Milwaukee M18 Fuel Reciprocating Saw

[Irun]

I went to Home Depot today to pick up a M18 Fuel reciprocating saw. They have two versions of the saw. The "Super" version is 2" longer and 2 lbs heavier. Is there a reason to get the Super version over the standard Fuel saw?

For the 1st link you can get the standard saw free if you buy the two 5Mah battery starter kit, which runs $199 now.

If you buy the $259 Super saw, you get a Forge 8Mah battery free with it. I opted for this one, but now I'm wondering if this saw may in fact be too large. Thoughts?


https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauk...Reciprocating-Saw-Tool-Only-2821-20/314292782

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauk...Reciprocating-Saw-Tool-Only-2722-20/307815760

 

[jjvw]

The Super has an optional orbital action, if that is useful. You won't be using that feature to cut off control arm mounts.

I have the regular M18 Fuel Sawzall and it is already a very aggressive saw.

 

[L J]

Only $60 more for the Super Sawzall and the 8.0 Forge battery? I think you made the right choice.

 

[Irun]

The Super has an optional orbital action, if that is useful. You won't be using that feature to cut off control arm mounts.

I have the regular M18 Fuel Sawzall and it is already a very aggressive saw.

Yep. I saw this and it shows that use on metal doesn't provide any faster cuts. It does however show faster cuts on wood. While I do cuts on wood, it's not enough to justify the tool.

However, the Forge battery is a huge plus. I used a 8mah Forge battery today for 2 hours on my 8" pruning saw. After nearly 2 hours of heavy use the battery was still at 3 out of 4 lights. I was blown away by how well the forge battery did!

 

[jjvw]

Yep. I saw this and it shows that use on metal doesn't provide any faster cuts. It does however show faster cuts on wood. While I do cuts on wood, it's not enough to justify the tool.

However, the Forge battery is a huge plus. I used a 8mah Forge battery today for 2 hours on my 8" pruning saw. After nearly 2 hours of heavy use the battery was still at 3 out of 4 lights. I was blown away by how well the forge battery did!

Last week, Toolnut had a deal where you buy a $250 M18 12ah Forge and you get an M18 8ah Forge for free.

I'm waiting for my four new Forge batteries to ship.

 

[L J]

Last week, Toolnut had a deal where you buy a $250 M18 12ah Forge and you get an M18 8ah Forge for free.

Home Depot has the same. I think it's a Milwaukee thing good through the end of the year.

 

[Zorba]

What's the difference between "forge" and "fuel"? Kinda hard for this old man to keep all this stuff straight.

 

[Weasellee]

What's the difference between "forge" and "fuel"? Kinda hard for this old man to keep all this stuff straight.

Biggest difference? $$$. Simply, New technology to last longer.

Edit: wrong

 

[mrblaine]

What's the difference between "forge" and "fuel"? Kinda hard for this old man to keep all this stuff straight.

One is a battery type, one is a tool type.

 

[Weasellee]

One is a battery type, one is a tool type.

Right. I have XC and High Demand batteries. Most the tools are fuel.

 

[mrblaine]

I went to Home Depot today to pick up a M18 Fuel reciprocating saw. They have two versions of the saw. The "Super" version is 2" longer and 2 lbs heavier. Is there a reason to get the Super version over the standard Fuel saw?

Having owned and used many different corded reciprocating saws before switching over to the M18 Fuel at least 10 years ago, I'm pretty familiar and as such, I have never wished for more saw than the normal Fuel version. I've never slowed it down, stalled it or even got it hot and I've cut lots of Jeep frames in half with it. Hacked out many shock crossmembers, and done lots of "pruning" which was with their biggest pruning saw blade on some 6-8" branches.

It was so good right after I bought it, I went and got another one just like it in case this one died in the middle of a job. It still sits in the drawer unused after all this time.

If it matters, the normal Fuel M18 is about twice the saw of any of the Milwaukee corded versions I've ever owned and used.

 

[Weasellee]

The super saw is great for demo crews. Otherwise unnecessary IMO. That said it’s what I have on my work truck. In my garage is an older corded saw all with the old style Allen key blade retainer. Still going fine.

 

[macleanflood]

My friend Steve used the super when we demo RVs. For some reason it cuts circles around my 12 year old Makita.

-Mac

 

[Apparition]

I got a super sawzall a couple years ago for a crazy good deal works very well but don’t have a non-super to compare to.

 

[Irun]

Having owned and used many different corded reciprocating saws before switching over to the M18 Fuel at least 10 years ago, I'm pretty familiar and as such, I have never wished for more saw than the normal Fuel version. I've never slowed it down, stalled it or even got it hot and I've cut lots of Jeep frames in half with it. Hacked out many shock crossmembers, and done lots of "pruning" which was with their biggest pruning saw blade on some 6-8" branches.

It was so good right after I bought it, I went and got another one just like it in case this one died in the middle of a job. It still sits in the drawer unused after all this time.

If it matters, the normal Fuel M18 is about twice the saw of any of the Milwaukee corded versions I've ever owned and used.

Having the hours of practical use perspective was very helpful. I returned the super saw and went with the standard Fuel reciprocating saw, two 5Ah batteries, and a charger for $60 less. Since I still need to get a 7 1/4" circular saw, I'll end up with a 2nd Forge battery anyway. One of my primary uses for the reciprocating saw will be trimming branches. Having a 2 lb lighter saw will be worth it, especially after spending a couple hours weekend after weekend thinning out the dense forest on my property. As always, thanks!

 

[Apparition]

M18 Fuel Hackzall is our most used handheld yard tool other than the string trimmer.

 

[mrblaine]

Having the hours of practical use perspective was very helpful. I returned the super saw and went with the standard Fuel reciprocating saw, two 5Ah batteries, and a charger for $60 less. Since I still need to get a 7 1/4" circular saw, I'll end up with a 2nd Forge battery anyway. One of my primary uses for the reciprocating saw will be trimming branches. Having a 2 lb lighter saw will be worth it, especially after spending a couple hours weekend after weekend thinning out the dense forest on my property. As always, thanks!

I did a lot of pruning with a Fuel reciprocating saw even with pruning specific blades. Once I got the little pruner and the Hatchet, never again. The M12 Hatchet is still working so well that I haven't put chain oil in the M18 yet.

If you are good with a circular saw, then it will matter which side the blade is on. Don't overlook that part in your saw selection.

 

[Apparition]

Home Depot has the same. I think it's a Milwaukee thing good through the end of the year.

View attachment 573309

Picked some up to try out.

 

[L J]

Picked some up to try out.

I'm going to grab one or two as well. I already have a 12 forge and the supercharger. Hopefully they'll do better than the several "free" 5.0 xv batteries that have given up the ghost prematurely.

 

[Apparition]

I'm going to grab one or two as well. I already have a 12 forge and the supercharger. Hopefully they'll do better than the several "free" 5.0 xv batteries that have given up the ghost prematurely.

I should sell my non high output batteries, I never use them. I'll pick up more Forges if I can justify it with the performance increase.

How do you like the supercharger? I need to do something for chargers I've got several all setup and ready to go but would like to consolidate into something more useful than a bunch of chargers.