Milwaukee6538-21 15.0 Amp Super Sawzall Reciprocating Saw

It had been many years since I last used a recipro saw, but I can't say my 'fascination' with them ebbed any during that time. While working to repair the framing of the 10 year old deck on my house, I finally "saw" (yuk yuk) a clear need for buying one for myself: breaking ~50 nails free from the deck's joists. After this particular project, my needs for the saw would be occasional but I value quality in my tools b/c that usually equates to longevity -- and I wanted a saw that would be ready to go 15+ years from now. Shopping around, I basically saw the market as being: 1) ~$100 saws that had an on-off switch only and no counterbalancing; and, 2) $150+ saws that gave the user more control over the cut. Purely for demolition work, buying a $100 on/off saw makes a lot of sense . . . use it ruthlessly until it fails and then replace it pretty inexpensively. But with me valuing quality/longevity and needing the flexibility to cover projects I couldn't yet anticipate, I wanted counterbalancing for more accurate cuts, I wanted power to cover different potential needs and I wanted to be able to control the stroke speed more than just by a variable pressure trigger.This led me to the Super Sawzall 15amp. I looked at the competing Makita but online reviews suggested some owner dissatisfaction. Considering Milwaukee's reputation in the recipro market and its 5 year warranty, I bought the Super Sawzall 15amp.Using the saw for the deck project was amazing. The power got me through 8d exterior nails in just seconds. The tool is easy to hold and line-up for the cut. I didn't find the weight to be an issue as some have commented, the saw feels fairly well balanced in my hands. And speaking of balance, this counterbalanced saw doesn't feel at all like a jackhammer that wants to jump out of your hands (like I remember the early Sawzall being). Using this one is about as complicated as using a power drill -- only if you're clumsy/distracted will you end up with a botched outcome. The storage case is well designed, not larger than it needs to be and includes plenty of room for blades of various lengths. (Note: I have not yet tried orbital cuts with this saw, so I cannot comment on that performance.)A key consideration in buying this corded 15amp saw -- or any 15amp power tool -- is your extension cord. Drawing 15amps, you need a heavy gauge extension cord to be working an appreciable distance away from your power source. At this writing, a 10 gauge, 100' extension cord is ~$100 so you may need to figure this cost into your purchase consideration.Bottom line: I'm impressed with the build quality, control and power of this saw. I look forward to moving rapidly through future home projects and then one day passing the saw to my son.

I bought this product in April 2012 to primarily cut the branches and smaller trees around the house that were growing too big to manage. I was also going to use this in some demo work when I remodel the bathroom down the road. I wanted to buy the cheaper end Milwaukee models because I did not know if I will get my moneys worth. Boy was I wrong. It cuts down trees and branches with ease and saved me a lot of time and stress on elbow with a hacksaw. I used a yellow branded sawzall before and although it did the job, I was not impressed with the vibration/shock from using it. But when I used this super sawzall, I was able to tell the difference and the vibration was minimal. My hands were not shaking from extended use. It can get really noisy on the highest level (5) but that is to be expected. I usually leave it on level 3 and that more then enough to cut wood and noise very tolerable. This one is supposedly the top of the line with all the bells and whistle. It is heavy and looks very heavy duty, not going to break easily for years with proper maintenance. I am just a regular DIY guy and this may be overkill but I believe that buying good tools is equally important in getting the job done and willing to invest a little more for better tools. I have not tried the orbital cut so cannot say how well it cuts holes. As far as pruning goes, any weak and very thin branches are hard to cut with this but anything thick or sturdy it will do well. Sometimes you have to move the sawzall in a slow cutting motion to get it to cut faster. Buy those pruning blades and you are on your way. I make quick work of the trees and fill up my waste basket very fast that I have to stop and wait for the trashman to come around the neighborhood once a week. I had bamboo trees growing 20 feet high and it cut through them like nothing. Was more painful to hand cut some of the smaller branches. Cut the big things down to smaller size quickly. You will have to play around and get used to the tool before you really start cutting fast and efficiently. I would also like to mention that you probably have to pick up a 15Amp rated extension cord preferably for exterior use if you do not have one handy. Do not want to melt anything. If it is too pricy then step it down to a tool with either a speed dial setting or a variable speed trigger control, they greatly help during the cutting to control the speed for better cuts. Milwaukee makes great sawzall.

I bought this saw with demolition in mind. The motor on the first saw I received sounded funny when I first turned it on. It burned up 9.5 inches into a 10 inch cut. I exchanged it for another one and haven't had any other problems. I believe its a great product. The first saw was just a 1 in a million chance that I got the bad one. It is much heavier than my old 11 amp saw but I see this as an advantage because it helps push the saw into the cut. Has plenty of power, doesn't ever bog down, and cuts extremely fast. It does not have a detachable cord like my old saw and drill. I wish it did, that way if the cord gets damaged it can easily be replaced. The storage case is plastic. I would prefer metal, however I am very surprised and impressed with how durable the plastic case is. I think it will hold up for many years. If you are looking for a saw for Demo this is it. If you are wanting to do light work like roughing out window and door openings go with a lighter weight saw this one is too big for those needs.

ALL MY LIFE I WANTED A SAW THAT WILL LAST A LIFE TIME THANKYOU AMAZON AND MILWAUKII!!! I SHOP HERE ALWAYS FIND GREAT STUFF,ALWAYS PAY A BIT MORE FOR BEST TOOLS!!!

I did my homework ( as I always do before a purchase ) It was very highly rated and it has so far proven to be such. Be advised that it is a big saw, but that is because it is packed with more power than many others like it. Happy Camper !

This saw has the muscle to cut through most jobs requiring a reciprocating saw. At 15 amps you should use an extension cord with 12 gauge wiring to minimize voltage drop. Typical tough Milwaukee corded tool quality.

I've had this for 3 years, no problems, nice case. Worth my money forsure!

This is a well made powerful tool. It is easy to use and will run all day. Professional quality all the way.If you have been using light duty versions of this tool have a care not to jam the blade as there is enough power to yank the tool from your hands.The only quibble I have is with the case, it holds the tool, but there is no where to put blades in the case. You can cram in a few loose with the cord but that is it. It would have been easy to mould in a compartment for a dozen or so blades.