- Model: 2739-20/2739-21HD
- Blade Size: 12″
- Cut Capacity: 2×14″ at 90°
- Motor: Brushless
- Speed: 3500 RPM
- Weight: 50.8 lbs w/ battery
Milwaukee has officially announced their new M18 Fuel 12″ sliding miter saw, which they say generates the power of a 15A corded 12″ miter saw while being 15% lighter.
The new Milwaukee cordless miter saw is said to have the same cutting capacity as leading 12″ corded miter saws. It also features One-Key connectivity for tracking, inventory management, and securing against unauthorized use.
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The new Milwaukee brushless miter saw can deliver up to 330 cuts per charge in 3-1/4″ base board. It can handle horizontal cutting of boards up to 2×14″, vertical cutting of up to 6-3/4″ trim, and nested crown molding up to 7-1/2″.
The new Milwaukee miter saw features a dual bevel design, adjustable stainless steel detent plate, and of course their Shadow Cut Line indicator which shines a light across the blade to produce a kerf-accurate cut line.
The new saw is ideally paired with the Milwaukee M18 12.0Ah HD battery, which is said to provide 50% more power and 33% longer runtime than their 9.0Ah HD battery, and while also running 50% cooler.
- Blade size: 12″
- Speed (no-load): 3,500 RPM
- Blade arbor size: 1″
- Dual Bevel
- Weighs 50.8 lbs with battery, 47.6 lbs without
- Vertical capacity (base against fence): 6-3/4″
- Vertical capacity (nested crown): 7-1/2″
- 90° cross cut capacity: 2×14″
- 90° cross cut capacity (max width): 14″
- 45° bevel capacity: 2×14″
- 45° miter cut capacity (max height): 4″
- 45° miter cut capacity (max width): 8″
- Bevel angle range (L/R): 48°/48°
- Miter angle range (L/R): 50°/60°
Price: $699 for the bare tool (2739-20), $849 for the kit (2739-21HD)
ETA: November 2019
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The kit comes with an HD12.0 battery and multi-voltage Rapid Charger. A dust bag, clamp, and starter blade are also included with the kit and bare tool.
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Discussion
We saw the new Milwaukee M18 Fuel 12″ sliding miter saw in action at their NPS19 new tool media event, and it cut smoothly.
I don’t think there’s much more to add. Milwaukee rounds out their cordless miter saw lineup with a new higher-powered 12″ sliding miter saw, and it’s ideally equipped with their HD12.0 battery. It’s a cordless 12″ sliding miter saw – one of very few on the market – and is said to have the power and capacity of a corded saw while being lighter.
I think it’s worth noting that the design much more resembles that of their 7-1/4″ sliding miter saw than their first 10″ miter saw.
Here’s a quick intro and demo video from NPS19:
Koko The Talking Ape
Looks great, but I’m not interested anymore in miter saws that need so much clearance in the rear, with the sliding rails.
Does anybody know of any downsides to fixing the rails forward and having the motor housings slide on the rails? There’s the Hitachi and Festool; the Bosch Axial models seem to have some downsides, but they don’t have rails.
JeffCVT
If the rails were fixed, they would extend past the fence, limiting the nested height material that could fit.
Koko The Talking Ape
That’s a good point. You know, I don’t recall being unhappy about the vertical capacity when I glanced at some rail-forward models. I think I mostly cross-cut 2x and 1x boards, and trim.
Adam
No the rails wouldn’t limit the hight of material, have a look at the Festool kapex, or the new makita LS 1019.
Lance
Don’t forget Makita’s new saws, they also have forward rails. As far as I can tell the rails are not the limiting factor in vertically nested trim cutting capacity.
Adam
Yes your right, the rails on the makita don’t limit vertical material, it’s like the Festool, it a clever design , the Milwaukee is an old design.
Dominic S
Even craftsman had one of the compact fixed rail models…
Ray
Koko see Makita
Koko The Talking Ape
Thanks, I forgot to mention them.
Robert
I would have been interested if it was dual power, like the Dewalt.
You know, also, like my computer, phone, camera, etc.
I guess they so much off of batteries that it doesn’t make financial sense.
KG
I have to say, I too would like the option to plug in and am pretty cynical to boot. That said, I think using the term “dual power” glosses over the technical and electrical details of seamlessly running the same 12″ saw @3,500rpm off AC (cord) vs DC (battery).
