What Is the Black & Decker Firestorm 18V Cordless Saw?

Safety Features

• Firestorm has saw blade guards to help protect the user from kickback. If the blade becomes misaligned during use, strikes a knot or becomes twisted, it may jump free of the material it is cutting. This is called kickback. When this happens, the upper guard automatically drops over the blade, protecting the user. An automatic brake halts the saw in less than two seconds when you release the trigger. The on/off switch has a lock button to prevent the Firestorm from accidentally turning on while you are handling but not using the saw. The saw has a main and a secondary handle for safer two-handed control of the tool during use.

Laser Guide

• The laser has a separate on/off button. Once the material you're cutting is marked with a pencil or chalk line, you can set the laser to follow the line as you cut the material, which keeps the saw blade exactly on target.

Battery Pack

• The nickel-cadmium battery pack, which must be purchased separately, is rechargeable and recyclable. Battery packs come with caps to protect the battery connections when the power pack is not in the charger or the saw. If the power pack has an RBRC seal, that means Black and Decker has prepaid the cost of recycling the batteries. Many retailers accept the batteries for retailers. Check the store where you bought the Firestorm.

Battery Charger

• The Firestorm 18V cordless circular saw uses a battery charger for the power pack. The charger, which also must be purchased separately, uses standard household 120v electricity to charge the battery. According to the Firestorm cordless saw instruction manual, charging the power pack takes three hours or less after regular use and up to nine hours if the power pack is completely drained of power. The initial charging time should be at least nine hours, according to the manual. The manual also states that the optimum ambient temperature for charging the power pack is 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not charge the power pack when the temperature is below 40 degrees F or above 105 degrees F to avoid damage to the pack. The charger has a red indicator light that does not change color or otherwise indicate when the power pack is fully charged, so keep track of the time when charging the battery. The instruction manual states that only the charger and battery pack manufactured for the Firestorm line of power tools should be used.

Warranty

• The Firestorm cordless circular saw has an automatic two-year warranty to protect the buyer if the product is defective. Register the saw as soon as possible after purchase and retain proof of purchase.