Contributing editor David Frane and I spent three days last week at Stanley Black & Decker’s headquarters in Baltimore, MD where we got some first-looks from DeWalt, Porter Cable, Stanley, and other Stanley B&D companies. The main event consisted of a day devoted exclusively to DeWalt. DeWalt had been building up expectations before the event with hype of what they were calling a “world’s first”. There was some heavy fanfare and I have to say, they did not disappoint.
The big reveal involved some new battery technology (combined with ever-evolving motor tech) that’s opening doors to more cordless power tools, including an untethered version of their 12-inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw (the cordless one comes with a pretty cool accessory, which you’ll see at the end of the video below).
We got to use the new Cordless 12-inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw at the event; it has all the same features of their corded model. Unlike its 7 ¼-in. cordless model, which runs on the 20V MAX battery platform, the new mega slider runs on two of its new FlexVolt 60V MAX battery platform.
The new FlexVolt 60V MAX batteries power new tools including the sliding compound miter saw, a table saw, a circular saw, grinder, work light, and ½” VSR stud and joist drill. The new FlexVolt batteries also work in all of DeWalt’s 20V Max tools. They convert automatically from 60V MAX (54 Volts) to 20V MAX (18 Volts) once installed in 20V MAX tools.
Check out the video below for a first-look of the new Cordless 12-in. sliding compound miter saw.
