i was using mine today while on mountain bike to clear some trails, i came to a tree about 14" diameter and i buried the bar on both sides and it did the cut in about 3 minutes and 1/4 of battery power. this saw will be with my every time i go on side by side!! one of my most impressive tools
@@DoresoomReviews as long as your not forcing the tool, with the electrics you don't get the chain speed of fly wheel inertia to power though a tough spot or an aggressive cut from re positing the saw. you really need to cut in a different manner with battery chain saws. once i got it figured out i get good results with my M18 and now M12 chainsaw
I did a little commercial tree pruning 25 years back in my younger days using loppers.It was very hard work.Some guys did use small chainsaws but they are just as hard a work,you don't get that much more work done and were very dangerous.This battery saw would be a god send for commercial pruning!!!!
This is a great option for a car camping/emergency saw. Could process a lot of dead-fall firewood with this. With a 12v car or solar charger you could recharge a couple batteries and get a lot of cuts. Sure would beat cutting up branches with a regular hatchet or axe.
Thank you for comparing the different Milwaukee saws. I have a palm tree trimming business and have been looking for a something that lasts for what I’m cutting. Such a useful video man. Thank you.
I have a dozen palm trees lining my yard. I have used small chainsaws, sawzall and M18 fuel hackzall. I prefer the m18 fuel hackzall for triming palm and palmetto limbs, it seams to be cleaner, faster and more accurate.
This tool looks like exactly what I need. One thing I've found is the sawz-all works great for limbs on the tree, it sucks trying to hold the saw and the branch when just trying to cut them up a couple times so they fit in the back of the truck. I've also had bad results from dedicated pruning blades, I just get a couple carbide tip Diablo blades and it powers through.
Great review! Thanks! Needing a small chainsaw to go in my Jeep while off-roading. This is one of the top candidates. BUT my other Jeep kit power tools are either dewalt or kobalt. The Milwaukee usually stay at the house. But man this one would be great for an off roading kit.
@@isozero7265 to see how it compares to the current Milwaukee chainsaw I have and if I would have use for it compared to what I'm doing now for small stuff. I hopeful for a 12" top handle chainsaw with a battery. Someone will make it in the future.
Would have killed for one of these in my many times a year camping days, my how tools have come along. I scored the full kit for $140 brand new on Craigslist. I’ve been snapping up most of my Handyman/Lawn biz tools on there it beats the high retail costs and allows me to get more tools. I’m a milwaukee person for sure and this Hatchet is a winner just like most of their other tools. Thanks for this review!
I have the M12 Fuel Hackzall with a 9" pruning blade. It sucks for pruning as the back and forth ends up just shaking the limb and little cutting action happens. I much prefer a manual Japanese Silky saw for occasional pruning. Where the Hackzall did work well was in cutting smaller stumps down to soil level, and even below. But... the Hackzall chews through batteries like nothing and overheats quick-fast.
Used the M12 hackzaw with pruning blade since it came out. Was convenient but slow.I put the under performance down to the short stroke length. This chainsaw is night & day.
Thanks again for another great review! I can see tons of uses for this especially is you have a orchard and/or fruit trees in your backyard (lots of annual trimming is necessary). Couple questions: 1. What size battery were you using for your 126 cuts? 2. Is the bar chain propriatary or are there third party/OEM bar chain brands that fit this chain length 3. What is the weight on this with and without battery? 4. What is the RPM speed on this vs. the M18 chainsaw Personally I would have rather they make this a M18 tool. That would allowed the tool to have more power (i.e. less stalling) and use a larger Ah battery if additional use time is needed for larger pruning jobs. It would also allow you to easily change the battery from the standard chainsaw to the pruning saw since they use the same battery platform. Also, it would be great if you could include the Milwaukee tool part number in your review titles (makes it easier to cut & paste the tool part number into google to immediately do some price comparisons after watching your review)
I used a 4Ah battery. The chain is an Oregon brand chain. Not sure about the bar. It's just under 5 lbs with it installed, but I haven't measured it bare tool. Chain speed is 5 m/s with the M12, 12.7 m/s with the M18. Those numbers match up nicely with the speed test I did too.
Make sure the charger is plugged into a good outlet and make sure the battery is all the way seated in the charger. If you still get flashing red and green, then you've got a bad battery. In that case return it to the store for a new one if you just bought it.
Just got mine today. First problem I encountered was the battery charger blinking red and green, with or without battery inserted. After inserting the battery it still blinks red and green. Not sure what that means as the written instructions do not mention the lights. After I inserted the battery into the saw body I’ve discovered I can’t get the battery out of the saw body. Again no mention of this process in the written instructions. I found no hidden release for the battery. Stumped. Any ideas?
