 45°: 19/16″
• Bevel Capacity: 50°
• Weight: 6.7 LBS
• Bare Tool Price: $114.80
• Mfg Link: Bosch CCS180B

DEWALT – Model: DCS565B

• Volts: 20V
• No Load Speed: 4,950 RPMS
• Max Cut Depth at 90°: 2-1/8″
• Max Cut Depth at 45°: 1-5/8″
• Bevel Capacity: 50°
• Weight: 8.0 LBS
• Bare Tool Price: $149.00
• Mfg Link: Dewalt DCS565B

Makita – Model: XSH03Z

• Volts: 18V
• No Load Speed: 5,000 RPMS
• Max Cut Depth at 90°: 2-1/4″
• Max Cut Depth at 45°: 1-5/8″
• Bevel Capacity: 50°
• Weight: 6.7 LBS
• Bare Tool Price: $179.00
• Mfg Link: Makita XSH03Z

Metabo – Model: KS 18 LTX 57

• Volts: 18V
• No Load Speed: 4,600 RPMS
• Max Cut Depth at 90°: 2-1/4″
• Max Cut Depth at 45°: 1-11/16″
• Bevel Capacity: 50°
• Weight: 6.2 LBS
• Bare Tool Price: $199.99
• Mfg Link: Metabo KS 18 LTX 57

Metabo – Model: KS 18 LTX 66

• Volts: 18V
• No Load Speed: 4,800 RPMS
• Max Cut Depth at 90°: 2-19/32″
• Max Cut Depth at 45°: 1-11/16″
• Bevel Capacity: 46°
• Weight: 7.7 LBS
• Bare Tool Price: $349.99
• Mfg Link: Metabo KS 18 LTX 66

Metabo HPT – Model: C18DBALQ4

• Volts: 36V
• No Load Speed: 4,100 RPMS
• Max Cut Depth at 90°: 2-19/32″
• Max Cut Depth at 45°: 1-13/16″
• Bevel Capacity: 50°
• Weight: 6.08 LBS
• Bare Tool Price: $139.00
• Mfg Link: Metabo HPT C18DBALQ4

Milwaukee – Model: 2730-20

• Volts: 18V
• No Load Speed: 5,000 RPMS
• Max Cut Depth at 90°: 2-1/8″
• Max Cut Depth at 45°: 1-5/8″”
• Bevel Capacity: 50°
• Weight: 6.8 LBS
• Bare Tool Price: $217.00
• Mfg Link: Milwaukee 2730-20

Ridgid – Model: R8656B

• Volts: 18V
• No Load Speed: 5,000 RPMS
• Max Cut Depth at 90°: 2-1/4″
• Max Cut Depth at 45°: 1-5/8″
• Bevel Capacity: 50°
• Weight: 5.4 LBS
• Bare Tool Price: $149.00
• Mfg Link: Ridgid R8565B

Milwaukee Saw Blades – Model 48-40-0622

All circular saws were equipped with task-specific, brand new Milwaukee 6-1/2″ 40 tooth Fine Finish blades, model 48-40-0622, prior to testing. This shifted the focus away from the blades and more towards the tools. By removing an external testing variable, the use of uniform blades throughout the testing helped to maintain uniformity. Milwaukee blades are popular among the crew because they cut extremely well, are priced just right, and are reliable.

Milwaukee circular saw blades provide long life, improved precision, and cooler cuts in wood cutting applications. These blades are made with application-specific Cobalt Infused Tungsten Carbide blades to improve cutting life and keep tip sharpness.

Their blades contain Laser Cut Vibration Slots to reduce wobbling and warping. An Anti-Friction Coating protects the blades against corrosion and gumming.

Accuracy Testing / Line of Sight  Winner – Makita

These smaller saws were once commonly referred to as trim saws. So we were looking for good accuracy out of the box on these tools. For our accuracy test, we asked one experienced user to use every saw to cut plywood with a straight edge guide, and to rank the tools based on their performance. The saws were also checked at their 90-degree and 45-degree bevel settings for accuracy.

We purposefully had a single operator execute this test as multiple users might have slightly different techniques, and therefore results, as compared to a single operator. We also tested the accuracy of the scales and kerf slots in the baseplate of the saw. If they are sufficiently accurate these scales and notches can be used to line up framing cuts without need of marking lines before making cuts and can be a tremendous time saver!

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

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

Accuracy Testing – Makita XSH03T

The Makita had spot-on bevel and square cuts as well as good sightlines and very accurate baseplate kerfs that allowed precise placement of a cut without even needing to see the blade. The scale at the front of the saw was also adjustable! Allowing correction to any issues that may come up in the future with that accuracy.

Both Metabo Saws and Milwaukee tied for 2nd place.

The Metabo LTX 57 cut perfect bevel and square cuts. The Metabo LTX 66 saw had an accurate kerf guide and made good square cuts. The bevel cuts were slightly off but the stop is adjustable so this can be corrected.

The Milwaukee has accurate kerf guides and had accurate square and bevel cuts. The Milwaukee would have tied for first but there is no 45-degree stop on the bevel adjustment, so getting a good 45-degree bevel cut requires some extra attention from the user.

The Milwaukee was powerful and smooth cutting, line of sight is out standing but searching for a 45degree bevel is a pain ~ SCOTT

The Bosch came in third and had kerf notches that were slightly offset from the actual cut. It also lacked a 45-degree stop on the bevel setting. These two factors bumped it down to the third-place spot.

Site Line / Base Plate

No matter how well a tool feels in your hand or how long the run-time is, if you can’t see what you’re doing, you can’t expect great results. At a minimum, you’ll probably be pulling your hair out when getting ready to make a money cut.

