MilwaukeeElectric Tool 2520-21XC M12 Hackzall Saw Kit

Lightweight for using on a ladder and compact for tight spotsCompact Weight and SizeWhile they team at Milwaukee have named this tool the M12 HackZall, it’s really a smaller, compact SawZall. At just 13 ¼” and a bit over 4 pounds, it’s the perfect tool for getting into tight spots where larger recip saws just won’t go. Plus, the design of the tool makes it very balanced. The size / weight ratio it the right combination to avoid fighting the tool when using it.You can use the Milwaukee M12 FUEL HackZall with one hand when needed, but when 2 hands are needed, the tool allows for that as well.Accurate battery indicator lightBattery Indicator LightI know we all got along before battery indicator lights came into existence, but what a better world it is with them. The lights on the M12 FUEL HackZall have proven to be very accurate, so I always know whether it’s good to go on my next trip up the ladder, or up in a lift, or whether to change out the batter before heading up.Tool ProtectionTools are getting smarter and smarter every day and the technology inside is getting better and protection the tools so that you can use them longer. The overload protection inside the M12 HackZall will shut the tool down if you put a bit too much strain on the motor or the battery. While those of us who need to work on our patience might find this to be a pain in the short run, in the long run it saves both time and money.LED LightI was shocked at how well the LED light on the front of the tool actually worked. I had no trouble working in dark spaces and seeing the task that was in front of me.Milwaukee M12 Lineup of Tools4.0ah batteryJust as with any other tool in Milwaukee’s M12 Lineup, you can interchange any of the 4.0ah or 2.0ah batteries. Personally, I prefer the 4.0ah battery with the flat base, but they all work. The same batteries work for 60+ tools whether they are FUEL or not.Overall ThoughtsI’ve become a big fan of the red tools over the last few years. And this has become another one of my favorites. I don’t think you’ll have any reason to be disappointed in this tool. Milwaukee puts a lot of time and money into research and development and the innovations they’ve come up with in the last few years are proof of that. I’ve already used this tool on at least a dozen different projects around the studio and I don’t plan to put it down anytime soon.Complete Breakdown-The M12 Hackzall weighs 4.0 lbs (bearing an XC battery pack) while the M18 Hackzall comes in at 5.0 pounds (with a slim battery). A pound may not seem like a lot, but if you’re holding the tool for any length of time, the weight difference is going to be a bigger deal. Exactly where that weight sits is important as well. On the M18 Hackzall (which I had on-hand for this review and have used extensively), the motor extends well off the back of the tool. It gives the tool more of a top-heavy feel when you pitch it forward to cut. That can actually help when you want more weight to the workpiece—but I’ll cover more on that later. The M12 Fuel Hackzall recip saw cuts the depth of the motor by roughly an inch. Milwaukee also adjusted the pitch of the handle (and, thus, the entire tool) to the battery by more than 15 degrees.The M12 Fuel Hackzall model can also now stand up on its battery unassisted. That’s a big deal for anyone who’s ever needed to set one of these tools down for a moment on an area with limited space (as I have had to countless times). It’s actually more ergonomic for cutting straight overhead as the tool takes into account the natural angle of your wrist to the cutting blade as opposed to bringing everyone more inline as the M18 model currently does.Another huge improvement Milwaukee made was with respect to the area surrounding the reciprocating blade mechanism. On the M18 Hackzall and even the brushed M12 Hackzall, there is a square opening from which the shoe and blade mechanism emerges. On the new M12 Hackzall (and hopefully the upcoming M18 Fuel Hackzall which is most certainly around the corner), Milwaukee closed the gap, allowing only the twin steel posts of the shoe to emerge through the plastic. The front of the tool now forms a tight seal around the round blade mechanism. Whereas the existing tools let in untold amounts of dirt and debris, the new tool doesn’t collect debris within the tool itself, but allows it to fall off the front. Great engineering and design improvement!Another huge improvement is that the Milwaukee M12 Brushless Hackzall exhibits a lot less vibration than the M18 model thanks to something it calls its dual gear counter balance mechanism. The effect isn’t subtle, either. The amount of vibration reduction is quite significant. For the user, that means more power gets transferred to the workpiece instead of being wasted on vibration. In practicality I found the tool to be much more pleasant to use, though cutting speeds were nearly identical on wood when you allowed the blade and tool to do the work. On metal applications, such as cutting through conduit, the reduced vibration is actually a huge help in getting your cut started and finishing cleanly.Like the other Hackzall tools, the blade loads quickly and easily into the Quik-Lok Blade Clamp when you twist it, and I never had a blade get bound up or refuse to let loose. This seems to be a very reliable and easily-operated blade system and one that Milwaukee should get a lot of life out of for all of its tools. (If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!) The blade mechanism on the M12 Fuel Hackzall has a built-in braking system. When you let off the trigger, the blade stops almost instantly—much like a circular saw braking system. On my M18 Hackzall, the blade takes nearly two seconds to wind down when the blade isn’t engaging any material.I happened to get the Milwaukee 2520-21XC Hackzall kit at an opportune time. I used the brushless M12 Hackzall to slice through some PVC for a small plumbing project (By “small” I mean we were re-plumbing a 1500 sq. ft. residential home.) We used it for 1/2″ PVC and CPVC all the way up to 3″ schedule 40 PVC. I passed it around the job site and feedback was very positive, ranging in comments from “Man, this tool is easy to use!” to “I didn’t know Milwaukee made a 12V one-handed saw.” All agreed that the M12 had much less vibration and was more conducive to cutting on material that had some movement (like PVC being installed underneath a raised home). I was also impressed that everyone present continuously reached for the tool as soon as it was introduced, even though there were several options present.The Milwaukee 2520-21XC Kit IncludesM12 Fuel Hackzall Recip Saw (2520-20)M12 RedLithium XC 4.0 extended capacity battery pack (48-11-2440)M12 Lithium-ion battery charger (48-59-2401)Contractor bagMulti-material bladeCutting through copper also turned out to be a great use for this tool, and we were able to cut away several stubbed out pipes to replace them with newer materials. For this work we grabbed a 6″ Milwaukee Torch Double Duty blade—which, though it was a tad on the long side (for this tool), did a great job cutting both copper and galvanized pipe. This was again a great opportunity to appreciate the tool’s reduced vibration during cutting. It’s a feature that allows the tool to be more accurate during cuts and it also allows you to use the tool for longer periods of time without fatigue.I did several tests in wood as well, using Milwaukee’s Ax blades in a 6″ configuration. I really like these blades a lot. While I don’t recommend using the M12 Fuel Hackzall to take out an entire house (or even a porch), the tool does have some use as a demo device for limited applications. It’s not that the tool can’t hack larger jobs, but it’s made for one-handed work. A sustained demo job will necessitate a two-handed grip as well as extended run-time. Also, longer blades and additional tool weight help the tool to do a lot more of the work whereas the M12 capitalizes on being lightweight.Milwaukee Brushless Hackzall Features & SpecificationsStroke Length: 5/8″SPM: 0-3,000Battery: M12 RedLithium XC4.0Charger: M12 ChargerLED LightQuik-Lok Universal Keyless Blade ClampOn-tool battery gaugeLength: 13.25″Weight: 4.1 lbsTool Warranty: 5 yearsBattery Warranty: 3 yearsConclusionThe Milwaukee brushless Hackzall is not just a great tool or a successful incremental update. It’s a gigantic leap ahead of both the M18 Hackzall and the current M12 model. I’ve also seen this tool packaged with several Milwaukee M12 drivers and tools for around $199 (with batteries) and $169 (without). If you’ve been holding out for a one-handed reciprocating saw, Milwaukee has removed all impediments to picking one up right now. The cordless M18 Fuel Hackzall is most certainly on its way (though that’s technically just a guess) but I feel as if the M18 will mostly offer additional run-time at this point, and perhaps some additional torque to power through particularly difficult cuts. If you’ve moving through PVC and small metal conduit, the Milwaukee brushless Hackzall 2520-21XC kit is going to fill your needs to a tee and deserves a place in your expanding tool kit.

