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Cordless circular saw / trim saw recommendation?
Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2025 6:53 pm
by Silly Car
I managed to toast the motor in my 165mm Ryobi One+ 18v circular saw recently, after 12 years abuse/use. Ordinarily I’d just replace it with another of the same brand battery format as I’ve got more than enough batteries.
However, I also now have Hikoki / Metabo HPT (not to be confused with Metabo) and Dewalt batteries, both in 18v format so could consider both of them as well.
Does anyone have any recommendations for any of the above brands, DIY only used, I have a track saw for accurate cuts and the battery addition will be used for odd jobs such as cutting down sheet materials in B&Q car parks
, first fix joinery, cutting up scrap timber into kindling size lengths etc.
Re: Cordless circular saw / trim saw recommendation?
Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2025 7:10 pm
by Yorick
My Makita 18v circular saw is fantastic
Re: Cordless circular saw / trim saw recommendation?
Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2025 8:09 pm
by demographic
Although I'm on De-Walt, Hikoki and Festool battery platforms I can't help you regarding the first two on the circular saw front as all my circular saws are Festool and cost me a few holidays.
I have Hikoki second fix nailgun, combi drill, an impact screwdriver and a multitool, all cordless.
Then on the De-Walt platform I have a 110 volt grinder, really nice 900 watt trim router, beast of a powerplane and then cordless tools I have a much lesser powerplane, the best first fix nailgun I've ever useda really good SDS drill and a worklight.
Pretty much anytime I buy tools for work I go for either the top of the range or the closest I could afford so be careful that both De-Walt and Hikoki have their very basic DIY end as well as their industrial use ranges.
De-Walt do absolutely great nailguns and routers and have a good range of cordless tools, I bought their multitool for someone else a while ago and fark me, its waay more of a harsh vibrating thing than my Hikoki one.
To me the Hikoki combi drill and impact screwdriver are just nicer to use, smoother, more ergonomic than the De-Walt ones Ive used but Hikoki has a lesser range.
So, like everything, its a mixed bag.
Oh and one thing, recently I've had the need to compile a.list of the Hand Arm Vibration ratings for my various powertools and the ones for De-Walt are a pain in the arse to find.
Hikoki, pretty easy, Festool are dead easy but De-Walt are continuing to be hard work finding out the measurements for.
Re: Cordless circular saw / trim saw recommendation?
Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2025 11:12 pm
by Felix
What battery do you have the most off? if say Makita you may get a Makita to Ryobi adapter. I not long bought a Flymo battery strimmer what takes Bosch batteries what are shit and i only have one. As i have about 8 Makita batteries it made sense to buy and adapter
Re: Cordless circular saw / trim saw recommendation?
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 9:20 am
by roadster
I've got the De-Walt dcs391 which I bought because I already had a decent battery. Its got plenty of power and limited only by maximum cutting depth. Used it for making a raised floor in an all steel bike store and it made short work of the job. Comes out now and again when a jig saw doesn't cut it. (sorry!)
Re: Cordless circular saw / trim saw recommendation?
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 10:43 am
by Silly Car
Felix wrote: Sat Aug 30, 2025 11:12 pm
What battery do you have the most off? if say Makita you may get a Makita to Ryobi adapter. I not long bought a Flymo battery strimmer what takes Bosch batteries what are shit and i only have one. As i have about 8 Makita batteries it made sense to buy and adapter
Hikoki just edges the battery count in terms of highest amphours, 2x 5ah + 1x 4ah, I have 2x 4ah Ryobi plus a stack of 2ah and 2x 2ah Dewalt.
I’ve got a Hikoki to Ryobi adapter but Ryobi to anything else doesn’t really work due to the shape
I reckon a Hikoki to Dewalt adaptor would become useful if I bought a Dewalt saw as I can’t imagine 2ah batteries last that long in use.
roadster wrote: Sun Aug 31, 2025 9:20 am
I've got the De-Walt dcs391 which I bought because I already had a decent battery. It’s got plenty of power and limited only by maximum cutting depth. Used it for making a raised floor in an all steel bike store and it made short work of the job. Comes out now and again when a jig saw doesn't cut it. (sorry!)