The charger blinking red and green with a battery inserted indicates a bad battery. But if it's still blinking without a battery, it may be a bad charger. As for removing the battery, squeeze the flexible tabs on the side and pull. The 4Ah batteries can be exceptionally difficult to remove from tools.
I just used mine to knoch out 4x4s so 2x4s would sidt flush. Fast and dirty. The sign covers any blow out on the edges. I built a frame for a temporary 4x8 road sign. I will use that same method again.
I purchased one yesterday, installed as per the Instr Book, chain full tight. But when I used to day to cut some branches, the equip is heavily vibrating and unable cut it sharply. the blade is skidding and skipping from the groove. Any tips ?
Looks to work pretty well-better than I would have expected from a 12v power source. But with a fresh blade and a 9ah battery, I think my Ryobi recip could keep up with it for far less money. Good review as usual.
Yeah, I think most 18V class reciprocating saws with a stroke length of >1" will at least be able to perform in the same ballpark of it. Benefits of the chainsaw are one handed operation, and less vibration. Of course, a recip wins in the versatility category.
Coming from Ryobi brushless tools. I sold them and upgraded to Milwaukee m12 fuel for lighter weight and better performance. I have to say this little hatchet is awesome for its intended purpose and no ryobi sawzall I owned, brushed or brushless would cut as fast, using even Diablo demo blades. You’d have to buy a Milwaukee super sawzall to cut as fast or faster, and even then it might not even beat it. The weight and compact size alone make this a go to for pruning, not to mention its a lot more refined with cutting, sawzall is difficult to use for pruning small branches and the reciprocating part makes some cuts challenging. If you are trimming limbs and need one handed operation, an 18v bulky traditional style sawzall is not the best option.
Phil..a brushless Ryobi reciprocating saw and 9ah would cost more then this kit I think. It boils down to what platform someone is on I think as far as appeal. $249 for this hatchet kit with battery/charger.
I have the sawsall too. There's NO comparison between these two. NONE! I had some doubts about this hatchet saw, until I bought one. If nothing else, carry it in your car, and hope a car-jacker comes along. Anyway, this is a game changer.
For this kind of work I like the Black and Decker Alligator Lopper. It has two metal jaws and a chain bar between. Unfortunately it is corded, but the form factor is great for cutting 4" branches (and even a bit bigger). The jaws grip the branch while it cuts so you don’t have to be as careful positioning and holding it. It seems faster and safer than a chainsaw for this kind of work. If someone makes a cordless version of this I would be tempted.
I have both, but the alligator has two fairly significant downsides. Firstly, the design often restricts access to cut where you want. Other branches get in the way. Secondly, it's heavy. I tire far quicker using the Alligator.
Great review. Thanks. However, I’d be interested to hear from anyone who has used the Hatchet for a while. I have had two breakdown after a very short period of time - less than the life of a 6Ah battery. And it was the same issue with both. Very disappointing. What was even more disappointing was that Milwaukee has failed to let me know what was wrong with it. If it is something inherently wrong with the mechanism then they should withdraw the Hatchet from sale.
I've probably cut enough to drain the oil reservoir 4 times, which is about 4 full charges of a 4Ah battery. No problems so far. But man, two dying that fast is definitely a problem! Hopefully the figure out the root cause.
@@DoresoomReviewsThanks for your reply. I have now received my third Hatchet and only after an even shorter period of time I have to return it. Same issue as the first two. I am now convinced there is an inherent problem with this machine. It is not fit for purpose.
The M12 hacksaw is excellent for drywall and small carpentry projects, but it struggles with metal and other sawzall duties. FIts the "better than nothing" bill perfectly.
Has anyone cut a 7 or 8 inch trunk by making multiple cuts around the circumference gradually until the blade meets in the center of the trunk? Also will cutting through wet/live trunks damage the blade?
Another commenter said they cut down a tree that was twice the bar length. Obviously this tool isn't meant for that purpose, but it will do in a pinch. Also chainsaws are made to cut through green wood, don't worry about that.
My wife got it for me as a gift a few years ago when I worked at NASA. I think it was a bootleg design without official licensing though, because when I went to check out the store and see if they had other cool designs, it was shut down.
@@DoresoomReviews I’ve been fighting with changing out my battery. Next to impossible. Love the performance off the tool though. Thanks for a great review.
I'm confused if you're asking about the M12 chainsaw or the M18 chainsaw? Either way, it's not going to be measurable by time. A better estimate is number of branches cut, which Milwaukee specifies.
