Masterforce Upgrades Brushless Circular Saw with Boost Package
The Masterforce Boost 20V cordless circular saw doesn’t look much different than its brushless predecessor. We decided to take a deeper dive and see what’s new and noteworthy about this updated model.
Pros
- Brushless motor with Boost upgrade
- Smooth guard action
- Base glides well over material
- Excellent performance for the price
Cons
Masterforce Boost Cordless Circular Saw Performance
The Masterforce Boost cordless circular saw uses its brushless motor to drive a 7-1/4″ blade. With a no-load speed of 4800 RPM, this saw cuts smoothly and the blade leaves a surprisingly nice finish for a stock blade. The guard action is nice and smooth as well.
For more aggressive, quick cuts, you can feel the motor start to drop RPMs under a heavier load. It feels a lot like the Pro-level cordless circular saws from just a couple of years ago. It’s perfectly capable of making the cut—even compound miter cuts aren’t a problem. It’s just not going to have the hot-knife-through-butter feel that today’s premium-level saws do. However, it doesn’t have the same high-dollar price tag, either.
The max cutting capacity at 90º is 2-7/16″— just shy of 2-1/2″ while at 45º, you can cut up to 1-13/16″. The bevel maxes out at 56º and a flip-out plastic piece gives you a stop at 45º. That handles the majority of common cuts out there, so I don’t have any complaints on the capacity front.
Boost Upgrade
The Boost upgrade for this saw is primarily an inside job. Instead of just using a brushless motor to improve the performance, runtime, and life of the tool, Boost completes the package with updated electronics and a smarter battery system.
When the tool detects a Boost battery, it is able to call on more power and give it a bump in performance. Compared to the previous brushless model, you’ll notice similar performance with a standard battery and a bit more confidence in the cut with a Boost pack.
Masterforce Boost Cordless Circular Saw Design Notes
The Build
Masterforce sticks with metal components for the base, blade cover, and blade guard. Often, high-value saws go for plastic blade guards and I like that Masterforce avoids that temptation.
On their brushed FlexPower model, the lever locks for the bevel and depth were plastic as opposed to metal. Those levers were a little more flexible than I prefer, so we’re happy to see this updated version has all-metal levers.
Ergonomics
There’s nothing crazy about the general design of this blade-right sidewinder. The two handles are in line with each other and the secondary handle has enough girth to get a secure grip if your hands are larger or you’re wearing gloves. A simple push with your thumb releases the push-in trigger safety.
Size and Weight
As a bare tool, the Masterforce Boost cordless brushless circular saw weighs 7.8 pounds and 8.8 with a 2.5Ah Boost battery pack. We didn’t have a 5.0Ah Boost battery for testing but expect the weight to come up another 1/2-pound or so with the higher capacity.
Overall, they managed to reduce the weight a little bit compared to the FlexPower model, but it’s still on par with Pro saws that go with the same kind of metal construction.
Blade Changes
Blade changes are pretty standard, though Masterforce adds a modern twist with its flat motor housing. It lets you set the saw on the motor housing so you can change it more conveniently.
Additional Features
- Electric brake
- LED light has a pre-light and afterglow
- Stout rafter hook
Masterforce Boost Cordless Circular Saw Price
The regular price on this saw is $159.99 as a bare tool and, at the moment, there aren’t any kit options available. However, if you’re on the Menards mail-in rebate train, we’ve seen it as low as $142.39. The Boost upgrade is only $10 more than the standard brushless circular saw.
There’s also a 6 1/2-inch version available that also has the Boost upgrade. It runs $119.99 as a bare tool if you’re looking for something lighter and more compact.
The Bottom Line
The Masterforce Boost circular saw quietly sits in a favorable position without much competition as a brushless 7-1/4″ model in the sub-$200 price range. While it doesn’t really “wow” us the way some of the ultra-premium models do, it doesn’t disappoint us, either. It has a solid design and feature set to go with the performance we saw from the top Pro models just a couple of years ago.
Check out the entire Masterforce lineup by clicking here.
Masterforce Boost Cordless Circular Saw Specifications
- Model: Masterforce 5415.1
- Power Source: Masterforce Boost 20V
- Maximum Speed: 4,800 RPM
- Blade size: 7-1/4
- Bevel Capacity: 56°
- Maximum Cut Depth at 90°: 2-7/16″
- Maximum Cut Depth at 45°: 1-13/16″
- Arbor Size: 5/8″
- Warranty: 3 years
- Price: $159.99