I’ll have a look at that one
Re: Cordless circular saw / trim saw recommendation?
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 10:58 am
by Silly Car
demographic wrote: Sat Aug 30, 2025 8:09 pm
Although I'm on De-Walt, Hikoki and Festool battery platforms I can't help you regarding the first two on the circular saw front as all my circular saws are Festool and cost me a few holidays.
I have Hikoki second fix nailgun, combi drill, an impact screwdriver and a multitool, all cordless.
Then on the De-Walt platform I have a 110 volt grinder, really nice 900 watt trim router, beast of a powerplane and then cordless tools I have a much lesser powerplane, the best first fix nailgun I've ever useda really good SDS drill and a worklight.
Pretty much anytime I buy tools for work I go for either the top of the range or the closest I could afford so be careful that both De-Walt and Hikoki have their very basic DIY end as well as their industrial use ranges.
De-Walt do absolutely great nailguns and routers and have a good range of cordless tools, I bought their multitool for someone else a while ago and fark me, its waay more of a harsh vibrating thing than my Hikoki one.
To me the Hikoki combi drill and impact screwdriver are just nicer to use, smoother, more ergonomic than the De-Walt ones Ive used but Hikoki has a lesser range.
So, like everything, its a mixed bag.
Oh and one thing, recently I've had the need to compile a.list of the Hand Arm Vibration ratings for my various powertools and the ones for De-Walt are a pain in the arse to find.
Hikoki, pretty easy, Festool are dead easy but De-Walt are continuing to be hard work finding out the measurements for.
Yeah, I’d love to go to Festool for all power tools but will settle for just a domino for now, I nearly went with a coded rail saw but the price saving for the well regarded Makita corded was too great to ignore for DIY.
My only Hikoki tool is a first fix nail gun, which has been faultless for every framing job I’ve used it for. I’ve got Ryobi 16g nailer, 18g narrow crown stapler and 23g pin nailer, I must admit the 16g nailer lacks some oomph when nailing hardwood but great for softwoods. The stapler is great for fixing gripper rods and plaster beads.
A quick look on Ryobi & Power Tool World has thrown up the following:
Ryobi RCS18X1-0 184mm blade, 65mm max cut, brushless for £120
DeWalt DCS391N 18v XR 165mm, 55mm max cut, brushed for £115
DeWalt DCS565N 18v XR 165mm Brushless, 55mm max cut for £145
DeWalt DCS570N 18v XR 184mm Brushless, 64mm max cut for £148
HiKOKI C1806DAW2Z 18v Cordless 165mm, 57 mm max cut for £180
Re: Cordless circular saw / trim saw recommendation?
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 6:38 pm
by ZRX61
They still sell Dewalt 18v stuff over there? it's all 20v here. I have the DCS570:
https://www.dewalt.com/product/dcs570h1 ... ah-battery
Re: Cordless circular saw / trim saw recommendation?
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 6:54 pm
by Count Steer
American volts are like their gallons and willys.
smaller
Re: Cordless circular saw / trim saw recommendation?
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 6:59 pm
by Count Steer
Oh...and...can't add anything on Ryobi or DeWalt but I'm v happy with my Makita 165mm 18v circular saw.
(Having about 6 Makita batteries and 2 chargers there's not much incentive to buy anything else and I find it all fine for domestic use).
Re: Cordless circular saw / trim saw recommendation?
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 7:22 pm
by demographic
Our 18 volt batteries are exactly the same as your 20volt max batteries.
I think they changed it over your side of the pond so the consumers didn't think the newer slide into place batteries would fit the older push into the handle types.
Well, plus Merca likes bigger numbers.
Same numer of the same type cells in em.
Perhaps we were credited with a bit more sense to spot the total change of shape?
Or possibly Yanks were thought to go all legal at the drop of a hat.
Re: Cordless circular saw / trim saw recommendation?
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 7:45 pm
by ZRX61
I was aware that the change from 18 to 20v was only a new shape & sticker. I wasn't aware that your 18v batteries aren't like our old 18v versions.
At some point I'll get the adapter doodad to allow 20v's to be used in my old 18v tools.