They optimized heavily around that brushless DC motor to provide a certain power profile that balances power, overheating, and battery life. Just look at the advertised difference for the 12HD pack vs others to get a sense of the degree. Optimizing around constant corded AC power would be an entirely different exersize so realistically, to plug in, you’re looking at converting that AC to a similar DC profile as the battery which means adding more than just 6ft of cord to the wall in both cost and weight, both areas we consumers would like to see held down.
It’s interesting you mention computers, phones, and cameras since many of them are in fact not truly “dual power.” Think how many of them won’t turn on until the battery has reached a minimum recharge, even when plugged in. In fact, most cannot run off the power cable (that converts AC to relatively low voltage dc) but instead charge the battery while the device simultaneously runs off the battery.
So, while the low voltage and inability to run battery-less make those less than ideal comparisons – they do suggest a way Milwaukee could have provided a similar functionality to the end user without adding much at all to the current package. Just integrate the guts of the included charger into the saw to charge the pack(s) when corded power is available. It’s possible heat dissipation may make it easier to charge second battery pack instead of the one running the saw so maybe they’d need an extra switch that alternately toggles the draw/charge between packs.
I would definitely be interested in that type of “dual power”
Robert
Granted, they’re in a drawer and I almost never use them, but I have a computer and phone with removeable batteries that aren’t 6 years old. Both work just fine without the battery installed.
Robert
P.S. Camera is also dual power, brand new, bought this year.
XRH07
It doesn’t make sense for them because a 120V to 18V adapter will be very large, very expensive and people won’t be happy when they try using it on smaller tools.
All Milwaukee users are better off buying a 2nd 12.0 battery at that point.
Dewalt can rectify 120V AC straight from the wall. That’s why they have an inexpensive adapter exclusively for X2 60v tools.
Andy
I’m torn. I have mostly Milwaukee tools including the 10″ saw, which is not great. The rail design gets dirty and gritty too easy. Power is not corded but only really an issue cutting large pieces of hardwood. So this 12″ probably solves both problems but also adds capacity I don’t need.
Jared
Looks like a very nice saw. If i was buying again, I’d definitely go cordless.
While i understand the 33% longer runtime with a 12ah vs 9ah battery, I’m a little confused by the claim of 50% more power. Does it spin faster? Have more torque? Also… why?
If they’re both “HD” batteries I would have thought the different would only be runtime.
Justin Arbuckle
HD AND HO batteries may have different cells and organization
Caleb
M18 High Output batteries just provide (up to) 50% more power, IF the tool can draw that much. In plumbing terms: HO = bigger pipe, higher flow. HD = bigger tank.
Big Richard
https://toolguyd.com/milwaukee-m18-cordless-power-tool-battery-sizes-explained/
This will explain the difference.
Dave
Does it have crown stop?
PHILIP JOHN
I love their tools… but this HO 18 v is not the strongest.
When it’s really tough going 40v 60v and 120v cordless will keep going. 18v will trip out.
You might think a tool on 18 v HO is strong enough in a certain application. But later when you come across the tool triping out because you never thought of a certain application
This is why 60 and 120v is far ahead in cordless . With the greatest application possibilities.
Charles
I’m using M18 to build a house right now. So far no tripping out, so I’m dubious about this claim
Mike
This is a saw for the homeowner who is going to be gentle with their tools, this wouldn’t survive a hour on the jobsite where it’s all about speed and getting the job done as fast as you can, I forget who used this at the Milwaukee show and did a simple angle cut and it stalled on dry treated it was the cut that cost Milwaukee a lot of money, this saw isn’t gonna sell well the only people who have it will the YouTube tool review people
PHILIP JOHN
It might be a bit slow In certain applications and fast In some others … but make no mistake… this is aimed at the pro consumer and a cordless job site.
Evadman
I have nineteen M12 batteries from all the promos. Using them all, I can get to M228. That’s at least 12 times a M18, so is there an adapter where I can just plug in a half dozen or so M12’s and make a few cross cuts? For $700 for the tool by itself, the saw should allow any Milwaukee battery combination possible.
Bob
Interesting to see how that 50% more power claim is calculated.
I have heard annicdotaly the 7-1/4” chop saw lacked power so I wonder how the 12” will do?
Maybe the new 12amp hr battery addressed the current draw limitations?
