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. I got my hands on one of the critical pieces of any professional cordless arsenal—the Flex 24V Brushless Cordless 7 1/4-Inch Circular Saw—to test it and dig up some answers.
Reasons to Buy
- Elite cutting performance
- Durable design
- Excellent ergonomics
- Feature-rich
- Good value for the performance and design
- 5-year warranty on the tool and battery
Consider Another Model if You…
- Heavier than all other sidewinders when using a 10.0Ah Stacked Lithium battery
Author’s Note: Be sure to check out our Best Cordless Circular Saw article to see our top picks!
Flex 24V Brushless 7-1/4-inch Circular Saw Performance
Out of the box, the Flex FX2141 circular saw fits right in with professional-grade jobsite saws. I started by making some test cuts and was impressed with the confidence in its cutting.
From there, we set up our PTR Circular Saw Test Track to see how it would compete in cutting speed, power, and ease of adjustments against other pro-level saws we’ve tested.
Test Track Parameters
If you’re not familiar with the setup, here’s what this Test Track entails:
- Cross-cutting, bevel-cutting, and compound-mitering pressure-treated 2 x 10
- Speed power-to-weight test cutting through 2 sheets of stacked 3/4-inch OSB
- Full-blade-depth cut through four stacked sheets of 3/4-inch OSB
When it comes to 7 1/4-inch models, the speed test OSB times ranged from 19.23 to 33.55 seconds with the saws we’d previously tested. Using a 6Ah Stacked Lithium battery, the Flex 24V brushless circular saw finished in 21.20 seconds. That put it in 5th place—just two seconds behind the leader. Because of the nature of this type of test, that’s likely due to the weight of the battery. Case in point, the tool performed slower with the 10.0 Stacked Lithium battery installed.
Things got more interesting with our full-depth power test. Setting the blade to maximum depth, we sent it through 4 sheets of stacked OSB. It not only made it but also did it in just 8.44 seconds. That’s a second-place finish just behind the DeWalt FlexVolt saw’s 7.7-second performance.
That’s significant. It tells us that Flex has elite performance—not just above average, but legit class-leading performance in terms of power. You just have to tolerate a bit more weight than other tools in its class (it’s the heaviest at 12.74 lbs with the 10Ah pack installed).
Miter, Bevel, and Compound Cutting
During both cross and bevel cuts, the saw performed perfectly. It didn’t bog down and didn’t noticeably drop any speed. At times, the saw wanted to pull slightly to the left, but staying on top of it remedied that quickly. One interesting note is that the visibility during bevel cuts was better than during crosscuts. This is due to the upper blade guard extending a little bit further than I would like.
It’s also worth noting that the bevel adjustment is much easier to use, thanks to the preset detents. Depth adjustment, however, requires some trial and error. The engraved depth gauge is on the inside of the upper blade guard, making it slightly difficult to quickly adjust with any degree of accuracy.
The blade guard on the Flex really had some difficulty during compound miter cuts. It was very difficult to start and maintain an accurate cut line as the blade guard didn’t want to move into place. The sight line remains just as clear as when making a bevel cut, but the blade guard surprised me.
Hands-on Testing Results
| 6Ah Stacked Lithium | 10Ah Stacked Lithium | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight (w/batt) | 11.56 lbs (11th place) | 12.74 lbs (15th place) |
| Sightlines | 4.7/5 (3rd place tie) | same |
| Blade Guard | 4.3/5 (2nd place tie) | same |
| Rip 2 Sheets OSB | 21.20 sec (5th place) | 22.31 (10th place) |
| Full Depth Blade Cut | Full rip, 9.43 sec (5th place) | Full rip, 8.44 sec (2nd place) |
Flex 24V Brushless Cordless 7 1/4-Inch Circular Saw Design Notes
Flex made a lot of great decisions during the design process, in my opinion. As I 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 I’ve put my 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 9.3 pounds. With a 6.0Ah Stacked Lithium battery, it’s 11.6 pounds, and a 10.0Ah Stacked Lithium pack brings it to 12.7. While there are lighter options, it’s similar to the top sidewinder styles with an 8.0Ah battery and closer to rear-handle saws when you use the largest packs.
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 damage 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 come with a bonus. There’s a second set just in front of the blade, and you have a clean line of sight to both. They’re handy and help make your cutting a little more accurate — as I experienced.
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
CMT Zero Gravity – Our Preferred Testing Blade
CMT supplied us with enough of its Italian-made Zero Gravity saw blades to test every major manufacturer’s circular saws. We’ve been impressed with how well the blade stands up to our aggressive testing schedule. You’ll note the low-mass plate design and unique tooth geometry. Together, these reduce heat buildup while handling nail impacts. CMT claims its framing blades perform up to 5X more cuts on nail-embedded wood than competitors in its class. Large gullets also store chips while you work and eject them as the blade rotation stops, leading to reduced cutting effort and better tracking.
Flex 24V Brushless Cordless 7 1/4-Inch Circular Saw Price
You can find the Flex cordless circular saw at Acme Tools or Lowe’s for $399 with a 10.0Ah Stacked Lithium battery, 280-watt rapid charger, 24T blade, and bag. That’s a bit more than what DeWalt charges for their DCS578X1 FlexVolt circular saw and equal to the Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2732-21HD.
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 online!
The Bottom Line
With the performance we’re getting from the Flex 24V Brushless Circular Saw, it’s clear the brand intends to compete at the highest professional levels. The design and performance of this saw are top-notch and its price is on par with other pro brands.
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)
