Flex 24V Brushless Cordless 7 1/4-Inch Circular Saw Review

Flex 24V Brushless 7 1/4-Inch Cordless Circular Saw Puts Pressure on the Big Boys

With its impressive first generation of 24V tools shaking things up at Lowe’s, many people are wondering where Flex fits in with the other options available to DIYers and Pros. We got our hands on one of the critical pieces of any professional cordless arsenal—the Flex 24V Brushless Cordless 7 1/4-Inch Circular Saw—to dig up some answers.

Pros

• Elite cutting performance
• Durable design
• Excellent ergonomics
• Feature-rich
• Good value for the performance and design
• 5-year warranty on the tool and battery

Cons

• A bit heavier than other sidewinder styles when using a 12.0Ah battery

Flex 24V Brushless Cordless 7 1/4-Inch Circular Saw Performance

Out of the box, it might not be obvious exactly where this Flex circular saw fits in. From a size perspective, it could go with either the standard Pro-grade brushless saws or the advanced ones. We started by making some test cuts and were impressed with the confidence in its cutting.

From there, we set up our PTR Circular Saw Test Track to see if it can compete in cutting speed, power, and ease of adjustments with the best in the business.

Test Track Parameters

If you’re not familiar with the setup, here’s what this Test Track entails:

• Cross cutting: five cross cuts (2 x 10)
• Bevel cutting: five 45º bevel cross cuts (2 x 10)
• Miter cutting: five 45º miter cuts (2 x 10)
• Compound cutting: three 45º miter/45º bevel compound cuts from each side of the lumber (6 cuts total, 2 x 10)
• Power drive: one 4-foot rip cut (double-stacked 3/4-inch OSB subfloor)

When it comes to 7 1/4-inch models, the times range from 3:41 to 1:35 with the saws we’d tested up to that point. Using a 12Ah battery, the Flex 24V Brushless Cordless Circular Saw finished in 1:36—just one second off the lead. Because of the nature of this type of test, that’s well within the range of human error.

That’s significant. It tells us that Flex has elite performance—not just above average, but legit class-leading performance.

Flex 24V Brushless Cordless 7 1/4-Inch Circular Saw Design Notes

Flex made a lot of great decisions in the design process in our opinion. Like we expect from premium professional cordless saws, the blade guard and cover are magnesium, and it seems like everything that could be metal is. It’s one of the most durable-looking saws we’ve put our hands on in a while.

All that metal comes at a cost, even with the use of lighter magnesium. With a blade, the saw weighs 9.2 pounds. With an 8.0Ah battery, it’s 12.3 pounds and a 12.0Ah pack brings it to 13.4. While there are lighter options, it’s similar to the top sidewinder styles with an 8.0Ah battery and closer to the rear-handle styles when you use a 12.0Ah.

The ergonomics of the handles are excellent. The main handle contours well with your hand and the overmold texture lends itself to keeping your grip secure with sweaty hands. The front handle is agreeably large enough to fill your hand. It’s a comfortable distance from the main handle and offsets to the left.

Bevel Stops

There are stops at 45° and 22.5° on the bevel adjustment, but they’re different from most. There’s a knob on the front that you push in and rotate into a detent. When you release the bevel lock, it hits the stop, making it very obvious you’re on your mark.

You can defeat it, though. It’s possible to push it out of the detents without pushing the dial in first. While that might cause damage to it over time, regular use shouldn’t hurt it. Just be sure to show your crew how it works before they use it the first time and it’ll be fine.

The stamped 0° and 45° notches are dead on, and they come with a bonus. There’s a second set just in front of the blade and you have a clean line of sight to them. They’re handy and help make your cutting a little more accurate in our experience.

Additional Features

• 2 5/8-inch max cutting depth cuts 3x in one pass
• Smooth depth and bevel adjustments
• Depth markings for 2x, 3/4-inch ply, 1/2-inch ply, and 1/4-inch ply
• Beefy rafter hook
• Standard arbor lock with on-board wrench storage
• Dust port included
• LED light
• Cutline blower

Flex 24V Brushless Cordless 7 1/4-Inch Circular Saw Price

You can find the Flex cordless circular saw at Lowe’s for $299.00 with an 8.0Ah battery, 280-watt rapid charger, 24T blade, and bag. That’s in line with what DeWalt charges for their DCS578X1 FlexVolt circular saw kit and quite a bit less than Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel 2732-21HD kit.

Flex also has a 5-year warranty on their tools and batteries. Plus, they’re running a deal for early adopters that gives you the Flex Founders lifetime warranty on the tools if you register by 12/31/22!

The Bottom Line

With the performance we’re getting from the Flex 24V Brushless Cordless Circular Saw, it’s clear the development team intends to compete at the highest professional levels. The design and performance of this saw are top-notch and its price is compelling.

So what do you think—is it worth giving Flex a shot? Let us know in the comments below!

Flex 24V Brushless Cordless 7 1/4-Inch Circular Saw Specifications

• Model: Flex FX2141-1D
• Power Source: Flex 24V battery
• Blade Diameter: 7 1/4-inch
• Max Cutting Depth: 2 5/8 inches
• Warranty: 5 years (tool and battery)
• Price: $299.99

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