Best Line of Sight

Nothing will kill your productivity and confidence like swapping from sight-line to blade, or vice-versa,  to see if you can actually have your blade on the cut line. At worst you’ll have to deal with subpar cuts that you can’t redo, which for a lot of us, is tough to live with. So in this assessment, we focus on how well users can see the blade during operation from both the blade and motor side.

The order below is how the saws ranked with the line of sight. Bosch had the best line of sight followed by DEWALT and Milwaukee.

1. Bosch
2. DEWALT
3. Milwaukee
4. Ridgid
5. Makita
6. Metabo 66
7. Metabo HPT
8. Metabo 57

Performance Testing (Power/Speed)

The blade, its width, rotational speed, number/shape of teeth, the motor’s torque, and horizontal force applied all influence how quickly a circular saw can cut through a given material.

The saw motor will encounter resistance as the blade passes through the material, requiring more torque and power to keep the blade spinning at its optimal speed.

The saw blade rotational speed will slow as a blade edge dulls or too much horizontal force is exerted. When a saw is working too hard, a seasoned operator can typically tell and knows when to reduce the amount of force applied during a cut. A more powerful saw will be able to counteract these resistances better and ultimately be able to remove more material and cut faster.

The TBB crew needed to minimize as many cutting variables as possible to test the power and, ultimately, the speed of these saws. We did this by using the same type of blade on all of the saws, using consistent 3/4″ AC grade plywood as our cutting material, and eliminating the human horizontal pushing component by using a drop weight pulley system and a low friction rig.

For cutting and tracking consistency, each saw was mounted on a Kreg Accu-cut sled. An 8-foot section of 3/4″ plywood was indexed underneath the Accu-cut track system, producing an 8-foot rip of 3/4″ plywood. An 8-pound weight was attached to a line that was hooked to the Accu-cut sled and fed through a series of low friction pullies.

Three cuts through the material were delivered to each saw, and the time of all three cuts was averaged and compared. Micro-switches controlled the start and stop times of each cut, eliminating human error while using a portable stopwatch.

The track system was cleaned of all sawdust and debris after each cut, and lubricated with silicone spray before its first run to ensure a smooth, low-friction cut.

The result of this test was that the more powerful saws were able to maintain the blade’s rotational speed, cutting through the plywood faster. The test allowed us to stress the saws in a non-abusive manner, allowing us to rate them individually and identify which saw was the most powerful.

Performance Testing (Power/Speed)  – Winner RIDGID

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 Accu-cut jig to test each tool’s cutting speed through 3/4″ plywood. Three runs were performed for each tool and their times were averaged.

The fastest saw was the RIDGID cutting a little over a foot a second, with an average cutting speed of 9.6 seconds. This saw cut effortlessly and it was clear that the recent improvements to the saw increased its cutting power.

A close second place went to the Metabo 57 saw with an average cut time of 9.8 seconds, and the Metabo 66 saw came in third place with an average 10-second cut. The team was impressed with both Metabo saws, more on that later.

I love the weight and compact size of the Metabo HPT – decent power too! ~ Scott

Best  Cordless 6-1/2-inch Circular Saw Features  – Winner Metabo 57

Comparing tool features from different brands is never easy, but the truth is in the particulars, thus a feature comparison is required. On a scale of one to five, the complete team used all of the tools in a range of cutting configurations and tests to rate six different features on these saws. [On a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being the best]

Saw Features considered

1. Blade Change | Spindle Lock
2. Bevel
3. Blade Depth
4. Trigger | Grip
5. Electric Brake
6. Site line / Scale

Blade Change Winner – Metabo 66

Quality cuts depend on the accuracy and the proper blade for your application. Changing a saw blade should be simple, safe, and easy. We swapped out the blades on nine saws, and while there were no clear standouts, a few major distinctions emerged during our tests, allowing us to determine the best-in-class winners.

The blade change evaluation yielded nothing noteworthy. The wrench’s onboard storage and how fast and easily the arbor locked for blade changes were the significant differentiators. There were a few things worthy of nothing during the blade change evaluation.

The Metabo LTX 66 was the easiest saw to change the blade. Part of that reason was that it does not have a base plate on the blade side due to the fact that the saw is track compatible. Additionally, it has a guard retraction lever, located near the arbor lock that can both be actuated with one hand, to assist in blade change. The crew felt this was a great design feature!

The Bosch was difficult to change the blade due to very tight tolerances between the blade and the retractable guard. The blade actually scraped while inserting. The Makita does not have an onboard wrench for blade changing which can have you looking for a hex key when needing to change the blade.

The Metabo saws both had the most locking detents [12 detents] compared to the DEWALT which only had two. All other saws fell in the 4-12 range.

Bevel Winner – Metabo 57

If our crew is setting a circular saw bevel to 22.5, 45, or more degrees as a remodeling carpenter, the scale is probably good enough. Typically if we are making a cut that required a “dead on” bevel, you would see us reaching for the miter saw, table saw, or a track saw.  That said, we’d preferably like to use a saw with a precise bevel scale that isn’t a struggle to set. A circular saw is a rough-cutting saw that prioritizes speed. The major performance indicator for this category is a bevel scale that allows users to quickly select and check common bevel values.

Six out of the eight saws bevel to 50° with the exception of the Metabo 66 saw which bevels to 46°  and the Metabo HPT which bevels to 45°.

All of the saws with the exception of the Bosch, Milwaukee, and Metabo use a lever-style lock.  The Bosch bevel lock lever has a plastic wing nut with a coarse thread, and a lot of play that the team felt could easily come loose and be lost.  The Milwaukee and Metabo saws had noticeably much better design bevel levers.

