Milwaukee has announced a new M18 Fuel 8″ metal-cutting circular saw, model 2982.
Press materials emphasize 3 takeaways:
- The new saw generates 15A corded power
- Faster than corded
- Cuts 120′ of decking per charge
Milwaukee says that the new M18 Fuel brushless saw generates as much power as a 15A corded saw, but actually performs faster.
Kevin Gee, Group Product Manger at Milwaukee Tool, says:
Through our advanced M18 FUEL cordless technology, we’re able to deliver an 8″ Metal Cutting Circular Saw that not only surpasses the speed of corded but does so with a larger cutting capacity than any cordless metal cutting circular saw.
Got that? It surpasses the speed of corded and boasts a larger cutting capacity, as the “industry’s first 8″ metal-cutting circular saw.”
With respect to runtime, the saw is said to be able to cut up to 120′ of corrugated decking per charge, presumably with an M18 XC 8.0Ah battery.
- 8″ blade size, 5/8″ arbor
- 4000 RPM
- 2-9/16″ max cutting capacity
- Onboard chip collection
- Load indicator light
- Tool-free adjustable shoe
- Electric blade brake
- Weighs 12.1 lbs (bare tool)
In addition to corrugated decking, Milwaukee says the new saw can perform in the toughest applications to cut material such as 1″ plate steel and 2″ black pipe.
The kit, 2982-21, comes with the saw, an M18 High Output XC 8.0Ah batery, rapid charger, blade, blade wrench (hex key), and a contractor bag.
Price: $399 for the bare tool (2982-20), $549 for the kit (2982-21)
Buy Now: Kit via Acme Tools
Buy Now: Kit via Ohio Power Tool
Buy Now: Bare Tool via Acme Tools
Discussion
While this isn’t a tool I’d personally use regularly, it seems to be a solid answer for users who’ve been requesting a metal-cutting circular saw with greater cutting capacity.
A band saw, corded or cordless, is likely still going to be the go-to for smaller diameter materials, such as thin-wall pipes, conduit, and what-not. But for something like the 2″ black pipe or 1″ plate steel that this saw is advertised as being able to cut? I can see how an 8″ metal-cutting circular saw might be advantageous.
I wonder – what’s the advantage of a larger blade for cutting materials such as corrugated steel panels? I suppose maybe straighter cuts? Better performance for longer cuts?
When Milwaukee announced their M18 Fuel 5-7/8″ metal-cutting blade, they advertised that it can make up to 370 cuts in EMT. Obviously, 1″ steel plate is very different than EMT conduit, which is hollow thin-walled steel tubing.
With this in mind, the new 8″ saw seems like a good step up. 5-7/8″ for faster cutting of smaller-diameter or thickness materials, 8″ for heavier duty cutting of thicker, larger, or longer materials.
I referred to product sell sheets for Milwaukee’s 15A corded 8″ metal-cutting saw to help give me more context. As mentioned, this isn’t a size of metal saw I use, and so I tried to do some quick background research. Interestingly, the 15A 8″ saw is advertised as being able to make tough cuts, such as in 10 gauge steel sheets and 1/4″ steel plate. “For even more extreme cuts, up to 3/4″ steel plates are possible.
The new M18 Fuel saw runs a little faster than Milwaukee’s corded saw, and it drew my attention that 3/4″ steel plate is considered the upper limit of what the corded saw can cut, and 1″ steel plate is the upper limit of what the cordless saw can cut. You’re probably not going to cut 1″ steel plate with this saw, right? Well, I guess you can.
But even if you’re not pushing the saw to its limits, the fact that it has a large blade size and can be pushed into demanding cuts means that it should handle everything smaller with ease. Even if you’re cutting say 1/4″ steel plate, the new 8″ saw *should* outperform their smaller metal-cutting circular saw and corded saws alike.
There is a downside – a beefier motor and large blade size means an overall larger and heavier tool.
If you’ve been using an 8” corded saw, will you be looking to pick up the new Milwaukee M18 Fuel cordless saw? What about if you’ve been using a smaller cordless circular saw, or a band saw?
