There’s a Milwaukee Sawzall (or Hackzall) for every demo job

In 1951, the Milwaukee Electric Tool Company introduced the Sawzall to the world. Since then it has become so well known that it is common for people to call a reciprocating saw of any brand by the Sawzall name. More than 70 years later, a lot has changed. Dive deeper into the best Milwaukee Sawzall models today.

The biggest and baddest model to wear the Sawzall badge is the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Super Sawzall. As the only cordless model currently carrying the “Super” designation, it exceeds the cutting performance of all other reciprocating saws in the Milwaukee lineup, including corded. Its brushless motor is capable of 3000 SPM with a stroke length of 1 1/4 inches.

It also has a really nice feature set which includes selectable orbital action, variable speed dial, adjustable shoe, and more.

The downside is that it is a heavy tool, weighing 12.2 pounds with a high output 12.0 Ah battery. However, if cutting speed and cordless convenience are your top priorities, there’s no better option.

Price: $249 bare, $449 kit with high-output 12.0 Ah battery

Milwaukee has a few corded Super Sawzalls to choose from, and the 15-amp model (6538-21) is the best of the bunch. With selectable orbital action and a variable speed dial, its 2800 max SPM and 1 1/4 inch stroke length rip through demo jobs faster than Milwaukee’s other corded options. Plus, this one is made in the good old USA.

Price: $199

Best Milwaukee M18 Cordless Saw

The majority of cordless models in the Milwaukee line have brushless motors and are part of the M18 Fuel line. If you’re aiming for the lower cost of a brushed version, there’s only one model available: the 2621. It combines a top speed of 3000 SPM with a 1 1/8 inch stroke length to get the job done. . Although it’s faster than Milwaukee’s corded Super Sawzall, there’s a distinct difference in power when making tough cuts.

As you would expect from the basic entry of any line, the 2621 is lighter than some of the more expensive options, but it has a blade release lever on the housing which is much easier use than shaft-mounted designs.

Price: $129 naked, $249 kit with 3.0 Ah battery

You might be surprised to find that there’s no wired Hackzall, it’s a purely wireless design. The M12 and M18 systems have brushed and brushless options. The top pick overall is the M18 Fuel Hackzall (Model 2719).

It’s taller and heavier than the M12 options, but its 7/8 inch stroke length and 3000 SPM top speed keep most of its competition away. In fact, this is one of the few one-handed reciprocating saw designs we recommend if you need to cut 2×4s in addition to sheet metal, PVC, and EMT. Most other options will do this cut, they are just painfully slow.

Price: $199 naked, $269 kit with 5.0 Ah battery

The Milwaukee 2520 M12 Fuel Hackzall is one of the best one-handed reciprocating saws. It has the performance to match many of the popular 18V/20V Max brands but is smaller and lighter thanks to its 12V power source. Runtime is of course shorter, but the weight and size savings are welcome when cutting overhead and in tight spaces.

On the performance side, you are looking for 3000 SPM on the top end with a 5/8 inch stroke length. Whether you’re cutting for plumbing, irrigation, or electrical, this is a great go-to option.

Price: $149 bare, $159 kit with 4.0 Ah battery

The Milwaukee 2822 starts with a 3000 SPM compound brushless motor with a 1 1/4 inch stroke length and has an IQ far beyond other reciprocating saws. One-Key does more than just track location and help with inventory management on this tool. In fact, it’s the most developed smart tool app we’ve seen.

There are three electronic modes to choose from, and each is customizable through the One-Key app. You can choose the speed and decide if you want a soft start. However, it goes much further. You can tell the app which blade you’re using and what material you’re cutting and let it choose the optimal settings to use, maximizing your cutting efficiency and blade life.

Price: $259 naked, $469 kit with two 5.0 Ah batteries

Milwaukee Sawzall Blades

It’s no surprise that Milwaukee is deeply entrenched in Sawzall blades. From bi-metal to carbide and cutting wood to thick metal, there’s a blade for you. Here’s a breakdown of what’s available:

Milwaukee Wood/Nail Embedded Wood Ax

Milwaukee Ax blades are available in 6, 9, and 12 inch lengths and feature a Fang tip in the front to help you get started.

• 3 TPI carbide blade for cutting clean wood and pruning
• 5 TPI bi-metal blade for wood/nail embedded wood
• 5 TPI carbide blade for wood, nail-embedded wood, shingles and cement board

Milwaukee Wrecker for multi-material cutting

Milwaukee Wrecker Sawzall blades are your best bet for cutting through everything with one blade. Available with bi-metal or carbide teeth, they are also available in 6, 9 or 12 inch lengths.

• 7/11 variable TPI bi-metal blade for cutting wood, nail-embedded wood, PVC, plastic and thick metal
• 6 TPI carbide blade with Fang tip for cutting wood, nail-embedded wood, PVC, plastic, plaster, drywall and thick metal
• 6 TPI nitrus carbide blade with Fang tip for cutting wood, nail-embedded wood, PVC, plastic, plaster, drywall and thick metal

Milwaukee torch for metal cutting

When metal is on the menu, Milwaukee has options for cutting thin sheet metal, thick cast iron, and even stainless steel. Like the other blade categories, they are available in 6, 9 and 12 inch lengths.

• 10, 14, 18, and 24 TPI bi-metal blades for cutting sheet metal, rigid conduit, spacers, angle iron, threaded rod, Schedule 80 pipe, plastics, and more.
• 7 TPI carbide blade for cutting stainless steel and thick metals such as black pipe, angle iron, cast iron, high tensile alloys, rebar, etc.
• 7 TPI nitrus carbide blade for cutting stainless steel and thick metals such as black pipe, angle iron, cast iron, high tensile alloys, rebar, etc.

This isn’t all of the Milwaukee Sawzall options available, but it’s a good overview of where this iconic tool is today. What’s your favourite? Let us know in the comments below!