WOW – the Metabo 66 is my FAV saw so far, its truly in its own category, the blade retraction lever is sweet, rotating and locking dust chute and track compatible ~ Ethan

The DEWALT had the stiffest bevel adjustment during our test. We understand that this may take some time to “loosen up.” The Metabo LTX 57 has a ball detent at 45-degrees, will max out at 50-degrees, and has dual bevel locks. The Crew favored Milwaukee because of its easy-to-read scale and had nice detent action.

Blade Depth Adjustment  – Winner Makita

Our crew decided that adjusting the depth was best left to a quick check on the workpiece to see where the blade extends beyond the material to be cut. Still, there’s much to be said about a gauge that can set the depth of the saw fast and accurately. The scale was straightforward to see in this area, but the tools frequently failed to appropriately show where on the scale the saw was set. This made determining the best in class in both categories a breeze.

In the specifications section above, you can find what each saw cutting depth is at 90° as well as 45°. All of the saws except Ridgid, Metabo HPT, and Metabo 66, have a depth adjustment lever on the motor side of the saw.  Of those three the Metabo 66 has a larger, easier accessed lever. The Metabo HPT and Ridgid have an in-line [straight] lever, located between saw guard and handle, that the team did not like.

The Metabo KTX 57 has a super smooth bevel action, with a cam-lock style lever that works really well. DEWALT, Bosch, and Milwaukee all have outboard levers, and decent action but the scales could be better. The Makita saw has a silicone lever, a high contrast scale, with large numbering, and is easy to read. We also thought the action is decent.

Trigger | Grip  – Winner – Tie with Makita and Metabo HPT

There must be enough friction between the user’s hand and the handle for a circular saw to have a decent grip. When the user’s hand is sweaty, this is even more critical. The grips on all of the saws were non-slip, non-conductive, and compressible.

We considered frequent motions of the index finger when running the circular saw when looking at tool triggers. This movement, we can all agree, should be pleasant. In contrast to pinch points between the trigger and housing, which can be painful or generate hot spots, a longer trigger allows two or three fingers to engage and may lessen discomfort.

This DEWALT saw doesn’t have a trigger pinch point like its bigger sister! Scott

We unanimously liked Metabo LTX 57 with its rubber over-mold on the trigger, making it the nicest trigger. The Makita and Metabo HPT had the best grip trigger combo.

They both have excellent oversold, a well-shaped, comfortable grip, and rounded trigger edges. The Milwaukee snap-action trigger was not a favorite among some of the team, but regular users commented that they don’t notice it.

Stand Out Features

There were a few aspects that stood out as having an impact on performance and safety. It was noted that the DEWALT, Makita Milwaukee, and the Ridgid all have rafter hooks. The Metabo KS 18 LTX 66 was the only track-compatible saw giving it the only standout feature to note in this category.

The Metabo HPT saw is a multi-volt saw that has a corded adapter allowing you to plug in and cut all day. This saw also takes the cutting depth winner cutting 2-19/32″ at 90°.

Weight – Winner RIDGID

Weight and balance are two words you head tradespeople speak about when first picking up a tool and trying it out. The lightest tool of the group was the RIDGID at 5.9 lbs, followed by the Metabo HPT at 6lbs and the Makita at 6.2 lbs.

The Makita saw cuts fast, it’s light and comfortable in the hand, and the adjustments are easy!  ~ Jeremy

Noise – Winner Milwaukee

OSHA allows 8 hours of exposure for noise levels up to 90 decibels, but the exposure limits drop rapidly at 95 decibels and higher. Hearing protection should be worn at all times when using circular saws because they are extremely loud.

We used a noise meter to measure the saw’s dB level in a no-load situation at a set distance nearly the same as a user’s ear spacing to test these saws consistently. The crucial point is that the saws were compared against each other in a consistent manner, despite the fact that decibel measurements are relative to any setting. We evaluated these saws in a no-load capacity; nevertheless, when the saws are loaded, the noise level increases and the cutting material dictates the noise level.

The quietest saw was Milwaukee at 95.0 dB with the Metabo HPT close behind is art at 95.5 dB.  All of these saws require hearing protection.

Man, this Milwaukee is smooth and quiet. I like the line of sight and solid rafter hook. Wishing that the bevel scale has positive detents. ~ Jeff D

Price –Winner Bosch

The price of a tool can sometimes be the deciding factor in whether or not to buy it. We can all agree that price is an important factor to consider when buying tools, especially for those of you who are just getting started in the trades. We also understand that most contractors are brand loyalists who will prefer to stick with their current battery platform rather than branch out and build a new line of cordless tools.

The bulk of these saws may be found at your local big box stores, and almost all of them can be found online at ACME Tools.  We’ve included the bare tool pricing (at the time of publishing this article).

The Bosch handle angle is perfect if ripping sheet stock – it is angled in-line with your arm, not upwards, liker the other saws. ~ Jeremy

The lowest-priced saw was the Bosch, model CCS180B,  costing $114.80. Coming in second was the Metabo HPT at $139.00, and third place was a tie going to DEWALT and Ridgid at $149.00.

The Metabo KS 18 LTX 66 was the most expensive saw at the time of writing this article. The price of this saw is $349.00. It can be found on the ACME Tools. This saw has outstanding design features; such as a track-compatible base plate and excellent ergonomics, and really nice blade guard lever, which contributes to its high cost.

Overall Best in Class 6-1/2″ Cordless Circular Saw –Metabo KS 18LTX 57

When naming the overall best in class saw we consider all categories assessed with endurance, design, and value leading our decision. Ultimately we select a tool that performs exceptionally well in its primary function, delivers high-quality features that enhanced performance, and does so at a fair price.