Any thoughts on this vs. the brushless Milwaukee M18 hackzall (2719-20)? The M18 version of the hackzall gets pretty decent reviews across the internet. I know in this video you used the brushed M12 hackzall (2420-20) and it obviously has less power and more vibration vs. the newer M18 fuel hackzall. The hatchet definitely lends itself to outdoor pruning, but with the M18 hackzall it provides you with a lot more versitility and is compatible with a lot more cutting materials vs. the hatchet. Also Milwaukee just released new AX with Carbide Teeth for Pruning Clean Wood sawzall blades which can be used to cut into the ground and cut tree roots which helps to remove tree stumps (which you absolutely can not do with this hatchet tool). Not to mention the M18 fuel hackzall is cheaper. I've seen people performing trimming with the M18 fuel hackzall so I was wondering what your thoughts on that were. Thanks for the feedback!
I haven't used the M18 Hackzall myself, but if I already had it, I think it would be difficult to justify this M12 chainsaw too. Unless you do a huge amount of pruning the M18 Hackzall will just be way more versatile like you mentioned. It will be slower than the chainsaw though, since the stroke length on the M18 Hackzall is 7/8" and the stroke length on the M18 Sawzall I used in the video is 1-1/8", both at 3000 SPM.
@@DoresoomReviews Just make sure to get the bigger M18 hackzall, they make a 3/4" stroke model also. smithmal said it right, the hackzall does the pruning and so much more very well. I also have the 16" chainsaw which works so well two friends used mine and immediately had to get one themselves.
I love buying new Milwaukee tools, but I think I'll wait and see if they bring out an M18 version of this. I have both the brushless M12 Hackzall and the brushless M18 Hackzall which I use for pruning trees all the time and the M18 is light-years ahead of the M12 and is one of my favorite Milwaukee tools. An M18 version of this would rock with a spare chain along with me!
The problem with trying to use the Hackzall as a pruning tool is that you need to be able to clear the chips, and a reciprocating saw does that very poorly. The blade might be just as long, but if teeth can’t get clear of material the saw will just stop cutting. It does great fast work, but can’t clear chips like the Hatchet.
I'm torn between buying the pruning type saw (this Milwaukee or Stihl GTA 26), or a small top handle chainsaw from Makita.. Pruning saw it more convenient, lighter, and better for one hand use while the Makita 18V top handle is more powerful with a longer run time. And although Makita is more expensive, you can use the regular 18V battery from other tools while I don't have any tools or batteries that use the M12 Fuel or Stihl's 10,8 V..
That's a tough choice. I'd probably get the Makita if I were you since you already have their batteries. But if you're planning on only cutting about a 4Ah battery worth at a time, the M12 kit could be more of an attractive option. Plus, the M12 system has a bunch of great tools in it!
My M18 battery only last for 6 minutes with the weed trimmer at full speed. I noticed that you were cutting continuously and got a lot out of your battery. I wonder if you are not being supported by Milwaukee to make infomercials on RUclips?
LOL, if you don't trust me that's not my problem. I did receive this tool from Milwaukee, as stated in the video description. I never do paid reviews. Lots of manufacturers send me tools to review, but that doesn't change the way I review them. Go watch my Kreg 720PRO review and come back and apologize for calling me a liar. Kreg has sent me tools in the past, but it's quite possible they never will again after that one.
@@DoresoomReviews I will put down NO. I don't trust you and why should I? It's the internet, where credibility of Zilch nowadays. I'm just saying that the battery on my M18 Milwaukee only lasted 6 minutes at full speed. Do the math with a tool that takes more torque and power.
They're two completely different tools, on different battery platforms. You're making two leaps here and arriving at the conclusion I must be lying before realizing you could have made an apples to oranges comparison. Why don't you go watch some other reviews on this M12 chainsaw if you think I'm a liar? You'll see they all claim similar runtime. Milwaukee's own claim is 120 cuts in 3" hardwood for a 4Ah.
You can see it held its own against the M18 sawzall in the video. It's lighter and has less vibration than the sawzall, and can be used one-handed. But you can only use it in clean wood, and the sawzall is way more versatile. So if you're doing a lot of pruning it's worth it. If you just do the occasional storm clean up, you might want to stick with the sawzall.
Leather face would really love this portable handsaw. That big chainsaw was to heavy for him to be running around chasing people all over texas. This one is nice a portable. Very nice.
I know its slower but a cordless recip with diablo 9 or 12" carbide pruning blade has better cut capacity. The blades are beast in my ridgid octane recip in orbital mode.
It totally makes sense to use a pruning blade with a reciprocating saw if you already have one. I'd say you'd only really need this M12 chainsaw if you're doing a lot of pruning.
Leaking/draining, whatever you want to call it. Some chainsaws are worse than others. This one isn't too bad. The Ryobi brushless still leaves a puddle after sitting idle for months.
