Customer Reviews

Milwaukee 6521-21 Heavy Duty 11 Amp Orbital Action Super Sawzall

5 star:		(49)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I had a Makita for 13 years that wasn't too bad, but it finally died of bad bearings. The repair cost was within $10 of replacement so I started shopping.

I was going to get the 10 amp Super Sawzall, but after reading toolpig's review and considering the advantages of orbital action, I bought this one. It was only $5 more. I will never be sorry!

My first project was cutting up a bunch of rebar to use spiking railroad ties down. Over 100 cuts (with a Lenox blade) and I wasn't tired and neither was the saw. I slowed it down with the speed dial to keep from burning up my blade. I never realized how handy this one feature would be until I used it. You can get precicion control over top speed without having to finesse the trigger. Just set the max and pull it wide open - no more overspeed burns!

Next I was cutting railroad ties with a 12" Lenox blade. I started out in the straight cutting mode and it was slow after the first inch. I switched to orbital action and the blade just about fell through the wood! I was making straight cuts and miters on 8" x 10" ties with no problem. I had used a chian saw in the past, but railroad ties always have a "suprise rock" right in the path of your cut. The recip blades are basically disposable, so you can save the chainsaw for less risky duty.

This saw runs smooth and quiet, no user fatigue after hours of use. The adjustable shoe is real handy, another feature new to me after the Makita. If this tool lasts as well as it runs, you'll never need another recip saw. I don't see how they could come out with a better tool, unless it would run itself on voice command while you sat back and watched! Maybe next Millenium.

I just have to smile every time I use my Orbital Super Sawzall. It runs so smooth, I have to check to make sure it's plugged in.(not really but almost)It has the new METAL quick-loc blade clamp. A vast improvement over the original.As another reviewer already mentioned, there are more positions on the adjustable shoe. You get two varible speed controls. One on the trigger for careful cutting, and one on a speed dial for cutting different materials. If you run full speed on steel or other hard materials you will burn your blades up. With the 6521 you can dial it down to nothing if you want to. Basically it's a super sawzall on steroids. You get more power,plus the only infinitely variable orbital action I know of. Believe me, it works ! I have had orbital saws from other companies in the past. I sold all of them to make room for something better. I needed something that could be run continuously without dislodging my fillings, and making my hands numb. So I got the super sawzall.(Reviewed it in November) I love it. But sometimes I need more than one, like when I'm on multiple jobs. I thought about getting a cheapie but resisted the urge. Boy am I glad. The 6521-21 exceeded all my expectations. Obital action with no vibration. Plus they retained all the good features of the 6537. Including the impact protecting clutch,and a LIFETIME WARRANTY two things you won't get anywhere else. I highly recommend the 6521!

Everyone knows that sawzalls can cut through almost any material: wood, nail-embedded wood, plaster, metal, (steel, cast iron, aluminum, black pipe, conduit, etc.) drywall, plaster,... you get the idea. When I used this to cut through floorboards and 2x4's it was as smooth as a hot knife through butter. Unistrut and allthread were also no match for this machine. This 11 amp Super Sawzall has a standard blade stroke mode, plus an orbital stroke mode for a faster, more agressive cut through thicker wood. You can also adjust the amount of orbital action from none to full depending on the application. This sawzall also has the new Quik-Lok blade clamp with allows you to change blades in seconds rather than minutes. There's no more searching for a hex wrench to change blades here.

I've been using sawzall's for quite a while now and I have always admired Milwaukee Sawzalls for their dependability and durability. When I finally had to replace my old one and discovered that Milwaukee had introduced a new sawzall to their line, it was a simple choice for me. The added power and easy of use make this an idea choice if your building something new, tearing something down, or fabricating something for a job. I would highly recomend this product to anyone who wanted to purchase a sawzall.