The intangibles often contribute to a tie-breaker in any given category, but because the overall best in class is a combination of so many individual assessments our selections are usually very objective given the results of the head-to-head.

The Metabo KS 18LTX 57 performed consistently in all the categories that mattered. It scored a perfect score in features, and came in second in performance and accuracy, weight was the only category that hurt the Metabo.  The Metabo took first place with 9-points.

The RIDGID came in a close second with 10-points. RIGID took the top spot in performance and weight. It slipped in accuracy and features but came in for a solid number two placement. It delivered a powerful cutting performance in a lightweight and compact package.

Third place went to the Makita saw. Makita is always a solid competitor and this saw is no different. Makita to the top spot in our accuracy assessment, second in features, and third in weight.  It suffered in performance and was underpowered when compared to the other saws.

My thoughts on the Makita: Smooth, good power, excellent adjustments, well engineered, and the user experience is just plain excellent!  ~ ROB

Best Value Saw – Winner RIDGID

This category winner often resonates more with people because it highlights the saw that performed well, and costs less. In some ways it’s a more important category than the top spot, crowned king of 6.,5″ saws.

This is typically the saw that performs well in our testing and is priced right. In this case, RIDGID crushed the testing and still is priced right at $149.00.

The RIDGID has a great ratio of power to size & weight.    With a brushless motor delivering 5000 RPMs, this unit has the speed and torque needed for making fast & accurate cuts.  The compact design and magnesium guard make this the lightest weight 6-1/2” Pro circular saw in the industry.

If this saw doesn’t win the BEST saw, then it better wins the “Best Value.” The weight to power ratio rocks, it has a great line of sight – it’s just a nice saw!  ~ ROB

Conclusion

We attempt to offer you the most thorough information possible in each of our Head-2-Head testings. Our team of Pro contractors put a significant amount of time and attention into our Best 6-1/2′′ Circular Saw Head-to-Head analysis in order to provide you with the most thorough data available.

These tests and evaluations are complex and time-consuming, and because we are not a professional tool testing laboratory, we are limited with time on the tools and scope of testing. Our team simply does not have the resources to test these saws for extended periods of time in order to assess their durability, and we cannot potentially examine every application for which they could be used.

You have complete control over what information you want or don’t want! If you don’t like a category we scored, simply remove it from the matrix and reorder them. We also recognize that many tradespeople have invested a large amount of money in a battery platform and that sticking with that brand is a major factor. Our goal was to arm you with the knowledge you’d need to make your own decisions and boy did we have a blast doing it!

Thank you for following along with this Head-2-Head article and if you have a moment, please check out our other Head-to-Head Tests.

Best 6-1/2″ Cordless Circular Saw  | Video Review

Best Cordless 6-1/2 Circular Saw is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Cordless Mid-Torque Impact Wrench Head-2-Head

In standard fashion, the Tool Box Buzz crew got together to plan out our Head-2-Head tests based on new tool releases and your feedback. And Cordless Mid-Torque Impact Wrenches were near the top of our list. The impact wrench is an incredibly versatile tool that provides unparalleled torque and power for working with large fasteners and bolts. We use them on the jobsite early and often! This Head-2-Head in particular provides an in-depth look at the power, performance, ergonomics, features, and more for the current range of leading manufacturer cordless mid-torque impact wrenches.

An impact wrench is indispensable to many other skilled trades workers, amateurs, and tinkerers, and is a mainstay of the mechanic’s toolbox. Furthermore, cordless technology adds simplicity and portability to a tool that was previously bound by an air-hose leash.

Our Professional contractor-based ToolBoxBuzz crew decided to evaluate the current cordless mid-torque impact wrenches to determine just how capable they really are. We put a total of nine different makes and models through a series of tough and baseline tests. This wide testing field covers everything from well-known professional brands to some surprising homeowner and value brands.

In order to get real-world and professional user feedback, we took our tools on-site; to the Dalling Construction company. Dalling specializes in large site work projects as well as utility construction and paving jobs. The Dalling family was kind enough to allow us to use their yard as well as test our cordless mid-torque impact wrenches on some of their industrial equipment. We also recruited some heavy equipment service mechanics to assist with evaluating the tools. They were pretty excited to join our crew for the Day!

Defining Mid-Torque

The range of cordless impact wrenches available right now is huge. These tools ultimately fall into one of three classes – low, medium (or mid), and high torque. A mid-torque offering is capable of handling the majority of common fasteners found on job sites, shops, and industrial settings.

When deciding on our sample criteria for this Head-2-Head, the crew realized that we needed to limit the tools tested to those within a defined range. We chose fastening torque as our limiting factor and set the acceptable range from 300-550 Ft/Lbf. This range best represented what we consider “mid-torque” while being compact and portable enough for a variety of applications. This torque range will also easily handle most common fastener applications while still being able to punch up to the occasional heavy application.

