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The On-Line Tool Guide For Tool People

This Issue We Review

DeWalt DW930 Cordless 12V Saw

• Quick Precision cuts in quality paneling & plywood.
• Fast crosscuts of long stock hardwoods.
• Sizing sheet stock in the shop.
• Quick trim cuts in high and awkward areas.

Though not the only cordless saw on the market, this tool was chosen from

all the others for our job needs job primarily for following reasons:

• Tool weight
• Tight construction
• Look & Feel
• Left side view of cut

Larger battery capacities in this brand were not considered because weight

and balance would approach that of a corded saw, and less likely to fore fill

the above needs.

This tool is a welcome addition on the job site and in the shop.

 

On the job when it comes to paneling installation, the first tool we reach for is this

saw. Say good-bye to snagged cuts caused by the cord getting in the way. When

it comes to plunge cuts for outlets and other cut-outs nothing is faster. Being

cordless allow greater precision cuts at a faster pace.

 

Most woodworkers will appreciate how handy this saw can be in the shop. Few

woodworkers have a panel cutting saw (us included). When it comes time to

pre-sizing large sheet panels in the shop, this saw comes to the rescue. We use

it often to reduce the size and weight of a panel for easier handling prior to making

the finishing cuts.

Another area where this tool just saves time and frustration is sizing long lengths

of wood in the shop. At our shop after bringing in the rough sawn oak boards,

(some pieces are 18' in length) and trying to maneuver them to the radial saw for

sizing can be challenge, most of the time the radial saw is jigged for another job.

Multiple sizing crosscuts in 1" oak boards is no problem.

The last area this tool proves invaluable is on those death defying feats all

contractors perform from time to time: two stories up with one hand on the ladder,

the other hand maneuvering the saw.

 

Your probably saying " I can do all that with a regular circular saw". Yes you can,

but not as fast, not as easy, and probably not as precise. Being able to pick up a

tool and go without having to: locate a cord, find an outlet, watching that the cord

doesn't get snagged, and wrestling with the weight, allows you to focus just on what

the tool was designed to do, and that is to "make the cut".

Make no mistake this tool will not compete with a circular saw in a job station

setting. What's a job station setting? A job station setting is where you have your

saw horses set up, there plenty of space around your work area, the generators

got plenty of gas and your set to cut 2X4's or plywood panels all day. This tool

was more likely designed for contractors that have to panel small and narrow

rooms where the nearest practical work area may be125 ft walk down the stairs

to the outside where on any given day it might be raining. What do I mean by that?

It's something best experience to be understood.

The performance of this tool boils down to having a charged battery and a sharp thin

kerf blade that DeWalt designed for this tool.

 

As with all cordless tools they only work as long as the battery does. I use the 12V

XR battery and can just about rip a 4'x8'x3/4" sheet of plywood from one charge,

however I can crosscut a 4'x8'x5/8" of particle board about 6 times before switching

to a fresh battery. Since we keep 5 batteries (we have other tools that use this battery)

charged and ready to go, and changing the battery is a snap, there's no downtime.

Occasionally when using the saw with one hand on an awkward angle, engaging

the safety switch and trigger is difficult. Also a firm grip is less available in these

circumstances.

• Possibly a smoother trigger housing guide
• A detent on the safety slide that allows first trigger pull
  with out the need to simultaneously activate both
• A better contoured grip with anti slip pad

This tool is currently in use (as of this issue) and continues to provide good service

after 2 years of intermittent use (as described in the "Need".)

Keep cuts straight otherwise the slightest bind will stop the blade. Binding the blade

hinders your cut momentum and drains the battery, resulting in less cuts per charge.

Keep your blade sharp! Have the charger and extra batteries on hand.

Two easy to make cut guiding squares, one for 2x stock the other for plywood panels.

Check our front page: Jigs & Fixtures Link.

In the box: Just the saw with short manual. Saw comes with blade wrench

secured in front housing mount. Battery and charger not included.

 

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