I don't have the years of hard earned credentials of most of those posting here, but here's my 2 cents worth. I am busy DIY'r (brought on by purchase of 1st house). I originally bought the Porter Cable Tiger Saw 11.5 amp Tiger Saw because all those at my work & Home Improvement stores etc said I didn't need that much saw. I have always been willing to spend an extra 25% for the best when I knew it would pay back in the long run, and I should have stuck to my guns. Luckily, the place I bought it took it back even though it had been used several times ( I have spend A LOT of money there), and let me trade up to this saw. It has everything you'll ever want. Pro's: Metal case, not plastic; the shoe pivots closer to the axis of the chuck and blade, instead of offset, so the shoe remains flat on the work, supported; the shoe adjusts for different distances with a simple pull of a large, secure lever that blends into the front end, not a hex key; the chuck holds the blades like a vice, not like a rubber band (the Porter Cable chuck allowed a 12" blade to move 1 1/2" or more up and down when set, a distraction when trying to do detail work); the chuck allows the blade to be held up or down, not only down, for reverse "up" cuts (not the safest, but it is there if you need it); adjustable orbital action, not just on/off; speed control dial to set the max speed possible per pull of the trigger (blade, and work saver); quik-lok cord (some say they lose contact after awhile, but easily replaceable. I believe I was told about $10 for a replacement. Anyone?); two blades included (6" 5/8 tpi wood, 6" 18 tpi metal "the torch"), not one; counter-balance to lessen some of that vibrating (the P.C. saw left me numb after 1/2 hr. Also helps just a bit for copper plumbing work when not trying to shake loose all of the solder in the system and ending up with leaks); Lifetime vs 1 yr warranty.

Cons: Reportedly the cord.

Great saw, R.C.

If you like Milwaukee--you will like this new saw. The Orbital setting is good for fast ripping since it has a "kind of up and down--in & out" motion. The foot has more settings than previously. The Cord is 10' long (great) and it is 2 wire quik lok, not 3 like stated below. This saw gets to it with power 11 amps, 0-3200. The rest is like the 6537-22 or 6527-21. I look foward to service like the 6527-21 gives--only faster tear out with less effort on my part. The saw will work more than before with orbital selector. LIKE IT I Do.

I recently purchased this tool and am very pleased with the performance that it offers. Blade changes are very easy and fast due to the Milwaukee's patented chuck design (just turn the knob and pull out the blade), but be careful, if you have been cutting for a while that chuck will get very hot and it WILL burn your finger tips. I used this tool to cut through 1" diameter solid steel railings and it cut through like a hot knife through butter. This tool is far better engineered than it's competitors and the Milwaukee blades seem to hold up better also. Spend a few extra bucks on the Milwaukee and you won't regret it.

I bought the Milwaukee 6521-21 Sawzall for a home improvement project, and after using it wished I'd bought it years earlier. This tool cuts at 3200 strokes per minute and has orbital action. The motor is 11 amps. This tool came with a rugged plastic case which has steel clasps. The case appears to be very durable and won't rust, scratch or dent like a steel case. It also has a flip up storage compartment inside for extra blades. This is a nice touch because your extra saw blades won't rattle around and damage the quick lock power cord or scratch the tool. The tool itself was vey well built. The seams of the plastic and metal parts lined up perfectly, and the fit and finish were perfect. The appearance was flawless. Being 11 amp and having orbital action makes this saw a little heavy. It has a solid "heft" to it. Does it vibrate when turned on? No. I would describe the feeling as being more like a gentle pulsing sensation. Your hands won't go numb or tingle when using this saw. Milwaukee calls this saw "the smoothest in the world" and they are not lying. Blade changes are a snap. Just twist the collar, insert the blade, and release the collar. It takes about one second to change a blade. How does it cut? If you choose the right blade it will cut any material that exists. I used it to cut a duct vent hole in my roof with the supplied "axe" blade. After first drilling the four marked corners of my vent duct opening form inside the attic, so that once I got onto the roof I'd know where to make my cut, I cut through the shingles, tar paper, and 3/4" wood in about 7 seconds. The Sawzall cut so quickly and efficiently that I didn't have to apply any pressure to the saw. The weight of the tool itself created enough pressure to effortlessly slice through the roof. I was on and off that roof in less than 90 seconds. Boy, that part of the job was easy! I've also used the saw to cut steel tubing, cut up several ratty old chairs; which then fit in my dumpster, and trim a few dead branches off an evergreen tree. Like I mentioned earlier, with the right blade selection, this saw will efficiently and smoothly cut through any material. Remember to turn off the orbital action when cutting steel - otherwise you'll trash your blade rather quickly. My only complaint about this tool is that the orbital action slide lever on top of the tool housing is very stiff to operate. But that probably prevents it from moving around while you're cutting. I highly recommend this tool to anyone who does home improvements, works with steel, or who is a contractor. With a Sawzall, circular saw, drill, and jig saw you can create anything. This is one of the "core" tools to own. Milwaukee's legendary reputation for building solid, high quality tools that work well is demonstrated in this recently purchased tool. I wouldn't consider any other brand of reciprocating saw.