The Head-2-Head Lineup

Craftsman V20* 1/2″ 20V

• Model: CMCF900B
• Fastening Torque: 350 Ft/Lbf
• Busting Torque: Unpublished
• RPM: 1700
• IPM: 2500
• Bare Tool Weight: 4.66 Lbs.
• Battery Tested: V20 4.0 Ah
• Anvil Type: Friction Ring
• Motor Type: Brushed

DEWALT 20V MAX* XR 1/2″ Mid Range

• Model: DCF896B
• Fastening Torque: 330 Ft/Lbf
• Busting Torque: Unpublished
• RPM: 2000
• IPM: 3100
• Bare Tool Weight: 3.48 Lbs.
• Battery Tested: 20V MAX 5.0 Ah
• Anvil Type: Friction Ring or Detent Pin
• Motor Type: Brushless
• Warranty: 3 Year Limited

DEWALT Atomic 20V Max*  1/2″

• Model: DCF921B
• Fastening Torque: 300 Ft/Lbf
• Busting Torque: 450 Ft/Lbf
• RPM: 2500
• IPM: 3550
• Bare Tool Weight: 2.4 Lbs.
• Battery Tested: 20V MAX XR 4.0 Ah
• Anvil Type: Friction Ring or Detent Pin
• Motor Type: Brushless
• Warranty: 3 Year Limited

Makita 18V LXT 1/2″ Mid-Torque

• Model: XWT18XVZ
• Fastening Torque: 520 Ft/Lbf
• Busting Torque: 740 Ft/Lbf
• RPM: 2200
• IPM: 2700
• Bare Tool Weight: 5.31 Lbs.
• Battery Tested: 18V LXT 5.0 Ah
• Anvil Type: Friction Ring or Detent Pin
• Motor Type: Brushless
• Warranty: 3 Year Limited

Metabo SSW 18 LTX 600

• Model: US602198550
• Fastening Torque: 450 Ft/Lbf
• Busting Torque: 665 Ft/Lbf
• RPM: 1600
• IPM: 2200
• Bare Tool Weight: 5.5 Lbs.
• Battery Tested: CAS 18V LiHD 5.5 Ah
• Anvil Type: Friction Ring
• Motor Type: Brushed
• Warranty: 3 Year Limited

Milwaukee M18 FUEL 1/2″ Mid Torque

• Model: 2962-20
• Fastening Torque: 550 Ft/Lbf
• Busting Torque: 650 Ft/Lbf
• RPM: 2575
• IPM: 3100
• Bare Tool Weight: 3.5 Lbs.
• Battery Tested: M18 REDLITHIUM XC 5.0 Ah
• Anvil Type: Friction Ring or Detent Pin
• Motor Type: Brushless
• Warranty: 5 Years

Porter-Cable 20V MAX* 1/2″

• Model: PCC740B
• Fastening Torque: 330 Ft/Lbf
• Busting Torque: Unpublished
• RPM: 1700
• IPM: 2500
• Bare Tool Weight: 4.6 Lbs.
• Battery Tested: 20V MAX* 4.0 Ah
• Anvil Type: Friction Ring
• Motor Type: Brushed
• Warranty: 3 Year Limited

Ridgid 18V OCTANE 1/2″

• Model: R86011B
• Fastening Torque: 485 Ft/Lbf
• Busting Torque: 620 Ft/Lbf
• RPM: 2600
• IPM: 3500
• Bare Tool Weight: 3.75 Lbs.
• Battery Tested: 18V MAX Output 4.0 Ah
• Anvil Type: Friction Ring
• Motor Type: Brushless
• Warranty: 3 Year Limited

Ryobi ONE+ HP 1/2″

• Model: P262
• Fastening Torque: 450 Ft/Lbf
• Busting Torque: 600 Ft/Lbf
• RPM: 2800
• IPM: 3200
• Bare Tool Weight: 3.75 Lbs.
• Battery Tested: 18V One+ 4.0 Ah
• Anvil Type: Friction Ring
• Motor Type: Brushless
• Warranty: 3 Years

Selecting the Proper Accessories

We realized that adequate automotive-grade impact-rated sockets were essential for extracting the absolute peak performance from this equipment. When it comes to getting professional-grade results on a project, choosing the right blade or drill bit is crucial, and the same goes for sockets. Impact wrenches apply a tremendous amount of force and punishment to the sockets to which they’re attached. To fully utilize the tool’s power, the torsional force, as well as the impact of the anvil, must be adequately delivered to the bolt or fastener.

A non-impact rated standard socket will round off, deform, or possibly shatter and explode when exposed to this amount of force. Impact-rated sockets are forged from high-grade steel, with thicker walls, and improved geometry. This protects the fastener and the tool from being damaged while also ensuring the safety of the user.

The crew selected the Milwaukee SHOCKWAVE Impact Duty 1/2″ 6-Point sockets to be our testing sockets for all of the tools. These sockets are optimized for performance in Heavy-Duty applications. Each tool was outfitted with a matching Milwaukee socket during testing to ensure consistency in performance. Overall these sockets are of excellent quality with large easy to read ink-filled markings. The dual-hole design also made it easier to switch out sockets on our tools with detent pin anvils.

Cordless Mid-Torque Impact Wrench Scoring Criteria

1. Power – Measured breaking torque capability under high demand.
2. Speed – Timed breaking torque performance application.
3. Torture Test – High demand performance fastening torque application.
4. Ergonomics
5. Features
6. Decibel Output
7. Price

Breaking Torque

The bread and butter of impact wrenches is their ability to break a stuck or corroded fastener loose. This keeps an individual’s knuckles from getting busted using a wrench or having to put lengths of pipe on a breaker bar for extra leverage. The convenience and portability of cordless make this an even easier task to accomplish. In order to put this power to the test, we created some special test jigs.

To give us a solid, repeatable, work surface, we made a portable jig that could be secured in a vise on-site. This jig is made from a large slab of steel with cutouts for bolts to pass through as well as a chamfer on the backside to lock the nuts in place. We paired this testing jig with a set of heavy-duty Grade 8 steel bolts, nuts, and washers. The bolts are 1 1/4″ in diameter by 3 1/2″ long with a 1 7/8″ hex head. A bolt this large is capable of withstanding 1,875 Ft/Lbf of force. We chose such a large bolt in order to withstand the repeated application of torque during testing, while still fitting our test rig.