Dan Boyd
The 10” does too. It’s ok power with 9ah batteries but I just think it needs to spin faster… leaves a lot to be desired on trim cuts. I should have got the flex volt saw. It’s hard for me to say that as I’m a huge M Fan. I have every m18 tool there is.
charlesinrichmond
I have the 7 1/4. It does not lack power that I’ve noticed. It’s a great saw, we use it in preference to the others. And I have at least 7 and probably more miter saws…
JoeM
…I think I was either expecting more from Milwaukee, or thought they already released this before… I don’t quite know…
But, I do think like a few other posters here… Milwaukee should know a bit better than this, and included some alternative power adapters, like a double battery, or an AC adapter… or both!… I remember when DeWALT came out with their 6.5″ single 20 Volt miter saw way back… that thing failed pretty miserably, using an obnoxious amount of power, for a very shallow cut… It was good FOR WHAT IT WAS, but it wasn’t overall a good idea. Portability and weight, in an effort to get away with putting a saw like this in cramped quarters is not all that great an idea. I’m sure they see it as an achievement, both companies, but much like many of the Guiness World Record holders, you have to ask “Okay, you have the record for (Insert Stupid Guiness World Record Here) but… What good is having that record, if it’s not useful somehow? Better yet, WHY did you go for such a record in the first place?”
Milwaukee isn’t garbage. I know they can do better than this. So I’m confused as to WHY they’ve done this, and when they’re going to do the RIGHT thing in its place?
Adam
Your right, Milwaukee isn’t garbage, they make some good cordless tools, I have a Milwaukee 61/2 inch. cordless skill saw, it’s a good little saw, and there impact drivers are very good there drills are good, but there miter saws aren’t good, I’ve used them , there just not very well designed,
Big Richard
When did DeWALT have a 6 1/2″ 20v miter saw? I hope you’re not referring to their 7 1/4″ DCS361, because that did not fail miserably. That was, and still is really, an amazing trim saw.
JoeM
My bad… It was the 361… But a Trim Saw was not what they marketed it as when they released it… I would link to the ToolGuyd article, but the DeWALT links would all be broken now.
They marketed it as a full Miter Saw, but it was vastly small scale for what they were demonstrating. The point still being… Just because you can get away with X achievement, doesn’t automatically qualify that achievement as a good thing.
DeWALT went on to make SIGNIFICANTLY better FlexVOLT saws, which were genuinely full featured Miter Saws. Lightyears ahead of the 361. I mean, the 361 is still a DeWALT. Much like this Milwaukee saw, it’s not like they’ve made it out of playdough and butterflies here. But the question to be asked of what they HAVE done here is simple… “Why is it so important that you get this released, when you know the one the market needs is drastically different?”
The 361… A 20 Volt Max Miter Saw (Which turned out to only be good for trim and dowling in the end.)… Why was a 20 Volt Max Miter Saw, running just one battery, even a priority? And now, this Milwaukee… They’re so proud of getting it up to a certain RPM, on a single battery, and being a full 12″ blade… But… if that one battery is what it takes to do it, and it underperforms if it’s even slightly underpowered with a 9 Ah battery as an example… What is the point of this Saw? These big two companies aren’t the yahoos who go for Guiness World Records, they’re TOOL companies… Two of the most trusted names in the WORLD… I’m a DeWALT guy, and even I think Milwaukee can do better than this… I think Milwaukee has DONE better than this on many other tools… So… WHY? Why did this become some kind of priority for the company?
It makes no sense to me that there would be such a “Race to be First” on tools that have the wrong specs to be useful out of the gate. It’s like a bunch of guys walking into a bar, with a bet going on who will get kicked in the gonads first. Why is this a goal?? Of all the things to go for, WHY?
Josh Walters
Man that dewalt link… gave me hope of cordless dewalt 7″ and 10″ then i saw all the posts are almost 2 years old.
Adam
This Milwaukee miter saw has an old rail design , most new ones have the rails fixed, and the head slides on it , which is a much better design.
Terry Smith
I purchased the 7 1/4″ m18 about 2 years ago and it has plenty of power and is by far the most accurate cutting miter saw I have owned. I’m glad that they used the same platform for the new 12″ m18. I did not care for The 10″ m18 it lacked on power and did not have a saw dust recovery system even worth having. I ca bnb t wait to get my own 12″ m18
Brother Bear
I’ve been following toolguyd for many years and have come to appreciate this site and would like to start chiming in with what I’ve experienced. I’ve been doing residential work for 34+ years and take my work seriously. I own a variety of brands and try to purchase whats best for/available to me at the time of purchase.
