Milwaukee recently announced the coming release of their new cordless one-handed reciprocating saw. The Milwaukee 18V Fuel Hackzall Reciprocating Saw improves upon its predecessor, the M18 Hackzall Recip Saw (2625-20), by adding a brushless motor. Milwaukee has included some other improvements as well, which we’ll take a look at later. But, Milwaukee makes a few claims about their new reciprocating saw that, if accurate, ought to tempt those already on the Milwaukee cordless platform. One is that the new, updated Hackzall is the first brushless 18V one-handed recip saw on the market. They also claim this new tool is the fastest cutting 18V on the market, with 3X faster cutting versus other brands of one-handed recip saws available.

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From Milwaukee

“Ever since we invented the Sawzall, Milwaukee has been the leader in reciprocating saw innovation. This leadership was further cemented when we created the one-handed reciprocating saw category in 2008 with the introduction of the M12 Hackzall. Now, we’re setting the bar even higher by introducing the first brushless 18V one-handed recip saw. With the launch of the M18 Fuel Hackzall we’re bridging the gap between the small, more compact Hackzall and full-size Sawzall performance for several key applications including large diameter PVC, 2x dimensional lumber and EMT conduit. For users who primarily perform one-handed cuts, this tool will provide the fastest application speed, and superior control and ergonomics over any other 18V one-handed recip saw on the market today.”

-Tyson Apfelbeck, Senior Product Manager for Milwaukee Tool

The Milwaukee 18V Fuel Hackzall Reciprocating Saw

Like all other tools released on the M18 line of cordless tools, Milwaukee has outfitted this new recip saw with a Powerstate Brushless Motor, a RedLithium XC5.0 battery pack, and RedLink Plus intelligence. The new M18 Fuel Hackzall runs more efficiently without getting bogged down on the bigger jobs. Additionally, with fewer wearable components in the motor, the lifespan improves by 300% over tools with brushed motors.

By providing 50% more cuts per charge, the new Hackzall delivers up to 180 cuts in 2x4spf and over 220 cuts in 3/4″ EMT. The RedLink Plus intelligence system ensures that the tool will perform without running into overloading or overheating problems.

The Milwaukee 18V Fuel Hackzall Reciprocating Saw also features better protection against water and debris ingress. A dual gear counter-balance mechanism and pivoting shoe provide up to 4X lower vibration than other recip saws. This results in faster cut starts and reduced blade chatter. It has a 7/8″ stroke length and also includes a Quik-Lok Blade Clamp for tool-less blade changes.

For added convenience, the new line of Hackzall Saws also features LED lights for an illuminated workspace. An ergonomic, overmolded handle increases comfort on prolonged jobs.

The new Milwaukee 18V Fuel One-Handed Reciprocating Saw will become available from retailers in October. It features a 5 Year warranty and retails for $149 for the bare tool, or $249 for the kit.

Final Thoughts

At this point, there are a few one-handed reciprocating saws on the market. Porter-Cable, Bosch, and DeWalt all make one. There are others too, but this is the only 18V model with a brushless motor. The brushless motor is a clear improvement on a Milwaukee tool that, almost a decade ago, got pretty outstanding reviews. Granted, it was the first one on the market at the time, but it checked all the boxes for usability and convenience.

This updated version looks like it could be a big step up for Milwaukee, as the performance, runtime, and motor life will improve dramatically with a brushless motor. The anti-vibration technology sweetens the deal as well. And with a larger battery, one could possibly work all day on a single charge. While we haven’t had the chance to test it out, if it performs as advertised, it could replace your old recip saw for any number of applications.

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Milwaukee 18V Fuel Hackzall Reciprocating Saw Specs (2719-21)

• Stroke Length: 7/8”
• SPM 3000
• Pivoting Shoe: Yes
• LED: Yes
• Quik-Lok Blade Clamp: Yes
• Length: 16.3” (14.03” bare tool)
• Weight: 5.57 lbs (4.07 lbs bare tool)
• 5-year Warranty
• Kit (2719-21) Includes: M18 Fuel Hackzall One-Handed Recip Saw, M18 RedLithium XC 5.0 Compact Battery Pack, M12Multi-Voltage Charger, General Purpose Blade and Contractor Bag. $249
• Also available As Bare Tool (2719-20): $149