Flex is expanding their 24V Max cordless power tools with 2 new table saws – a 10″ model, and one with an 8-1/4″ blade.
Let’s start with the CutSense tech that’s built into the larger Flex cordless table saw.
No – it’s not what you think, and I thought the same thing too.
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Flex CutSense is a productivity feature and NOT a flesh-detection blade brake or safety feature.
Flex 10″ Cordless Table Saw with CutSense (FX7221-Z)
Flex says that their new 10″ cordless table saw with CutSense will stop the blade after material is cut and passed through – for “better runtime and productivity.”
We have seen similar sensing tech on other cordless power tools before. It’s my guess that Flex CutSense detects the drop in motor load and dials down the RPMs accordingly.
If the tool is still spinning but slower – or idle, Flex didn’t clarify – this will prolong battery life.
It’s like taking a breather and jogging in place instead of at full speed and effort for the sake of longer endurance.
The new Flex cordless table saw also features an “industry-leading cut capacity” that can cut 4×4 construction lumber material in a single pass.
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This 10″ model also features a rack and pinion fence, front-mounted LED battery life indicator, LED work light on the fence, and an AC adapter.
Additional imagery is not available at this time, but it looks like the AC adapter could be built-in. Flex says it’s “[available] as needed for extended cutting sessions.”
Flex 8-1/4″ Cordless Table Saw (FX7211-Z)
The new Flex 8-1/4″ cordless table saw is a little different.
It also features a rack and pinion fence, LED fence light, and front-facing battery gauge.
Flex says that this model features “best-in-class rip capacity,” with 20.5″ clearance to the left of the blade, and 25″ clearance to the right of the blade.
The 8-1/4″ Flex table saw also has an AC adapter (option?) and a side extension table that’s responsibly for providing the added rip capacity clearance.
This model is not advertised as having the CutSense feature, and so that tech is likely reserved for just the 10″ saw.
Pricing and availability details are not yet available.
I would assume that these will be launching at Lowe’s stores, and maybe Flex’s independent suppliers as well.
Discussion
Flex emphasizes that: Please note that the CUTSENSE feature on the 10” saw is for productivity NOT safety, and it’s worth repeating here.
This might be an unpopular opinion, but I always toggle jobsite tables – any table saws – to the off position when idle, unless I’m continuously making rip or cross cuts.
For my use, I don’t know if CutSense is practical, but it seems good to have, as long as the response time is fast enough.
When buying my last car, I specifically avoided brands and models that stop and start when idle, such as at stop signs. Instead, I went with a model that shifts down from V6 to V4 when additional power isn’t needed.
It will be interesting to see how exactly the Flex CutSense feature works.
I think the feature name will be ridiculed along with the likes of Bosch FREAK and Leatherman FREE, but that’s just me. Flex tends to be on top of things, and will hopefully minimize this in marketing materials.
LED fence worklights? That sounds neat, as long as it doesn’t interfere with rip cuts of thicker boards.
It’s not clear from the images provided – but keep in mind this is just a teaser – whether the 8-1/4″ saw’s extension table can also be used on the 10″ saw. I would guess it attaches to left or right sides of the 8-1/4″, and then folds flat before stowing away for storage or transport.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but is Flex the first brand to have 2 sizes of cordless table saws? Most brands went with a 8-1/4″ size, with only Metabo HPT introducing a 10″ cordless table saw. HPT has a MultiVolt AC adapter as an optional add-on.
Flex gave an ETA of early 2024.
Here’s a look at Flex’s cordless table saw competition:
Rog
CutSense doesn’t strike me as an overly ridiculous marketing name ala Bosch’s monstrosities. It seems to be a fairly descriptive name for what the feature does. Would this make me buy it over another model tho? Not sure.
carl
Agree, the name seems perfectly sensible so I don’t really see it being a questionable choice/ joke like Freak or a disappointment like Free (because they still haven’t sent me one for free).
Scott K
I think it could be misleading rather than worthy of ridicule. I immediately thought of a saw stop/reaxx safety feature which is not correct.
Stuart
Yup, hence the disclosure at the top.
I figured it’s best to immediately dispel assumptions like the ones I had at first.
