Milwaukee has come out with a new M18 brushless circular saw, model 2631. It features a 7-1/4″ blade size, 5000 RPM motor, aluminum shoe, integrated rafter hook, magnesium guards, and LED light.
Milaukee says that their new brushless circular saw delivers up to 40% more power than brushed motor circular saws, and up to 30% more runtime.
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The saw weighs 9 lbs when paired with an M18 XC 5.0Ah battery pack.
Price: $179 for the bare tool, $279 for the kit
ETA: July 2018
First Thoughts
Milwaukee’s M18 cordless circular saw lineup will soon consist of 4 offerings:
- M18 Fuel Brushless 7-1/4″ circular saw (2732)
- M18 Brushless 7-1/4″ circular saw (2631, this one)
- M18 Fuel Brushless 6-1/2″ circular saw (2730)
- M18 6-1/2″ circular saw (2630)
There’s also the 2731 M18 Fuel saw, which has been superseded by the new 2732, also launching in July.
The range of the lineup makes sense. You have the brushed 2630, the Fuel brushless 2730 for users that want the smaller left-facing blade. Then there’s this model, designed to give you a cut-capacity, runtime, and power boost compared to the brushed motor model. Finally, there’s the new Fuel model, which delivers faster cutting speeds and a more premium all-magnesium shoe.
Like the M18 Fuel 7-1/4″ saws, this new brushless, but not Fuel brushless, is a right-facing saw.
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The new M18 Fuel saw kit, which will be bundled with one of the new 12.0Ah battery packs, will be priced at $399, compared to $279 for this kit. In addition to the difference in saw shoes, the Fuel model has a 5800 RPM motor speed.
The Fuel 6-1/2″ saw seems to be in a strange middle-ground, of being a premium but smaller saw. Ignoring that model for a moment, one could perhaps consider the 6-1/2″ brushed motor saw as a “good,” or standard model, this one as the “better” model, and the Fuel brushless model as the “best.”
There’s a sizable jump up, going from the 6-1/2″ brushed motor model, to this one.
I did not have a chance to try this new saw at NPS18, but look forward to seeing what it can do, and how it compares to the other brushless circular saws on the market. I especially look forward to seeing how it compares with the new flagship Fuel brushless saw.
I like the idea behind this saw – it’s an upgrade compared to the brushed motor saw, but not as pricey as either of the M18 Fuel saws.
Fm2176
I picked up a 2731 last year, once the free 9.0Ah starter kits started dropping in price. It’s a great saw and has served me well for everything I’ve used it for. This one seems to have comparable specs at a lower price than the older Fuel originally cost, though still costing a bit more than the promo 2731/9.0Ah starter kit that was offered again in recent months.
Jason
I love the 2730. I thought I’d hate the smaller blade, but I actually love it now – I throw it in the back of our UTV to take out around the property when working on building sheds, fences, etc. It’s durable, portable, and lightweight. I know a lot of people don’t like left-blade saws but I think it’s damned near perfect.
Not sure that I’ll ever go back to a 7 1/4″ cordless circular saw now – the added weight and size for just a little more capacity is almost useless when using it to cut sheet goods and dimensional lumber away from the workshop. Bigger jobs in the shop can stick with a big corded circular.
Glad to see that Milwaukee is working on expanding this lineup, however, as their circular saw offerings were a little weak compared to others.
Tduby
I love the left sided 2730 maybe if I was a professional framer I could see needing the 7.25 but the 6.5 cuts everything I need is light weight and I can see the blade easily in my right hand.
andy
They still need a rear handle, blade left 7.25″ saw.
Carpenters on the west coast are used to this type of saw.
Brian
Yup … everyone on my crew (SF Bay Area) uses left-facing blade circ saws … every job site I’ve worked at uses left facing saws … The 6 1/2″ cordless Makita circ saw is king in these parts. If you need a 7 1/2″ circ saw a chop saw or table saw is faster anyway .. I see these old guys lugging around their hulking corded circ saws which they can’t cut straight with and they tire out from doing it … which is just stupid. For most awkward angle cuts a cordless 6 1/2″ is a huge time and energy saver plus the cut ends up being much more accurate.
