HILTI Cordless Rail saw

[score0matic]

HILTI
Seems to have rased the bar here they have taken their AWESOME 36 volt Li-Ion Cordless and added in a rail system

Bar, note the Handle [thumbs up]

The saw.

Note the Vacuum port & riving  knife

Craig

 

[Frank-Jan]

Those hilti saws also work on the festool rails... and the festool ones are LESS expensive for a change.

What is there to note about the riving knife? Is it a springloaded one so it can plunge like the mafell saws?

/edit: I just checked it out on the hilti site, the riving knife doesn't seem to be sprinloaded (they just mention it's adjustable).

I haven't tried a cordless circular saw myself, but the amount they claim you can cut with it on one charge looks impressive.

Now they just need a cordless vaccuum to hook up to the dustport

 

[jonny round boy]

What is the point of putting a vacuum connector on a cordless saw?

Surely, the whole point of having something cordless is that it isn't 'tied' to anything? If you're constrained by a vacuum hose then you may as well have the extra power of a mains powered saw.

I thought the same when DeWalt released their cordless version.

Doesn't look like it plunges either, it looks fixed (though I could be wrong about that).

I like the handle in the middle of the rail though! I'm sure it would be possible to do the same with the Festool rails. You'd just need to make a jig & they could be cut with a router. Hmmmm.....

 

[score0matic]

Jonny
I think the point with this saw is.
1 it is as powerful as any sidewinder on the market corded or not.
2 It can be used like any traditional circ saw (something that is very hard to do with the Fes)
3 you can take it anywhere (cordless)
4 you can use it as a railsaw
5 it has good DC capacity for a cleaner work area
summing it up it is a single purchase do all circ saw combining the most usable benefits (free hand cutting, dust collection, track line accuracy, cordless handiness, 2 5/8 depth of cut, ) of each system into one durable, lifetime warranty+service, and expensive package that really makes it the Only saw purchase you would need to make.
There are features of the Skill mag 77, TS 55, makita cordless trim saw (these are the circ saws I own and USE regularly), a better fit in each ones specialty area but the HILTI could cover all of these saws with less outlay of Cash, and most users would find that the additional benefit of its versatility outweigh the little shortfalls. 
If only HILTI didn't have such a bad rep for making junk tools [doh]

Craig

 

[Forrest Anderson]

What is the point of putting a vacuum connector on a cordless saw?

Surely, the whole point of having something cordless is that it isn't 'tied' to anything? If you're constrained by a vacuum hose then you may as well have the extra power of a mains powered saw.

Whilst it might be used 90% of the time outside or on sites where electricity hasn't been installed, isn't it good that the same saw can be used with a dust extractor in a customer's house or an occupied office  the remaining 10% of the time?

Nobody is forcing the operator to attach it to a hose all the time, but to me it seems a good idea to have ability to attach it to a dust extraction system when available, no?

I thought the same when DeWalt released their cordless version.

DeWalt, of course, have a cordless dust extractor!

Forrest

 

[Inner10]

Craig, the 36V is very powerful but I wouldn't not consider it as powerful as a corded if you catch my drift.

Rail looks cool, I wonder if it works with my 24V hilti.  Doubt I'd pay the money for I don't have the need for it...if I was desperate for a straight cut I could get an aftermarket clamp on saw guide for 50 bucks.

 

[richard.selwyn]

If only HILTI didn't have such a bad rep for making junk tools [doh]

Craig
[/quote]

Forgive me if I am being stupid, but is that a joke or are you serious.  I am tempted by the Hilti cordless sds drill with vacuum extraction as no-one else seems to make one, but at 1000 euros its a big investment for me and I have a retired neighbour who maintains that Hilti now make a lot of junk (he thinks they could even be assembled in the Far East)
When I used to work in England I had a client who was invited to Lichtenstein by Hilti as he bought so much of their stuff and in those days they were the "Rolls Royce" (before RR was bought by BMW of course 

Richard

 

[score0matic]

My personal opinion is that HILTI is second to none in quality.

  As far as powerful i likened it against sidewinders  and I think while it's batteries are up is up to most tasks with out too much trouble,  Kind of like the TS 55 with the OEM blade.  Realize, i am not pushing it, i just think it is cool when a new high end tool comes online.

Craig

 

[Rob-GB]

My aversion to cordless circular saws is much the same as Dracula's to wooden stakes, having been disappointed by several key manufacturers offerings, I will choose to use a generator on site over one. Failing that out come my Disston's, Quieter, Greener & Smarter  ;D ;D

 

[Neill]

I also have a problem with cordless saws.  I have an 18V Makita cordless miter saw that I bought about 9 years ago. In general it works pretty well.  The problem is that there is no gage for the battery.  It either has power or it does not.  Nothing like getting part way through a cut and have it crap out on you.  It is bone jarring, dangerous and ususally ruins the material.  That may be why they discontinued it.

By the way, Milwaukee also makes a cordless vac.  Not sure of the voltage but it is supposed to run for about 18 minutes per charge.  It also has the ability to function as blower.

Neill

 

[jmbfestool]

I also have a problem with cordless saws.  I have an 18V Makita cordless miter saw that I bought about 9 years ago. In general it works pretty well.  The problem is that there is no gage for the battery.  It either has power or it does not.  Nothing like getting part way through a cut and have it crap out on you.  It is bone jarring, dangerous and ususally ruins the material.  That may be why they discontinued it.

