REASONS TO BUY
Good sightlines
Light-weight
Decent cutting power
REASONS TO AVOID
Limited battery life
So-so blade changing system
Minimalistic features
Craftsman CMCS500B Review
This moderately priced saw delivered a middling performance except in battery life where it floundered
Credit: amazon.com
RELATED: Best Cordless Circular Saw of 2023
Our Verdict
The Craftsman CMCS500B is a mediocre 6 1/2" saw. Its ease of use features are so-so with bright spots shining through in the weight, sightlines, blade depth, and adjustment assessments. However, the tool suffers significantly in battery life despite having been tested with a 4 amp hour cell. That said, the saw is reasonably priced and is good enough for many DIY applications.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Craftsman CMCS500B | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  | ||||
| Price | $79 List $78.00 at Amazon | $80 List $77.33 at Amazon | $69 List | $60 List $64.92 at Amazon | $55 List $45.55 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Good sightlines, light-weight, decent cutting power | Long-lasting battery, good sightlines, inexpensive | Inexpensive, light-weight, clear sightlines | Inexpensive, decent blade changing system, average cutting power | Very inexpensive, light-weight, accurate sightlines |
| Cons | Limited battery life, so-so blade changing system, minimalistic features | So-so cutting power, no positive stops, fiddly bevel adjustments | Paltry battery life, below-average cutting power | Limited battery life, poor sightlines, fiddly adjustments | Short battery life, limited cutting power, difficult to change blades |
| Bottom Line | This moderately priced saw delivered a middling performance except in battery life where it floundered | A capable and inexpensive saw that is perfect for handy homeowners and DIYers | An affordable 6 1/2" saw that will satisfy most DIYers with light saw work in mind | This inexpensive saw is for light-duty applications only | This light-duty machine will appeal to novices and pros looking for an inexpensive trim saw |
| Rating Categories | Craftsman CMCS500B | SKIL CR540601 | Ryobi P507 | Porter-Cable PCC660 | Black+Decker BDCCS20B |
| Cutting (50%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (30%) | |||||
| Battery (20%) | |||||
| Specs | Craftsman CMCS500B | SKIL CR540601 | Ryobi P507 | Porter-Cable PCC660 | Black+Decker BDCCS20B |
| Blade Side | Left | Left | Left | Left | Right |
| Blade Size (inches) | 6-1/2 in | 6-1/2 in | 6-1/2 in | 6-1/2 in | 7-1/4 in |
| Brushless Motor? | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Blade Brake? | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Bevel Positive Stops? | No | No | No | No | No |
| Linear Feet of 3/4" Plywood Cut per Charge | 184 ft | 52 ft | 157 ft | 220 ft | 298 ft |
| Measured Weight w/o Battery | 5.9 lbs | 4.6 lbs | 5.9 lbs | 6.0 lbs | 7.7 lbs |
| Measured Max Depth of Cut w/ Framing Blade (inches) | 2-1/8 in | 1-1/2 in | 1-29/32 in | 2-1/16 in | 2-9/32 in |
| 6x12" Cross Cutting Time | 5.8 sec | 11.1 sec | 6.9 sec | 5.3 sec | 4.2 sec |
| Rafter Hook? | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Battery Used in Testing (Amp hours) | 4 Ah | 1.5 Ah | 4 Ah | 5 Ah | 5 Ah |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
Humdrum comes to mind when searching for adjectives to describe this tool. While the Craftsman CMCS500B is competitively priced and offers decent cutting power, it is a barebones cordless saw. In our estimation, this is a good pick for those who are upping their kit from hand to power tools, or for those in need of a lightweight, light-duty cordless circular saw — especially if you already own Craftsman batteries.
Performance Comparison
Credit: Austin Palmer
Likes
What we like about the Craftsman is that it has a lever for blade depth adjustment — much nicer than a knob to be sure. Also, the angle marker is clearly visible and accurate. The saw cuts to 50ยบ and the max cutting depth is 2 1/8" — pretty good for a 6 1/2" saw.
Another check in this saw's "pro column" is its sightlines. The sightlines allow the user to line up the blade with the marked line at the front of the shoe. We found the Craftsman's open channel sights to be of good depth, and, more importantly, spot-on accurate if not a hair to the left. Finally, this saw is pretty light at 7.4 pounds.
Credit: Laura Casner
Dislikes
This saw is not what we'd call a powerhouse. First off, it lacks battery power. Despite its 4 amp hour battery, it only ripped 184 linear feet in the battery test — right near the bottom of the class. While the saw will make hard cuts through laminated veneer lumber (a very dense material) and full blade depth crosscuts, it labors to do the work.
Value
In a cost to performance analysis we would venture to say that this saw offers consumers a decent return on their investment. The tool is priced way below the class average and yet performed at or near average in most of our evaluations.
Conclusion
The Craftsman CMCS500B is a mediocre saw at a reasonable price. We would recommend this tool to those looking to do some basic DIY projects around the house or to those that need a lightweight mod-up saw for light-duty tasks. The saw is capable of making most common cuts but it is light on ease of use features. All in all, it's a decent saw for the money spent.
—
Nick Miley and Austin Palmer
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