Builder Magazine | Hand Tools, Saws, Jobsite Technology, Technology, Lithium-Ion Batteries, Tools, Milwaukee Tool: With the recent debut of the M18 FUEL Hackzall, Milwaukee Tool has created the market’s first brushless, 18V one-handed reciprocating saw.
According to Milwaukee Tool, the M18 FUEL Hackzall makes cuts up to 50% faster than its competitors. Its dual gear counter balance system provides up to four times lower vibration than most reciprocating saws, allowing for smoother and easier cuts, especially in metal and PVC applications. It features a 7/8” stroke length, which, combined with its compact design and one-handed handling, allows its users to make cuts in tight spaces or overhead.
4 comments:
Love to see tool article on the green page. I must say the best part of this entire article is the router table that is built into the table saw. I had a very similar idea where you combine the router table into a pre-existing table that would allow you to keep the router out when need and flush when you don't. Besides the fact that this a genius design I am wondering what saw stop tech has been integrated into the router. I remember reading an article about it a while back but I don’t remember them being close to a finished product. The need for safety features on routers is extremely necessary, especially with the development of CNC routers. Things, like ejecting bits and stopping the blade, are two major concerns that the operator should have when using the router. I hope to a see a variation of this added into our shop, not only for the added safety but also the floor space that will open up.
I should ask Ben Carter to get one of these. We already have the batteries. Part of the reason for the lower vibrations may be that the stroke of this saw is only 7/8”. I think other reciprocating have a longer stroke, which would create more vibration. Part of the difficulty in using a reciprocating saw is the weight of the saw. This one handed version would have to weigh significantly less in order to make it an effective tool. Typically, we use these types of saws for destruction or to make quick and dirty cuts. A one handed version with more control might be useful in other ways. All that being said, I’m not sure how many more cordless tools we, the public, need. I agree that cordless is great, but at what point does it stop? I think DeWalt already has a cordless table saw. I’d like to see standardization among batteries for cordless tools.
I would greatly appreciate this tool in our shop and in my own collection, for that matter. Lower vibration is huge for me because of my hand/wrist issues in long-term powertool usage and also it’s just plain annoying how much regular reciprocating saws vibrate and wiggle around while you are using them. This one-handed model could be huge for scenic installations and strikes as you could have someone at height working on breaking connections and still have a free and controlled hand outside of the tool. I imagine us having used this tool a lot during Ragtime, as most of that strike was done at height and with pulleys/chain motors/etc. and someone in the air cutting and breaking connections. I would also be interested in seeing how well the smaller stroke length works out because I have bent countless blades from lack of clearance but need for a long blade.
Its been quite a while since we had a classic green page tool article! Couldn't be more excited. Well, it seems as though we are continuing to see a pattern. One company makes an item, another company follows suit. Milwaukee is the first company to produce a brushless one handed recip saw but I would assume DeWalt’s version is not far behind. To be honest, I don’t know what you gain from a brushless motor. I know it is supposed to be more efficient and maybe faster, but I have never used two tools, one brushless one not, side by side to make a decision for myself. These little one handed sawzalls (which I have never actually seen anyone use with just one hand) are pretty nifty and if Milwaukee is trying to make them better, more power to em’ (literally). I say this every time I comment on a new power tool article, but I really want to see a completely new tool one of these days, not just the same old same old with slight improvements.
Post a Comment