In order to torque these bolts to the desired spec, we used a B-RAD Select BL cordless torque system. This digitally controlled tool is capable of applying the desired amount of tightening torque to a bolt effortlessly. The digital torque gauge allows the user to dial in the torque spec in ten-pound increments. By using a 1″ drive impact socket, the RAD tool then applies the torque with the assistance of a steel counterbalance lever. The RAD then automatically stops once the torque spec is achieved. It was a really cool experience using this tool!

During the test, a bolt was assigned to each tool and placed in the jig. The bolt was then torqued to the published breaking torque spec for each tool. Unfortunately, Craftsman, DEWALT, and Porter-Cable do not publish this value so it took some trial and error. Once the bolt was torqued, our impact wrenches were fitted with a 1 7/8″ impact socket and switched to their highest setting. We then applied breaking torque to the bolts with the impact wrench for ten seconds to see if the tool could break it loose. If it was unsuccessful, the bolt was loosened and the torque value lowered ten pounds, and reapplied with the RAD.

We chose to limit each run to ten seconds after discussing the test with several heavy service mechanics. They all agreed that if the tool couldn’t perform the task in ten seconds, then they would stop and switch to a larger or traditional pneumatic tool.

Our top-performing tool in this category is Makita. While the Makita has a published breaking-force torque of 740 Ft/Lbf, we were able to successfully break loose the bolt at 700 Ft/Lbf. This variation in the numbers is consistent with the extra-large hardware and accompanying impact socket. Despite that, the Makita powered through our test! Not only was the Makita our strongest performer, but it also broke the 700 Ft/Lbf bolt loose in well under ten seconds. This was remarkable to our entire test crew.

Metabo took second place breaking loose 660 Ft/Lbf which was within five pounds of its published spec. The Metabo is definitely large and in charge. While larger and heavier than every other tool tested, it hits with authority. After performing the test, the Metabo became our admin tool to reset the jig every time due to its smooth and powerful performance.

Milwaukee took third place breaking loose 610 Ft/Lbf, which was forty pounds less than its published spec. The Milwaukee was a consistent performer and a crew favorite throughout the testing process.

Craftsman, DEWALT, DEWALT Atomic, and Porter-Cable all finished towards the bottom of our test pool. Ridgid and Ryobi threw up some impressive numbers, but they were far less than the published spec. Additionally, the Ridgid overheated during the testing process severely. It shut down completely and was set aside for almost an hour before it was able to function again and finish the test.

The Ryobi tool died unexpectedly. While performing the test, the tool shut off after impacting for approximately six seconds. All of the lights flashed and the tool wouldn’t work again. We switched batteries, allowed the tool to cool, and still experienced the same issue. The tool then randomly started working again later on. Ryobi replaced this unit for us, but we experienced the same malfunction a second time. The tool was still able to complete the test and break loose 510 Ft/Lbf, but unfortunately, the Ryobi does not appear to be able to withstand demanding heavy use with a socket this large.

Performance Breaking Torque

When you are in a construction yard with a lot of big iron laying around, lug nuts are in great supply. That’s why we chose a timed removal of heavy truck lug nuts as our test for breaking torque performance. With heavy equipment, the forces placed on bolts, particularly lug nuts, are so extreme that they will often seize in place or be over-torqued in the field using a large air tool. Fortunately for us, a large MACK tractor cab was available with lug nuts capable of withstanding 500-600 Ft/Lbf of torque.

The front wheel of the truck had a total of ten lugs. We choose to do a timed removal of eight in order to keep the wheel in place and act as a makeshift test rig. Each lug was removed, oiled to prevent seizing, and then reapplied with the RAD Tool to exactly 500 Ft/Lbf. This process was repeated eight times to test each tool. Unfortunately, the DEWALT Atomic was not available in time to perform this test. Therefore it will not be included in the scoring. The Atomic is also not marketed as a true mid-torque tool and this task is better suited for the larger DEWALT DCF896B, which was tested.

Ryobi completely smoked this test with a time of 22.44 seconds. After completing the run, the whole crew did a double-take and then started laughing. Ryobi has made great strides to produce better and more powerful tools and this performance was a great example of that new mindset.

Ridgid came in a close second at 23.6 seconds. Again, these two “value” brands are continuing to push the envelope of performance. Milwaukee took third place at 25.5 seconds and Makita in fourth at 26.1. These were the top performers amongst our traditional Pro brands.

DEWALT was a big surprise to us as our slowest tool finishing the test in over a minute and a half. One of our test crew members, Trevor, is a road mechanic servicing a fleet of trucks and earthwork equipment. Trevor shared with us that removing truck lug nuts is a job that he always defaults to air tools for the sake of time and productivity. However, after getting hands-on experience with our cordless mid-torque impact wrenches he was extremely impressed with their ability to break loose all eight bolts and to do it quickly.

Performance Fastening Torque

While impact wrenches are most commonly associated with the mechanical trades, they are invaluable at times in the carpentry world as well. With the current popularity of timber frame construction as well as the increasing presence of laminate-type materials, large lag-type fasteners are a job site standard. A cordless mid-torque impact wrench is the most efficient tool for these larger fasteners due to its ability to apply massive amounts of torque compared to a quarter-inch impact driver.

We decided to truly stress our tools by performing a timed lag bolt drive into a wooden beam. The bolts selected were 1/2″ diameter x 8″ long hex head galvanized lag screws. Driving one of these lags is a good representation of the power of each tool. However, we decided to drive five with each tool. It gets better. The beam that we drove the lags into was constructed using five layers of 2X10X10 Doug Fir framing lumber with a layer of 1.75″ LVL sandwiched in the middle. We pre-drilled through the first two layers of material and partially into the LVL in order to set the lags, however, we left all the other layers undrilled to test the tools even further.

