Reciprocating saws—or Sawzalls, as they are commonly known in the trade—are not usually a favorite tool for professionals to use every day. They're aggressive, rough tools that can tire you out quickly if you're not used to them. Smaller models like the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hackzall can ease the load on your hands and arms, but there's a performance tradeoff. For lighter demo work, plumbers, electricians and HVAC professionals, this could be a godsend.
advantage
- excellent cutting speed
- Best in class vibration control
- The Best 18V One-Handed Reciprocating Saw We've Tested
shortcoming
- Lack of adjustable length shoes
If you're familiar with the M18 or M12 Fuel Hackzall models, the basic shape is the same. By taking Sawzall's inline design and turning the motor up an angle, you can get a shorter tool. Drop some power and you can also design a lighter tool. In the end, you'll have a reciprocating saw that works well with two hands, and works effectively with one hand when you're working in tight spaces.
Of course, the "fuel" name is the hottest topic – Milwaukee's PowerState brushless motor powers the chainsaw. Clint DeBoer had no hesitation in choosing the M12 Fuel Hackzall over the M18 Hackzall because the brushless motor provided such good performance for the 12V model. With the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hackzall now in our hands, will the M12 Fuel be the next tool he gives away?
As far as other features go, there isn't much to talk about.
- Twist Blade Lock: Standard simple twist to lock or release blade
- LED Light: Under the shoe, directly illuminates the area around the blade
- Rubber Overmolding: Starts at the front of the tool and wraps from the top to the main handle, providing a comfortable grip and some extra drop protection
- Swivel Shoe: Helps the saw stay engaged with the material throughout the cut without adjusting the length
ergonomics
In addition to saving weight over full-size cordless reciprocating saws, one-handed reciprocating saws also benefit from better handle ergonomics. You get more of a standard drill/impact driver handle and trigger, which to me is a more natural and comfortable grip. When it comes to weight, the M18 Fuel is somewhere in the middle—heavier and lighter options are available in the 18V compact class.
Your locking switch is within easy reach of your thumb and forefinger, making this a saw you can fully operate with one hand. Blade replacement is another matter – you'll still need two.
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hackzall Performance
I wonder if brushless motors offer enough performance improvement to justify an upgrade. Keeping in mind you typically use a saw like this for lighter applications, I cut through some EMT, clean 2×4 and 2×6 to see how it compares to another new model I was reviewing in class.
The motor gives you a 7/8" stroke length and a 3000 SPM rate, giving you 1/8" more stroke length than the M18 Hackzall and 1/4" more than the M12 Fuel. Compared to other 18V models on the market today, the Metabo has a 100 higher SPM but a 1/2 inch shorter stroke length. Bosch keeps the stroke length at 7/8" and gives you an extra 50 SPM.
theoretical cutting speed
- Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hackzall: 7/8″ x 3000 SPM = 2656 in/min
- Milwaukee M18 Hackzall (Brushed): 3/4″ x 3000 SPM = 2250 in/min
- Metabo 18V Compact Reciprocating Saw: 1/2″ x 3100 SPM = 1550 in/min
- Bosch 18V Compact Reciprocating Saw: 7/8″ x 3050 SPM = 2669 in/min
- Milwaukee M12 Fuel Hackzall: 5/8″ x 3000 SPM = 1875 in/min
On paper, Milwaukee is very close to the top spot, with Bosch having a slight edge. But as every professional knows, cut speed and quality also come down to other factors, like vibration, swivel shoes, and orbital action (which none of these one-handed reciprocating saws have).
Real World Cutting
For clean wood, the cutting action of any class of reciprocating saw is very smooth. The same goes for PVC. Apply your own soft start to the EMT and it'll be as smooth as you want it to cut metal. Once the saw teeth are in, simply let the saw and blade work together to melt the material. We're not talking about how quickly the hot knife can go through the butter, it's just a more comfortable experience than I'm used to.
So, yes, the shock in Milwaukee is under control. They also have excellent cutting speeds compared to other models in their class. Without a Bosch side-by-side comparison, I can't say it's the fastest cut, but it's clearly faster than most of its counterparts.
the bottom line
Fast cuts, excellent vibration control and comfortable ergonomics make the M18 Fuel Hackzall a strong contender for the leader in the compact reciprocating saw category. While the feature set is pretty basic, it's not the tool you'd expect with a lot of bells and whistles. Even if you wish the shoe was adjustable in length, the performance greatly outweighs the disappointment.
There are benefits to upgrading to brushless. The bare tool is $50 more than the M18 Hackzall, as well as the brushed motor designs from Bosch and Metabo. For the high-end performance and benefits that come with a brushless motor, it's an upgrade that you'll need to spend a little more for.
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hackzall Overview
- Model: Milwaukee 2719
- Power supply: M18 red lithium battery
- Travel frequency: 7/8″
- Stroke Speed: 0 – 3000 SPM
- Length: 14″
- Height: 7″
- Width: 14″
- Weight: 4 lbs, 1 oz (bare), 5 lbs, 0 oz (with 2.0Ah battery), 5 lbs, 11 oz (with 5.0Ah battery)
- Warranty: 5 years
- Price: $159 (bare), $269 (kit with 5.0 aH battery)