If you go for a circular saw, you have to decide: rope or rope. If all things were the same, it would be easy. Nobody likes lobster. The problem is that cord saws are more powerful. I own both, but if I could only keep one it would be a chainsaw. That said, I probably use my cordless more for the convenience of being able to take it anywhere. If you’re going cordless, change your blade often. It takes a lot more power to cut with a cordless blade, and a cordless circular saw has no savings. Making sure you have a sharp blade will not only make cutting easier, but will make your battery last longer. It is always better to buy a cheap saw with a high quality blade than vice versa.
If you go cordless, the next decision you’ll face is brushless versus brushed motors. A brushless motor is superior in almost every way. The performance is better, it is better, and it is more durable. A brushless saw uses electromagnetism, which is a fancy way of saying it uses the interaction of magnetic fields to generate torque. That means less friction, less heat, and in addition, better battery life.
The downside of brushless motors is the higher price. It is also possible that, if you only use several cuts once or twice a week, you do not need to worry about the increased friction and temperature of the motor. Round brushed concrete is cheap and easy to make. If you don’t have a big job in mind, they’re great for light DIY use.
Also grab square speed ($20) to ensure that you are cutting directly into the lumber of size.
Bonus Option: Shop Vac
Milwaukee
M18 Fuel 6 Gal. Cordless Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum
If you have these two items, the next thing I would recommend is a shop vac. Nobody likes to clean, and nothing cleans faster or better than a shop vac. The ability to clean liquids will change your workplace. I have a cheap shop vac from Harbor Freight, which does the job, but I wish I had a more powerful shop vac above.
What Brand To Buy?
I would like to tell you that there is general compatibility between brands and that each brand’s batteries work with every other tool. That is what the world should be like. The world we live in? Well, you have to choose the brand, because the batteries are not replaceable. (There are adapters out there, many cheap Chinese off-brand adapters. I have one that I use with a refurbished battery, but it’s not something I recommend.)
Major brands like Milwaukee, DeWalt, Makita, and Ryobi all make similar things, and most of them are very good. Choice in brand depends on compatible batteries. Unlike the average knowledgeable customer, I have tools from Milwaukee and DeWalt, and have had no problems with them. (Beware of purchasing tools from Amazon, especially Milwaukee, as there are no authorized Milwaukee tool sellers on Amazon, and the company does not warranty or support tools purchased from sellers.)
Now that you have the right tools to tackle home renovations and small projects, you can sit back, relax, and ponder the weirdest aspects of home renovation, like why two-by-fours are no longer 2 inches by 4 inches, how to make a corner cut for crown molding, and why, sometimes, it’s probably best to get a professional to handle the tough jobs.
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