This was an extremely demanding test. In fact, a job such as this is likely outside the scope of what a mid-torque tool is designed to perform. But with all the technology advances present in the majority of our tested tools, we as a crew really wanted to bring that performance to the ragged edge of failure and see how they held up. We were pleasantly surprised to find that all nine tools successfully completed the test. All five lags were driven until the surface of the wood began to deform. Upon completion, a temperature reading was taken of the tool body housing, the battery, the exterior of the socket, as well as the surface of the anvil. The battery was also checked to see power consumed during the test.

In first place was the Ryobi! The Ryobi completely dominated the test, finishing a full 25 seconds ahead of our second-place finisher. Upon completion of the test, the operator summed it up perfectly, “This thing is an Ox!”.

Ridgid took second place beating out Milwaukee (3rd Place) by just eight seconds. In 4th place, the Metabo is heavy but has very little felt vibration. Porter-Cable also surprised our crew with its performance in this test. It was described by the operator as being balanced in the hand and easy to control.

Makita came in 6th place, which was a bit of a surprise. The Makita seemed to slow down and self-adjust more than any tool, even while in the highest power setting. The Makita’s computer system optimizes battery efficiency and protects the motor and battery packs. This became a bit of a hindrance during this test because it caused the Makita to lose time.  DEWALT finished 7th overall with Craftsman in 8th place.

Overall we found interesting data trends during this test. Most of the tools used half of a battery charge to complete all five lags. The Metabo, with its brushed motor, consumed 75%.

The temperature range was also very spread out. Five of the test tools had a socket surface temperature of almost 200° F. While the battery temperatures measured were only surface temperature readings, three tools were over 100° F, including our 1st and 2nd place finishers. In real-world conditions, a rest period for the tool after performing a task like this would be strongly advised to preserve your battery cells and internal electronics.

Ergonomics

How a tool interfaces with the user and the level of comfort that it provides is a huge consideration for most users. The repetitive nature of the daily tasks associated with a lifetime in the construction industry can lead to long-term fatigue and even injury with an uncomfortable or unbalanced tool. However, ergonomics are often very subjective.

In order to rank our tools, we chose a total of twelve categories. The tools were given a point value for each category, from one to five. One being the best and five being the worst. If a tool completely lacked that feature, it was given a six for the category. These points were then added up to give us our rank structure with the lowest score winning.

Makita took first place in this category. The Makita’s contoured grip, high-quality switches, and controls, as well as minimal felt vibration made it a crew favorite. While not the lightest tool we tested, the Makita packs a ton of power and performance into a sleek package.

The DEWALT Atomic with a 1 7/8″ impact socket attached. AKA the Noisy Cricket.

The DEWALT Atomic came in second. This mighty little powerhouse is extremely comfortable and compact in the hand. Unfortunately, the small size and light-weight translate into more felt vibration for the user during demanding tasks.

The full-size DEWALT came in third with an extremely comfortable design and very minimal felt vibration. Ryobi finishes fourth with a grip that is well suited to larger hands. Ridgid came in fifth with generous overmolding and texturing.

A trend we noticed amongst all of the tools was a preference from our crew for the compact tools with brushless motors. Both DEWALT models, Makita, Milwaukee, Ridgid, and Ryobi all feature compact tool head designs that are balanced and proportionate with the overall footprint with a battery inserted. The larger and more bulky tools were more unpleasant to use because they felt unbalanced and cumbersome.

Cordless Mid-Torque Impact Wrench Features

Our sample body of tools offered a broad range of feature options. From barebones bolt busters to tools with so many different modes you need an engineering degree to understand them. Consequently, the entire crew worked together to sort out what features are great and desirable and which were poorly executed or unnecessary. The features we examined were modes, special settings, ability to dial in torque, and quality of the LED work light.

The Makita featured the most special settings of any of the tools. With three forward and three reverse auto stop modes, the XWT18XVZ is capable of dialing in the torque value for any fastener. Additionally, there are four different selectable IPM and RPM modes as well as a full-speed mode. All of these modes are easily selected by the push-button controls, but they were a little confusing at first to the test crew.  However, we quickly warmed up to them and appreciated the level of adjustability available. You can read more about the Makita features in one of our recent ToolBoxBuzz reviews.

Makita also included a vibration-resistant coupling at the base of the tool. This protects the battery pack from absorbing excessive felt vibration, which saves the contacts and prolongs the life of the battery. For all of these reasons, the Makita was our overall winner in the features category.

Second place went to the DEWALT Atomic. This mini powerhouse features an excellent triple LED light system in the face of the tool. The controls are also easy to use with large push-button controls for the two-speed settings as well as the dedicated lag screw mode, LED light control, and auto spin-out mode which slows the tool once a faster has come loose to prevent it from flying across the room. The push button and easy-to-identify pictures were all appreciated by us knuckle-draggers on the crew.

In third place, we have a three-way tie between Milwaukee, Ridgid, and Ryobi. All three of these tools feature a triple LED light system on the face of the tool, as well as three forward and three reverse speeds and an additional Auto mode.

The Milwaukee and Ryobi use digital push button switches at the base of the tool while the Rigid uses a manual switch located on the top. The auto mode stops the tool during fastening as soon as it begins impacting in order to prevent over-tightening. In reverse, they will slow to prevent throwing a loose fastener. The Auto mode of these tools was extremely helpful to our test crew when we snug up fasteners in our testing jigs before performing the tests.

The fourth place was DEWALT with the best non-halo style work light located at the base of the tool. The DEWALT also features an easy-to-reach, positive, manual mode selector switch. Metabo finished fifth with an excellent variable speed trigger, but lacked any special modes and has a pretty terrible work light. Craftsman and Porter-Cable tied for the sixth place spot due to lacking any special modes or features and very average work lights and variable-speed triggers.