I just recieved this saw to replace a 7 year old super sawzall that was used daily. The first time we took it out of the case I was very impressed with the changes. The new orbital control is simple to use and the POWER is fantasic, but still very controlable! The longer quik-lok cord and the quik-lok blade make this the best value sawzall I've ever seen. BUY ONE IT'S THE LAST SAWZALL YOU'LL BUY!

Best of the best; Milwaukee tools have never failed me. My saw has gone through 8 yrs of remodelling torture. It's like the Ever-Ready Bunny: keeps going and going, and going... Change the blades frequently, give it a quick clean with an air gun, and it stays happy. I would not feel as safe using any other brand. Neophytes be advised: learn to work with the tool and the power it offers. Using a sawzall is an art to be learned. Stay with the most powerful model; be cheap somewhere else where it doesn't matter.

There are a lot of reciprocating saws on the market today; unfortunately some masquerade as a 'Sawzall', but Milwaukee invented the genre decades ago and, quite frankly, nothing is even in the same league as a genuine 'Sawzall'. DeWalt, Makita, Ryobi, Hitachi, Porter Cable all make reciprocating saws; some are professional grade, some say they are and some are just consumer models. When you decide either through using lesser tools or simply want to own the very best, Milwaukee stands head and shoulders above the competition in the reciprocating saw market.

Consider some of the features found on this model Milwaukee:

11 amps of power and it feels like more. This is one big, robust saw, period.

Detachable cord. Only Milwaukee figured out the ways people use a reciprocating saw--constant, demanding ROUGH use. These saws are most typically used in demolition work. In this environment you run the saw relentlessly and go through some blades. When you want to change one, in a hurry, nothing on earth is handier than being able to simply unclick the power cord and do a blade change. Believe me, you wouldn't want to change a blade on this beast without it being unplugged.

Orbital action. When you're rough cutting lumber, nothing assists you like an orbital action. This allows the blade to more aggressively cut through the material with less binding and less discomfort to the operator.

Anti-vibration. I don't know the technical nuances of how Milwaukee cancels out the vibration, but this saw is the smoothest (from an operator's standpoint) saw I've ever used. Any recip saw can truly rattle your fillings when it binds, but fortunately this Milwaukee has anti-vibration and a clutch, that genuinely minimizes feedback to the operator.

Easy blade change chuck. This has got to be the simplest blade change known to man. Rotate the collet about 1/4 turn and you're in business. NOTHING could be easier.

Variable speed dial. What a nice touch! Instead of relying solely on trigger pressure for speed control, Milwaukee thoughtfully provides a speed dial. Set it to half and you can pull the trigger back all the way and run at half speed. Demo work doesn't usually involve feathering the trigger, so this is a godsend.

Typical Milwaukee construction. Want to find out how good Milwaukee's reputation is in the building trades? Go to a jobsite. ANY jobsite. Residential, commercial, plumbing, electrical, it doesn't matter. First, stop by and ask any professional what they think of Milwaukee. Second, look for the RED tools (Milwaukee's trademark). Every jobsite has Milwaukee. The pros respect them because they don't break.

I brought this tool home on a Sunday and had to cut up 15 pallets to downsize them for garbage disposal. If you've EVER had the fun task of cutting up pallets, you can appreciate that the wood is FULL of nails (everywhere) and it's genuinely very hard, dense wood. Has to be to support the loads that pallets carry. I chucked in a new Milwaukee blade and 30 minutes later there was over 10 pounds (yes I weighed it!!) of sawdust and a BUNCH of small boards left. Saying the Milwaukee cut the boards like a hot knife through butter, in my mind, does a disservice to the hot knife! I ran the saw until it became so hot I couldn't hold it anymore, which is being overly severe to any tool; I just wanted to see if Milwaukee's vaunted reputation was as deserved as people say. It is. The saw NEVER stopped running; I honestly believe I could have put on gloves and kept going, but did allow the saw to cool down and resumed cutting. If a nail was hit, it bucked a little and just went on through it. It's a beast, plain and simple.

It's a very specific product, but one with a ton of uses. If you've never used a recip saw before, I would caution you to always make sure your item being cut is safely secured; a recip saw of this size has enough strength to easily move anything that is loosely held. Always be sure of what's under or behind the blade; if it's a concrete driveway or asphalt, you can damage the tool, but REALLY damage the driveway! Wear boots and safety goggles, this thing takes NO prisoners. And for heaven's sake, if you're demo'ing a wall, make absolutely certain that there are no live electrical wires present.

This saw isn't for everyone; it's pricey for single, consumer use. But, if you want the very best made reciprocating saw made, look no further than the Milwaukee Super Sawzall. It's the class leader by a BIG margin.