It all started with a Facebook post and an email – but doesn’t the best stuff always start that way? We (well, everyone who happened to notice on Facebook anyway) got a sneak peak at the upcoming Hilti 22V Cordless Bandsaw. This will be showing up as model Hilti SB 4-A22 and will be available… we’re not entirely sure, but they are hoping to launch this year.
This was a sneak peak after all. Hilti teased the image on Facebook when one of their fans asked if they would be releasing one. The good news is that since this is a legit photo and not an artist’s rendition, it should be pretty close to ready.
In what we can tell from the photo, it’s clearly part of the new 22-volt lineup we saw at World of Concrete which is completely backward compatible with Hilti 18-volt lithium-ion batteries. That’s good news for anyone already invested in the Hilti cordless platform. The system is actually running a nominal 21.6 volts, rounded up to 22 for good measure. The key is a new electronic controller within the battery that allows deeper discharge and better performance. The number and type of cells in the pack hasn’t changed.
Below is the original Facebook post and you’ll see the Hilti 22V Cordless Bandsaw discussion in the comments.
You can also see that Hilti is going with a shallow cutting depth, presumably around 2-1/2 inches. While that doesn’t compete with some of the large pipe cutting you can get from models like Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel Deep Cut Bandsaw, it’s great for concrete related work, like cutting rebar.
There’s an auxiliary handle instead of a pommel for your guide hand. It looks like this will make for a pretty comfortable overall gripping position for right handed users. With the trigger orientation, there’s not much of a chance that this can be reversed for lefties.
The battery and motor of the Hilti SB 4-A22 are on opposite sides. This is a pretty obvious design to keep the overall weight balanced.
That’s about all we can gather from the photo and brief amount of conversation so far, but it’s an exciting development for Hilti cordless tool users. We’re certainly looking forward to the official launch and seeing exactly where the Hilti 22V Cordless Bandsaw fits in the mix with other cordless bandsaw options.
Hilti 22V Cordless Bandsaw
- Model: Hilti SB 4-A22
- Power Source: Hilti 18V or 22V lithium-ion battery pack
- No Load Speed: TBA
- Max Cutting Width: TBA, presumably 2-1/2 inches
- Belt Size: TBA
- Weight: TBA
- Length: TBA
- Width: TBA