It will be labelled "bar oil". I'd also recommend watching a chainsaw usage basics video for how to use one safely. The Essential Craftsman has a great one: ruclips.net/video/kzuijFHquQk/видео.html
Yeah, some of it's just left over oil from the chain anyway. Every chainsaw I've ever used leaves oil behind to some degree, but this one isn't as bad as most about it.
Oh thank you for posting this. I'm a bit older now & 5' with not so strong arms now & the larger chainsaws I cannot hold up so this little 6" is perfect. This video how to helps me so again thanks for posting.
I never really got the point of this thing I can do way more with their newest m18 sawzal its also not as dangerous and doesn't require oil or maintenance other than keep it clean and battery lasts a lot longer
The Milwaukee is $180 bare tool, $250 for the kit. Are you talking about all the cheap 4" bar knockoff brands on Amazon? I have a strong feeling you'll get what you pay for with those.
The motor is plenty strong to handle a chain that wide. The gauge on the M12 bar is 0.043", same as the Stihl MS120c. Any smaller and you're in non-standard gauges and the cost of replacement chains will go way up.
![Electric Chainsaw - Milwaukee M18 FUEL Hatchet 8-inch Pruning Saw [Milwaukee 3004-20]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/jOcxJDVDu-g/mqdefault.jpg)
i was using mine today while on mountain bike to clear some trails, i came to a tree about 14" diameter and i buried the bar on both sides and it did the cut in about 3 minutes and 1/4 of battery power. this saw will be with my every time i go on side by side!! one of my most impressive tools
Dang, that is impressive! I haven't tried it on anything that big yet.
@@DoresoomReviews as long as your not forcing the tool, with the electrics you don't get the chain speed of fly wheel inertia to power though a tough spot or an aggressive cut from re positing the saw. you really need to cut in a different manner with battery chain saws. once i got it figured out i get good results with my M18 and now M12 chainsaw
I did a little commercial tree pruning 25 years back in my younger days using loppers.It was very hard work.Some guys did use small chainsaws but they are just as hard a work,you don't get that much more work done and were very dangerous.This battery saw would be a god send for commercial pruning!!!!
This is a great option for a car camping/emergency saw. Could process a lot of dead-fall firewood with this. With a 12v car or solar charger you could recharge a couple batteries and get a lot of cuts. Sure would beat cutting up branches with a regular hatchet or axe.
That's a great use case for it.
I agree!
Thank you for comparing the different Milwaukee saws. I have a palm tree trimming business and have been looking for a something that lasts for what I’m cutting. Such a useful video man. Thank you.
I have a dozen palm trees lining my yard. I have used small chainsaws, sawzall and M18 fuel hackzall. I prefer the m18 fuel hackzall for triming palm and palmetto limbs, it seams to be cleaner, faster and more accurate.
I have one and it’s a great tool. I’m not sure which surprised me more, how well it cut or how long you can cut on a single 4A battery.
LOL, can you tell that to the guy on here who accused me of faking the runtime? 🤣
Appreciate the thorough and clear review. I bought this and put it to work immediately. Excellent tool.
My Milwaukee 6” chain saw leaks oil. Setting on the shelf and when pointed downward it just pours out. What can I do to stop this?
I saw some other videos and one remedy is to empty the oil chamber after use. Fill it again before use.
Thanks for the in depth review! Especially the side by side tool comparison.
Thank you for a comprehensive and professional review, I just bought one
This tool looks like exactly what I need. One thing I've found is the sawz-all works great for limbs on the tree, it sucks trying to hold the saw and the branch when just trying to cut them up a couple times so they fit in the back of the truck. I've also had bad results from dedicated pruning blades, I just get a couple carbide tip Diablo blades and it powers through.
Great review! Thanks!
Needing a small chainsaw to go in my Jeep while off-roading. This is one of the top candidates. BUT my other Jeep kit power tools are either dewalt or kobalt. The Milwaukee usually stay at the house. But man this one would be great for an off roading kit.
I really would have preferred an M18 top handle chainsaw with a 10 to 12 inch bar
Then why did you bother watching this review?
@@isozero7265 to see how it compares to the current Milwaukee chainsaw I have and if I would have use for it compared to what I'm doing now for small stuff. I hopeful for a 12" top handle chainsaw with a battery. Someone will make it in the future.
@@pasqualepisani agreed!
Very helpful and informative review...much appreciated. Subscribed 👍🏽
Would have killed for one of these in my many times a year camping days, my how tools have come along. I scored the full kit for $140 brand new on Craigslist. I’ve been snapping up most of my Handyman/Lawn biz tools on there it beats the high retail costs and allows me to get more tools. I’m a milwaukee person for sure and this Hatchet is a winner just like most of their other tools. Thanks for this review!
