Metabo HPT MultiVolt Circular Saw C3607DA

Hitachi has completed its transition to Metabo HPT and one of the platforms they’re counting on to launch that new branding is the MultiVolt system. On the 36V side is the new Metabo HPT MultiVolt Circular Saw. I want to know if it fits in the ranks of the recent Cordless Supersaws.

Pros

• Excellent build quality
• Automatic speed control mode conserves battery life and runs quieter in niche applications
• Outperforms our corded worm drive
• Lightest among the Cordless Supersaws
• AC or DC power without switching saws
• MultiVolt battery is backward compatible to Metabo HPT and Hitachi 18V tools

Cons

• Secondary handle is too small and too close to the main handle
• No kit option available currently

Cordless Supersaws?

Before I dive in too far, let’s define the idea of a Cordless Supersaw. To earn that title, a cordless circular saw has to outperform our benchmark corded saw – the Skilsaw SPT77WM worm drive. It’s not an easy task and only a handful of cordless models have done it. Here are some other sidewinders. Check out how they and the worm drive style models stack up in our cordless circular saw head-to-head review.

• Makita 18V X2 LXT Sidewinder XSH06
• DeWalt FlexVolt Circular Saw DCS578
• Milwaukee M18 Fuel Circular Saw 2732

Feature Set

AC or DC Power

For the entire MultiVolt line, one of the breakthrough features is the ability to run on a MultiVolt battery or use the AC adapter. It gives you cordless convenience when you want it and unlimited runtime when that’s your highest priority. The MultiVolt battery is also backwards compatible to any Metabo HPT or Hitachi 18V tools.

Bevel Stops

The fact that the Metabo HPT MultiVolt Circular Saw has bevel stops isn’t big news – many saws do. But this one is a little unusual with a sort of zigzag pattern.

You hit the 45º bevel stop, then have to slide up and over again to hit 55º. The PTR jury is still out on whether they love it or not, but there’s no question it makes stopping right at the common 45º bevel easier than other saws that go beyond that mark.

LED Controls

In another unusual move, you get additional control over the LED light. You can cycle between constantly on, trigger-activated on, or off completely. The constant on mode is nice for helping line up your blade on the cutline before you start up the motor.

Standard Features

• Brushless motor
• Electric brake
• Soft start
• Dust blower
• Aluminum base
• Flat motor housing give the saw a platform to sit on during blade changes
• Battery works with all Hitachi and Metabo HPT 18V and MultiVolt tools
• Onboard wrench storage

Missing Features

The guard has a dust port attachment point, but you’ll have to buy the accessory separately if you want it. That’s hasn’t been unusual, though Milwaukee and Makita both included the adapter with their latest models.

There’s also no hook to hang the saw.

Ergonomics

The Metabo HPT MultiVolt Circular Saw is a blade-right design and doesn’t stray far from a typical sidewinder design. The main handle features a push-in trigger safety and overmold that makes gives you a comfortable, secure grip. The only issue we have is that the secondary handle is too small to be comfortable and it’s oriented too close to the main handle for our liking.

Adjusting both the depth and bevel locks is as easy as we can hope for and their full metal construction should keep it from being a major failure point.

The saw weighs 7.5 pounds bare and 9.7 with the MultiVolt battery. That’s well under the loaded weight of a corded worm drive and its cordless counterparts from Makita and DeWalt. Compared to the sidewinder models, it’s more than a pound lighter than Makita’s XSH06 and more than 3 pounds lighter than Milwaukee’s new M18 Fuel.

Performance

Automatic Speed Control

The Metabo HPT MultiVolt Circular Saw has two running modes – something we don’t normally see on other circular saws.

Kicking down into Auto Mode (Silent Mode) slows the blade to 2000 RPM for a lower speed start to your cut and seems to hold it there well, even in 2x material. Using this mode extends your battery life and drops the noise level 10 decibels at startup. This mode is going to do its best work on thin sheet goods that don’t need a ton of power to cut.

Making the Cut

It doesn’t seem like there’s much difference between making cuts using the battery and the AC adapter. Just to make sure, I measured the no-load RPM of the blade and both are within a couple of RPM of each other. Ah, the beauty of electronic controls.

The saw feels powerful for a cordless model. We set up our standard full-depth rip test and Metabo HPT does edge out our corded baseline model by almost 2 seconds. That’s good enough to make it into the Cordless Supersaw class.

Against the other Supersaws, Metabo HPT isn’t quite as fast. Here’s how it breaks down.

• Milwaukee 2732: 10.7 seconds
• DeWalt DCS577: 11.4 seconds
• Makita XSH06: 13.5 seconds
• Makita XSR01: 18.6 seconds
• Metabo HPT C3607DAQ4: 26.0 seconds
• Skilsaw SPT77WM: 27.96 seconds

That still makes Metabo HPT the 5th fastest cordless circular saw we’ve ever tested.

When it comes to tracking, I didn’t have any issues keeping it on a cutline or running it against a straightedge. I’d like to see Metabo HPT offer a track to go along with this saw similar to what Festool does with their HK series carpentry saws. It won’t give it the same design to replace a dedicated track saw, but it would add some versatility.

Pricing

Pricing is where the Metabo HPT MultiVolt Circular Saw moves away from what we’re used to seeing. As a bare tool, it’s going to run $179. You can pick up a battery/charger starter kit or AC adapter for $169, making the kit price $348. The best bang for your buck is to simply add the power source you want as you add Metabo HPT cordless tools. You also get a lifetime warranty on the tool.

Here’s how the competition stacks up:

• DeWalt DCS578: $199 (bare), $299 (kit with 9.0 Ah battery)
• Metabo HPT C3607DAQ4: $348 (with battery/charger or AC adapter)
• Makita XSH06: $199 (bare), $349 (kit with four 5.0 Ah batteries)
• Makita XSR01: $199 (bare), $349 (kit with two 5.0 Ah batteries)
• Milwaukee 2732: $249 bare, $449 (kit with 12.0 Ah battery)

The Bottom Line

Metabo HPT’s first MultiVolt circular saw is well-built, lightweight for its class, and outperforms our corded worm drive. While there’s a little hiccup on the secondary handle design, it’s a premium saw that belongs in the conversation among the top players.

Metabo HPT MultiVolt Circular Saw Specifications

• Model: Metabo HPT C3607DAQ4
• Voltage: 36V
• Power Source: Metabo HPT MultiVolt 36V Li-ion battery
• Arbor: 5/8″
• Blade Diameter: 7-1/4″
• Blade Placement: Right
• Bevel Capacity: 55º
• Max Cut Depth: 2-7/16″
• Cut Depth at 45º: 1-7/8″
• Cut Depth at 55º: 1-17/32″
• No Load Speed (Power): 4,300 RPM
• No Load Speed (Auto): 2.000 – 4,300 RPM
• Length: 13-3/16″
• Weight: 9.7 lbs (w/ 36V battery)
• Warranty: Lifetime Lithium Ion tool body
• Price: $179

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