When my crew and I tested the 18-volt Milwaukee M18 Fuel Sawzall reciprocating saw for the May 2014 issue of JLC, it quickly bumped our deluxe 15-amp corded model right off our jobsites. We loved the new saw’s cordless convenience, competitive cutting speed, and ample runtime. We also appreciated its lever-action blade clamp, pivoting hang hook, and other high-performance features.
When JLC followed up by asking us to field-test the Milwaukee M12 Fuel Hackzall, I thought this new mini recip might be an ideal lightweight and maneuverable companion to the heavy-duty M18 Fuel. Nine months later, the M12 Fuel holds a prestigious position on our work van.
QUICK TOUR
Several 12-volt recip saws are available, including the M12 Hackzall that Milwaukee introduced in 2008. Most of these veteran compacts can easily be used one-handed, which is great when you need to hold an offcut, navigate tight spaces, or reach to make a cut. But the new M12 Fuel Hackzall is the first 12-volt recip with a brushless motor. It also has a class-leading stroke length of 5/8 inch and, according to Milwaukee, the most effective counterbalance for reducing vibration. The kit we tested includes a 4-amp-hour battery for extended runtime, and there’s a fuel gauge on the tool to monitor the charge. Advanced electronics protect against overloading, overheating, and overdischarging.
Other features include a variable-speed trigger, a bright LED headlight with a 10-second afterglow, and a time-tested keyless Quik-Lok blade clamp that allows you to insert the blade upside down if necessary. Like other 12-volt recips, the saw has a fixed shoe rather than an adjustable one, which means you lose some control over the maximum cutting depth and can’t expose fresh saw teeth to extend blade life. Also, these 12-volt recips don’t have a belt hook. But you can park the M12 Fuel in your toolbelt if necessary, and it can conveniently stand upright on its battery when you set it down.
ON THE JOB
So far, we’ve used the M12 Fuel Hackzall a lot for demolishing plumbing, cutting chrome closet pole, and breaking down 1-by lumber and 2x4s at the lumberyard. We’ve also made plenty of quick cutoffs and plunge cuts with it on our remodeling jobs, switching to the M18 Fuel Sawzall only when we need to make demanding two-handed cuts. The grip is comfortable, and the low vibration is especially noticeable when we’re making one-handed and plunge cuts.
According to Milwaukee, the saw cuts about 50% faster than the older M12 Hackzall, generates more power under load than several 18-volt models to help prevent it from bogging down, and can consistently make up to 60 crosscuts per charge through 2x4 pine under optimal testing conditions when equipped with the 4-Ah battery and a Milwaukee thin-kerf wood blade. We haven’t conducted our own speed and runtime tests, but we have no complaints about the saw’s performance for the cuts we make. In one timed trial, however, it took 1 hour and 20 minutes to fully recharge the battery, which might be a problem if you only have the one battery included with the kit.
THE BOTTOM LINE
If I were to own just one recip saw, I would choose the powerful Milwaukee 18-volt M18 Fuel Sawzall that we tested earlier. Since we started testing the M12 Fuel Hackzall, though, we use a full-size recip only when we need all that muscle. Lightweight and compact, the new Hackzall is surprisingly powerful for a 12-volt tool, has excellent runtime, and is easy to use with one hand for maximum versatility. I would appreciate an adjustable shoe rather than a fixed one, and I wish the kit came with a plastic case rather than a contractor bag for easier storage in our work van. I also think Milwaukee should offer a kit with two batteries for those who have yet to buy into its M12 cordless platform. But this is an excellent complementary tool for us.
At homedepot.com, the bare tool (model 2520-20) currently costs $140, while the kit we tested (model 2520-21XC) costs $200. At the moment, that site is offering a free extra battery or an additional M12 tool with the kit, though that might change any time.
Stephen Klug owns Fine Building & Finish, in Yarmouth Port, Mass.
