Craftsman V20 7-1/4 in. Cordless Sliding Miter Saw Kit 20 Volt 3800 RPM

I have an electric Dewalt saw, heavy and hard for me to move. This new craftsman is the absolute deal. Light weight. I cut cedar shakes for an hour and after finishing put the battery on charger. Didn’t need charging. These 20v craftsman tools are the cat’s a*s.

***See update at end of review***This craftsman cordless saw has many great features. The most notable one being that it is cordless. It uses a 20Volt 4.0Ah battery pack. The 4.Ah is the big one.While being cordless is a great benefit, it also holds this saw back a bit. Let’s discuss what you get in the box, the features and then finally, the Pros and Cons of being cordless.What’s Included:(1pcs) – Saw(1pcs) – 7.25” Blade (installed)(1pcs) – Battery pack(1pcs) – Charger(1pcs) – Dust bag(1pcs) – Board clamp(1pcs) – Allen wrenchinstructionsSaw Features:The saw uses a carbide tipped blade, good for rough lumber (2x4s) as well as MDF trim. The blade itself makes clean cuts on a variety of materials, including oak hard wood flooring, MDF trim, pine lumber, PVC, pine trim, walnut flooring, etc.Pros:Extremely convenient (can still work where there is no power)Many cuts on a single chargeFairly Light weightCompound mitersCut up to 8” boards (square cuts)LED light casts a blade shadow to mark cut line.Dust bag (though it doesn’t work very well)Velcro Hose clamp (for connecting shop vac dust control)45º Angle tilting blade45º Angle rotating cut baseSlide rails offer 4.75” of slide movement (8” total cut width)All adjustments are lockable with knobsBoard clamp helps hold board in place while cutting (safety)Battery quick charger charges 12V or 20V batteries.Can hang battery charger on wallTrigger safetyCons:Even with the dust collection bag installed, there was a lot of dust.Slide action isn’t really smooth.Not as powerful as “plug-in” sawsOnly includes (1) battery. Better if it included (2)Does not include a way to plug the saw into wall. (if the only included battery dies, you wait to cut again)Because of the being battery powered, there is a balancing act between making a powerful saw, and a long lasting battery. If you make the saw too powerful, the battery will be drained in a hurry. If you make the battery last super long, the saw will be terribly weak. I think Craftsman did a good job finding this balance point, however, it’s still underpowered for a professional carpenter, in my opinion. Now keep in mind, I’m comparing it to my 12” plug in Dewalt miter saw. I’ve had it for many years and trimmed many houses with it. I’ve also installed several hard wood floors and built a handful of decks with it. So compared to that saw, the Craftsman V20 saw is underpowered. Now that’s comparing a battery operated saw to a plug in saw, and as I stated before, Craftsman did a good job creating a nice battery operated saw. So what is the saw good for?While this V20 Craftsman saw will never replace my plug in 12” Dewalt as my in-shop saw, it does have a place in my tool set. One thing this Craftsman saw has that my Dewalt doesn’t, is that I can take the Craftsmant to a job that does not yet have power, and that is HUGE! So while it isn’t really fair to compare this saw’s power to a larger “plug in” saw, it is adequate for getting the job done when there isn’t power around. So why have I even mentioned the power of the saw if it does the job? Well it’s “battery operated” power level just can’t cut as fast as a “plug in” saw. For someone who just does some weekend jobs, that’s probably fine. For someone who gets paid by the job, you’ll find this saw dogs down and stalls when trying to rip through boards. You must cut slowly or the blade stops. If you make slow steady cuts, it’s fine. That’s just a drawback to battery operated saws.Who is this for:This saw is basically for someone who will possibly be cutting wood where there is no power.Who this saw isn’t for:Someone who needs to make lots of cuts really fast, and has access to power.This is not the best solution for a permanent shop saw.While this isn’t a great solution for a permanent shop saw, this is a perfect solution for someone who works where there is no available power. This would be great for building tree forts, deer stands, farm repairs, decks, and wherever there isn’t available power.Update: 02-29-2020I’ve had this saw for over 3 months now and I’ve got to say that I am using it WAY more than I anticipated. I’m building a garage and this saw is so convenient, I’ve been using it and my plug-in Dewalt has stayed in the shed. It really is super convenient. I just grab the saw and make my cuts wherever I want, without considering power outlets. The battery lasts a really long time as well. I am bumping it up to 5 stars because it is SOOOO incredibly convenient.

This is my first sliding miter saw, so I am learning to cut and create on this Craftsman V20. I have grown up with Craftsman tools as my Dad is a big proponent of the brand – and their quality and warranty.The saw is much lighter than expected – it’s very easy to move around as needed, and since it is battery powered I’m not concerned with where I am working. The battery has lasted all day with about 1/3 left (I have probably made about 40 cuts).The laser shadow light for guidance is spot on – I’m not sure how it was done before, but this is a really nice feature.The included blade worked for all material that I cut, and without any problems. I was advised to upgrade to the Diablo blade, but I’m not thinking that is necessary as this one worked just fine. The only options I will add are the Craftsman branded saw table/truss and an extra battery.Overall I would definitely recommend this miter saw to others – it’s a great way to learn woodworking at a competitive price.