OBDave
Until I get a blade-left 7 1/4″ option, this will be my one everyday-use tool that keeps me on a dual-battery system.
glenn
Only good for lefties.
glenn
Around 90 per cent of people are right handed. Does not take a genius to work out that any new saw should be released in the same ratio to left and right.
I did learn using a circular saw that was blade right but thought it was stupid then and I still think it is stupid now.
Seriously, offer both options.
Pete
Hey now- if your not right handed your wrong handed. Lol
glenn
I am a bit of an oddity, my father is right handed, my mother is left handed, I am sort of in between.
Not quite ambidextrous, more right handed, I suppose. Can write with either hand. Boxing sparring? I am right handed but hit way harder with my left?
Anyhow I do know that I prefer blade left saws, lol.
fred
At one time left handed folks (like my wife and sister) were thought to be sinister – from the Latin origin of the word
fred
BTW – both of my parents were left handed. I’m right-handed for writing – but was “left-footed” when I played soccer and my left eye is dominant – so I prefer to shoot lefty
glenn
I am old enough to have been rapped on the knuckles by so called teachers for using my left. My mother had it beaten out of her hands at school by catholic teachers with rulers.
She is now 82 and still a leftie!
Framer joe
Offer both, yes, but 99% of right handed framers use blade right on the east coast…
Mike
You have understand blade on right is for cutting plywood which is usually stacked on the ground and you get on top of the plywood and cut it with all the sawdust going away from you, blade left is usually used for framing where you have the saw forward of you so you don’t too much sawdust on you
glenn
Blade spins the same direction.
Framer joe
Can’t introduce a saw without 1%of guys saying blade left……if the saw sold the most blade left they’d build it that way first…
If your not making a living with it, it’s tough to explain it to diy guys.
Doesn’t matter anyway ,No Milwaukee saw including the new HD will be able to be used framing…not enough power with a 20ah battery…it’s all hype
fred
I was thinking that too. Milwaukee’s purported commitment to staying with the 18V – battery without doubling up (a la Makita) or introducing something like Dewalt’s Flexvolt – would seem to be limiting. I don’t know if any of the current crop or cordless saws – be they rear-handled or otherwise – has the same capabilities as a Skil77. They do offer convenience – and I recall that one of our few Dewalt cordless tools was a 36V (2 x 18V battery) saw that we bought for roof cutouts. Maybe cordless will get there – but maybe it will take a next generation battery – and then they may be hyping a cordless beam saw.
Curtis
It’s really not a tough one to explain at all. If the blade is on the left, then right handlers can easily view the blade while cutting. Putting the blade on the right makes it much more difficult.
As far as framing goes, a professional framer is probably going to opt for a Mag77 anyway, but for every professional framer out there there are 100 guys who are doing small framing projects and will have no problem with a 20v saw.
Late Night
I picked up a 2730 some years back. It is a great saw overall: light, I like the handedness, mobile and has good power (not great). At the time my thinking was the 7.25 cordless saw would be underpowered, and I had other tools to get me to 7.25 depths/performance I could plug in if needed. The new 2631 saw seems heavy, and for me to consider it, it would need have corded performance while being super light- my guess it does not, though the 2732 may…
MT Carpenter
I get the left side complaint I do because I’m in the crowd with that one. However I am unwilling to get into another battery system and if you are cutting sheet good you really should either make a track of your own to fit your saw or buy a track saw system.
Really these are great for framing and that’s about it. Yes I realise with time and training you can use it we’ll but let’s be honest, the turnover
in the industry is high and everybody thinks their a master carpenter right outta the gate. If the job requires precision you can’t beat a track saw. And it doesn’t have to be festool. Makita makes a good one. I went Festool saw and Makita track. (Toolnut has a sale every now and then where a 118″ track goes for $199.
With that, Milwaukee get on the bandwagon and just put a flipping left side saw out. You do it for Ridgid so just do it for your higher name brand.
Curtis
I’ve already got the Fuel 6.5”, Flexvolt 7.25” rear handle saw and a 6.5” Ryobi. The Fuel 6.5” is my general purpose go to saw. The Dewalt is for serious cutting: decks, stairs and the like. And the Ryobi is my lightweight spare saw with a small shoe. And they all have the blade on the correct, left hand side.
I’m sure this new Milwaukee is a great saw and I can cut nearly as well with my left hand as I can with my right, but being a righty, why would I want to?