Your comparison with the reciprocating saw is the exact reason I bought a 10 in Ryobi
I have the M12 Fuel Hackzall with a 9" pruning blade. It sucks for pruning as the back and forth ends up just shaking the limb and little cutting action happens. I much prefer a manual Japanese Silky saw for occasional pruning. Where the Hackzall did work well was in cutting smaller stumps down to soil level, and even below. But... the Hackzall chews through batteries like nothing and overheats quick-fast.
Thanks for the info on the M12 FUEL Hackzall!
Sold! Great review! Been looking into buying! Pretty sold on it! Thank you for your efforts!
Glad I could help!
Used the M12 hackzaw with pruning blade since it came out. Was convenient but slow.I put the under performance down to the short stroke length. This chainsaw is night & day.
What's the difference between the 6" and 8" hatchet saw is it just the bar length?
The 8" runs on M18 batteries. This 6" runs on M12 batteries.
I like mine . I hope they make a compact m18 arborist one hand chainsaw with a 12 to 14" bar like what makita did
Me too. I recently ent a request for this to Milwaukee through their website.
Thanks again for another great review! I can see tons of uses for this especially is you have a orchard and/or fruit trees in your backyard (lots of annual trimming is necessary).
Couple questions:
1. What size battery were you using for your 126 cuts?
2. Is the bar chain propriatary or are there third party/OEM bar chain brands that fit this chain length
3. What is the weight on this with and without battery?
4. What is the RPM speed on this vs. the M18 chainsaw
Personally I would have rather they make this a M18 tool. That would allowed the tool to have more power (i.e. less stalling) and use a larger Ah battery if additional use time is needed for larger pruning jobs. It would also allow you to easily change the battery from the standard chainsaw to the pruning saw since they use the same battery platform.
Also, it would be great if you could include the Milwaukee tool part number in your review titles (makes it easier to cut & paste the tool part number into google to immediately do some price comparisons after watching your review)
I used a 4Ah battery.
The chain is an Oregon brand chain. Not sure about the bar.
It's just under 5 lbs with it installed, but I haven't measured it bare tool.
Chain speed is 5 m/s with the M12, 12.7 m/s with the M18. Those numbers match up nicely with the speed test I did too.
@@DoresoomReviews Thanks for the info. You rock!
I just bought a Ryobi but this saw has a much better chain and works much better.
Do you have to hold the trigger safety the whole time you're using it?
No, just to get it started. You do have to hold the trigger the whole time though.
@@DoresoomReviews Thanks.
How do you charge battery? All we get is a flashing red and flashing green.
Make sure the charger is plugged into a good outlet and make sure the battery is all the way seated in the charger. If you still get flashing red and green, then you've got a bad battery. In that case return it to the store for a new one if you just bought it.
Need an m18 version. I have m18 and would not like to add m12.
My thoughts exactly.
Just got mine today. First problem I encountered was the battery charger blinking red and green, with or without battery inserted. After inserting the battery it still blinks red and green. Not sure what that means as the written instructions do not mention the lights. After I inserted the battery into the saw body I’ve discovered I can’t get the battery out of the saw body. Again no mention of this process in the written instructions. I found no hidden release for the battery. Stumped. Any ideas?
The charger blinking red and green with a battery inserted indicates a bad battery. But if it's still blinking without a battery, it may be a bad charger.
As for removing the battery, squeeze the flexible tabs on the side and pull. The 4Ah batteries can be exceptionally difficult to remove from tools.
I just used mine to knoch out 4x4s so 2x4s would sidt flush. Fast and dirty. The sign covers any blow out on the edges. I built a frame for a temporary 4x8 road sign. I will use that same method again.
By the way. no hammer or chissle. The chain does the clean up kinda like a router for flatting the bottom.
I purchased one yesterday, installed as per the Instr Book, chain full tight. But when I used to day to cut some branches, the equip is heavily vibrating and unable cut it sharply. the blade is skidding and skipping from the groove. Any tips ?
Did you install the chain facing the right way? Take a look around 1:05 and make sure the links are facing the same way mine are.
Looks to work pretty well-better than I would have expected from a 12v power source. But with a fresh blade and a 9ah battery, I think my Ryobi recip could keep up with it for far less money. Good review as usual.
Yeah, I think most 18V class reciprocating saws with a stroke length of >1" will at least be able to perform in the same ballpark of it. Benefits of the chainsaw are one handed operation, and less vibration. Of course, a recip wins in the versatility category.