Overall, our crew found an overwhelming preference for the tools with triple “halo” style LED work light systems located on the face of the tool. The DEWALT Atomic, Milwaukee, Ridgid, and Ryobi all featured this style of light. We found it superior to any other style due to the fact that it illuminates more of the work area clear and directs the beam at the socket or fastener. The Milwaukee was the best of all of these tools, with the brightest and widest spill of any of the tools. Some of the tools, like the Ridgid, feature a dedicated light switch to activate the light without pulling the trigger. This felt unnecessary to our crew and we chose to omit it from consideration when determining our rankings.

Decibel Rating

The sound of a pneumatic impact wrench is unmistakable. Our cordless impact wrenches sounded less like their pneumatic counterparts and more like impact drivers on steroids. During the lag bolt drive, we measured the at-ear decibel levels for each tool under load. The under-load level was most important to us to truly gauge the potential for hearing damage in the field.

Our decibels readings showed almost the completely opposite results of our speed and performance tests. The quietest tool was the Craftsman (73.4Db) followed by DEWALT in second (74.6) and Porter-Cable in third (75.8).

Our faster and more powerful tools produced more noise during use, which directly correlates to their high RPM, IPM, and torque specifications. Ryobi, Ridgid, and DWALT Atomic were our loudest tools. With Makita and Milwaukee in the middle of the pack.

While all nine of our tools were under the OSHA mandated hearing protection level of 85 decibels, this test was conducted outside in an open space. We strongly recommend hearing protection while using any of these tools. Especially when working indoors or in confined spaces.

Cordless Mid-Torque Impact Wrench Pricing

Pricing is often one of our most difficult categories to consider. With the multitude of online retailers currently, a massive scatter-plot chart has to be made for each tool to figure out pricing. Kit vs. bare tool pricing also rears its ugly head when sifting through this data as well. Because of all this, we choose to rank our tools based on bare tool pricing, however, pricing is not considered when determining our overall winner.

As of the time of publishing this article, Porter-Cable is our lowest price tool at $120.00 as a bare tool. Craftsman is the next cheapest and Ryobi comes in third. Metabo is our second most expensive tool at $249.00 and Makita breaks the bank as our most expensive tool at $289.00. The high price tag of the Makita is no surprise given the multitude of technology and features it comes with.

Below are Buy Now links where you purchase many of the tools featured in this Head-2-Head from some of our favorite retailers.

Overall Value

The overall value category is one of our crew favorites. This category is where we directly compare out-of-pocket expense to raw performance. Users currently invested in a cordless battery platform may not value this award, but it caters to the first-time buyer.

Our pick for the best overall value is the Ryobi. The Ryobi took first place in both our performance fastening test (lag bolts) and performance breaking torque (lug nuts) tests, by a considerable margin. Additionally, it tied for third place in features and took fourth place in ergonomics. All of this while being our third most affordable tool. The Ryobi built up an impressive pedigree during our testing and greatly impressed the crew overall. The Ryobi One+ HP impact wrench is a great example of the future of Ryobi tools. While we did experience some issues with our testing samples, the performance was undeniable.

Best Cordless Mid-Torque Impact Wrench

At the end of the day, our goal is to determine which cordless mid-torque impact wrench is best overall. This is a decision not based on conjecture but on real-world quantified data and testing. After completing all of our testing and analyzing the results, we found that we have a tie for first place between Makita and Ryobi.

Makita was first in breaking torque as well as ergonomics and features. Overall the crew felt that the Makita is a hi-tech, sleek, and outstandingly well-built tool. It was powerful during all of our testing, although the built-in safety and preservation features hurt it slightly during the lug nuts and lag bolts tests. We all expected a show stopper with the Makita, and it delivered.

The Ryobi really threw us for a loop. The power and speed of this tool dropped a lot of jaws on testing day. Landslide victories go to Ryobi in both of our performance tests, while maintaining a top-five finish in all but one category, and being named best value! We were expecting a lot out of this tool, but it blew all of our expectations out of the water. The Ryobi earned a first-place rank in our Head-2-Head based on performance, but we did experience some durability issues. The One+ HP impact wrench is incredibly powerful, but the thermal overload protection built into it stopped it dead on two occasions during our use. When considering this, the Ryobi may not be best suited for daily professional-grade use, such as with a service mechanic.

Tie Breaker

With a tie in the first place, we omit second place to rank all nine participating tools. Therefore, Milwaukee drops into the third-place slot. The Milwaukee mid-torque impact wrench was a consistent performer. Finishing top-five in every single category.

Ridgid finished in fourth place. ToolBoxBuzz has always referred to Ridgid as one of the absolute best values in tools. The Ridgid Octane’s performance lived up to its reputation. Metabo finished fifth and was a hard worker. While it lacks some of the bells and whistles that other brands provide, it simply works.

The new DEWALT Atomic was a late entry to the competition and had impressive features, which brought it to sixth place. The original legacy DEWALT mid-torque was also extremely comfortable to use and finished seventh. Rounding out the bottom end of our lineup was Porter-Cable in eighth and Craftsman in ninth.

With this Head-2-Head, our goal was to develop testing protocols that blended specifically calibrated vacuum scenarios, as well as real-world applications. During the process, we made all of our data as transparent as possible. This way readers, consumers, and professionals can select a tool that best meets their needs. While we crowned what we consider to be the best cordless mid-torque impact wrench, we encourage you to use our findings to help make the decision that best meets your individual needs.

Best Cordless Mid-Torque Impact Wrench Head-2-Head 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.