Super powerful, efficient, cuts like butter. 10/10 value and quality. Buy it and buy more Milwaukee tools they're the best.

Saw does what you would expect. Keep your expectations realistic and it works as it should.

I received a brand new tool w/a 4ah battery and charger in factory sealed packaging at a terrific price.I can't wait to put it to work on an upcoming project.

Milwaukee Hackzall’s are so versatile, and I use this one mostly for my tree pruning. Excellent for one handed use on a ladder. And buying this kit was a great way to get another M12 battery.

Has plenty of power, is lightweight, small so it can fit in tight spots. I work full time on show horse facilities and have even discovered that grabbing it and putting in an aggressive wood blade that it can serve as a great replacement for a small chainsaw for pruning and trimming up the small decorative trees even. No need to haul gas and bar chain oil. It certainly cant do the job of a chainsaw, but on small stuff, works great. That, plus the ease of cutting pvc pipe for plumbing repairs, and other misc repairs around these farms...frankly this Hackzall has all but spoiled me. It just plain friggin rocks and is handy as hell!!!

Came in sealed packaging from the manufacturer

This electric saw is amazing! Love how I can cut through small limbs and branches that a pruner won't.Works great! Wish I'd had it years ago.

Lo que necesitaba para trabajos sencillos en casa es más pequeño de lo que es .Lo recomiendo vale lo que cuesta y aunque estaba en duda en comprarlo jejeje.

Justo lo que pedí

Exelente sierra sable, te recomiendo que la uses con unas buenas seguetas con dientes de carburo y que te compres una pila extra de 6 ampers porque con la de 4 ampers que trae te vas a quedar corto.

Bastante mejor de lo que imaginaba, su desempeño y la rapidez con la que corta me ha impresionado. Ya tengo tiempo usándolo, su batería dura mucho y su forma, que parece extraña, ayuda mucho a apoyarse y cortar con mayor seguridad.Para ser una herramienta de 12v tiene muchísima fuerza, ideal para los trabajo en casa o DIY (Do It Yourself).

Me Gusto mucho el manejo me hubiera gustado que trajera 2 pilasLo uso para cortar Mas PVC Y TAMBIÉN TUERIA DE FIERROS