Tool Box Buzz

• Superior performance: Delivers the fastest cutting speed in its class, increased power and the durability of corded saws
• POWERSTATE™ Brushless Motor: Supplies constant power for faster cuts and reduced heat for extended life
• REDLINK PLUS™ Intelligence: Provides optimized performance and overload protection using total system communication between tool, battery and charger
• REDLITHIUM™ XC 4.0 Battery Pack: Provides superior pack construction, more work per charge and more work over the life of the pack than competitive batteries

Corded Power

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the new M18 FUEL lineup from Milwaukee is a total game changer for large cordless power tools. The FUEL lineup has “cut the cord” and produced the freedom of cordless tools with the power and performance of their corded cousins. This may sound too good to be true, however once you’ve tried this tool I think you’ll agree that this is a new day for these heavy hitting tools that so many of us rely on in construction.

The key to this new tools power and run time is the use of a brushless motor combined with an extended run time Li-Ion 4.0 Ah battery pack and advanced electronics that optimize the battery, motor and charger. My testing included cutting up some galvanized steel angle iron followed by several dozen cuts in 3/4″ plywood, then I cut through some pressure treated wood with framing nails embedded in it, and then dozens of cuts in a piece of 2×4 pressure treated lumber. I did all that on 1/2 of a battery charge and finally gave up because I was bored and tired!

Words simply cannot describe how impressive this is so I encourage you to check out the video at the end of this article. It’s almost 9 minutes long, but during that time you’ll be able to see why I think we can say that the cord has been cut! The clincher for me was seeing how it performed with metal and things like cutting through framing nails. Earlier generations of cordless recip saws by everyone in the industry were fine for cutting out windows from wall sheathing, and cutting some PVC or copper pipe. But the older versions really couldn’t handle high amp draw tasks like cutting metals and demo sections with embedded nails. All that is now possible with the M18 FUEL Sawzall and I think that’s damn impressive.

Quality & Features

As usual with Milwaukee tools the quality of the tool is PRO grade from the bottom to the top. This might be a cordless tool but everything minus the missing cord is built with the same quality, rugged materials that I’ve grown accustomed to with Milwaukee. From the heavy rubber over-mold on the front to the steel rafter hook this tool really is a contractor/PRO grade designed to stand up to serious jobsite abuse.

Notable features on the 2720-20 are the LED light in the nose, the metal rafter hook and the trigger lock. I really like the trigger lock as it provides much needed safety when carrying the tool up ladders or crawling around in a crawl space. It’s clear to me that this tool was designed with it’s users in mind from the beginning to the end. I’m also very pleased with the simple to use QUIK-LOK® Universal blade change system.

Extended Run Time Batteries

4.0 Ah batteries are not new (everyone seems to have them already), however the combination of these batteries with the brushless motor is the key to how long this tool can run. The REDLITHIUM™ XC 4.0 Battery Pack also features a battery gauge so you can check how much “fuel” is left in the tank which is really important with Li-Ion batteries as they stop working completely with almost no warning.

Overall Impression

The Milwaukee M18 FUEL Sawzall is an awesome tool. Cordless tools like this have really improved safety and productivity on the jobsite. Workers can now climb up onto a roof and not worry about tripping over a cord yet they have the power of the corded tool. Workers can maneuver around a demolition job without taking the time to string along power cords which ultimately saves countless hours of work. The 2720-20 not only performs like a corded tool but it also offers the durability of a quality PRO grade tool. When you consider all these facts the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Sawzall is truly the top of it’s class and my top pick for a cordless reciprocating saw. Priced at $199 for the bare tool or $299 for a kit with one battery it’s a great value and very comparable to similar corded tools.