Getting up in age I’ve been transitioning to full cordless since the beginning of 2016. I’m tired of wrestling with and tripping on cords and hoses, given the tighter space I work in (houses, as opposed to commercial sites) and especially when you have to worry about the family living there possible tripping/falling.
illumination, sound, weight and price are important factors to me. There are pro’s & con’s with all brands and all tools have their limitations. If your aware of it’s limitations it can be used accordingly.
Thinking on it now, I have a lot invested in Milwaukee cordless alone. For the most part I am satisfied with the tools, their service dept, as well as their tech dept. However, I still will point out a con when I see it, in the hope that they will correct it on a future design or next gen.
I own the Fuel 7-1/4″ miter saw and have cut primed pine, poplar, undressed red/white oak (true 1-1/4″) and wet PT (2×4,6,8) and I can tell you the saw will power through all of it, making a true, clean cut (diablo blades). My only gripe with this saw is the fact that I cannot miter (vertically) the most standard base used, which is colonial 3-1/4″ primed pine, The fact that I have to lay it down, slide the fences out, undo knob in back and drop the saw to 45 each time is extremely irritating to me. In the future I will verify this and similar specs before considering a purchase, especially when it’s listed as “3-1/2” Vertical Capacity (base against fence)”, which translates to 90 deg only!
I did not buy the 10″ miter because I was hoping they’d redesign it like the 7-1/4″. But they came out with this 12″ miter. From what I have experienced with these new HO motors (table saw, super sawzall, chain saw), I am confident it will also power through what you or I need it to cut, however there might be 1 possible gripe I might have and I do not know if it’s a typo because it doesn’t spec it on Milwaukee’s site;
“45° miter cut capacity (max height): 4″???
A 12” saw at $700, this would be a problem, causing me to “pass”.
To comment on the plug in option, I don’t see the need for it, I do not see anyone draining 2- 12.0ah batteries in a day on 1 machine.
Adam
The trouble with cordless tools, is the technology changes quite quickly, at the moment Milwaukee, and Dewalt are About the best, but next year makita have got new technology coming out,40 volt stuff, at the moment I wouldn’t buy a cordless miter saw, I don’t think they have enough power , I have a Milwaukee cordless skill saw, and that’s quite good,
DC
I have the M18 10″ Milwaukee miter saw and it’s weak sauce. Cutting through 1x4s and it sounds like it’s dying even with a fully-charged battery. When this thing dies I’m replacing it with a corded miter saw, probably a DeWalt or Makita.
Adam
That’s why, I wouldn’t buy a cordless miter saw, I’ve got a makita, LS 1013 I’ve had it for 15 years, if I bought a new one, I would buy, the makita LS 1019 .
charlesinrichmond
I love the m18 line, have 20 or more of the tools. We’ve gone almost full cordless on the jobsites even when there is power. That said, I wouldn’t be interested in this saw. For regular cuts the M18 7 1/4 is awesome, and light. I bought it because I didn’t want to tow a 12″ monster out to jobs any more. If I need one of the monsters though, I need it for a reason, and will bring the big bosch. Heavy cordless tools don’t really fill a need for pros.
Charles
I’m reconsidering my take, we have been coming up on some occasions where a longer crosscut would be useful. I’m still going to use the 7 1/4 in preference, but I’m thinking of selling my bosch glide 12″ and buying this as a replacement
FixItChuck
Note to prospective buyers.. this M18 12″ miter saw is actually NOT compatible with all M18 batteries.
The metal leads/electrodes on the tool is thicker compared to other M18 tools. Specifically, my 5ah XC batteries won’t fit (leads/electrodes slot on the battery side is too thin to allow clearance for the thicker leads on the tool side). Note that the 12ah HO HD battery has wider slots on the battery side, so that’s a non-issue.
As an engineer, I totally get the thicker leads/electrodes on the tool side (with more current, you’ll need thicker metal to avoid issues). But it’s still false advertising *sigh*
DirtyDustyBear
@FixItChuck , Thanks for that info. I’m curious though, what are your thoughts on the fact that the Fuel table saw does not have this problem?