Customer Reviews

Milwaukee 6524-21 Sawzall The Hatchet Reciprocating Saw

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Please don't get me wrong, I thought this the cat's meow when I first started using it; however, within a day I found that it tends to overheat if used extensively. It doesn't shut down due to the heat, but becomes difficult to hold with two hands. It also vibrates quite a bit, which encourages blisters. I still enjoy the product. But selectively. So, if you're just working around the house, don't want the bigger one, or need to get into a particularly tight spot, then go for it. It's my second choice though, behind the standard 11 amp. I need durability, power, and forgiveness, not something that's going to jump all over, or heat my hand when I need to grab the body.

I have used this saw for a few months now. As another reviewer mentioned this new handle feels more natural to hold and the way it folds down makes it really compact and with its 3/4 inch stroke its ideal for tight spaces. The quik change blade system is better than any I've used in the past(portercable,dewalt)its counter balanced mechanism works great very little vibration and plenty of power. I highly recommend this tool but for certain jobs I perfer a recepricating saw with more amps and a longer stroke [1"1/8 to 1"1/4]they are more aggressive not to say that this saw cant hold its own this is a great saw.2005 this is the last thing I will ever buy from amazon as there customer service is now being outsourced and they are snotty arogent and useless too bad there customer service was the best on the planet

Milwaukee being the king of reciprocating saws has done it again! The Hatchet is Fantastic! This tool has all the power and comfort to tackle the jobs its bigger brothers can. Best of all, the tool is light and compact, along with an adjustable handle!

Appropriately named the Hatchet, I found this tool is comfortably held with the handle fully extended where the downward pressure from my hands provide the most support and comfort much like the way you would hold the wooden handle on a real hatchet...I'll never use a D-Handle reciprocating saw again! It's that good! Between studs, upside down or just for demolition this saw has what it takes. Milwaukee added a two finger trigger switch and their Quik-Loc cord to complete this package. The only feature I wish they included is a separate variable speed dial like the ones found on their Super Sawzalls. But that's just a minor shortcoming, since speed is easily maintained with the hefty trigger switch. The tool-less blade clamp is the best in the industry.

Milwaukee even built the plastic blow molded case with "Heavy Duty" in mind! They must be the only company to integrate metal latching clasps since converting to cheaper plastic cases over metal ones. If you're looking for a saw that's light, comfortable and built to last...seriously consider the Milwaukee Hatchet! I got mine for Christmas and this thing also cuts Noble Firs like butter!

The greatest thing about this saw is that it can be held with one hand, like a drill. It is better to use two hands, but there are some cuts where it helps to have a hand on the item being cut. Because this is a mid-size saw with a folding handle, it is manageable with one hand in those circumstances. I bought this saw for the folding handle, and because I wanted the Milwaukee blade clamp (my Porter Cable clamp broke in five minutes). I was worried that it may not have the power or cutting action I needed, but that has not been the case. I have cut nearly everything with it, and most of the time am using the longest of woodcutting blades for thick wood, and it has never let me down. I am sure that a larger saw with a longer stroke would cut faster on some things, but if you have smaller needs as well and want only one saw, this one is just right. The orbital action is not as aggressive as some other brands, but that is not a concern to me. It is a pleasure to use every time, and the blade clamp works flawlessly.

I waited trying to decide if I wanted the larger more powerful saw or the 18 volt hatchet. When I noticed an advertisement about the new electric corded hatchet. I ordered one as soon as I could. For my requirements it is just right.I use it at home and do not need the extra weight of a large one, or the battery.
I imagine the battery one is also a good one,but for the price and weight I think the average do it yourselfer would be very satified with this model. And as it is a Milwaukee I expect to have it a long time.

Great saw, a must have recip saw. It does everything well, it is small, light, and powerful. Sure it can not cut the big beams, like its bigger brother but it does everything else better. If you need the big saw buy both saws and use this one 95% of the time

I'm not sure how well the tool works... it arrived without a power cord. There are no signs that the package was opened, so I'm assuming that it was incomplete from the factory. Unfortunately, I didn't open it until I needed it, which was outside of the 30 day return period. Okay, "stuff happens", and I'm willing to accept that, but when I called Milwaukee, the only assistance they'd give was to direct me to call Amazon. Even if I'd been within the return period, surely Milwaukee could've resolved the issue immediately rather than expect a customer to wait a couple of weeks while they shipped the tool back for resplacement. I bought the Milwaukee name partly because I thought they'd stand behind their tools -- I'm sincerely disappointed.

The hatchet is up to milwaukee's usual standards and is of excellent build quality. I see this reciprocating saw as being for someone who only needs it for small to medium jobs. Right now I have been using the saw for a demo project on a commercial building and my only complaint would be that saws gets extremely hot after long uses. Black handle grip gets hot enough to burn hands when used for long periods under heavy hand pressure and therefore gloves are needed. Even with gloves many breaks are needed as the saw even burns my hands while wearing gloves. Because of this heat problem I gave this tool four stars, but otherwise I would definitely recommend this tool to a DIY type person or someone who needs a sawzall occaisionally.

This is my first reciprocating saw so I don't have a lot to compare it with. I don't know how I lived without this saw for so long. I love it. The positionable handle is great for getting into awkward places. The saw is powerful enough to quickly get through all of the jobs I have used it for so far.
It is very easy and quick to switch blades.
It's also nice that it has the quick release power cord.
Sturdy but light weight enough to use easily.
An excellent saw.

I can remember my Dad bringing home a metal Milwaukee case 20 some years ago. I wasn't allowed to use it then, but his new Sawzall sure looked cool. That saw is still going for him and everyone that he knows that don't have their own. :) So I knew Milwaukee was the brand I needed for my first reciprocating saw. I purchased some "Torch" and "Ax" blades for my railroad tie removal project. This saw made easy work of the 8x10 ties (although they were rotted pretty bad). The orbital action real tore through the wood. I also had rebar holding them together, and The Hatchet combined with the "Torch" cut through them like butter. As another reviewer commented, the location of the trigger position when fully extended felt much more natural when cutting down than the D handles designs of most recip saws. I also liked the versatility of being able to use this saw in tight spaces. I assume I'll have this saw long enough for my kids to be intrigued by my red PLASTIC box. :)