Coming from Ryobi brushless tools. I sold them and upgraded to Milwaukee m12 fuel for lighter weight and better performance. I have to say this little hatchet is awesome for its intended purpose and no ryobi sawzall I owned, brushed or brushless would cut as fast, using even Diablo demo blades. You’d have to buy a Milwaukee super sawzall to cut as fast or faster, and even then it might not even beat it. The weight and compact size alone make this a go to for pruning, not to mention its a lot more refined with cutting, sawzall is difficult to use for pruning small branches and the reciprocating part makes some cuts challenging. If you are trimming limbs and need one handed operation, an 18v bulky traditional style sawzall is not the best option.
Phil..a brushless Ryobi reciprocating saw and 9ah would cost more then this kit I think. It boils down to what platform someone is on I think as far as appeal. $249 for this hatchet kit with battery/charger.
I use the single grip sawsall. Smaller lighter safer no oil and easy blade Change
I have the sawsall too. There's NO comparison between these two. NONE! I had some doubts about this hatchet saw, until I bought one. If nothing else, carry it in your car, and hope a car-jacker comes along. Anyway, this is a game changer.
Great information. Thought of using my Sawzall but I don't like chainsaws because of chains always coming off
For this kind of work I like the Black and Decker Alligator Lopper. It has two metal jaws and a chain bar between. Unfortunately it is corded, but the form factor is great for cutting 4" branches (and even a bit bigger). The jaws grip the branch while it cuts so you don’t have to be as careful positioning and holding it. It seems faster and safer than a chainsaw for this kind of work. If someone makes a cordless version of this I would be tempted.
B&D makes a cordless version too: amzn.to/358gAa3 I don't know if they're any good though, since I haven't used them myself.
I have both, but the alligator has two fairly significant downsides. Firstly, the design often restricts access to cut where you want. Other branches get in the way. Secondly, it's heavy. I tire far quicker using the Alligator.
Great review. Thanks. However, I’d be interested to hear from anyone who has used the Hatchet for a while. I have had two breakdown after a very short period of time - less than the life of a 6Ah battery. And it was the same issue with both. Very disappointing. What was even more disappointing was that Milwaukee has failed to let me know what was wrong with it. If it is something inherently wrong with the mechanism then they should withdraw the Hatchet from sale.
I've probably cut enough to drain the oil reservoir 4 times, which is about 4 full charges of a 4Ah battery. No problems so far. But man, two dying that fast is definitely a problem! Hopefully the figure out the root cause.
@@DoresoomReviewsThanks for your reply. I have now received my third Hatchet and only after an even shorter period of time I have to return it. Same issue as the first two. I am now convinced there is an inherent problem with this machine. It is not fit for purpose.
The M12 hacksaw is excellent for drywall and small carpentry projects, but it struggles with metal and other sawzall duties. FIts the "better than nothing" bill perfectly.
WTF are you trying to cut metal with it for. Maybe try it on concrete blocks.
What type oil?
Any bar and chain oil.
@@DoresoomReviews thanks. Cool Chanel by the way . 👍
Thanks for the great review. Question: Does this have a chain brake, stopping immediately when the trigger is released?
It doesn't have a chain brake, but the brushless motor stops it fairly quickly when you release the trigger.
I bought this and what kind of bar oil does it take or does it matter?
Any bar and chain oil should work.
What oil do you use
Any oil labeled "bar and chain oil" should work.
Hey you need to move back and forth with the pruning blades to clear them. They cut a lot faster that way. Know your tools buddy!!
The stroke length is just too short on that M12 hackzall. Moving it does help a little, but not nearly enough to make a difference.
How do you start it
Put the battery in, depress the safety switch, and pull the trigger. Pretty standard for a power tool.
I just got one. How in the heck do you get the battery off to recharge? It's not as obvious as other Milwaukie tools.
Just squeeze the tabs hard and pull. Some M12 tools can be extremely difficult to remove the batteries on.
@@DoresoomReviews Thanks! It worked. Tried that before. Guess I wasn't using enough pressure. Much appreciated!
Has anyone cut a 7 or 8 inch trunk by making multiple cuts around the circumference gradually until the blade meets in the center of the trunk? Also will cutting through wet/live trunks damage the blade?
Another commenter said they cut down a tree that was twice the bar length. Obviously this tool isn't meant for that purpose, but it will do in a pinch. Also chainsaws are made to cut through green wood, don't worry about that.
I just noticed that star wars x nasa shirt. Where u get it?
My wife got it for me as a gift a few years ago when I worked at NASA. I think it was a bootleg design without official licensing though, because when I went to check out the store and see if they had other cool designs, it was shut down.
I thought m12 fuel hackzall was 5/8 not 7/8?
You're right, the M12 FUEL Hackzall is 5/8" stroke length. The M18 FUEL Hackzall is 7/8" stroke length.
Can you use an M18 battery for this hatchet saw?
No, it's M12 only.
@@DoresoomReviews Thank you for the info
Great review, I love mine,. I have a hard time getting the battery out. Any suggestions? Thank you n advnce.
