James Bond movies always had fun villains. Rember Oddjob? He was that tough-as-steel henchman that used a bowler hat lined with razor blades as a lethal weapon. What does Oddjob have to do with the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Circular Saw review we just wrapped up? Well, nothing really, other than the very loose analogy of a portable, circular tool that’s convenient, fast, surgical and highly effective. With that said, our legal team strongly discourages the use of bowler hats OR circular saws as weapons, OK? Read on for potentially more bad analogies, as well as both written and video renditions of our Milwaukee M18 Fuel Circular Saw Review.
Before we dive into our written review, here’s a quick Milwaukee Fuel Circular Saw overview in which we, unfortunately, do not demonstrate Oddjob’s blade throwing technique:
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Circular Saw Essential Spec’s
- 6.5″ Blade
- Magnesium Shoe
- Rafter Hook
- Left Blade Location
- 50 Degree Bevel Capacity
- Max Cut Depth at 90 Degrees: 2.188″
- Max Cut Depth at 45 Degrees: 1.625″
- Max RPM: 5000
- 8 lbs
I was treated to an early look at the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Circular Saw at a Milwuakee media event in 2013. There were a lot of great tools at this event, but the two that most impressed me were the M18 Fuel Sawzall and the M18 Fuel Circular Saw. Both really changed my perspective of what’s currently possible with cordless technology on higher-draw tools like reciprocating and circular saws. Since I had cut through sheets of OSB and even tackled some very thick engineered material at the event, I knew just tasking the M18 Fuel Circular Saw with cutting a sheet of plywood would be child’s play.
A “Quick” Test of Basic Cutting and Runtime
I recently demolished an old workbench in the shop and still had some long 3/4″ boards lying around. I wouldn’t describe the wood as rock-hard, but the timber was likely old growth and it was hard enough to stand up to decades of abuse as the surface of the workbench. Since cutting a mere 3/4″ board wasn’t really fair to the board, I double-stacked the boards to present a 1.5″ workpiece for the saw to gnaw on.
Luckily I had a respectable night’s sleep because I was cutting those boards for a long time. In fact, I made 46 cuts through the 11″ wide boards. Calculated in terms of 3/4″ material cut (if I had unstacked the boards), the M18 Fuel Circular Saw devoured through 1012″ of material, or over 84 feet. That’s the equivalent of doing a full 4′ cross cut on 21 sheets of 4’x8′ 3/4″ wood. If we had actually been cutting 4×8′ sheets there would have been much less stopping and starting, so I suspect the battery would have lasted even longer in those conditions. Regardless, that’s a lot of cutting for one saw and one 4.0 AH Lithium battery. Since most people don’t stand around cutting double-stacked sheet goods all day, mileage will vary depending on the blade and types of materials being cut. We used Milwaukee’s included framing blade for our cuts.
Features and Function
The M18’s Fuel’s safety is easy to activate whether you’re left or right handed. The tool also features a nicely-shaped front handle, allowing for a very secure grip. The handle is also where you’ll find a rafter hook. Often times a rafter hook with a corded tool can be a pain since the power cord inevitably gets in the way. With the cordless design of the Fuel saw, the rafter hook is even more handy and easy to use. If you’re doing cuts off the ground and have a 2×4″ handy, the rafter hook can shave a lot of pain and strain off your day by minimizing having to bend over to pick up your tool off the ground. And, if you’re actually in the rafters making cuts, the hook is worth its weight in gold.
Although most circ saws don’t have a rafter hook, just about all of them have a blade guard (hopefully)! The design of the blade guard on the Fuel circ saw is about more than just protecting your digits and the rest of you from a sharp blade whirring by your body like a hat-tip from Oddjob. It’s also designed as a mini dust blower to clear dust from in front of the tool. While the wind from this port on the front of the guard isn’t likely to trigger any hurricane warnings, it does do a respectable job clearing the immediate cut line of debris. This little detail makes precise cutting with the tool that much easier.
One feature we didn’t have much use for was the built-in LED. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t tend to wield a circular saw in poor lighting. That’d be like Oddjob trying to toss his bowler onto a coat rack with the lights off. Bad things can happen. In the well-lit environments I used the tool in, the built-in LED just wasn’t noticeable. If you do much circular sawing in low-light scenarios (not something we’d typically recommend), then you might find the LED useful. But I’d suggest lighting up your work area before relying on an LED from a circ saw.
Blade changes were easy thanks not only to a push-button spindle lock, but also an onboard hex key to loosen and tighten the arbor nut. With the offset wrenches we normally use on our other saws inevitably floating around in a tool bag or somewhere other than where they are supposed to be, we welcome the inclusion of the hex key right on the tool. Despite its convenience, the little wrench stays out of your way until you need it. We’re still waiting on a manufacturer to make a tool-free blade change possible on a circular saw. Oh, and bevel adjustments are via a simple thumb screw. We were glad to see engraved markings rather than degrees printed on the tool, just waiting to be scuffed off.
Summary
As with the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Sawzall, I think a lot of people’s corded circular saws will start gathering dust after a Fuel Circular saw purchase. Just to clarify, that’s dust from sitting around, not sawdust from being used. The Milwaukee M18 Fuel Circular Saw is one of the most impressive uses of cordless tool tech we’ve seen to date. The tool seems to almost magically pull extra power from some unknown energy source. Wood just doesn’t stand a chance against this agile beast of a tool.
