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CRAFTSMAN V20 Cordless Circular Saw

CRAFTSMAN V20 Cordless Circular Saw

By CRAFTSMAN · Circular Saws · Power Tools · More from CRAFTSMAN

  • 20V cordless, brushed motor
  • 6-1/2 in blade
  • 4,000 RPM
  • Bevel up to 50 deg
  • Tool only (battery/charger sold separately)

Price not listed

New
Used, refurbished, open-box

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Problems, parts and running costs

Summary

A brushed-motor 6-1/2-inch circular saw sold as a bare tool for CRAFTSMAN’s V20 battery platform, with an 18-tooth blade and a hex wrench but no battery or charger. It is a light, competent saw for occasional cuts if you already own V20 packs, and a poor value if you do not.

Strengths

  • TechGearLab found the front notch gives a deep, open sightline and lands the cut nearly on the line.
  • A lever-type depth adjustment is quicker to set than a rotary knob.
  • The bevel angle marker is clearly visible and accurate across its 50-degree range.
  • At 5.9 lb without a battery it is light for a cordless circular saw.
  • Existing V20 owners can use batteries and chargers they already own.
  • The 6-1/2-in blade size is common, and CRAFTSMAN sells a documented 18-tooth spare.

Weaknesses

  • Battery endurance is weak: TechGearLab measured 184 linear feet of 3/4-in plywood per 4 Ah charge.
  • It labors in dense stock such as laminated veneer lumber and can bog under load.
  • The box has no battery or charger, so first-time V20 buyers pay for the whole system.
  • There is no rafter hook and no positive bevel stops.
  • No dust port or hose is listed, unlike the brushless CMCS405B.
  • The lower blade guard part is listed as unavailable in the checked parts catalogs.

Verified specifications

ModelCMCS500B, tool only; the instruction manual also covers CMCS500.
PlatformCRAFTSMAN V20 lithium-ion, 18 V nominal and 20 V maximum initial no-load.
Motorbrushed.
No-load speedup to 4,000 RPM per the manufacturer; some retailer listings say 4,200 RPM.
Blade6-1/2 in (165 mm) with a 5/8-in (15.9 mm) arbor; an 18-tooth blade is supplied.
Beveltool-free beveling shoe up to 50 degrees, with no positive stops.
Maximum depth of cutabout 2-1/8 in at 90 degrees with a framing blade, measured by TechGearLab.
Blade brakeyes.
Rafter hookno.
Weight5.9 lb without a battery and 7.4 lb with one, measured by TechGearLab.
Warranty3-year limited.
In the boxsaw, 18-tooth blade and hex wrench; no battery or charger.
Full research notes and sources

Which model this is

This page covers the CRAFTSMAN CMCS500B, the brushed, blade-left 6-1/2-in saw sold tool only. The manual is for CMCS500 and also applies to CMCS500B. The kit variant CMCS500M1 bundles a 4.0 Ah battery and charger and is a separate product, and the brushless CMCS405B, CMCS550B and CMCS551B are different saws; retailer search results mix them together. The bare-tool listing is ASIN B07KK9YGZH.

Battery life and runtime

The saw runs on the V20 platform, 18 V nominal and 20 V maximum initial no-load. Battery and charger come separately, so the $99 bare tool is only part of the cost. TechGearLab’s August 2020 test measured 184 linear feet of 3/4-in plywood ripped per 4 Ah charge, second-to-last in a 13-saw field, and rated the battery category 4.0 out of 10. Long ripping sessions may need a second charged pack.

Cutting performance

TechGearLab cut to a maximum depth of about 2-1/8 in with a framing blade and averaged 5.8 seconds on a 6x12-in crosscut. It praised the lever depth adjustment and the accurate sightlines, but said the saw is not a powerhouse and labors through laminated veneer lumber and full-depth crosscuts.

Parts, repairs and running costs

CRAFTSMAN covers the tool with a 3-year limited warranty and excludes wear, abuse, accessories and unauthorized repairs; battery coverage varies by pack. The manual describes a 90-day money-back guarantee with a receipt. A replacement 18-tooth CRAFTSMAN CMAS265018 blade is $14.99 at Ace; a blade clamp washer, blade bolt and hex wrench are listed at $6.40 each by PartSelect; a replacement shoe is $38.95. The lower blade guard (#90591151) and dust port are listed as unavailable in the checked parts catalogs. Electricity is minor: a 4 Ah pack stores about 72 Wh, and at an assumed $0.25 per kWh one charge costs a few cents.

Is it worth it?

At $99 bare this is a fair deal only for someone who already owns V20 batteries; the saw is light and accurate but not powerful. Starting from zero, Lowe’s lists the CMCS500M1 kit with a 4.0 Ah battery and charger at $149, while the battery-and-charger kit alone is $159 and a standalone CMCB204 pack is $129. A corded CRAFTSMAN CMES510 is about $89 at Lowe’s and needs no battery. If you already run Ryobi, the brushless Ryobi PSBCS01B is $119 at Home Depot.

Sources

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