Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I was looking for this type of saw for several jobs I had coming up. Reviews were mixed, with no clear winner. I realized that since my usage was not likely to be heavy-duty, a battery-operated device would be best for me. But the two portables rated were VERY short-lived (8 min/charge for one and 10-12 for the other!)
I was happy to find this new multi-tool from Milwaukee, as I really love my Milwaukee 2401-22 12-Volt Li-Ion Compact Driver Kit, and the M12 battery packs and charger are interchangeable. According to the one review of this tool I found, battery life was 24 min/charge. Recharge time was rated at 30 min. Good enough!
I needed to use this right away, but it was not widely available yet (early Dec. 2010). But my local HD had a few. So I didn't get this from this vendor (CPO/Amazon), but I have used them in the past with total satisfaction.
I tried the unit on a job installing a recessed toilet-paper holder in a bathroom. I had to cut a 5" x 5" hole in the finish side of a vanity cabinet. The holder's lip extended about 3/8" beyond the hole, and had to cover pre-existing screw holes. A jigsaw or Rotozip are hard for me to control well enough to guarantee I would not cut beyone the lip area.
Using the single straight blade supplied, I plunge-cut the corners; no starting hole needed. I then cut along the layout lines with amazing (for me) accuracy. Speed control was steady over a wide range of pressures. I used a fairly high speed setting and angled the blade about 30 deg. down. Cutting seemed a little slow, but the cabinet was 1/2" particle board and I had no feel for the best speed and technique to use (the manual offers little guidance.) It seemed comparable in speed to the heavier 110V Rockwell tool I had tried at Lowe's, cutting into a fir 2x4--actually an easier task than cutting particle board. The job looked great. Very little sawdust because of the thin blade. You need a dust mask because the dust is very fine; it looks like smoke curling up from the work.
I tried the triangular sanding attachment to smooth raised wood around three existing screwholes elsewhere on the piece for filling. VERY quick and easy to control so as not to sand through the vinyl woodgrain. Has easy-to-use hook and loop paper attachment.
Several reviews of similar tools comment on comfort and control, and recommend a 2-hand grip. This tool is small yet easy to grip with two hands, making control outstanding. It doesn't jump around in use, so using it is not like a wrestling match.
The tool came with a nice soft case, though it is nowhere near as well-designed as my Compact Driver's case. The saw fits in with blade installed, but there is no support; the teeth are always in contact with the case fabric. The charger likewise has no support nor straps as my Driver case has. There are two internal pockets that hold extra blades and sanding sheets in one, and accessories in the other. There are six small pockets outside the case, but I can't see anyone putting $10 and up (way up) blades in these open-top pockets.
The unit claims to accept blades from most other companies, some needing the included adapter. I haven't tried that yet, but the Milwaukee blade was very secure and required no retightening in use.
In sum, a very nice, accurate tool that complements your older ones. Good portable operation; I will try it for pruning dead wood off an old rosebush next Spring. It comes with over $60 worth of batteries you can use on other M12 system tools.
And for you Spinal Tap fans: The speed control dial goes up to 12!! ;-)
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Includes 12V Cordless M12 Multi-Tool Kit - 2426-82, Accessory Adaptor, Wood Cutting Blade, Sanding Pad, (5) Assorted Sanding Sheets, (2) M12 REDLITHIUM Batteries, 30-Minute Charger, Contractor Bag
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