Re: Cordless circular saw / trim saw recommendation?
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 8:02 pm
by Yorick
ZRX61 wrote: Sun Aug 31, 2025 7:45 pm
I was aware that the change from 18 to 20v was only a new shape & sticker. I wasn't aware that your 18v batteries aren't like our old 18v versions.
At some point I'll get the adapter doodad to allow 20v's to be used in my old 18v tools.
The special electrical hammer will make it fit
Re: Cordless circular saw / trim saw recommendation?
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 10:14 pm
by mangocrazy
I sort of stumbled into being locked into the Hikoki/Hitachi battery platform. I do like their kit though, does what it says on the tin. Next purchase will probably be an 18V first fix nail gun. That's gonna be spendy.
I did look at a cordless circular saw but virtually all of my work is DIY/indoors, so mains power is more than good enough.
Re: Cordless circular saw / trim saw recommendation?
Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2025 7:56 am
by Count Steer
mangocrazy wrote: Sun Aug 31, 2025 10:14 pm
I did look at a cordless circular saw but virtually all of my work is DIY/indoors, so mains power is more than good enough.
I've gradually gone battery for all indoor stuff but some things need a bit more oomph without added battery weight, so, although I have a couple of battery drills, my BIG drill (for stuff like using diamond core tools for big 'oles and where you really want a clutch) is mains powered.
Outdoors I still use a mains powered hedge trimmer because it's way lighter and more handleable than battery.
Although I've got a battery 'hoover' for a routine whisk round I've still got an aged (made in UK!) tub vacuum cleaner* that'll lift carpets with the suction
for a 'proper job'.
* From Killi's of Sheffield when they had a shop at the top end of West St.
Re: Cordless circular saw / trim saw recommendation?
Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2025 9:51 am
by mangocrazy
Count Steer wrote: Mon Sep 01, 2025 7:56 am
mangocrazy wrote: Sun Aug 31, 2025 10:14 pm
I did look at a cordless circular saw but virtually all of my work is DIY/indoors, so mains power is more than good enough.
I've gradually gone battery for all indoor stuff but some things need a bit more oomph without added battery weight, so, although I have a couple of battery drills, my BIG drill (for stuff like using diamond core tools for big 'oles and where you really want a clutch) is mains powered.
When you need some proper grunt, there's no substitute for 230V. A big (5 Ah) battery can seriously unbalance a light cordless tool and make it more unwieldy and unpleasant to use than a mains equivalent. And even the best 18V cordless drills are no match for a cheap as chips mains SDS+ drill.
Count Steer wrote: Mon Sep 01, 2025 7:56 am
Although I've got a battery 'hoover' for a routine whisk round I've still got an aged (made in UK!) tub vacuum cleaner* that'll lift carpets with the suction
for a 'proper job'.
* From Killi's of Sheffield when they had a shop at the top end of West St.
I wasn't aware they'd moved until you said. The last time I visited them in West St. was pre-Covid and pre-retirement when I was a regular at Griffin House and within easy walking distance at lunch time. I still swear by my old Nilfisk mains vacuum cleaners. We do have a cordless Dyson which I (and the cat) detest because of its shrill and intrusive noise. It's also just not very good and runs out of charge very quickly.
Luddite, me...
Re: Cordless circular saw / trim saw recommendation?
Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2025 10:22 am
by demographic
mangocrazy wrote: Sun Aug 31, 2025 10:14 pm
I sort of stumbled into being locked into the Hikoki/Hitachi battery platform. I do like their kit though, does what it says on the tin. Next purchase will probably be an 18V first fix nail gun. That's gonna be spendy.
I did look at a cordless circular saw but virtually all of my work is DIY/indoors, so mains power is more than good enough.
Their triple hammer impact screwdriver and combi drill have certainly been good machines for me.
The multitool seems to me to vibrate significantly less than the two Makitas and one De-Walt I've borrowed but the Makitas were getting on a bit so it's possibly not a fair comparison.
I do like Makita mitre saws over most manufacturers though and the little wheel on the bottom of the blade guard of De-Walts and some Milwaukees gets right on my bloody nerves. Or more accurately, it gets into the molding grooves and deflects the cutline.