Long-Awaited Pole Saw Comes to Craftsman’s 20V Cordless OPE Lineup
Craftsman’s V20 platform is packed with battery-powered tools and outdoor power equipment for homeowners. As a welcome addition to their pole saw offerings, Craftsman has released the V20 Brushless RP 8-inch Pole Saw. Let’s look past the headlines and see whether you should pull the trigger for your tree trimming.
Note: Be sure to check out our picks for the best pole saw and pruner reviews!
Craftsman V20 Brushless RP 8-inch Pole Saw Performance
- Model: Craftsman CMCPS630
- Brushless motor
- Cuts through 2×4 pine in under 4.5 seconds
- Up to 54 cuts per charge (with 2.0Ah battery)
- 8-inch blade
- 6-inch cut capacity
The Craftsman CMCPS630 pole saw features a brushless motor, making it the first brushless pole saw in the brand’s V20 lineup. It delivers up to 54 cuts per charge using the kitted 2.0Ah battery. That’s based on cutting 2×4 pine, but if we translate that into trimming ~2 1/2 inch branches, that’s still a lot of runtime for a compact 20V battery.
Like the last model, this pole saw has an 8-inch blade length, allowing it to cut through branches up to 6 inches in diameter. Compared to the 10-inch bar on higher voltage systems, the cutting capacity isn’t quite as high, and the cutting power won’t be as confident.
Don’t let that scare you away, though. If 6 inches is enough capacity for the tree trimming you have in mind, you’ll enjoy the weight savings over stronger saws.
Craftsman V20 Pole Saw Design
- Weight: 11.9 lbs (with battery)
- Pole length: 10 ft
- Auto-oiling bar
- Bucking spike
- Branch hook
- Folding design
The CMCPS630 has a length of 10 feet when it’s fully extended, for a max reach of around 14 feet, depending on your height.
It’s also equipped with a feature that we’ve never seen before in a pole saw: a folding shaft. Instead of simply retracting the telescoping handle all the way, it folds in half to take up less space during storage and transport.
The Craftsman V20 Brushless RP Pole Saw employs other common elements we like to see in pole saws, like an automatic oiler and bucking spike. Additionally, a branch hook lets you easily remove branches after you’re done cutting.
How Does It Compare?
Let’s take a look at how this pole saw (CMCPS630) compares to Craftsman’s other V20 pole saw (CMCCSP20):
| CMCCSP20 (old) | CMCPS630 (new) | |
|---|---|---|
| Blade length | 8 inches | 8 inches |
| Cuts per charge | 165 (4.0Ah battery) | 108 (4.0Ah battery) |
| Max reach | 14 feet | 14 feet |
| Motor type | Brushed | Brushless |
| Price | $169 (kit) | $229 (kit) |
What stands out is that the brushed version claims more cuts per charge than the brushless model. After all, brushless motors are more efficient than brushed.
While Craftsman doesn’t address it specifically, the most likely explanation is that the new motor isn’t just a brushless design but also more powerful than a like-for-like swap. If that’s the case, it really is running more efficiently, but the power increase results in a net lower runtime.
Price and Availability
This pole saw retails for $229 as a kit, including a 2.0Ah battery and charger and you can find it at Lowe’s. If you’re already on Craftsman’s V20 system and own a battery or two, you can find the bare tool on Amazon. Craftsman backs your purchase with a 3-year warranty.
Should You Buy It?
There are several reasons why brushless motors are a step up compared to their brushed counterparts, and this new Craftsman V20 pole saw is fitted with a brushless motor. However, one of the main advantages of brushless motors is longer runtimes, and that doesn’t seem to be the case here, compared to Craftsman’s older pole saw model. We expect there’s a significant power boost compared to the previous model, though.
If you’re a homeowner who needs something for seasonal trimming that won’t break the budget, you’re safe to stick with the previous brushed iteration and save a few dollars in the process. However, for those looking to consistently and quickly cut branches up to 6 inches in diameter, the upgraded performance of brushless technology in the new model may be more your speed.
