First things first, let's talk about the weight of the saw. Flex used magnesium for the cover, guard, and shoe, reducing its weight without compromising its strength. However, it's not a lightweight saw overall, weighing 10.1 pounds as a bare tool. But, the 10 amp-hour stack lithium battery that comes with the kit brings it up to 13.6 pounds, which is not a problem considering that other brands such as Milwaukee and DeWalt are in the same weight range.
General features: Basically what you'd expect from a cordless circular saw
As for the height change, it's exactly what you would expect it to be. The saw has etched markings to indicate depth. There are differences in the bevel, though. The saw has a typical locking clamp, but the actual bevel settings come in a plastic cover. You can push and twist it into 22.5 degrees, 45 degrees, and 56 degrees, which gives you a range of cutting options. The plastic cover may feel a little chintzy, but it locks solidly, and there's not a lot of play in it, so it's not a failure point.
One thing that could be improved is the visibility of the bevel angle markings. They're etched in, but it would be nice to see some white or black paint to make them more visible.
The dust port is not the same as other saws. It doesn't come all the way across, and it doesn't spit out the blade side. It pivots, and there's a stop that prevents it from going too far. It's designed to allow you to throw the dust away from you based on the wind's direction or connect it to a vac. Cutting outside is easiest if you point it down so that the dust goes away from you and your face. If you're collecting dust with a shop vac, then the other positions make more sense.
Ergonomically, the handle is very well designed, with a comfortable grip and aggressive texturing. The battery compartment is large enough to fit any of Flex's 24-volt batteries. The saw comes with a 10 amp-hour stack lithium battery, which fits fine. There's room for a 12 amp-hour battery as well, but Flex recommends using the stack lithium to get the most performance out of the saw.
Excellent performance and reasonable price
The saw's performance is what most people are interested in, and it doesn't disappoint. The brushless motor drives the blade at 6,200 RPM, which is faster than what we've seen from other brands. Flex has the muscle to keep that speed up, as we found out in our tests. We made various cuts, including cross cuts, miter cuts, bevel cuts, and compound cuts. Still, we pushed the saw to its limits by cutting stacked OSB, and it outperformed other saws we tested. The stock blade also did a great job, so you won't have to replace it unless you want to.
Price-wise, the bare tool costs $249, while the kit that comes with a 10 amp-hour stack lithium battery costs $399. The saw comes with a five-year warranty, but if you register it by December 31, 2022, you'll get an additional two years of warranty.
Overall, the Flex circular saw is a great investment for those looking for a powerful saw with excellent performance. Its design, ergonomics, and dust port could use some improvements, but these are minor issues. If you're looking for a reliable saw that can handle any job, you can't go wrong with Flex.
