Milwaukee M18 Chainsaw Review

Here are my thoughts on features and build quality:

Milwaukee has a need for additional tools outside their 18V cordless line-up. Before this chainsaw they had only a blower (two models), string trimmer, and hedge trimmer. It was a good start, but it meant that loyal customers had to search elsewhere for the right tools or wait until they could get them. Milwaukee now has an M18 option, which is great news for Milwaukee M18 owners. While it’s far from a perfect solution, this tool is one step closer to the ideal.

It’s surprising, but not unexpected, that Milwaukee tried a cordless saw with a large 16-inch bar and chain. They chose to go with a very large bar as a 16″ chainsaw would be unheard of at 18 volt. I also say not-surprisingly because Milwaukee has year after year been known to push the envelope with tools otherwise impossible on any 18 volt platform. However, they’ve done the impossible numerous times before. Recently, Milwaukee offered an SDSMAX-MAX rotary wrench and a 10-inch sliding miter saw. Their first attempt at 18 volt chainsaws was successful, so it is not surprising. For a size/voltage comparison, the next largest chainsaw on 18 volt is a 12 inch chainsaw from Dewalt with their 18V/20V brushless chainsaw. Because 16 inch batteries powered chainsaws tend to be on higher voltage platforms (e.g. 36 volts) it is quite unusual to find one. If you have the Milwaukee M18 platform, however, you won’t need to upgrade to a higher-voltage platform to enjoy a sixteen inch chainsaw.

Milwaukee’s chainsaw comes standard with the following: the main trigger/safety handle, the chain brake/guard and the second handle. It also includes spiked bumpers, an oil tank and cap. Makita X2 14′” brushless was my favorite feature. It’s totally tool-less to adjust the tension or change the chain. Milwaukee’s chainsaw doesn’t offer tool-less tensioning and the ability to change chain. Instead they went with a dual stud design for chain tensioning which is said to offer better chain retention however at the cost of needing to use tools to adjust tension. A toolless saw is my preference. It’s easier to use and less time to adjust tension. But if the chain tension stays in place much longer then I suppose it’s a good trade off as it will require tensioning a lot less if true. The chain tension has not been tested for any extended periods so it is difficult to comment. At the time of writing, I had only used this chainsaw for 5 large cuts and the saw did not need tensioning after those cuts. Unfortunately, the chainsaw won’t be needed until late in the year. I intend to limb several of my trees. It’s important to limb many trees now. However, this is too early and they will need to rest until the winter. The dual stud configuration will provide me with a better chance of evaluating its effectiveness. We are fortunate that the Milwaukee chainsaw comes with tools to adjust the chain tension. The Milwaukee chainsaw uses a scrench to be a two-in-1 tool. This includes a wrench, screwdriver, and single screw. They are needed for adjustment of the onboard nuts as well as chain tensioning. The chainsaw also features on-board storage for the scrench underneath the saw so you always have the scrench on you at all times ready for when needed.

There is a side view that allows you to check the oil level. The cap also has an insert string. This prevents the cap from falling off and makes sure it stays with your tool, even if it’s not capped. I was impressed by the Milwaukee’s ability to not leak from an oil-filled tank. After filling it with oil, I used it and stored it for two weeks on a level ground. This was a great result, similar to my Makita X2 saw. The Ryobi 18V polesaw leaks like a plague. It’s so disgusting that I have to use diapers every day. I am also using the Milwaukee handle. Milwaukee also offers a keyhole to allow you to mount the Milwaukee chainsaw on the wall. It seems like Milwaukee has confidence enough in this feature that it allows you hang the Milwaukee chainsaw with its front facing up without the risk of it leaking. While I have yet to test this, it doesn’t leak when it is laying flat on its side.

Motors that are brushless can have a longer runtime and provide higher performance. For a saw with a large 16″ blade, you will need the most power possible. The handle features a variable speed trigger so you can vary the cutting speed to your liking. After you press the trigger about 2/5ths of the way down, it will start turning on your motor. The trigger responds to touch very well and you can make the motor run slowly to get a start on the cut, crank it to maximum speed to accelerate the cutting process or throttle the trigger at any point in-between.

Milwaukee M18 16 Fuel Chainsaw 2627-21HD takes full advantage of the 12-volt lithium battery. This tool is available as an accessory. You don’t need a very large battery to run this power tool. It was noticeable that the compartment of the battery surrounds the device when it is being inserted. Why I brought this up was because the 12.0 Milwaukee battery is the largest in both capacity and size. It’s also larger than the existing 9.0. The compartment in my chainsaw still provides room underneath the battery. This makes me wonder if they made it more spacious on purpose to future proof the chainsaw so that the battery compartment would be able to fit an even larger battery pack later in the future. The idea of a bigger battery and possibly a fourth row was what got me thinking. This would fit an even larger battery that has 4 rows of cells. Just to be clear, both the 9.0 and 12.0 current batteries are three-row. But keep in mind that my thoughts on Milwaukee bringing an even larger 4 row battery in the future is just my own personal speculation so take this info with a grain of salt. Any confirmed information on an additional battery will be posted on the Tool Craze site in separate articles.

Performance Review – We Try Out The Milwaukee M18 Fuel Chainsaw

Our first test was to cut discs out of a 6-inch log with the Milwaukee Chainsaw. The chainsaw went through a whopping 83 discs before we ran out of log to cut! We finished the job and found that our 12.0Ah batteries still had 2 bars left (out of 4) Milwaukee claims that the M18 chainsaw is capable of cutting 150 times per charge on the 12.0Ah lithium battery. We believe that their claim to provide 150 cuts per charge on the 12.0Ah battery is reasonable based upon our 6″ diameter log experience.

Test #2. Aaron and my next test was to compare the Milwaukee chainsaw with our Stihl gas powered 30cc model. Aaron and my test consisted of cutting 6 disks off one log. You can view the YouTube video below. This is the surprise: Milwaukee does this job a lot faster than it needs to because they don’t need to start.

Test #3: Our third test involved using the Milwaukee to remove downed trees within the forest close to our house. The Milwaukee did a great job, cutting down the tree limbs quickly and efficiently.

Cordless Chainsaw

Milwaukee came out swinging when they created their first chainsaw. They used only one 18-volt lithium battery. M18 FUEL Chainsaw features a 16 inch Oregon bar and chain. It also includes double retention studs and an onboard scrench that allows for fast adjustments. The large window on the site makes it easy to check the bar oil levels. And the absence of electronic buttons gives the saw the feel of a Pro-style chainsaw. Home Depot has sponsored this post as part the THD Prospective Program.

Overall Score 4.5 Get it at The Home Depot Buy Now Milwaukee M18 FUEL Chainsaw Video Review Until you get you actually use the Milwaukee M18 FUEL chainsaw, it’s hard to explain the amount of power they’re pulling from these 18-volt batteries. Milwaukee can deliver the goods with their 16-inch bars and chains. Much like the new M18 Quik Lok Attachment System . Their claim is that the Milwaukee 2727 chainsaw has the power of a 40cc gas chainsaw. It was tested and even used side by side a 60cc model.

.Milwaukee M18 Chainsaw Review