Three battery saws by their makers' figures
| Saw | Blade | Speed (rpm) | Depth 90° | Depth 45° | Bevel | Brake | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee 2732 | 7-1/4 in, 5/8 in arbor | 5,800 | 2-1/2 in | 1-7/8 in | To 50° | Yes | Not stated in the manual |
| Milwaukee 2730 | 6-1/2 in, 5/8 in arbor | 5,000 | 2-3/16 in | 1-5/8 in | To 50° | Yes | Not stated in the manual |
| Makita XSH03 | 6-1/2 in | 5,000 | 2-1/4 in | 1-5/8 in | To 50° | Not described | 6.8–7.3 lb with battery |
Each row is the maker's own figures; Milwaukee's bevels are from its product pages. Not a ranking.
Equipment notePaid link
M18 Brushless 7-1/4-in circular saw, bare tool
Milwaukee 2631-20
Milwaukee's M18 Brushless 2631-20, a 7-1/4 in saw on the same M18 batteries as the 2732 above: by Milwaukee's sheet, 2-1/2 in at 90°, a 50° bevel and 9.0 lb.
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What to compare
- Blade size. A 7-1/4 in blade, like the 2732's, takes the same blades as most corded saws and cuts 2-1/2 in deep. A 6-1/2 in blade still goes through a 2× at 90° — 2-3/16 in on the 2730, 2-1/4 in on the XSH03 — and makes a smaller, lighter saw.
- Depth at 45°. 1-7/8 in on the 7-1/4 in saw, 1-5/8 in on both 6-1/2 in saws: enough for a 2× bevel on the larger saw only.
- Brake. Both Milwaukee manuals describe a brake that engages when the trigger is released, with a short delay, that may occasionally miss, and that is no substitute for the guard. Makita's XSH03 manual does not describe one.
- Weight with the battery. Makita gives a range because it depends on the battery fitted. Compare saws with the battery you would use.
- Blades. Thin-kerf blades take less effort from the motor, which is why blade makers pitch them at battery saws: Milwaukee's 48-40-0720 is one. See choosing a blade.
Blade side and the battery you already own
Whether the blade is on the left or right of the motor decides which side you sight the line from and which hand works best on the main handle; a left-handed user often prefers the blade on the left. None of the three manuals lists it among the specifications, so check the maker's description or photos of the exact model. The battery matters as much as the saw: an 18 V saw from Milwaukee runs on M18 packs and the Makita on 18 V LXT packs, and a saw on a platform you already own needs no new charger.
Battery saws with 10 in blades were not among the manuals reviewed, so none is compared here.
Cordless circular saw or cordless plunge saw
For long, clean cuts in sheets, a battery plunge saw on a rail is the other choice, compared in choosing a cordless plunge saw. Corded saws are in choosing a corded saw, and every kind in choosing a saw.
Before buying a battery saw
- Blade size: 7-1/4 in for corded-saw blades and 2× bevels, 6-1/2 in for a smaller saw
- Depth at 90° and 45° for your stock
- Brake, if wanted, and the guard still the safeguard
- Weight with the battery you will use
- Blade on the side that suits your hand and sight line
- A battery platform you already own
How the saw works is in the circular saw guide.
Sources
Specification-based: every figure is the maker's own for the saw named. Weights depend on the battery fitted; where a document gives none, the table says so. No saw was tested and none is ranked.
- 1.
M18 FUEL 7-1/4" Circular Saw, Cat. No. 2732-20, Operator's Manual. Milwaukee Tool.
Used for: The 2732: 18 V, 7-1/4 in blade, 5/8 in arbor, 5,800 rpm, 0–2-1/2 in at 90° and 0–1-7/8 in at 45°; an electric brake that may lag or occasionally miss, and is no substitute for the guard.
- 2.
2732-20 M18 FUEL 7-1/4" Circular Saw. Milwaukee Tool.
Used for: The 2732's 50° maximum bevel.
- 3.
M18 FUEL Circular Saw, Cat. No. 2730-20, Operator's Manual. Milwaukee Tool.
Used for: The 2730: 18 V, 6-1/2 in blade, 5/8 in arbor, 5,000 rpm, 0–2-3/16 in at 90° and 0–1-5/8 in at 45°; the same brake warning.
- 4.
2730-20 M18 FUEL 6-1/2" Circular Saw. Milwaukee Tool.
Used for: The 2730's 50° maximum bevel.
- 5.
Cordless Circular Saw XSH03, Instruction Manual. Makita.
Used for: The XSH03: 18 V, 6-1/2 in blade, 5,000 rpm; 2-1/4 in at 0°, 1-5/8 in at 45°, 1-7/16 in at 50°; bevel stops for 0–45° and 0–50°; 6.8–7.3 lb depending on battery; no brake described.
- 6.
48-40-0720 7-1/4" 24T Framing Circular Saw Blade. Milwaukee Tool.
Used for: A thin-kerf 7-1/4 in blade, as blade makers pitch them for battery saws.
About this buying guide
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