Where to Buy
With street pricing from about $170 for the bare tool, to $375 for the full meal-deal (including bag, charger and two 4.0 AH batteries), the M18 Fuel Circular Saw isn’t the cheapest option out there. As is often the case, you pay for quality here. See below for links to purchase:
Milwaukee 2730-20 M18 FUEL 6-1/2″ Circular Saw Tool Only
Milwaukee 2730-21 M18 FUEL 6-1/2″ Circular Saw Kit with 1 Battery
Milwaukee 2730-22 M18 FUEL 6-1/2″ Circular Saw Kit with 2 Batteries
I have been sold on the M18 FUEL series ever since I purchased the 1/4″ Impact Driver(kit) about 2 years ago. I purchased the ½ Hammer Drill/Driver separately and today I purchased the Sawzall. The run-time on these tools is incredible, and based on this review I might just look into the circular saw to add to my FUEL collection. Also, Milwaukee’s M18 Metal Cutting Saw is a champ and I am disappointed that they have not made this outstanding tool brushless.(HINT HINT Milwaukee). Thanks for the reviews guys. -Licensed Electrician
Thanks Russ! Best sure to check out their new Fuel Full-Sized Circ Saw too. . . we covered at a recent Milwaukee Media Event.
Nice review Marc! This is an interesting time in cordless power tool technology with both the Milwaukee Fuel and Makita’s LXT X2 36V on the market (or soon to be in the case of the Makita). Lots of great choices – when the manufacturers battle it out, the consumers ultimately win!
Agreed Charlie! Thanks for the kind words and comments!
I have used Makita Dewalt & ridgid tools in the past. Once that I bought my first Milwaukee tool I gradually gave or sold all of the above. You are years ahead of the competition. WAY TO GO MILWAUKEE KEEP IT UP. I own both M18&M12 tools
I am sold on m18 and have m12 when I thought I won’t use that the m12 right angle drill was the only tool to do the job except maybe a flex bit. The grinder is amazing. Coworker used Corded Dewalt grinder cut halfway through a steel tub, too hot to hold with leather gloves, I finished the cut one battery bare handed.
Excellent review. Right now I am trying to decide between the Dewalt 20V platform and Milwaukee fuel. The drills have been my focus, but additional tool options like this circular saw will weigh heavily on my decision.
Hi Robb. Thanks for the kind words, glad you liked the review. Both are great platforms. I have been really impressed with Milwaukee’s latest Fuel M18 tools (Circ saw, sawzall and grinder). Look for the sawzall and grinder reviews to post soon!
Hey Robb, I’ve been doing Home improvements for over 30 years and I’ve used every brand of commercial grade cordless tool that I can think of quite extensively and from my experience Milwaukee hands down the best I’ve used. And most people disagree but Dewalt is the worst. Dewalt has the speed and touch but the durability is not there. And all I can say for those who disagree is you must not use them like I do. And corded tools as well. From Dewalt compound miter saw to their cordless drills, reciprocating saw, circular say I’ve used them all and there is no comparison with Milwaukee. Not Dewalt, not Makita, not Ryobi, Porter Cable, or Rigid. The closest brand to Milwaukee for durability that I’ve used would be Bosh. And I’ve been using cordless tools since their inception of the 9volt over 20 years ago.. I paid something like $375 for a Milwaukee 9v VSR drill when they first came out I guess close to 25 years ago or more and I’m not kidding if I knew where that drill was it would probably still work with the original batteries that came with it. I have 2 of the M18 1/2″ VSR drills and a M18 Hammer drill and have been using the same batteries for at least 6 or 7 years.. And they get used almost every day for hours at a time hanging doors, windows, you name it. I have not had a problem one with any of them. They have been dropped off ladders, roofs, scaffolding and I don’t know what all and they just keep working. And no I don’t work and am not affiliated with Milwaukee tool in any way shape or form lol they’re just damn good tools. And if anyone has experience with cordless tools they know the batteries are the first thing to go but three of the five batteries I have are as old as the drills 6 or 7 years and there is no difference that I can tell between those and the newer ones I have that are 2 years old except for a lot more scratches on the older ones. I had a Dewalt drill fall out of my tool belt on the cement one time and it never worked again. I pulled the trigger, a white puff a smoke came out and that was all she wrote, I rebuilt the gears in a Dewalt cordless reciprocating saw twice in a month. The warranty covered the repairs because it was less than a year old but I bought the tool to use not sit in the repair shop. The brake quit working after a week in Dewalt 12″ compound miter saw that I paid close to $400 for and that was the last Dewalt tool I ever bought. And the little Dewalt cordless circular saw that came with their kit that included reciprocating saw , a VSR drill, that circular saw, a flashlight, charger and (2) 18v or 24v batteries not sure which but I sold that little circular saw, batteries, charger, flashlight and case in a garage sale for $15 and told the guy that bought it why that was all that was left of the kit and he still couldn’t get the money out of his pocket quick enough to buy it. I actually told him I felt guilty for selling it to him because that little circular saw was the only tool in the kit that I hadn’t used probably 10 times and I wasn’t sure if it would make it through another 10. But he still left smiling like he had really got one over on me. I could go on and on about other brands also but I won’t, I’ve expelled enough air already but you get my point. One more thing, I am so glad Milwaukee started making hand tools the only thing is that I already have every hand tool known to man so I’ve just started buying them one at a time just so I can see how they stack up. So far I’ve bought a Milwaukee 16′ tape measure (love it) and a pair of the needle nose pliers/wire strippers (love it) and that’s all but do plan to buy some more of their hand tools as time goes if for no other reason but to own them lol. So that’s my 2 cents worth Robb for what it’s worth. Great tooling, Milwaukee all the way brother, Hooraw!