By the way, Milwaukee also makes a cordless vac.  Not sure of the voltage but it is supposed to run for about 18 minutes per charge.  It also has the ability to function as blower.

Neill

I bought the New Milwueakee 18V circular saw they have alot of power for 18V it will rip 4x2  well worth it if you just have to go some were and cut couple of sheet up. Dust extraction on it is pretty poor really compared to the my T55 but its not what I bought it for. Things like shuttering of roofing or flooring it brilliant.

The batteries have 4 light indicators on them so you can check the batteries so you know if you are going to run out. The power on the milwuakee is for better than the Makita the only good thing on the makita circular saw is they have a dust blow on them and a light.

 

[Chris Hughes]

I have that rail.  I bought it for my festool ts75.  It cost me 85.00US.  I have used hilti cordless drills for a long time now.  Panasonic used to build the batteries for hilti and hilti built the drills for panasonic.  I believe hilti bought a battery company and makes their own batteries now.  Anyhow, the LI batteries now have a guage on the back of them that when activated indicate the charge level.  This fucntion is automatic when charging, so you can see where you are, just in case.

 

[jmbfestool]

I have that rail.  I bought it for my festool ts75.  It cost me 85.00US.  I have used hilti cordless drills for a long time now.  Panasonic used to build the batteries for hilti and hilti built the drills for panasonic.  I believe hilti bought a battery company and makes their own batteries now.  Anyhow, the LI batteries now have a guage on the back of them that when activated indicate the charge level.  This fucntion is automatic when charging, so you can see where you are, just in case.

Same as milwuekee batteries then.

 

[pedr0]

If only HILTI didn't have such a bad rep for making junk tools [doh]

Craig

Forgive me if I am being stupid, but is that a joke or are you serious.  I am tempted by the Hilti cordless sds drill with vacuum extraction as no-one else seems to make one, but at 1000 euros its a big investment for me and I have a retired neighbour who maintains that Hilti now make a lot of junk (he thinks they could even be assembled in the Far East)
When I used to work in England I had a client who was invited to Lichtenstein by Hilti as he bought so much of their stuff and in those days they were the "Rolls Royce" (before RR was bought by BMW of course  

Richard

Unfortunately it's no joke. Many of Hilti's power tools are now made in China. I've been looking for a fixed-blade, non-plunging, 7.25", corded circular saw that I can plow through 2x4s with that won't end up in the trash can after a week of use. I've looked everywhere and the only ones I can find are all China made including the Hilti one that used to be made in the States. Mafell USA has a model that sort of fits the bill (MS 55) but the blade is a bit on the small side at 6.5".  

If anyone has any suggestions I'd certainly appreciate it, I'm in the middle of a project and need to get something soon.  

 

[Ken Nagrod]

I don't know if this would fit the bill, but I've been using this saw since it came out and I'm very happy with it.  It is a little on the heavy side compared to a regular "sidewinder", but while cutting I don't notice the added weight.  Just when initially lifting it I can tell the difference.  Loads of power that doesn't want to stop and a built-in safety clutch.
http://www.boschtools.com/Products/Tools/Pages/BoschProductDetail.aspx?pid=1677M

 

[pedr0]

Thanks very much for the recommendation. Any idea where is this particular saw is made?

 

[Ken Nagrod]

I don't know where they manufacture it currently, but mine says made in the usa on it.  Kinda surprising!

 

[richard.selwyn]

I am always inclined to shy away  from things labeled PRC but I did buy the  Hilti drill I mentioned above And so far so good. As I am typing this on an iPad that was made somewhere in the far east maybe we shouldn't be so hard on Chinese products. They CAN make fantastic stuff - and a lot of rubbish. Protool  ( festool sister co) make some big sturdy saws but they are probably NAINA.  I have a huge  Makita, but rarely need anything bigger than the TS 75. The last Bosch saw I looked at seemed very shiny and pretty crappy. I'll be interested to hear how you get on.
Richard

 

[aloysius]

Hilti still make some very good tools...and some junk.

I use their hammers on a regular basis, esp. lately with daily use for the last month or so and conclude as follows:  their smaller hammers, such as the TE6 are gutless & slow compared to their competitors (Bosch).  However their SDS Max drills are capable, hard working & reliable.

A colleague has had a very heavy 18v cordless Hilti drill in heavy, daily use for about four years now and, apart from a chuck replacement and less "charge life" in the batteries, has performed flawlessly.  Needless to say, we're all impressed!

After years of frustration using 18v cordless saws from a variety of manufacturers, I've now moved to 36v myself.  I believe that for Aust. hardwoods, and ripping softwood, anything less is inadequate, irrespective of brand.  36v saws typically have an output of about 600w, still only barely adequate for some jobs, but about the max. it's possible to safely wield using current technology.

I believe that some tools (circ. saws, SDS hammers, and 5" grinders) require at least 36v worth of power to perform efficiently.  Other cordless tools (drills, hammer drills, recipro. saws etc.) can perform satisfactorily with less:  I personally hate using my 36v hammer drill (way too heavy, large in the hand and unwieldy).  18v seems to be the current optimum size/weight/power/charge life compromise for these latter tool types.

 

[EdL]

FWIW, While my recently purchased (used) Hilti wsc-267 fit the Festool rails, the blade was closer to the rubber strip than the Festool saw. Not good. I put a thin shim behind the blade arbor nut to remedy this.

Ed