I've noticed a lot of M12 tools don't want to release the XC style battery packs. Just squeeze extra hard and pull, unfortunately.
Thank you
I have the same issue, have to really push the tabs in on those batteries..
You need to strengthen your hands, especially thumb and index finger. Some of the M12 batteries are definitely hard to remove from the tools.
@@DoresoomReviews I’ve been fighting with changing out my battery. Next to impossible. Love the performance off the tool though. Thanks for a great review.
The 1200w chainsaw battery 18 v 3 ah , how many hours or minutes does the battery charge last?
I'm confused if you're asking about the M12 chainsaw or the M18 chainsaw? Either way, it's not going to be measurable by time. A better estimate is number of branches cut, which Milwaukee specifies.
Any thoughts on this vs. the brushless Milwaukee M18 hackzall (2719-20)? The M18 version of the hackzall gets pretty decent reviews across the internet. I know in this video you used the brushed M12 hackzall (2420-20) and it obviously has less power and more vibration vs. the newer M18 fuel hackzall. The hatchet definitely lends itself to outdoor pruning, but with the M18 hackzall it provides you with a lot more versitility and is compatible with a lot more cutting materials vs. the hatchet. Also Milwaukee just released new AX with Carbide Teeth for Pruning Clean Wood sawzall blades which can be used to cut into the ground and cut tree roots which helps to remove tree stumps (which you absolutely can not do with this hatchet tool). Not to mention the M18 fuel hackzall is cheaper. I've seen people performing trimming with the M18 fuel hackzall so I was wondering what your thoughts on that were. Thanks for the feedback!
I haven't used the M18 Hackzall myself, but if I already had it, I think it would be difficult to justify this M12 chainsaw too. Unless you do a huge amount of pruning the M18 Hackzall will just be way more versatile like you mentioned. It will be slower than the chainsaw though, since the stroke length on the M18 Hackzall is 7/8" and the stroke length on the M18 Sawzall I used in the video is 1-1/8", both at 3000 SPM.
@@DoresoomReviews That's what I was thinking as well. Thanks for your response!
@@DoresoomReviews Just make sure to get the bigger M18 hackzall, they make a 3/4" stroke model also. smithmal said it right, the hackzall does the pruning and so much more very well. I also have the 16" chainsaw which works so well two friends used mine and immediately had to get one themselves.
I love buying new Milwaukee tools, but I think I'll wait and see if they bring out an M18 version of this. I have both the brushless M12 Hackzall and the brushless M18 Hackzall which I use for pruning trees all the time and the M18 is light-years ahead of the M12 and is one of my favorite Milwaukee tools. An M18 version of this would rock with a spare chain along with me!
The problem with trying to use the Hackzall as a pruning tool is that you need to be able to clear the chips, and a reciprocating saw does that very poorly. The blade might be just as long, but if teeth can’t get clear of material the saw will just stop cutting. It does great fast work, but can’t clear chips like the Hatchet.
will this saw work well with the 1.5 Ah battery? would you be willing to test it?
It worked fine with the 2Ah battery, which has the same number of cells. I'd expect it to work fine with the 1.5Ah battery, just with less runtime.
Fantastic review! Great information. You have my subscription.
I'm torn between buying the pruning type saw (this Milwaukee or Stihl GTA 26), or a small top handle chainsaw from Makita.. Pruning saw it more convenient, lighter, and better for one hand use while the Makita 18V top handle is more powerful with a longer run time. And although Makita is more expensive, you can use the regular 18V battery from other tools while I don't have any tools or batteries that use the M12 Fuel or Stihl's 10,8 V..
That's a tough choice. I'd probably get the Makita if I were you since you already have their batteries. But if you're planning on only cutting about a 4Ah battery worth at a time, the M12 kit could be more of an attractive option. Plus, the M12 system has a bunch of great tools in it!
My M18 battery only last for 6 minutes with the weed trimmer at full speed. I noticed that you were cutting continuously and got a lot out of your battery. I wonder if you are not being supported by Milwaukee to make infomercials on RUclips?
LOL, if you don't trust me that's not my problem. I did receive this tool from Milwaukee, as stated in the video description. I never do paid reviews. Lots of manufacturers send me tools to review, but that doesn't change the way I review them. Go watch my Kreg 720PRO review and come back and apologize for calling me a liar. Kreg has sent me tools in the past, but it's quite possible they never will again after that one.
@@DoresoomReviews I will put down NO. I don't trust you and why should I? It's the internet, where credibility of Zilch nowadays. I'm just saying that the battery on my M18 Milwaukee only lasted 6 minutes at full speed. Do the math with a tool that takes more torque and power.
