The Husqvarna K4000 electric power cutter is a powerful saw that can stand on its own but is more likely to be used as a supplemental tool when gas is inconvenient or a safety issue. This may be the most fun we’ve had with a corded tool in a long time.
Pros
- Much lighter than its gas-powered counterpart
- 5″ deep cutting capacity
- No fuel emissions make it great for indoor cutting such as remodels
- Water valve regulator and splash guard keep messy slurry to a minimum
- Adaptable to dry cutting with vacuum attachment
Cons
- Trips 15A breakers under load so you’ll need to run it on a 20A breaker.
Recommendation
This power cutter excels because it’s quieter, lighter, and creates minimal slurry compared to a gas saw. It emits no fuel fumes making it an excellent option for indoor cutting. You need to tether it to a heavy-gauge extension cord and a 20A circuit, so it’s likely to be a supplementary tool to your Pro gas cutter.
Performance
Indoor Kid
When you need to install a full bathroom on an existing slab, there’s nowhere for the plumbing to go but down. I have about five inches of foundation to cut into so my clients can go with the flow.
That’s where the Husqvarna K4000 comes in. Its attributes are well-suited for this indoor job. Although I wear hearing protection, a gas engine’s noise level would be really obnoxious as it bounces off the walls. But the K4000 registers 105 decibels – noticeably quieter than the K770s 115 decibels.
Running a gas engine indoors – or even in ventilated but enclosed spaces – is simply too dangerous. Carbon monoxide can accumulate much faster than many people realize. So having an emission-free saw like the one is essential to this job.
Making The Cut
The light Husqvarna electric power cutter’s handle design makes it exceptionally maneuverable. As it sinks its teeth into unreinforced concrete, the combination of a quality blade and powerful motor make for speedy work. I didn’t cut any rebar during the review, but there’s little doubt the saw can handle it.
Husqvarna’s Electronic Softstart and a forward-spinning blade reduce the risk of kickback.
Although you can dry cut with a vacuum attachment, I opted for wet cuts to capture all the dust and keep the blade cooler. More on that in a moment.
Cutting capacity is excellent. The arbor’s design and motor housing’s width allow you to plunge the 14-inch a full 5 inches deep, just like the K4000’s gas-powered counterparts.
Water Management
There’s a constant flow water valve with an integrated regulator that won’t allow the saw to operate unless it’s fully open. Even if the hose is on full-blast, the valve modulates the water output to keep the wet mess to a minimum.
The quick-connect coupler makes attaching and removing the hose a snap.
A 3-inch wide splash guard on the bottom of blade cover does a fine job of catching most of the splash. Since the handles give you worm drive-type orientation to the saw, it does a nice job of blocking the water heading back towards you. If you don’t like the guard for some reason, a lever on its clamp allows it to slide off.
Current News
I ran the Husqvarna electric power cutter on a 15-amp circuit. The Elgard system handles the startup surge well and varies the rotation speed to protect the motor against overload. But when the saw is under load, I can trip the breaker pretty easily. Plan on running the saw on a 20-amp circuit and be sure to use a heavy-gauge (12GA or even 10GA) extension cord. Keep in mind that you might have to bring along a 20-amp generator to use the saw if you’re sharing a temporary power box.
Design Notes
Weight and Ergonomics
At 16.8 pounds, the Husqvarna K4000 is a featherweight compared to the (still pretty light) 22.4-pound K770. The handle setup is reminiscent of a worm drive circular saw.
Constant Flow Water Valve
Wet cutting can be a messy business, but Husqvarna aims to keep the muddy slurry to a minimum. By allowing just enough water through the constant-flow valve, the K4000 is designed to capture dust before it becomes airborne and not leave you standing in a puddle.
Deep Cuts
The Husqvarna K4000’s 14-inch blade allows for an ample 5-inch depth of cut just like a gas saw.
Emission Free
In addition to the weight savings, the electric motor offers an emission-free advantage over a gas engine. That’s important for remodeling or working indoors where noxious fumes can be unsafe.
Price
The $909 Husqvarna K4000 doesn’t have direct competition from its main rival, Stihl. Here’s what you can find in that space.
- Makita 4114: $696 ($599 with a diamond blade)
- Metabo HPT (Hitachi) CC12Y: $409 (12″)
- Milwaukee 6185-20: $569.99
- Husqvarna K4000: $891.00
Clearly, Husqvarna is sitting at a premium price. Just keep in mind that it’s a well-designed, more refined machine than what the other guys are offering. That’s not a surprise considering the youngest of the other three is 10 years old.
The Bottom Line
This Husqvarna electric power cutter is powerful, light, and safe to use indoors with regard to emissions and dust capture. It’s definitely a supplemental tool to your gas saw, but it’s one that remodelers and other indoor cutting Pros will want to get their hands on.
Husqvarna K4000 15-Amp Power Cutter Specifications
- Model Number: K4000
- Rated input power: 2.4 hp
- Voltage: 100-120 V
- Frequency: 50-60 Hz
- Cutting depth, max: 5 inches
- Blade diameter, max: 14 inches
- Arbor diameter: 1 inches
- Blade thickness, max: 0.22 inches
- Peripheral speed, max: 19690 fpm
- Width: 8.7 inches
- Height: 12.3 inches
- Weight: 16.8 pounds
- Sound power level, guaranteed: (LWA) 105 dB(A)
- Sound pressure level at operator’s ear: 95 dB(A)
- Vibrations left/front handle: 3.5 m/s²
- Vibrations right/rear handle: 3.5 m/s²
- Price: $891.00 (Check current prices on Amazon)
