CRAFTSMAN V20 Brushless RP 7-1/4" Circular Saw Review

The CRAFTSMAN V20 Brushless RP 7-1/4" Circular Saw ranks right up there with many DEWALT circular saws in my book. CRAFTSMAN shares many of the great DEWALT features that make it a very trusted, reliable, and easy to operate circular saw.
We immediately changed over to a Diablo blade for use and I would highly recommend that as it helps with cleaner cuts and also better performance.
We would like to say most should use the Craftsman V20 6Ah and 9Ah batteries for this saw. Many will use the 4Ah and be pretty happy with the performance. The 2Ah battery was able to do some impressive cuts, but it did heat up the battery quickly and drain the battery life fast.
Overall, this is a deal at $129. You will pay double that for many other brand saws and get the same performance.

[@andrewchristensen85]

Nice review brother! From someone that just recently started investing in the V20 series, I really do appreciate all the craftsman reviews. Hopefully we can see a lot more craftsman tools

[@e.z.e.932]

Really liking the Craftsman content lately - I don't own any of the brand, but it's nice to see some of the DIY/Homeowner brands on the channel. I would like to see your impression of the Kobalt XTR stuff if you ever run out of Craftsman things to test.

[@jonquis07]

Love the craftsman content. I just got this saw bc they gave me a larger battery. Haven't tested it yet but happy to see it doing well.

[@jeffarnold1983]

I am already invested in the Dewalt platform but this new craftsman stuff is pretty impressive.

[@thehound1359]

Same here. I pretty much have dewalt everything but wanted to check this saw out.

[@anthonymcmahan6373]

Same. I’m think bout picking up some them and using battery adapters to run my dewalt batteries on them

[@MoneyManHolmes]

Craftsman’s good tools are just re-skinned Dewalts. Their sloppy seconds. You aren’t really missing out on anything.

[@Griffinwoodworks]

Well I’m impressed. It seems to cut like it’s big yellow brother or the other red brand, even if it did take the biggest battery offered by craftsman to do it. Props to S/BD to not downplaying this one to build up the Dewalt like they did with the older mid torque impact.

[@KyloRen0127]

Glad to hear some positive things about this Craftman RP circular saw! Quick question, since you also made a video covering the previous Craftsman Brushless circular saw, would you say that this RP model is superior to the original brushless model?

[@Jarco101]

Excellent video Bryan

[@mikevollmer3579]

Nice review. I find this saw to be one of the best on the market. It beat the dewalt on project farms video

[@kdc300z]

How do you think it compares to the the previous gen 7 1/4? They seem to be the "same"?

[@boosted2.4_sky]

I feel the Craftsman stuff has always been decent.. not top tier but really good quality for dollar...☝

[@overseer3072]

We have to write to our state representatives. These companies are scamming us with the batteries. Being sold separately and different “amps”.

[@derekbryant6137]

I'm surprised the corded seven and a quarter from Craftsman from Lowe's comes with a rafter hook I don't see one on this particular model that's interesting

[@carpandrei7493]

If I were to choose between Craftsman (or Stanley Fatmax as the European equivalent) and Skil as my DIY week-end warrior tool and battery system... which one would you recommend? I started my hunt fixed on Skil... but since the first tool I'm looking for is a circular saw, the Craftsman has a few advantages over the Skil that I really like (greater cutting depth at 45°, positive stops at 22.5° as well as 45°). But... all details aside, how do these two brands compare, especially in terms of reliability of both tools and battery?

[@SirSkobes]

How would you compare this to the original Craftsman Brushless V20 circular saw that you reviewed last year?

[@dewalt_6728]

Nice reviews sir

[@stans5270]

Without criticizing your efforts and this video, when using any circular saw, it's been my experience that using the inside [motor side] of the shoe on the supported side of the lumber, gives a more uniform and more precise perpendicular cut. Because of this, there's less binding. This becomes more apparent in deeper cuts. Perhaps the lesser AH batteries would have fared better than that what was shown.

[@WorkshopAddict]

Stan, there were no cutouts on the lower Ah batteries as shown in text on the video. I do not think it would make a difference because I believe the saw was perpendicular. But, I can see how someone might think of that in the video. I would have to cut left handed to go the other direction. IMHO, that would not be good.

[@belle7624]

Great video!! Thank you!

[@interman7715]

Hi Brian thanks for the video,do you think this saw cuts better than the Dewalt dcsc570,?

[@scottelia8723]

Could you test the new brushless ridgid saw up against this saw?

[@eduardomoncada8677]

Would you choose this one over the metabo hpt when both are right now $149 in Lowes

[@WorkshopAddict]

Tough call. Are you invested in either battery line? If you have a lot of batteries in one brand, I would go that way. IMHO, metabo HPT is better in power and if you get a 36 volt metabo you can use the plug in adapter. In the same breath, metabo HPT 36 volt stuff is hard to find in stores. If something goes wrong, it is harder to return it.

[@philipjones0630]

Any idea if there’s a hook for it? Can’t find one anywhere

[@huberpicado]

what model?

[@luxuryacuraz]

Awesome Video

[@davil_908esc2]

Dew-like-saw

[@motorcitymoney1]

Looks jus like a Milwaukee 7¼ to me with different labeling

[@interman7715]

Dewalt and Craftsman have far better sightlines and ergos than Milwaukee.

[@loucifer4205]

I'm craftsman boy I'm just trying make a cut

[@ashtondrake3407]

I can't believe how much it looks like a Dewalt.

[@jeremynguyen2346]

Hello Workshop Addict

[@dangrimes5078]

Why isn't there a standard side to have the blade on. Even different models from the same manufacturer will have the blade on left and right. I own 4 circular saws and 2 are blade right 2 are blade left. I have decided I will only buy blade left from now on so for me this saw has the blade on the wrong side.

[@lonedesertfox]

Said the same thing last year! I’ve had a 6 1/4” Milwaukee fuel for a while and I wanted a 7 1/4” saw but didn’t have the moolah for the Milwaukee rear handed so I got the Makita 36v rear handed for $250 plus 4 batteries at the depot and I will never go back!