Milwaukee M18 Fuel Jig Saw Review
As part of The Home Depot’s ProSpective program this quarter, I got to check out the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Cordless D-Handle Jig Saw, model # 2737-20
More info on the M18 Jig Saw here at Home Depot:
https://homedepot.sjv.io/c/1285960/1258476/8154
Quick Overview
M18 Battery Platform
Powerstate brushless motor w/ Redlink Plus Intelligence
T-shank blades
4 orbital modes
LED light
Tool-free bevel adjustment
Up to 105 linear ft. of cutting in laminated particle board with a 5ah battery
Tool only: 4.85lbs
8.9” length x 8.6” height x 3.2” width
$199 (tool only)
5 year warranty
I’ve been putting the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Jig Saw through the paces the past several months. The increased power and cut speed compared to it’s competitors and original non-fuel version is very apparent. That’s something Milwaukee tool owners can all tell a difference in with the Fuel versions when the Powerstate brushless motor is paired with a Redlithium battery.
It’s blazingly fast through standard 3/4” material. I also like to use a jig saw most of the time when breaking down rough sawn hardwoods to prevent any kickback trying to use a miter saw with unstable material. The Milwaukee Fuel Jig Saw has no problem slicing right through thicker and harder materials like this 8/4 white oak.
This is a d-handle jig saw which greatly varies from a barrel grip style. It all comes down to personal preference on which is best for you. Personally I like to have both. I have a Collins Coping Foot set up on my barrel grip jig saw most of the time, as I find it much more ergonomically friendly in that case for scribe work. But for general cutting, I do prefer a d-handle style.
You’ll notice there’s no variable speed dial on the saw, but it does have a variable speed trigger that ranges from 0-3500 strokes per minute. For really fine detailed work I would prefer to have a speed dial or atleast a trigger lock so all you have to do is focus on your cut. For general cutting I have found the variable speed trigger to be very responsive though. It’s not like other similar triggers I’ve used where you basically have to squeeze the trigger all the way at a fast speed for it to start. You’re able to barely squeeze the trigger to get a nice, slow start.
The trigger is a large 2-finger design as well. This is helpful for longer sustained cuts to reduce the strain of having to use only your pointer finger.
The saw features a 1” stroke length and 3 orbital modes as well as an off option for a lot of versatility when cutting different material types.
The bevel adjustment is tool-free and uses this lever toward the rear of the saw to unlock it. You can lock the bevel back in at any degree, but there are positive detents to lock it in exactly at 0, 15, 30, and 45 degrees in either direction. A jig saw generally isn’t the most ideal tool for trying to cut super accurate bevels. I use it more to put a slight back cut on material where the angle doesn’t really even matter. I did do some tests though and found that this one tracked really well cutting straight and did cut nearly a perfect 45 degree bevel.
The Milwaukee Jig Saw accepts the most commonly used t-shank style blades. It has a tool-free blade change lever on the front that is fairly similar to most other modern saws. The blade ejection is super smooth, and by that I mean it really ejects it, like shoots it out!
I really like the location of the LED light on the front of the saw. It provides a ton of visibility to see your cut.
Dust collection is another new feature to this Fuel Jig Saw. It comes with a dust extraction tube that connects to the back of the saw near the shoe.
The saw also has a dust blower feature built-in to keep your cut line clear. If you’re wanting to use the dust tube with your vacuum attached, you would just shut off the front dust blower by using this slide button on the side to open the vent.
Collecting all the dust on a jig saw is nearly impossible just because of the manor in which they cut. But, I did find that it actually works pretty well at collecting all the airborne stuff and chips that shoot out in front of the saw everywhere. You’re basically just left with the dust the falls straight down from the bottom of the cut. So it’s not perfect by any means, but it does help contain the mess.
The dust cover also just snaps onto the front of the saw and helps control dust chips from flying out. It’s a nice, really clear material so it doesn’t obstruct your view too much.
Non-marring shoe cover to help protect finished surfaces.
Blade deflection and making square cuts can be pretty frustrating with some jig saws. The blade you’re using does play a roll in this, but the saw itself is a big contributor as well. When cutting straight and just letting the saw do the work, I haven’t experienced hardly any deflection. When testing and cutting extreme curves I did get some deflection, but I was really pushing the saw.
I have been thoroughly impressed with the cut quality from this Milwaukee M18 Fuel Jig Saw, and like I previously mentioned, the cut speed and power is certainly at the top of it’s class.
Check the M18 Jig Saw out here at Home Depot!
https://homedepot.sjv.io/c/1285960/1258476/8154
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