They're two completely different tools, on different battery platforms. You're making two leaps here and arriving at the conclusion I must be lying before realizing you could have made an apples to oranges comparison. Why don't you go watch some other reviews on this M12 chainsaw if you think I'm a liar? You'll see they all claim similar runtime. Milwaukee's own claim is 120 cuts in 3" hardwood for a 4Ah.
Is this really better than a sawzall?
You can see it held its own against the M18 sawzall in the video. It's lighter and has less vibration than the sawzall, and can be used one-handed. But you can only use it in clean wood, and the sawzall is way more versatile. So if you're doing a lot of pruning it's worth it. If you just do the occasional storm clean up, you might want to stick with the sawzall.
looks like it works better than my dewalt 20v......
Shoot you must be using it wrong I’ve chopped up 20” fallen trees with my Dewalt
@@zack6892 p
Excellent review , thanks for that
Leather face would really love this portable handsaw. That big chainsaw was to heavy for him to be running around chasing people all over texas. This one is nice a portable. Very nice.
🤣 He would lose a bit of the intimidation factor without a gas chainsaw to rev though!
It's a shame that you can't use your 18v batteries. I bought a Milwaukee kit and have 4 5a/h batteries.
I know its slower but a cordless recip with diablo 9 or 12" carbide pruning blade has better cut capacity. The blades are beast in my ridgid octane recip in orbital mode.
It totally makes sense to use a pruning blade with a reciprocating saw if you already have one. I'd say you'd only really need this M12 chainsaw if you're doing a lot of pruning.
the oil comes off the bar and saw after done. its not leaking lol. every saw will do that.
Leaking/draining, whatever you want to call it. Some chainsaws are worse than others. This one isn't too bad. The Ryobi brushless still leaves a puddle after sitting idle for months.
Every saw will do that?
Most saws don't. Usually just chainsaws.
i am new to chainsaws, would you please tell me what kind of oil it uses?
It will be labelled "bar oil". I'd also recommend watching a chainsaw usage basics video for how to use one safely. The Essential Craftsman has a great one: ruclips.net/video/kzuijFHquQk/видео.html
so the oil leak is normal?
Yeah, some of it's just left over oil from the chain anyway. Every chainsaw I've ever used leaves oil behind to some degree, but this one isn't as bad as most about it.
Oh thank you for posting this. I'm a bit older now & 5' with not so strong arms now & the larger chainsaws I cannot hold up so this little 6" is perfect. This video how to helps me so again thanks for posting.
Great review! thanks
Congrats Milwuakee bucks
Great review!
Looks great..
I never really got the point of this thing I can do way more with their newest m18 sawzal its also not as dangerous and doesn't require oil or maintenance other than keep it clean and battery lasts a lot longer
It can be used one handed and has less vibration. But you're right, the Sawzall is a much more versatile tool.
Mine is on the kitchen counter. It just had its bath. My baby.
Thanks. Great info
Looks a nice bit of kit but in the UK it's £360! 😱
Yikes! That's more than the 16" M18 version goes for here.
U can get a cheap version on amazon for $39
This reminds me of that one mini chainsaw in fallout
Too bad One-Key and Pip Boy are incompatible.
That hacksaw was hilarious
I should have made that frame black and white like those cheesy infomercials! 😂
Well non fuel too 🧐😬🤣
and you pay like 300 dl for it then i look at other mini chainsaw and wurked good and beter for only 70 or 80 dl
The Milwaukee is $180 bare tool, $250 for the kit. Are you talking about all the cheap 4" bar knockoff brands on Amazon? I have a strong feeling you'll get what you pay for with those.
“get my hands on it”
Like a Space marine chain sword, but for regualr humans.
Better to have that chain too loose than too tight !...
Great Review
The chain look too big for it size
I still prefer Stihl MS120c with slimmer chains.
The motor is plenty strong to handle a chain that wide. The gauge on the M12 bar is 0.043", same as the Stihl MS120c. Any smaller and you're in non-standard gauges and the cost of replacement chains will go way up.
@@DoresoomReviews
Thanks for the clarifications
Excellent video.
Love mine
For $250, it should be able to pay it's own rent.
I'd buy a M18 version in heartbeat.
Would be awesome with a 10" bar!
India meni bhi mini chainsaw machine ha
G'day, great review.
Thanks!
Way overpriced, I bought a cheap one just to try and it was awesome.
Hacksaws are for metal, anyway.
Hackzalls are for metal, wood, pvc, etc. - pretty much anything as long as you pick the right blade. Pruning branches is a very common application.
Very good daw
Nothing much just watching me favorite youtuber please pin
if only the bar was longer.
I saw a video a while back where a guy swapped the 10" M18 pole saw bar for this one and it still worked fine.
🍻🍺
Hi!