I recently bought this saw when it was on sale here at Amazon - since I have 2 Milwaukee batteries (older 1.4 Amp-Hour units) and plenty of Sawzall blades lying around, it was a great deal. I figured I'd at least get some use out of it for small jobs where pulling out an extension cord would be more work than the actual job itself. While that certainly turned out to be true, this saw is so handy and versatile that I've found myself using it on plenty of bigger jobs too (still DIY homeowner-type stuff).
The first thing I did was throw in a pruning blade (Milwaukee 48-00-1301) and start cleaning up some old storm damage around the yard. While I need a hex key to change blades on my Sawzall, this saw has the "QUIK-LOK blade clamp" - a quick twist and the blade was in and ready to go. The clamp seems to hold the blade nice and tight too. I cut several smaller branches (1" or so in diameter) and was impressed to find that I could usually finish the cut in 5 seconds or less. The bigger branches (2"-3" diameter) generally took 10-20 seconds, while the 'big stuff' (6+ inches) took 45 seconds or so. The smaller stuff was easy to cut with one hand, but I tended to use both hands for the 6" branches. Overall, I was very happy with how powerful and easy to use the saw was out in the yard.
Then I came inside and tried some other blades (and again appreciated the quick change mechanism). I used a hacksaw blade to cut through some PVC and some metal (nails, bolts, etc). Then I put in a demo blade and cut some old lumber. In every case, the Hackzall cut just about as fast as my Sawzall would have, and, mainly due to the pistol-grip, was much easier to use.
Battery life was OK, but as I noted, I'm using old, 1.4AH batteries (48-11-1815) - I'll be looking to pick up the M18-XC battery (48-11-1828, which is 2.8AH) as soon as it goes on sale. For quick jobs around the house/yard, the cheaper 1.4AH batteries are fine - but if you're going to be cutting away for hours at a time, you'll want the 2.8AH battery.
Another nice feature is the LED : if you depress the trigger just a little, an LED located under the blade illuminates your work area. Most of the time you won't really need this feature but it is handy when you are using the saw in an area with less-than-ideal illumination.
In summary - this is a great saw, powerful and well-built yet lightweight and easy to use.
PROS :
- Lots of power
- Cordless convenience
- The pistol grip (which makes it easy to use with one hand)
- The tool-less blade change system
- Backward compatibility with SOME older batteries (including the M18 units I have on hand!)
- Works with the various Sawzall blades I've accumulated over the years
- Very solid - feels like it should last a long time
- The LED
CONS:
- None so far - but I've only had the tool for a few weeks, so ...
I will update this review if anything changes.
| Brand | Milwaukee |
|---|---|
| Color | Red,black |
| Blade Material | High Speed Steel |
| Surface Recommendation | Wood, Metal |
| Power Source | Battery Powered |
| Special Feature | Brushless |
| Included Components | bare-tool |
| Product Dimensions | 13.39"L x 3.23"W x 7.2"H |
| Voltage | 18 Volts |
| Item Weight | 4.1 Pounds |
| Blade Length | 4 Inches |
| Number of Teeth | 24 |
| Number of Batteries | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. |
| Manufacturer | Milwaukee |
| Part Number | 2625-20 |
| Item Weight | 4.1 pounds |
| Item model number | 2625-20 |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Material | Plastic, Metal |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Special Features | Brushless |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | Yes |
| Warranty Description | Tool warranty : 5 Years |
