Sometimes, you've just got to go cordless. The Black & Decker Firestorm FS18CS cordless circular saw is a user-friendly and completely portable tool, a good choice for everything from cutting plywood to building a deck. Because you're not tethered to a cord, this model makes sense for jobs in areas where you don't have easy access to an electrical outlet, or when you need to move around the job site quickly. It also comes in handy if you don't want to have to worry about accidentally cutting through the cord. Don't laugh -- it happens.

Just because it's a portable tool, that doesn't mean it's a toy. The Firestorm FS18CS delivers a solid amount of power, especially for a portable unit, and can chew through wood up to 2 inches thick at a 45-degree bevel. It lets you cut bevels of up to 50 degrees. One quibble, though: This unit comes with a 6-1/2-inch, 18-tooth carbide-tipped blade, which is a fairly low tooth count. (Generally, the more teeth on a blade, the smoother the cut.) This unit has a spindle lock, which makes it easy to change the blade.

Like many circular saws these days, this model comes with an onboard laser, which goes a long way toward ensuring accurate cuts. The design works pretty well, but the in-line blade design and secondary knob-style handle might not appeal to every user. Black & Decker touts the combination as providing a nice amount of control, but we'd prefer a more professional-style bail handle on this tool.

The unobtrusive battery on this model can be interchanged with other Firestorm 18-volt tools. It's a cost-effective feature that lets you use the same power source for several tools, and not have to pay for a bunch of rechargeable batteries you won't necessarily use. The Firestorm FS18CS cordless circular saw is covered by a 2-year warranty.


Pros: Portable, inexpensive
Cons: Blade's tooth count could be higher

Warranty
2 years