- BEST COMPACT BAND SAW
Bosch GCB18V-2N $190
This compact 18-volt band saw
is so easy to use, you can cut
metal with one hand behind
your back (though we don’t
recommend that). The Bosch
accepts a blade easily and with-
out tools. Our tests with steel
bar prove it cuts like a champ. - BEST CORDLESS MITER SAW
Worx WX845L $299
There are several good reasons
to invest in this small miter
saw. First, you can use standard
71⁄4-inch circular-saw blades in
it. And it’s light and compact,
weighing 25 pounds and mea-
suring 20 inches end to end. - BEST MID-DUTY CORDLESS
CIRCULAR SAW
Craftsman CMCS550B $99
We liked this saw’s handling,
power, and line of sight to the
blade, so much so that we used
it to test all the circular-saw
blades in our Accessories sec-
tion. It reliably cut Douglas fir
framing lumber and red oak.
← BEST 18-GAUGE FINISH NAILER
Milwaukee 2746-21CT $399
Milwaukee’s 18-volt, 18-gauge
finish nailer is one of the best
we’ve used, cordless or air-
powered. It was so good, in
fact, that we had to reconfig-
ure our test parameters, given
how it left competing products
in the dust as it reliably sank
fasteners up to two inches long
into red oak and perfectly set
the head of each. The heart of
the tool is a redesigned brush-
less motor along with a sealed
chamber of inert nitrogen gas
to power the drive mechanism.
Combine that with good bal-
ance and a clear line of sight
right to the nailer’s tip, and you
can fire away with confidence.↓BEST MID-DUTY
ROTARY HAMMER
Craftsman SDS CMCH233B
$129
Suppose you need to drill holes
in concrete and chip up tiles.
Turn to this 20-volt tool and put
your troubles behind you (con-
struction troubles, at least).
Yes, it takes only bits with SDS
tangs, but they enable it to drill,
hammer-drill, and hammer-
chisel with aplomb.123March/April 2021 63CO
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