Armando Aguilar
Thank you for that. I really hate click bait and reading an entire article just to be dissapointed. I did read your though. I also wanted to weigh in on the fact that someone could easily try the hot dog trick or assume that they can’t or won’t be harmed if not careful. Not everyone has common sense anymore nor are willing to read. Maybe there will be lawsuits down the road. Why not call it “smart cut” or something instead of cut sense?
mizzourob
Looks suspiciously similar to the Bosch. Same oem?
Ken
I agree. The Bosch euro-market GTS18V-216 table saw looks kinda similar. But I think this is most likely just coincidence. There are far more differences than similarities.
Stuart
Flex’s parent company is an OEM; it’s possible they had a hand in designing or producing the Bosch.
Tom
If anything I´d say it´s TTS, not Bosch.
It shares a bunch of details with the Milwaukee M18 table saw and CutSense sounds like the kind of “smart sensor” Milwaukee would develop.
The battery is located in the same place and orientation, the blade guard is the same, square tube frame and the lifting handle on the FX7221-Z is the same shape and location as the Milwaukee.
People seem to forget that Milwaukee Tools shifted focus from power tools to AI and IoT a couple of years ago and I bet that the CutSense feature is the same thing as the Milwaukee AutoStop because it sure sounds like it.
MM
The Cutsense idea makes sense for prolonging battery life. If you think about most cordless saws the user automatically turns them on just before the cut and shuts them off the moment the cut is completed so there is minimal wasted power. But even best-case scenario with an attentive operator a table saw sits there are runs for a little while before and after each cut. This technology could likely give a lot better battery life. I don’t think it’s a new idea though, my Dewalt cordless mower runs at fairly low power when you first turn it on, it doesn’t activate “full power” until it detects some load.
It would be interesting to see how it performs, this kind of technology can be hit-and-miss though. It doesn’t bother me one bit that my mower switches between high and low power depending on how thick the grass is, but newer cars that shut off the engine at a stop drive me nuts.
MM
Oh, I missed the LED fence lights on my first read through. Assuming they work reliably and don’t compromise the function of the fence in any way I think that’s a great idea. Also, cuts a 4x full depth in one pass? That’s nice.
Koko The Talking Ape
Ha! I was just going to ask whether CutSense would really prolong battery life. I would expect spinning the blade under no load doesn’t require much energy, because the only resistance is from the bearings and air resistance. But I guess that assumes there’s some kind of load sensing or constant-rpm circuitry (which thing might actually have.) But maybe I’m wrong!
But having the blade stop automatically would be a nice safety feature, and maybe worth it just for that. We have a bench grinder in the shop that is so quiet that you have to look carefully to see if the wheel is spinning. And when powered off, the wheel keeps spinning for what seems like forever. You have to keep that in the back of your mind as you move around the shop. I’m tempted to start jamming a piece of aluminum into it to stop it.
MM
I love big old grinders that do that. The university machine shop I worked in years ago had an old Baldor, 5HP 3-phase with 12″ dia x 3″ wide wheels. That was an amazing tool I wish I still had access to. It was super quiet and it would spin for a good 3-4 minutes after you shut it off.
I can see how it would be tempting to use a soft piece of aluminum to try and stop the wheel, but that is big safety no-no. Aluminum and most grinding wheels do not mix, the aluminum loads up the wheel and sticks in it. I don’t recommend using any object to stop the grinder, even something that’s safe for the wheel like steel unless it is an emergency, it can create irregular wear on the wheel and that means the wheel is out of balance/round, requiring you to dress it earlier than you otherwise would.
Koko The Talking Ape
Thanks for the tip!
Holy moley! 12″ x 3″? Can you still buy wheels that size?
Maybe I’m too nervous about that spinning but unpowered wheel. I keep thinking about catching a sleeve or something on it.
I guess you could mount a circular plate of steel on the same shaft, and just bring a magnet near it to slow it down. The eddy currents would create a retarding force.
T
Could you make a guard that just drops overtop the wheel without contacting it instead of trying to stop it?
Robert
Stuart, the table saw’s title made me think the same thing as you. Wow, Flex jumped ahead of the pack: Safety and cordless. Somehow the patents expired, or Flex’s technology was sufficiently different to work with cordless that the Sawstop patents didn’t apply. Oh well.
Still, looks like a nice set of portable table saws, rack and pinion, and especially if they do have a AC option.
