First look at the Craftsman V20 brushless circular saw

So here I am again, talking about a tool.  The Craftsman V20 RP brushless circular saw to be specific. 

Before I go any further...  WTH does RP stand for?  Well, I found out.  It stands for "Runtime + Performance".  It seems that the RP line is Craftsman's new high performance line for pros.

I just picked it up on March 1st.  Got the free* $99 valued starter pack with a 4 amp hour battery and a 12/20 volt battery charger.

As usual,  this isn't an "unboxing" post.  Bleh! 😖  It is my first impressions of the tool AFTER having gotten it out of the box and the obligatory "play time" session  is over.  I will be doing a more "put it to work" review video later however.

To begin, what are *my* uses and expectations of a brushless battery powered circular saw?

First, I need a saw like this that can cut 2 by dimenal lumber up to 2x12x12.  It needs to be able to cross-cut and rip those boards without a struggle. 

Second, it also has to have the power to cut through wood with nails in it without any real trouble.  Yes, I know the blade has a lot to do with that but that's a power potential issue also.

I do not have little hands.  Let's just say that I have something in common with Wreck-it-Ralph.  It has to be a tool I can use relatively comfortably.   That seems to be asking a lot out of tools seemingly made for Oompa Loompas these days.

In the photo above, my hand exceeds the entire grip yet it's not uncomfortable.  There isn't a pinched feeling or cramped sense.  It feels pretty good depressing the trigger.  Not like I have to contort my hand or fingers.  That's good.  I give it an initial "usability" grade of a "B".

Without a battery attached, the weight doesn't feel bad.  With a 4 amp hour battery attached,  it does seem a bit heavy.  I wouldn't bother using this type of tool with anything less than a 4ah battery though.

Third, I need to cut wood that is not "clean".. I cut up pallets to use the boards as often as I cut planks for building decks.  It has to becable to run a Diablo Demo Demon through boards with nails one minute and through bleak lumber the next.

In that picture, I did both some quick cross-cuts off the bottom of that board, about 5 in a row.  Then I did a short rip and notch through some nails using the Craftsman branded blade that came with the saw.

The cuts are all clean and the nails dididn'seem to phase the saw at all. Honest,, I hadn't realized the nails were in the board till I cut the notch and saw the cut nails. I didn't feel them impede the saw at all.  I think that was very good.  I give it "A's" for both power potential and handling.  This isn't a wimpy saw.

I'll be honest, I knocked the saw off the picnic table and kicked it aside on the ground, on purpose.  I figure that's the least hard treatment it's going to get and it will only get harder treatment in the future.  If it can't handle a short drop and being booted out of the way now, then it's going to not be durable  enough to be on a jobsite.

The pictures posted here were taken after the cuts, drop and kick.  It still looks like it came out of the box.  A dusty box but still... I give it an initial durability grade of "A" until I can see how it holds up after being on a few active job project sites. 

I like the idea of tool-less adjustment of the depth setting and bevel setting.  In theory, they are great things.  In reality, I've seen too many that weren't all that accurate. I'll give it an initial grade of "C" for the convenience of the idea.  I won't grade it's accuracy until I can use it to those effects better.  

So, I give this tool an initial "first time used" grade of a B+.  I'll revisit this tool again aftercare real use on the job and see how it holds up.