AlexK
Maybe there is a switch to disable the CutSense for production work. For most of what I do with a tablesaw, bandsaw etc. I turn it off after each cut. It takes maybe 3-5 seconds. For me, “Better safe than sorry”. I also unplug circular saws and routers if I step away from them. It annoyed some folks I worked with.
Looking forward to getting more info. This might be ” The One”.
Tom
Very interesting. I didn’t see this coming. I won’t be an early adopter, but I might jump on board after seeing some reviews after a few months (once all the paid reviews wear off and real users start providing feedback).
I really like what I’m seeing, but there have been a few misses with similar tools (i.e. the older Dewalt FlexVolt miter saw that had trouble switching between battery and corded power, the new Festool table saw, etc.). I’ll be waiting to see how things pan out, but a cordless 10″ table saw is mighty tempting.
Jared
Hopefully Flex will clarify how it works. E.g. does the blade remain spinning when “cutsense” engages? Do you start feeding another board in and it ramps the power back up?
I presume it can’t stop the blade, that wouldn’t easily allow you to resume a cut unless there’s some sort of sensor as you push material towards it.
I wonder how fast it resumes full-power too. Like cars that shut off when you stop, it might make for a slight delay when you want to resume.
MM
Yeah, it will be interesting to learn exactly how it works. My guess would be that when you turn on the saw it runs at a low speed and the instant it detects load it ramps up the power. The curious thing is what it does at the end of the cut. The article says it stops the blade, which seems rather strange. Like you pointed out you can’t easily start a new cut if the blade has actually stopped completely. Returning to a low RPM mode after the cut, perhaps using an electronic brake to recover some of the energy back into the battery, would make more sense. Then the saw simply waits at low speed until it detects the next board being cut. But that isn’t really “stopping the blade” like Flex says….
Beorn
I’d consider a Flex but I’m liking my Milwaukee tools , and maybe a price is an option. All table saws need a special battery and charger.
Amanda
The CutSense name got me too but the real functionality seems handy, especially for a battery powered saw. I’d be interested in a review/video to see how well it works.
MFC
The built in, or adaptable A/C adapter and 10″ blade is what most cordless saws are missing. The metabo being the exception. If cutsense can be turned off then I think it’s a good idea. If it’s stuck permanently on then for some applications it would be annoying.
Saulac
I think “load sense” would be better than “cut sense” which I immediately assumed reading the title. I am glad that Stuart addressed that.
Julian Tracy
Unpopular? Who just leaves table saws running? Makes no sense whatsoever.
Michael F
I think CUTSENSE isn’t a terrible marketing name for the technology they developed and I have to applaud Flex for specifically calling out to you that it’s actually *not* a safety technology. They aren’t trying to confuse anyone so good for them.
I don’t have much of a problem reaching down and turning my Milwaukee M18 table saw off after each cut. With that said, I can actually see how this would be really useful, especially if you’re trying to break down sheet goods in less than ideal circumstances by yourself. Sure would be nice to have the saw turn itself off while my two hands continue to support the wood pieces. If you think about it, that actually *could* reduce the chances of kickback as well.
Jerry
I have a Ryobi impact wrench that has an auto setting. When breaking loose nuts/bolts it somehow senses the sudden reduction in power and shuts itself off. It works great for things like lug nuts because there is a slight delay before it stops which is just right to get the lug nut off before it stops.
Maybe it is something like that where it shuts off when it senses no load after a cut. If that were the case and if it could be disabled, it would be a good feature both safety and convenience wise.
OldDominionDIYer
Love the 10″ version, going to be very interested in how it performs. I really like the versatility of battery or A/C. Seems well featured and a solid entry.
Jimmie
Given that Chervon owns both Flex and Ego, I wonder if we’ll see Flex tools that use Ego batteries. A 5Ah Ego battery would power a table saw or miter saw for a lot of cuts.
Stuart
There’s the potential for cross-over like that, and at that point we might also see Flex cordless outdoor power tools.
GC
12” mitre saw is on the way. I went to Lowe’s to pick up the sander and ran into a FLEX rep. He showed me pictures of what’s coming. Several nail guns, belt sander, stack pack vacuum, palm nailer, a few new drills…about 20-25 new tools.